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Union Army
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Boy in Union army uniform
Explore the differences between the Union and the Confederate armies that fought in the American Civil War
Discover how an obscure Union brigadier general named Ulysses S. Grant won fame for demanding the unconditional surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson during the American Civil War
Learn why railroads were so important during the American Civil War
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Union Army

United States history
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Quick Summary

Boy in Union army uniform
Boy in Union army uniform P.H. Martin standing with a drum and wearing a Union army uniform, hotograph by Robert W. Addis, c. 1862.

The Union Army was the military force of the United States that fought against the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861-1865). The Union ultimately won the war, with Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendering to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.12

During the war, the U.S. Army significantly expanded, growing from about 16,000 troops in 1860 to a maximum of 1,000,000 by 1865, relying on both volunteers and conscription. Key figures in the Union military included Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman [3

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
8 Britannica Sources
  1. American Civil War: Top Questions
  2. American Civil War - Quick Facts
  3. United States Army: Top Questions
  4. Mississippi Valley Campaign
  5. American Civil War - Fredericksburg
  6. American Civil War - The cost and significance of the Civil War
  7. Remembering the American Civil War - Military leaders
  8. Army of Tennessee: Top Questions

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