Campaigns of the American Civil War

Union Forces campaign streamer
Confederate Forces campaign streamer

The campaigns of the American Civil War are categorized in various ways. The U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry has identified 25 campaigns that are used for streamers, decorative devices attached to unit flags that denote participation in historic battles or campaigns. (An alternative campaign categorization is that of the National Park Service, charged with maintaining Civil War battlefields and other historic sites. This categorization is more detailed and inclusive than the Army heraldry version, particularly for actions outside of the Eastern Theater and Western Theater; see Category:Campaigns of the American Civil War.)

The Civil War campaign streamers are equally divided with blue and gray. Units that received campaign credit as a Confederate unit (only applicable to some current Army National Guard units from Southern states) use the same ribbon with the colors reversed. Blue refers to Federal service and gray to Confederate. Joined together they represent the unification of the country after the Civil War.

The following inscriptions in yellow, shown in all capital letters, are authorized on the streamers:

Campaign[1] Effective Dates of the Campaign Notes
Sumter April 12–13, 1861
Bull Run July 16–22, 1861 ("First Manassas" for Confederate service)
Henry & Donelson February 6–16, 1862
Mississippi River February 6, 1862 - July 9, 1863
Peninsula March 17 - August 3, 1862
Shiloh April 6–7, 1862
Valley May 15 - June 17, 1862
Manassas August 7 - September 2, 1862 ("Second Manassas" for Confederate service)
Antietam September 3–17, 1862 ("Sharpsburg" for Confederate service)
Fredericksburg November 9 - December 15, 1862
Murfreesborough December 26, 1862 - January 4, 1863
Chancellorsville April 27 - May 3, 1863
Gettysburg June 29 - July 3, 1863
Vicksburg March 29 - July 4, 1863
Chickamauga August 16 - September 22, 1863
Chattanooga November 23–27, 1863
Wilderness May 4–7, 1864
Atlanta May 7 - September 2, 1864
Spotsylvania May 8–21, 1864
Cold Harbor May 22 - June 3, 1864
Petersburg June 4, 1864 - April 2, 1865
Shenandoah August 7 - November 28, 1864
Franklin November 17–30, 1864
Nashville December 1–16, 1864
Appomattox April 3–9, 1865

References

  1. "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag". U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY. March 13, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
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