Georgia in the Civil War Seceded Jan. 18, 1861 Sent nearly 100,000 soldiers to battle Switched from cotton to food production (numerous food shortages during the war) 1400 miles of railroads made GA strategically important to both North and South GA free from war until 1863 –Approx. 550 battles/skirmishes occurred in the state

American Civil War April 12-14, 1861 –Battle of Fort Sumter, Charleston, SC –1 st battle of the Civil War –Confederates attack Union-held fort in Charleston Harbor –Attacked for 34 hours straight before Union surrendered on April 13 –No deaths on either side during battle –Lincoln calls immediately for 75,000 Union soldiers and 4 more states secede from the Union (VA, Ark., Tenn., NC)

Color Key: Dark Red: States that Seceded before April 15, 1861 Light Red: States that Seceded after April 15, 1861 Blue: Union states that did not permit slavery Yellow: Union states that permitted slavery Gray: Territories

American Civil War July 21,1861 –First Battle of Bull Run, Manassas, VA –First major land battle of the Civil War –Confederate victory –Over 4800 casualties

Leaders at the Battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861 General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (Confederate) General Irvin McDowell (Union)

American Civil War September 17, 1862: Battle of Antietam –Near Sharpsburg, MD 1 st major battle in north –Total casualties: 22,717 Single bloodiest day in American history –No clear winner Emancipation Proclamation issued 5 days later

Battle of Antietam: Sharpsburg, Maryland This was the first time the South invaded the North. 12 hour battle with 23,000 soldiers either killed, wounded, & missing. Three phases – Cornfield, Bloody Lane & Bridge No conclusive winner Union claimed victory because Lee retreated back to Virginia This gave Lincoln his “victory” necessary to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This was the first time photographs were taken of a battle field.

Leaders at the Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 General George Mcclellan (Union) General Robert E. Lee (Confederate)

Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation ProclamationOn September 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Confederate States of America (CSA)It stated that unless the Confederate States of America (CSA) surrendered by January 1, 1863, “all slaves in states or districts in rebellion against the USA will be thenceforth and forever free.”

It freed the slaves only in states that have seceded from the Union. It did not free slaves in border states.

American Civil War July 1-3, 1863 –Battle of Gettysburg –Gettysburg, PA –3 day battle; turning point of war –Union victory South retreats and never invades the north again –Total casualties: 46,286

Leaders of the Battle of Gettysburg July 1 – 3, 1863 General George Meade (Union) General Robert E. Lee (Confederate)

L ee realized that the South was not winning war and decided to attack the North on its own territory (Pennsylvania). C onfederacy attacked North, but Union held firm J uly 3, General Pickett led 15,000 Confed. army across open fields - Union mowed them down ("Pickett’s Charge") L ee (South) was defeated and retreated to Virginia. F rom July 1-3, 1863, 51,000 soldiers were either killed or injured. G ettysburg is the largest battle in the history of the Western hemisphere. I t was the last time the South invaded the North.

American Civil War November 19, 1863 –Gettysburg Address –Ceremony to dedicate Soldier’s National Cemetery –President Lincoln’s speech lasted just over 2 minutes Urged preservation of Union Redefines purpose of the war

American Civil War Sept , 1863 –Battle of Chickamauga NW Georgia –Largest battle fought in GA –Confederate victory –Total casualties: 34,624 2nd highest # of casualties after Gettysburg

Leaders of the Battle of Chickamauga September 18-20, 1863 General William Rosecrans (Union) Major Gen. Braxton Bragg (Confederate)

Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia Bragg tried to reoccupy Chattanooga after being pushed south into Georgia. South was successful after reinforcements arrived and because of a Northern strategic mistake. The Confederates were able to defeat the Union and pushed them back into Tennessee, but did not occupy Chattanooga.

American Civil War Series of battles during summer of 1864 between Chattanooga and Atlanta –Sherman constantly outflanked Johnston during the Campaign Atlanta was the most important military target for Sherman because it was a center for industry and transportation CSA economy was already in ruins and this campaign made the situation worse. “It was a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.” –The homes/resources of common men are destroyed on path to Atlanta

American Civil War Atlanta Campaign (1864) –Battle of Rocky Face Ridge (May 7-13) -- Union Victory –Battle of Resaca (May 13-15) -- No Clear Victor –Battle of Adairsville (May 17) -- Union Victory –Battle of New Hope Church (May 25-26) – Confederate Victory –Battle of Dallas (May 26-June 1) – Union Victory –Battle of Pickett’s Mill (May 27) – Confederate Victory –Battle of Marietta (June 9-July 3) – Union Victory –Battle of Kolb’s Farm (June 22) – Union Victory –Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (June 27) – Confederate Victory –Battle of Peachtree Creek (July 20) – Union Victory –Battle of Atlanta (July 22) – Union Victory –Battle of Ezra Church (July 28) – Union Victory –Battle of Utoy Creek (August 5-7) – Confederate Victory –Battle of Jonesboro (August 31- September 1) – Union Victory

New Hope Church -May 25-26, 1864: Confederate Victory; Total casualties = 2015

Pickett’s Mill May 27, 1864: Confederate victory; Total casualties = 2100

Kennesaw Mountain June 27, 1864: Confederate victory; Total casualties = 4000

Leaders of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain June 27, 1863 William T. Sherman (Union) Joseph E. Johnston (Confederate)

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Union (North)Confederates (South) Sherman decided on frontal attack, thinking the Confederates were spread thin. “The hardest fight of the campaign up to that date," Sherman lost roughly 3,000 men. Johnson set up defensive position on Kennesaw Mountain to protect supply links. Turned mountain into earthen fortress. Confederate victory

Atlanta Campaign General William T. Sherman’s plan was to march through Georgia, take Atlanta, and leave a path of destruction to Savannah. Beginning on July 20, 1864, General Sherman burned and tore up the city of Atlanta for almost 40 days. By September 2, 1864 the Union troops had captured and destroyed Atlanta.

March to the Sea

Sherman’s March to Sea Field Order No. 120 was issued by Sherman ordering Union troops to “live off the land”. They would gather food from fields and take livestock for food. Also, troops were supposed to collect food, horses, & mules. They were not allowed to enter homes of civilians to steal…Of course, the troops did not follow that rule.

Sherman’s March to Sea Total WarSherman waged Total War on the South (destroy anything useful to the enemy). His troops destroyed railroad tracks, crops, burned homes and businesses. Sherman divided his troops into 2 groups and they advanced towards Savannah going different directions. After fighting many battles along the way, Sherman’s troops captured Savannah on December 21, 1864.

Sherman’s March to Sea Total WarSherman waged Total War on the South (destroy anything useful to the enemy). His troops destroyed railroad tracks, crops, burned homes and businesses. Sherman divided his troops into 2 groups and they advanced towards Savannah going different directions. After fighting many battles along the way, Sherman’s troops captured Savannah on December 21, 1864.

Andersonville The largest military prison of the Confederate army during the Civil War Located near Andersonville, Georgia 52,300 Union soldiers were detained there between February 1864 and April 1865 More than 13,200 died from disease, exposure, and lack of medicines. After the war, the commander of the camp, Captain Henry Wirz, was convicted and hanged for the maltreatment and death of Union POWs. He was the only Confederate official to be executed.