- The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863): This battle, fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, resulted in over 51,000 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing). The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee, attacked the Union Army of the Potomac, led by General George G. Meade. The fighting was intense and bloody, and the Union victory was a turning point in the war.
- The Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862): This battle, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was fought near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 22,700 casualties. The Union Army of the Potomac, led by General George McClellan, attacked the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a stalemate, but it was a strategic victory for the Union, as it prevented Lee from invading the North.
- The Battle of the Wilderness (May 5–7, 1864): This battle was fought in the dense forests of Virginia. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, with over 29,000 casualties. The Union Army of the Potomac, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, attacked the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a draw, but it set the stage for further fighting in the Overland Campaign.
- The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–19, 1864): This battle was fought near the town of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, and was part of the Overland Campaign. It was a bloody battle, with over 32,000 casualties. The Union Army of the Potomac, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, attacked the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a stalemate, but it further weakened Lee's army.
- The Battle of Cold Harbor (June 3–12, 1864): This battle was fought near the town of Cold Harbor, Virginia, and was also part of the Overland Campaign. It was another bloody battle, with over 12,000 casualties. The Union Army of the Potomac, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, attacked the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a Union defeat, but it helped to further weaken Lee's army and set the stage for the Siege of Petersburg.