The Civil War was fought in hundreds of locations, with armies totaling over three million men across the span of the conflict, and in ways that can hardly be understood by modern readers. Yet, despite the multiplicity of persons, places, and material things that made up the American Civil War, there were several battles that stood out as having more impact than others on the course of events. Battles such as First Bull Run, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Antietam were examples of the types of martial events that shifted the stage enough to starkly affect American history.