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This State Saw the Most Civil War Battles: Every State Ranked

Samuel Stebbins

Published: December 18, 2023 2:00 pm

Last Updated: December 19, 2023 11:01 am

The American Civil War was by far the deadliest conflict in U.S. history. From the start of the war in April 1861 with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, until General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox four years later, over 620,000 people were killed, about 100,000 more than the combined number of Americans killed in the First and Second World Wars. 

The war resulted from decades of tension between Northern and Southern states, particularly over the issue of states’ rights and whether the institution of slavery would expand into Western territories. The first shots of the war took place in South Carolina when the Confederacy fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. This state was the first of what would become 11 states to secede from the Union and fight for independence from the United States.

Throughout the war, fighting was largely concentrated in areas around the border between Southern slave states and Northern free states. Still, Civil War battles spread across a total of 23 states and territories, including Washington, D.C.

Using historical data from the National Archives Catalog, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most Civil War battles. States were ranked by the number of conflicts that took place there during the Civil War. All conflict types, as classified by the government, were counted, including skirmishes, sieges, actions, advances, massacres, bombings, raids, and others. All information, including the number of battles the catalog identifies as having unusually high casualties, also came from the National Archives.

Virginia was the northernmost state in the Confederacy, home to Richmond and the capital of the Confederate States of America for most of the war, and the state that saw more violent conflicts than any other part of the country during the Civil War. According to the National Archives Catalog, 123 battles were fought in Virginia, more than three times the number fought in Tennessee, the state with the second most battles. (Here is a look at the states with the highest Civil War death toll.)

Most deaths in the Civil War did not occur on the battlefield, although over 200,000 Union and Confederate troops were killed in combat in the states on this list. Well over half of the fatalities resulting from the war were attributed to factors like disease, starvation, and accidents. (Here is a look at every war where disease killed more Americans than combat.)

Here are the states with the highest number of Civil War battles.

26. Colorado

Source: mtcurado / iStock via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 1
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 1
• Only conflict of the Civil War in Colorado: Engagement at Sand Creek (Nov. 29, 1864)

25. District of Columbia

Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 1
• Battles in D.C. with unusually high casualties: 0
• Only conflict of the Civil War in the District of Columbia: Action at Fort Stevens (July 12, 1864)

24. Idaho

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Total number of Civil War battles: 1
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Only conflict of the Civil War in Idaho: Engagement at Bear River (Jan. 29, 1863)

23. Indiana

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Total number of Civil War battles: 1
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Only conflict of the Civil War in Indiana: Skirmish at Corydon (July 9, 1863 – July 9, 1863)

22. Minnesota

Source: BCWH / iStock via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 2
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Minnesota: Action at Fort Ridgely (Aug. 20, 1862 – Aug. 22, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Minnesota: Action at Fort Ridgely (Aug. 20, 1862 – Aug. 22, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Minnesota: Skirmish at Wood Lake (Sept. 23, 1862)

21. New Mexico

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Total number of Civil War battles: 2
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in New Mexico: Engagements at Valverde and Glorieta Pass
• First conflict of the Civil War in New Mexico: Engagement at Valverde (Feb. 21, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in New Mexico: Engagement at Glorieta Pass (March 28, 1862)

20. Ohio

Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 2
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Ohio: Engagement at Buffington Island and the skirmish at Salineville
• First conflict of the Civil War in Ohio: Engagement at Buffington Island (July 19, 1863)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Ohio: Skirmish at Salineville (July 26, 1863)

19. Pennsylvania

Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 2
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 1
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Pennsylvania: Battle of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863 – July 3, 1863)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Pennsylvania: Action at Hanover (June 30, 1863)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Pennsylvania: Battle at Gettysburg (July 1, 1863 – July 3, 1863)

18. Kansas

Source: PamelaPeters / iStock via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 4
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 1
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Kansas: N/A
• First conflict of the Civil War in Kansas: Massacre at Lawrence (Aug. 21, 1863)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Kansas: Engagement at Mine Creek (Oct. 25, 1864)

17. North Dakota

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Total number of Civil War battles: 5
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in North Dakota: N/A
• First conflict of the Civil War in North Dakota: Action at Big Mound (July 24, 1863)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in North Dakota: Action at Killdeer Mountain (July 28, 1864)

16. Texas

Source: Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 5
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Texas: Engagement at Sabine Pass and skirmish at Palmito Ranch
• First conflict of the Civil War in Texas: Engagement at Sabine Pass (Sept. 24, 1862 – Sept. 25, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Texas: Skirmish at Palmito Ranch (May 12, 1865 – May 13, 1865)

15. Florida

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• Total number of Civil War battles: 6
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Florida: Bombing of Tampa (June 30, 1862 – July 1, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Florida: Action at Santa Rosa Island (Oct. 9, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Florida: Action at Natural Bridge (March 6, 1865)

