Ch. 21 The Civil War

Bull Run  Bull Run (Manassas Junction), 30 miles south of Washington  Assumed a quick strike would knock out South  July 21,1861  Picnickers  “Stonewall” Jackson  The Great Skedaddle  Consequences

McClellan And The Peninsula Campaign  George McClellan—”Young Napoleon”  Strengths and Weaknesses  McClellan’s slow creep down the Chesapeake  Seven Day’s Battle  Robert E. Lee  McClellan’s Retreat

Anaconda Plan  Union plan has six components:  Suffocate the south by blockading the coast  Liberate the slaves and thus undermine southern economy  Cut the South in half by seizing control of the Mississippi  Chop the confederacy into pieces by sending troops through the Carolinas and Georgia  Decapitate it by seizing Richmond  Wage war of attrition and attack the southern main forces with Bigger Union forces. South can’t afford to lose troops at 1-1 ratio.

ART OF WAR  By 1860 had been huge technological leaps in weaponry.  Rifled barrels  Minie ball  Tactics had to change, but most of the officers didn’t adjust early.  entrenched defensive fortifications were supreme.  Change in how Calvary used.  Artillery used defensively to mow down attackers during a charge and to soften up defenders before attacking.

Second Bull Run—8/29/62  Pope v. Lee and Jackson  Day 1, Pope attempts a frontal assault and is repulsed.  Day 2, Longstreet has his troops laid out in an open V. Pope attacks up the middle and is mauled.  16,000 Federal casualties compared to 9,000 Confederate casualties.  Pope is relieved of command and sent to Minn. to fight the Indians. McClellan placed back into command.

Antietam 9/17/1862  Lee’s thrust into Maryland  Purpose  The cigar problem  McClelland fails to act aggressively. Draw in fact, win technically, but tactical defeat for Union.  9/17/62 Bloodiest single day of the war. Confed. 14,000 cas.; Union 12,500  Consequences  Prevents Southern recognition  McClellan relieved of command  Allows for Emancipation Proclamation 9/23/1862

Emancipation Proclamation  What it said  Thousands of slaves flocked to the invading Union armies.  Lincoln’s goal  Eliminated any real possibility of a negotiated peace.  Abolitionists reaction.  Rise of the Copperheads.  Europe reaction  Prevents negotiated peace.

Fredericksburg  Gen. Burnside,  Confed. have fortified positions at top of ridge. Burnside orders repeated frontal charges. Union troops are slaughtered. More than 10,000 casualties.  12,700 Union Cas. to 5,300 Confed. Casualties. Biggest disparity of casualties of any Major Civil War battle.  Lincoln replaces Burnside with Hooker.  Winter of is low point for the Union.

Chancellorsville  May “Fighting” Joe Hooker takes over from Burnside and is beaten at Chancellorsville.  Union Casualties. 13,000 Confed.  Jackson’s night march  The fall of Jackson

Gettysburg  Lee’s Plan  Meade is replacing Hooker  Terrain  Culp’s Hill, Little Round Top, Big Round Top  Day 1 July 1, 1863  Day 2 Outcome still in doubt  Day 3 Pickett’s Charge  Lee forced to retreat back across the Potomac.  28,000 Confed. Casualties; 23,000 Union Causalities.

War in the West  Western Strategy  Grant  Shiloh  Vicksburg

Sherman’s March on Georgia  Grant goes to the East and Sherman takes over in West  Capture of Atlanta  Slash and Burn Campaign  Total War  Captures Savannah Christmas 1864 Destruction of the city is vicious

Politics of War  Election of 1864  Split of Democrats  Union Party  Andrew Johnson  Democrats—George McClellan  Timely victories in Georgia  Lincoln Wins 55-45

Grant Outlasts Lee  Grant advantage and strategy  5/64 Grant repeatedly tries to jump a march on Lee and get around his right. Lee forced to continually retreat to meet these threats.  (5/64) Battle of the Wilderness – U=18,000Casualties; Confed Casualties  Spotsylvania--Union suffers 12,000 Casualties Confed. 8,000

Cold Harbor  Cold Harbor—6/64. Union attacks fortified Confederate position. 7,000 Union Casualties in about 7 min.  In one month, Grant looses 50,000 (Wilderness to Cold Harbor; ½ as many as lost by that army in the prior 3 years)  Grant drives Lee back to Petersburg. Lee builds trenches and fortifications. Grant has to lay in siege. Grant is in miles of Richmond, but can’t get at Lee. Seige lasts for 9 months.  Northern troops captured Richmond and cornered Lee at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia in  “The war is over the rebels are our countrymen again.”

The Martyrdom Of Lincoln  Five days after Lee’s surrender, Lincoln shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington on April 14,  Lincoln dies at the height of the Union Cause  Ultimately, Lincoln’s death was bad for the south.  Lincoln’s Legacy.