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 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 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 Effective dates of 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
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