14. Alabama

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 7
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Alabama: Naval operations at Mobile Bay (Aug. 2, 1864 – Aug. 23, 1864)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Alabama: Action at Day’s Gap (April 30, 1863)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Alabama: Siege and capture of Fort Blakely (April 2, 1865 – April 9, 1865)

13. Maryland

Source: Alexander Gardner / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 7
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 3
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Maryland: Action at Williamsport (July 6, 1863 – July 16, 1863)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Maryland: Bombing of Hancock (Jan. 5, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Maryland: Attack on Folck’s Mill (Aug. 1, 1864)

12. Oklahoma

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Total number of Civil War battles: 7
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Oklahoma: Engagement at Cabin Creek (July 1, 1863 – July 2, 1863)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Oklahoma: Engagement at Round Mountain (Nov. 19, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Oklahoma: Action at Middle Boggy Depot (Feb. 13, 1864)

11. Kentucky

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 11
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 1
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Kentucky: Siege of Munfordville (Sept. 14, 1862 – Sept. 17, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Kentucky: Action at Barbourville (Sept. 19, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Kentucky: Action at Cynthiana (June 11, 1864 – June 12, 1864)

10. South Carolina

Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 11
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 2
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in South Carolina: Bombing of Fort Sumter (Aug. 17, 1863 – Dec. 31, 1863)
• First conflict of the Civil War in South Carolina: Bombing of Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861 – April 14, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in South Carolina: Action at Rivers’ Bridge (Feb. 3, 1865)

9. West Virginia

Source: Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 15
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in West Virginia: Siege of Harpers Ferry (Sept. 12, 1862 – Sept. 15, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in West Virginia: Action at Philippi (June 3, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in West Virginia: Engagement at Smithfield Crossing (Aug. 29, 1864)

8. Mississippi

Source: Kean Collection / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 16
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 3
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Mississippi: Siege of Vicksburg (May 19, 1863 – July 4, 1863)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Mississippi: Advance and siege of Corinth (April 29, 1862 – June 10, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Mississippi: Engagement at Tupelo (July 14, 1864 – July 15, 1864)

7. Arkansas

Source: Illustrated London News / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 17
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 2
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Arkansas: Skirmish at Prairie D’Ane (April 9, 1864 – April 13, 1864)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Arkansas: Battle of Pea Ridge (March 6, 1862 – March 8, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Arkansas: Engagement at Old River Lake (June 6, 1864)

6. North Carolina

Source: Kean Collection / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 20
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 0
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in North Carolina: Siege of Fort Macon (March 23, 1862 – April 26, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in North Carolina: Capture of Hatteras Inlet Batteries (Aug. 28, 1861 – Aug. 29, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in North Carolina: Battle at Bentonville (March 19, 1865 – March 21, 1865)

5. Louisiana

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 23
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 2
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Louisiana: Siege of Port Hudson (May 21, 1863 – July 8, 1863)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Louisiana: Bombing and capture of Forts Jackson & Phillip (April 18, 1862 – April 28, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Louisiana: Engagement at Yellow Bayou (May 18, 1864)

4. Georgia

Source: Fotosearch / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 28
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 11
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Georgia: Operations at Marietta (b,c,d) (June 10, 1864 – July 3, 1864)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Georgia: Operation at Fort Pulaski (April 10, 1862 – April 11, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Georgia: Engagement at Fort McAllister (Dec. 13, 1864)

3. Missouri

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 29
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 2
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Missouri: Operations at New Madrid/Island No. 10 (Feb. 28, 1862 – April 8, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Missouri: Engagement at Boonville (June 17, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Missouri: Engagement at Newtonia (Oct. 28, 1864)

2. Tennessee

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 38
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 6
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Tennessee: Siege of Fort Donelson (Feb. 12, 1862 – Feb. 16, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Tennessee: Capture of Fort Henry (Feb. 6, 1862)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Tennessee: Battle at Nashville (Dec. 15, 1864 – Dec. 16, 1864)

1. Virginia

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Total number of Civil War battles: 123
• Battles in state with unusually high casualties: 29
• Longest conflict of the Civil War in Virginia: Siege of Yorktown (April 5, 1862 – May 4, 1862)
• First conflict of the Civil War in Virginia: Naval battle at Sewell’s Point (May 18, 1861 – May 19, 1861)
• Final conflict of the Civil War in Virginia: Engagement at Appomattox Courthouse (April 9, 1865)

Methodology

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Archives Catalog from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration to identify the states with the most Civil War battles. States were ranked by the number of conflicts that took place there during the Civil War. All conflict types, as classified by the government, were counted, including skirmishes, sieges, actions, advances, massacres, bombings, raids, and others – though not all violent actions of the war are included. 

Dates of each conflict also came from the National Archives Catalog and were used to identify the longest Civil War conflict in each state. The first conflict of the Civil War in each state was determined using start dates, while the final conflict was identified using the end dates. 

The number of battles with unusually high casualties, as identified in the catalog, is also from the National Archives. Washington, D.C. was included in this analysis, and in cases where states had the same number of battles, they are listed in alphabetical order.