These battle summaries serve as a quick reference to the historical context and significance of the Civil War's 384 principal battlefields. The Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) hopes these summaries will provide preservationists, historians, planners, and political leaders with the basic historical data they need to understand and work toward the preservation of these critical components of our national heritage.
The data elements for each battle summary are:
Name--The historic name for the battle, based on scholarly assessment. In some cases, the generally accepted name for the battle, if sanctioned by the state historic preservation office, is used.
CWSAC Reference #--A reference number assigned to each site. These were developed to aid computerization and help differentiate battles with the same names. The letters indicate the state in which the battlefield is located; the digits are unique and arbitrary. N.B. Some numbers are missing because sites were added or deleted from the list of 384 principal battlefields as significance was determined.
Other Names--Secondary or commonly used names of the battle.
Preservation Priority--The CWSAC established four "Preservation Priorities" based on the battle's historic significance, the integrity of the remaining battlefield features, and the level of threat to the battlefield's existance. Priority I battlefields need urgent preservation by the year 2000. Priority II battlefields present opportunities for comprehensive preservation. Priority III battlefields need some additional protection. And Priority IV battlefields are either fragmented or lost, with little preservation potential. "Class" indicates a battle's level of military importance to the war or a campaign. Class A battles had a decisive influence on their campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war. Class B battles had a direct and decisive influence on their campaign. Class C battles had an observable influence on the outcome of their campaign. And Class D battles had a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieved or affected important local objectives.
Location--The present-day county or city in which the battlefield is located. If a battlefield extends into several political jurisdictions, each is listed.
Campaign--The larger military operation with which the battle is associated.
Date(s)--The actual day or days during which the battle occurred. Most of the dates appear as provided in the U.S. War Department's The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
Principal Commanders--The ranks and names of the chief military commanders for both sides during the battle.
Forces Engaged--The particular company, regiment, brigade, division, corps, army, garrison, detachment, or ship involved in the conflict. Some summaries indicate a specific number of troops.
Estimated Casualties--Estimated number of killed, wounded, missing, and captured. Casualty figures for some of the 384 battles are unknown; in other instances reliable figures are avialable for one side but not the other. Few casualty figures are definitive, and historical sources often differ in their totals. The CWSAC staff consulted a variety of official and commerical sources, both printed and in manuscript, before arriving at the given figures.
Description--A historical account or summary of the battle that describes the circumstances, action, and outcome of the battle. The CWSAC staff consulted a variety of general and specific sources, both published and in manuscript, before preparing these accounts.
Result(s)--Indicates the victor of the conflict, if the outcome was definitive. Inconclusive outcomes are so described.
National or State Park Unit (if applicable)--Links to Web pages for national and state park managed battlefields.
