Discover 25 Battlefields That Shaped The Civil War
The Civil War left a permanent mark on American history, and many of its most pivotal battlefields have been preserved as powerful reminders of that turbulent era. These sites recount strategic victories and losses and honor those who fought and fell. Keep reading to discover 25 battlefields that allow visitors to walk the grounds where history violently turned.
Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania
Three brutal July days in 1863 turned Gettysburg into the war’s deadliest clash, with about 51,000 casualties. The site features 1,300 monuments, including Devil’s Den and Little Round Top. President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in November added to its historical significance. A visitor center houses a 377-foot cyclorama depicting Pickett’s Charge in vivid detail.
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
The most tragic day in American history unfolded at Antietam on September 17, 1862. About 23,000 soldiers lost their lives or were wounded. The Sunken Road still shows the scars of ferocious hand-to-hand combat. This battle led President Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation five days later.
Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee
A surprise Confederate charge near Pittsburg Landing sparked the Battle of Shiloh on April 6 and 7, 1862. The two-day clash cost about 23,000 casualties and shocked a nation unprepared for such violence. Visitors can see the Hornets’ Nest, Shiloh Church, and original cannons still guarding key ridges of the battlefield.
Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia
First Bull Run proved the war would be no short affair. This July 1861 battle—the war’s first major engagement—saw civilians picnic nearby, only to flee in panic. A second clash here in August 1862 brought even greater carnage. Henry Hill and the Stone House are central stops on the self-guided tour.
Chickamauga And Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia & Tennessee
Fought in September 1863, Chickamauga was the second tragic battle of the war and a significant Confederate victory. The Chattanooga campaign soon reversed those gains for the Union. Today, Lookout Mountain’s panoramic views and Missionary Ridge trails offer haunting vistas of these hard-fought terrains.
Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia
This park preserves four battlefields—Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania—where over 85,000 lives were lost and 15,000 people were wounded between 1862 and 1864. You can still see Confederate trench lines at Spotsylvania’s “Mule Shoe.” At Chancellorsville, General “Stonewall” Jackson was fatally wounded by friendly fire, a loss that devastated Southern morale and strategy.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Tennessee
Union General Ulysses S. Grant demanded “unconditional surrender” here in February 1862, marking his rise as a key Union commander. The victory opened the Cumberland River and middle Tennessee to Northern control. Visitors can explore well-preserved earthworks and riverfront gun batteries that once fired on approaching Union ironclads.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Missouri
On August 10, 1861, Union General Nathaniel Lyon became the first Union general to lose his life in combat. His outnumbered troops clashed with Confederates just outside Springfield. You can visit the battle sites and a restored 1850s farmhouse used as a Confederate field hospital during the battle’s fiercest fighting.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia
As part of Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign, Union forces battled entrenched Confederate positions along Kennesaw Mountain. Though the attack failed, the overall campaign succeeded. More than 17 miles of trails wind through forests, rifle pits, and earthworks, offering dramatic views from the summit and access to the preserved Kolb’s Farm.
Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi
Vicksburg’s fall on July 4, 1863, gave the Union full control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy. Grant’s 47-day siege is vividly recounted through preserved trenches and restored forts. Found in the park is the USS Cairo, a recovered Union ironclad sunk in 1862 and now displayed in remarkable condition.
Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia
This campaign included trench warfare that foreshadowed World War I tactics. For over nine months, Union forces besieged Petersburg, cutting off Confederate supply lines into Richmond. At the Battle of the Crater, Union troops exploded a mine beneath Confederate lines on July 30, 1864, and the remains are still visible along the driving tour route.
Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee
Fought during the frigid days of late 1862 and early 1863, Stones River saw nearly one-third of its 81,000 combatants killed or wounded. The Union’s eventual victory bolstered Northern morale after Fredericksburg’s disaster. Here, you can see Hazen’s Brigade Monument, the oldest Civil War monument still in its original position.
