What were the 5 worst battles during the US Civil War?

Answer 1

The five most bloodiest battles in the US Civil War were the battles of:

*Gettysburg;

*Chancellorsville;

* Antietam;

* Chickamauga; and

* Cold Harbor.

There are differences of opinion on the so-called top five bloodiest battles. That's because the better term of Casualties is more telling. "Bloody" infers wounded, not just battle deaths. Based on using the preferred term, the selection of battles can vary.

Answer 2

Antietam (called Sharpsburg by the Rebels - the Yankees named battles after the nearest body of water, the Rebels called the same battle after the nearest town, so many battles have two names) was the bloodiest one day battle. Gettysburg had the largest losses but lasted three days. Both of those were in the east. In the west ("the west" during the Civil War being the area between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River) Chickamauga and Stones River (or Murfreesboro) saw a very high percentage of those engaged lost, and about as large a total as the big battles in the east. In the east Chancellorsville and The Wilderness also saw huge loss. The Seven Days in 1862, and the Overland Campaign (six weeks in 1864) lasted longer but possibly were the worst of all in terms of losses.