Battlefield America: The Civil War

On April 6, 1862, a pivotal moment unfolded in the dense forests of Tennessee, marking one of the bloodiest and most shocking battles in U.S. history.

At the end of the civil war's second year, 1862, Union forces control all but one stretch of the major waterways surrounding Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Gettysburg is a turning point in the war. The Union's eventual control here would be a defining moment that impacted the trajectory of the entire war.

Union and Confederate armies fought in a bloody battle. Victories had bolstered Union forces, but the Confederates earned a hard-fought victory.

The year 1864 marked the fourth year of the war, and after major Union victories, President Abraham Lincoln looked to bring a swift end to the war.