Virginia’s Importance During the Civil War

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Virginia was a crucial state during the Civil War due to the number of battles that were fought in the state. Although Virginia was not the only state in which battles were fought, more Civil War battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state. Many historians have tried to set a specific number to the amount of battles fought in the commonwealth; however, it is a highly debatable issue because some Virginia was also the location of many skirmishes, which are slightly different from battles. Although all battles of the Civil War are important, there are also several opinions as to which battles were the most important. Personally speaking, three of the most important Civil War battles fought in Virginian include the First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Appomattox or Appomattox Courthouse.
The First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas was significant because it was the first major land battle of the Civil War. The battle was sparked on July 21, 1861 at approximately 5:15 A.M. During this particular battle the commanders of the Confederate and the Union were not the individuals commonly associated with the Civil War. In fact, the Union was commanded by Irvin McDowell and the Confederate forces were commanded by Joseph Johnson and PGT Beauregard. Initially, General Irvin McDowell and his troops were order by Abraham Lincoln and the Federal government to advance south of Washington into Bull Run which would bring them closer to the Confederate capital which was Richmond, Virginia. Lincoln thought that an early victory amongst the Confederates would force them to end their rebellious acts in a quick battlefield. The Confederate army gained insight on the attack the Union forces were ...

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...endered to General Ulysses S. Grant because he had nothing more to lose. Although McLean decided to move away far away from battles after the first Battle of Bull Run, the Civil War still had its final days at McLean’s house in Appomattox County.
Although all battles of the Civil War were not fought in commonwealth, the number of battles fought in Virginia and their significance to the war made Virginia an important state of the Civil War. There is no specific criterion for determining which battles fought in Virginia are considered more important than others and in fact some could argue that all battles are equally important. Very similar to a musical performance in which the audience generally remembers the beginning of the piece and the end of the piece, it is typical for individuals to remember the significance of the first battle and the last battle of wars.

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