Timeline 1863
Date
Event
Causalities
Summary
January 2
Battle of Stones River
22,576
Union troops under Rosecrans forced the Confederates to retreat after the Battle of Stones River.
April 30
Chancellorsville
20,000
General Lee fought against General Joseph Hooker. Although outnumbered two to one, Lee won the battle. During the battle General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was killed. (Jackson was shot when returning to camp by one of his own men.)
May 18
Vicksburg
35,835
In Vicksburg, Mississippi a strong fort overlooked the river. Grant surrounded the fort and began a siege. On July 4 Vicksburg surrendered. This gave the North control of the Mississippi River.
July 1
Gettysburg
51,000
Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania in June 1863. He was hoping to threaten Washington and Philadelphia, to breed Northern morale, and to gain recognition and independence for the Southern Confederacy. At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia met the Army of the Potomac unexpectedly. It was under the command of General George G. Meade. This famous battle lasted three days. The Southerners were turned back and again retreated into Virginia. The combined casualties of Gettysburg and Vicksburg overwhelmed the South.
July 8
Port Hudson
12,208
Northern forces occupied Port Hudson, Louisiana.
September 18
Chickamauga
34,624
The Confederate Army led by General Braxton Bragg won against the Union army at Chickamauga Creek in Tennessee. General George Thomas commanded the Union army which was trapped in Chattanooga. After winning Bragg decided not to capture Chattanooga. Ten Confederate generals had been killed or wounded.
November 19
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
November 23-25
Chattanooga
12,485
Grant and Thomas led Union armies to victory in the Battle of Chattanooga.
Key:
No Victory or NA [no color]
Confederate Victory [gray]
Union Victory [blue]