Early Years of the War 15 - 2 By: Austin and Julian

The Unions crushing defeat at Bull Run made northerners realize that a long a difficult struggle lay ahead. In the section, you will learn how the bloody early years of war caused many to worry that the North might not win. Background Knowledge

New weapons made the civil war more deadly than and previous war. New rifles and cannons were far more accurate and had greater range then the old muskets and artillery. New guns could be loaded much faster. Army could be bombarded long before it arrived. Thousands of soldiers on both sides were slaughtered by following orders to cross open fields against these new deadly weapons. Ironclads, warships that were protected by giant iron plates. Cannon fire bounced harmlessly off this armour. Union’s Monitor and Confederate Merrimack fought March 1862. The Confederate used their ironclads against the Union's naval blockade. New Technology in War

The use of new weapons forced commanders to rethink their tactics. Main Idea

Mcdowell was replaced by George McClellan after Union loss at Bull Run. McClellan was well organized but very cautious. March 1862 McClellan moved some 100,000 soldiers to Chesapeake Bay by boat to a peninsula southeast of Richmond. The Confederates only had 15,000 troops, yet McClellan waited because, Lincoln ordered 37,000 troops to stay behind and defend the capital. McClellan waited a month for more troops before advancing again. This break gave the Confederacy time to reinforce. May 31, 1862 the Confederates stopped McClellan’s advance and forced the Union to retreat in late June. Lee then decided to invade the North. He was hoping a victory on North soil would help gain support from Europe. Luckily for McClellan one of his officers had found Lee’s battle Plan. The War in the East George McClellan

The War in the East Continued McClellan’s troops attacked Lee’s army at Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862. Union suffered about 12,000 casualties after attacking again and again. Lee was forced to retreat back into Virginia after losing about ⅓ of his army- nearly 14,000 casualties. McClellan didn’t pursue, which made Lincoln very not happy. Neither side won a clear victory at the Battle of Antietam, but North claimed it, since Lee ordered the retreat. The War in the East Continued

Main Idea Each side suffered setbacks in the East in 1862 Confederate Soldier Union Soldier

As McClellan moved closer, Union armies in the West went on the attack General Ulysses S. Grant led the most successful of these armies. In 1862 Union forces made major advances in western and naval battles, taking over most of the Mississippi. Grant moved his army south from Kentucky First he captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River Then he captured Fort Donelson on the Cumberland river Before grant could advance on Corinth, Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston attacked. Battle of Shiloh was very costly to both sides. Costing the South 11,000 casualties and the North 13,000 casualties. Union forced the Confederate to withdraw from the railroad center. Union forces now gained control of western Tennessee On April 26, Farragut captured New Orleans, Louisiana. By summer, nearly the entire river was in the Union's hands. The War in the West The Battle of Shiloh

In the West, Union forces seized control of most of the Mississippi River in 1862. Main Idea Rodger B. McClellan Ulysses S. Grant

McClellan Grant Fairly wealthy Wore carefully fitted uniforms Very cautious Once a poor store clerk Wore rumpled clothes Took chances Differences