The Civil War was the bloodiest and most destructive conflict in American history. From the beginning of the war in April 1861 to the end in April 1865, over 620,000 people were killed, about 100,000 more than the number of Americans killed in World Wars I and II combined.
After decades of simmering tension between Northern and Southern states, particularly over the issue of state’s rights, slavery, and whether or not the institution of slavery would expand into Western territories, multiple Southern states, starting with South Carolina, seceded from the Union to form their own government. The war began only months later, when Southern troops attacked and captured the federally held Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.
Over the next four years, the 11 states that ultimately joined the Confederacy were pitted against armies from the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast, dedicated to preserving the Union. The conflict drew resources and manpower from nearly every corner of the divided nation. And though the fighting was concentrated in areas around the border between Southern slave states and free Northern states, 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.
Home to Richmond, the capital of the Confederate States of America for most of the war, Virginia was home to more violent conflicts than any other part of the country during the 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 most violent Civil War battles.)
Though over 200,000 Union and Confederate troops were killed in combat in the states on this list, most deaths in the Civil War did not occur on the battlefield. Well over half of the fatalities resulting from the war were attributed to factors like disease, starvation, and accidents. (These are the ways Civil War soldiers died in Union prison camps.
Click here to see the states with the most Civil War conflicts.
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26. Colorado
> 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)
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Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images
25. District of Columbia
> 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)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
24. Idaho
> 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
23. Indiana
> 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)
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22. Minnesota
> 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)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. New Mexico
> 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)
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Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images
20. Ohio
> 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)
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Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images
19. Pennsylvania
> 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)
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18. Kansas
> 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)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. North Dakota
> 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)
Source: Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images
16. Texas
> 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)
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15. Florida
> 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)
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Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
14. Alabama
> 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)
Source: Alexander Gardner / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
13. Maryland
> 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)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. Oklahoma
> 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)
Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
11. Kentucky
> 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)
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Source: MPI / Archive Photos via Getty Images
10. South Carolina
> 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)
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Source: Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
9. West Virginia
> 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)
Source: Kean Collection / Archive Photos via Getty Images
8. Mississippi
> 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)
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Source: Illustrated London News / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
7. Arkansas
> 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)
Source: Kean Collection / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
6. North Carolina
> 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)
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Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
5. Louisiana
> 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)
Source: Fotosearch / Archive Photos via Getty Images
4. Georgia
> 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)
Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
3. Missouri
> 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)
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Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
2. Tennessee
> 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)
Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
1. Virginia
> 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
To identify the states with the most Civil War battles, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Archives Catalog from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. 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.
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