Bentonville Battlefield, North Carolina
It stands as the largest battle in North Carolina and one of the last significant offensives launched by the Confederate army. In March 1865, General Johnston tried to stop Sherman’s march through the Carolinas but failed. Trails through the original battle lines are still visible, and visitors can tour the Harper House, which served as a Union field hospital.
Pea Ridge National Military Park, Arkansas
The March 1862 battle secured Missouri for the Union and featured diverse troops, including Native American regiments fighting for the Confederacy. Pea Ridge preserves nearly 4,300 acres, including Elkhorn Tavern and Telegraph Road. Well-marked tour loops offer views of key ridges where artillery once changed the course of the day.
Battle Of Franklin Site, Tennessee
On November 30, 1864, Confederate forces launched a doomed frontal attack here, resulting in nearly 8,600 casualties in five brutal hours. Structures like Carter House still bear bullet holes and bloodstains. Five Confederate generals were lost in the charge, making it one of the war’s most devastating failures.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site, North Carolina
Often called the “Gibraltar of the South,” Fort Fisher fell to Union forces in January 1865 after one of the largest amphibious raids of the war. This loss shut down the South’s last major seaport, Wilmington. Today, you can tour reconstructed earthworks, artillery batteries, and a museum detailing the fort’s pivotal role in the war’s final chapter.
Monocacy National Battlefield, Maryland
Dubbed “The Battle That Saved Washington,” Monocacy delayed Confederate forces long enough for Union reinforcements to defend the capital in July 1864. Though a tactical loss for the Union, it helped them achieve a vital strategic goal. Monocacy National Battlefield now houses the Worthington and Thomas farms, with battlefield trails closely tracing troop movements.
Battle Of New Market, Virginia
On May 15, 1864, several young cadets from the Virginia Military Institute joined the fray and helped secure a Confederate victory. The Hall of Valor Museum honors these students, ten of whom perished during the charge. Visitors can explore preserved farmland and the Bushong House, which served as a field hospital.
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Florida
Florida’s largest Civil War battle unfolded here in February 1864 as Union troops attempted to disrupt Confederate supply lines. Poor planning led to a Union retreat with heavy casualties. A walking trail with interpretive signs guides visitors through pine forests where the original fighting occurred.
Battle Of Resaca, Georgia
The Resaca Battlefield State Historic Site includes a driving tour through preserved earthworks and signage detailing troop positions and artillery placements. This inconclusive conflict, which took place in May 1864, marked the start of the Atlanta Campaign and saw fierce fighting across hills and ravines. Confederate troops retreated after Union soldiers flanked their position.
Fort Stevens, Washington, D.C.
The only battle fought within the current boundaries of Washington, D.C., Fort Stevens saw Confederate troops attempt to breach the capital in July 1864. President Lincoln famously came under fire while observing the battle. Today, reconstructed earthworks and interpretive signs mark the site amid a quiet residential neighborhood.
Battle Of Prairie Grove, Arkansas
The Battle of Prairie Grove saw intense artillery exchanges and close infantry combat. Fought in December 1862, Prairie Grove ensured Union control of northwest Arkansas. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park offers walking trails across original ridgelines and an outstanding museum inside a restored 19th-century home that stood during the battle.
Battle Of Mill Springs, Kentucky
One of the Union’s first major victories in the Western Theater came at Mill Springs in January 1862. Confederate General Zollicoffer was fatally wounded in action, contributing to the Southern rout. This site includes a visitor center, preserved trenches, and Zollicoffer Park, where the general’s death site is marked beneath a white oak tree.
Battle Of Port Hudson, Louisiana
Lasting from May to July 1863, the siege of Port Hudson was one of the war’s longest. It fell a few days after Vicksburg, giving the Union full control of the Mississippi River. Port Hudson State Historic Site features preserved redoubts and exhibits on the role of the United States Colored Troops in the attack.
Battle Of Perryville, Kentucky
The Battle of Perryville, fought on October 8, 1862, was Kentucky’s largest engagement throughout the conflict. Though technically a Confederate victory, the South’s strategic withdrawal left Kentucky under Union control. The battlefield remains largely untouched, offering over 1,000 acres of preserved land, with original stone fences and artillery positions still intact.
