Top 20 Battles in U.S. History

D-Day

It broke the back of the German defenses in Northwestern France, and started a steady decline of the Third Reich's grip in the West.

Does anybody actually study history anymore? Yes, Gettysburg is considered the turning point, in addition to being the same day as the Battle of Vicksburg. And both were Union victories. This last point is indisputable.

YEAH HISTORY!

Gettysburg was not the turning point in the Civil War. Antietam was the turning point in the Civil War becuase it stopped France from supporting the South.

Huh? Gettysburg culminated in the end of Lee's northern invasion. Lee had hope to drive to Philadelphia to convince Northern politicians to propose terms for peace. A victory at Gettysburg not only would have allowed him to drive further North, it likely would have resulted in many European powers recognizing the Confederacy officially, similar to what Saratoga did during the Revolution. If you look at every aspect of the battle, the confederates lost. First, they retreated from the battle field on day 3 and the union defended it's territory from invasion. Second, the confederates suffered more casualties than the union and the union had over 20,000 more men in the battle. Third, Lee's confidence in himself never recovered from the losses he sustained at Gettysburg. Finally, the battle stopped the last attempt at an invasion of the North by the Confederates. How you can classify this battle as a Confederate victory is mind boggling. At best, it was a draw that was the beginning of the demise ofthe Confederacy.

umm, Artofwar11 you may want to check your history Knowledge it wasn't exactly considered a union victory, a confederate if anything because the confederates got to keep their ground after wards.

A horrifying battle. The sickening stench of death hung throughout the forest. Too many casualties on both sides. A high price paid that helped pave the way for the eventual armistice.

An awful battle. Thought it was a critical Allied victory, It had the largest number of U.S. dead in a single battle, it is little remembered today in the United States. These dead should never be forgotten.

GOOD BATTLE

I can't believe this is number twelve. This was the climax of the American Revolution. Without this battle, most of the others would have never happened

This was the battle that essentially broke what remained of the Japanese war machine. This was the first U.S. conquest of what the Japanese considered to be Japanese soil.

ohh

Technically it was on neutral soil, since Maryland had not declared for the Union or the Confederacy at that point in the war. It was only after this battle that Maryland joined the Union unofficially.

Everyone forgets about 10th Armor and CCB, without them, 101st would have likely been decimated.

This was the finest hour of the U.S. Army in 20th century warfare: paratroopers ill-equipped for a prolonged siege combined with a pinchful of armored troops held off fifteen German divisions and proved to be a crucial factor in allowing the Allies to win the battle and crush the German offensive capacity in the West.

Significant in that it was the last major offensive the German war machine was able to mount. The fierce winter fighting that the 101st airborne endured while completely cut off and surrounded is the stuff of legends.

This is my personal favorite battle, mainly because it was lost by ignorance. Also, because it was one by the U.S..

The Battle of Midway halted the Japanese march across the Pacific, and allowed the United States to begin rolling back the Japanese Empire.

great battle

Savage fighting and a blood bath are understatements. This battle was a factor in using the atomic bombs. The worst part were the Okinawain people caught in the cross-fire. Our fighting force resorted to slaughters to prevent being slaughtered.

Most history books only credit TR's Rough Riders, after all it made his career. What is often forgotten is the role of the Buffalo Soldiers, the US Cavalry's professional African-American soldiers.

This was the second-best battle fought by Generals Lee and Jackson together in the Civil War. They crushed a larger Union army and drove them far to the north easily, and set the stage for the raid into the North in the following month.

The Mother of All Routs!

The whole was over in one battle, fought in 4 days.

While it can be argued it was a tactical disaster. Consider that 258 ill supplied and under trained Texans battled a well trained and well supplied Mexican Army of 5500 and killed an up to an estimated 2000 Mexican Soldiers. Taking that into consideration makes this a tremendous Military Battle and it had a huge impact on the War effort. In my opinion Santa Anna made the military blunder by not just bypassing the Alamo and chasing down the main Texan Army. This was a battle he didnt need to fight.

what is your guys problem it was the turing point for the mexcion american war and texas was a nutural land from amrica and mexcio so what texas had there own goverment all of the people were amarican form difernt states

The decision by the Texans to fight the battle was a poor tactical decision.

Texas was a separate republic at the time, so this was not an American battle. It was a ridiculous battle that never should have been fought - it was really a massacre.

Considering the Republic of Texas was home to many Americans, you just sound like an ignorant dumbass

It really isn't a US battle. It was fought between the Republic of Texas and Mexico, prior to the annexation of Texas by the US.

Death of Davy Crocket and James Bowie and William Travis and many others, let them rest in peace.

I don't like that this is so negative. Great moment in our nation's military history under one of the greatest generals in our nation's history. Not the best president, but still a great leader.

Golden....you really shouldn't insult someone's knowledge of history when yours is clearly limited. Although the Treaty of Ghent was signed, the 10k British regulars that were intent on invading New Orleans weren't aware of that. So even though the war in essence was over, it certainly still mattered to the citizens of New Orleans and the force under Jackson that was sent to defend it. This battle resulted in an overwhelming American victory and saved the country some face in a war that most thought was won by the British/Canadians. Jackson had a hodge podge force of 4,000, only 400 of which were actual Americab soldiers. The rest were a mix of militia, freedmen, pirates, Indians, and local volunteers. And they managed to rout a force of 10,000 veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. As a side note, what makes you think the British wouldn't have attempted a land claim on New Orleans had they won the battle? New Orleans was invaded by a foreign power; saying the battle served no purpose is ignorant at best.

Are you kidding me that battle served no purpose it was fought after the war of 1812 was over bacause Andrew Jackson, the leader of that battle, didn't know

I think this was a very brutal battle indeed. It was very tragic, but amazing how much they sacrificied just for 2 blackhawks. Like the 2 Delta snipers that died for 1 piolt

Gary Gordon and Randall Schugart are awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for one of the most courageous actsnof self sacrifice in American military history. A fierce fight indeed. Not necessarily historically significant since Somalia is still a wartorn country some 15 years or so later. But it did result in a US pull out at the time, basically a mini-Vietnam...win the battles, lose the war of public opinion.