War · Theatres of the Civil War · 1 of 4

Eastern Theatre

1861–1865 · Virginia · Maryland · Pennsylvania

Battle of Antietam · Kurz & Allison · public domain

4 years

Span

Battles

240k

Dead

Union

Army of the Potomac

peak: 120k

McDowell → McClellan → Pope → Burnside → Hooker → Meade → Grant

Confederacy

Army of Northern Virginia

peak: 75k

Beauregard → J. Johnston → Lee

Casualties (est.)

248,000 total

145,000 Union

95,000 Confederacy

8,000 Civilian

Commanders

G. Meade

Cmdr., Potomac (Jun ’63–)

U. S. Grant

Lt. Gen., U.S. (’64–)

G. McClellan

Cmdr., Potomac (’61–’62)

R. E. Lee

Cmdr., N. Virginia

J. Longstreet

Lt. Gen., CSA

T. J. Jackson

Lt. Gen., CSA (KIA ’63)

Geography

Most of the Eastern war fell in the 110-mile corridor between Washington and Richmond — the Shenandoah Valley on one flank, the Chesapeake on the other.

Campaigns across the war

20 here · others for context

Apr 1861

· Naval theatre

Fort Sumter · Charleston, SC

Jul 1861

First Bull Run · Manassas, VA

Soon

Aug 1861

· Trans-Miss theatre

Wilson's Creek · Springfield, MO

Feb 1862

· Western theatre

Fort Donelson · Dover, TN

Mar 1862

· Trans-Miss theatre

Pea Ridge · Benton Co., AR

Mar 1862

· Trans-Miss theatre

Glorieta Pass · New Mexico Terr.

Apr 1862

· Western theatre

Shiloh · Pittsburg Landing, TN

Apr 1862

· Trans-Miss theatre

Island Number Ten · Mississippi River, MO

Apr 1862

· Naval theatre

Forts Jackson & St. Philip · Mississippi River, LA

May 1862

First Winchester · Winchester, VA

Soon

Jun 1862

Gaines' Mill · Hanover Co., VA

Soon

Jul 1862

Malvern Hill · Henrico Co., VA

Soon

Aug 1862

Second Bull Run · Manassas, VA

Soon

Sep 1862

Antietam · Sharpsburg, MD

Read →

Oct 1862

· Western theatre

Corinth · Corinth, MS

Oct 1862

· Western theatre

Perryville · Perryville, KY

Dec 1862

Fredericksburg · Fredericksburg, VA

Soon

Dec 1862

· Western theatre

Stones River · Murfreesboro, TN

May 1863

Chancellorsville · Spotsylvania Co., VA

Soon

May 1863

· Western theatre

Champion Hill · Hinds Co., MS

Jul 1863

Gettysburg · Adams Co., PA

Read →

May–Jul 1863

· Western theatre

Vicksburg · Vicksburg, MS

May–Jul 1863

· Trans-Miss theatre

Port Hudson · Port Hudson, LA

Sep 1863

· Western theatre

Chickamauga · Catoosa Co., GA

Nov 1863

· Western theatre

Lookout Mountain · Chattanooga, TN

Nov 1863

· Western theatre

Missionary Ridge · Chattanooga, TN

Apr 1864

· Trans-Miss theatre

Mansfield · De Soto Parish, LA

May 1864

The Wilderness · Spotsylvania Co., VA

Soon

May 1864

Spotsylvania Court House · Spotsylvania Co., VA

Soon

Jun 1864

Cold Harbor · Hanover Co., VA

Soon

Jun 1864

Second Petersburg · Petersburg, VA

Soon

Jul 1864

The Crater · Petersburg, VA

Soon

Aug 1864

· Naval theatre

Mobile Bay · Mobile, AL

Sep 1864

Opequon · Winchester, VA

Soon

Sep 1864

· Western theatre

Jonesborough · Jonesboro, GA

Oct 1864

Cedar Creek · Shenandoah Valley, VA

Soon

Oct 1864

· Trans-Miss theatre

Westport · Kansas City, MO

Nov 1864

· Western theatre

Franklin · Franklin, TN

Dec 1864

· Western theatre

Nashville · Nashville, TN

Jan 1865

· Naval theatre

Second Fort Fisher · Wilmington, NC

Mar 1865

Fort Stedman · Petersburg, VA

Soon

Mar 1865

· Western theatre

Bentonville · Bentonville, NC

Apr 1865

Five Forks · Dinwiddie Co., VA

Soon

Apr 1865

Third Petersburg · Petersburg, VA

Soon

Apr 1865

Appomattox Court House · Appomattox Co., VA

Soon

Apr 1865

· Western theatre

Fort Blakeley · Baldwin Co., AL