The North Takes Charge Chapter 11.4

Armies Clash at Gettysburg A three day battle beginning on July 3, 1863 many historians believe was the turning point of the Civil War. The losses were so heavy 1/2 of the Confederates were dead or wounded General Lee could not put together sufficient forces to invade the north.

Prelude to Gettysburg 1863 was a relatively good year for Confederates, first four days of May the South beat the north at Chancellorsville, Virginia. The north eventually needed to retreat but consolation was when General Stonewall Jackson came back to camp A soldier mistook him for a Union soldier and shot him in his left arm. The arm was amputated and Jackson got pneumonia and died May 10. Despite Jackson’s death, Lee pushed into the north to gain a victory and tip the balance of political power.

Gettysburg 1/2 Confederate forces, (many barefoot) traveled to Gettysburg because they were told there was a supply of footwear there and also to meet up with General Lee's troops. They ran into Union brigades. The Union army took defensive positions on the hill and ridges surrounding the town. Shooting attracted more troops and reinforcements went in.

Gettysburg 2/2 Union troops began to fall back. Confederates took the town but knew they needed to secure the high ground south of Gettysburg known as Cemetery Ridge. July 2nd 90,000 Union and 75,000 Confederates stood ready to fight for Gettysburg. On the third day of the attack the Confederates moved towards the Union soldiers to try to take the high point but failed.

Losses Three Days- more than 30% killed. Union 23,000 killed or wounded Confederacy 28,000 killed or wounded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqdA1B3_Nc

Fly infested corpses lay everywhere in the July heat Fly infested corpses lay everywhere in the July heat. For the next two years Lee would continue to lead his men but would never recover from Gettysburg or the surrender the following day in Vicksburg.

Grant Wins Vicksburg Grant continued his campaign in the west in Vicksburg Mississippi. One of the two only holdouts keeping the Union from total control of the Mississippi River. It was important to transporting goods.

Vicksburg Under Fire 1/2 Grant destroyed railways, took the capital of Jackson. Two frontal attacks failed at Vicksburg so a siege began from land and sea for several hours a day. Food ran low and Confederate soldiers began eating dogs and mules.

Vicksburg Under Fire 2/2 A soldier sent a petition to there commander stating "if you can't feed us you'd better surrender." On July 3, 1863 Confederate commander of Vicksburg surrendered and five days later Port Hudson Louisiana surrendered splitting the Confederacy in two.

Gettysburg Address November 1863 ceremony held to dedicate a cemetery in Gettysburg. A two hour oration by Edward Everett and then Abraham Lincoln presented what becomes known as the Gettysburg Address.

The Confederacy Tears Down New war tactics was to hope for an armistice rather than a surrender from the North.

Confederate Morale 1/2 Morale was deteriorating in the south. A tax was put on farmers to grow more food and less cotton and tobacco which upset farmers. Many soldiers deserted the Confederacy when food got low and began to go back to farms and some even fought for the north.

Confederate Morale 2/2 In every southern state except for South Carolina there were soldiers who decided to fight for the north Example 2,400 Floridians served in the Union army. Discourse in the south made it virtually impossible for Jefferson Davis to lead the Confederacy effectively.

Grant Appoints Sherman March 1864 Lincoln appoints Grant the Commander of all Armies and Grant then appoints William Tecumseh Sherman as military commander of the Mississippi.

Grant and Lee in Virginia Grant wanted to immobilize Lee's army in Virginia while Sherman raided Georgia. Sherman knew he could afford to lose twice the men as Lee and did. During the next few months from May 4-June 18 Grant lost nearly 60,000 men and could afford to where Lee lost 32,000 men and could not afford to. Northern papers and Democrats called Grant a butcher but Grant fought on.  

Because of the victories in the south, Abraham Lincoln won a second term as president