The Civil War- The Two Sides 16-1

An American Story Union Sgt. Driscoll directed his troops at Malvern Hill on 1 July 1862. The enemy fought fiercely especially one young Confederate soldier. P.7

An American Story Sgt Driscoll raised his rifle, took aim, squeezed the trigger, and shot the boy. Sgt Driscoll passed the spot where the boy had fallen.

An American Story Sgt. Driscoll turned the daring soldier over to see what he had looked like. The boy opened his eyes and faintly murmured, “father,” then his eyes fluttered shut never to open again.

An American Story A Union captain wrote, “I will forever recollect the frantic grief of Driscoll; it was harrowing to witness. He had killed his son, who had gone South before the War. “

An American Story Like the Driscoll’s, many families were divided by the war. Neither side imagined, however, that the war would cost such a terrible price in life. During the 4 years of fighting, over 660,000 Americans were killed in battle. P.7

Choosing Sides By Feb of 1861 seven states had left the union and formed the Confederacy. After the attack on Ft Sumter, Lincoln called up troops to save the Union. This action caused VA, NC, TN, and AR to secede and join the Confederacy.

Choosing Sides Those additional states brought needed soldiers & supplies to the Confederacy. The Confederacy Chose Richmond, VA as its capital; 100 miles from Washington DC.

Choosing Sides Four States that allowed slavery, MO, MD, KY & DE, remained with the Union. These were considered Border States, and people were divided over which government to support.

Choosing Sides All of the border states had strategic importance. MO could control parts of the Mississippi River and points west. KY controlled the Ohio River. P.4

Choosing Sides DE was close to the important city of Philadelphia. MD was close to Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. Vital railroad lines passed through MD. Washington DC was within MD.

Choosing Sides_ Maryland Maryland’s role was clearer in April of 1861 when a Baltimore mob attacked Union troops. Confederate sympathizers burned railroad bridges and cut the telegraph line to Washington DC, disrupting communication with the rest of the North.

Remaining with the Union It was necessary that Lincoln moved with caution politically speaking to not upset the border states. If Lincoln announced he was going to end slavery, supporters of the Confederacy could take their state out of the Union.

Remaining with the Union Should Lincoln put Union troops in KY, Confederate sympathizers there would claim the state had been invaded and swing to the South.

Remaining with the Union Lincoln Suspended some constitutional rights and used his power to arrest people who supported secession.

Remaining with the Union In 1861, Lincoln had already suspended civil law in territories where resistance to the North's military power would be dangerous. In 1862, when copperhead democrats began criticizing Lincoln's violation of the Constitution, Lincoln suspended habeas corpus throughout the nation. P.7

Remaining with the Union He proclaimed that all persons who discouraged enlistments or engaged in disloyal practices would come under Martial Law. P.4

Not in the history books Among the 13,000 people arrested under martial law was a Maryland Secessionist, John Merryman. Immediately, Hon. Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States issued a writ of habeas corpus commanding the military to bring Merryman before him. The military refused to follow the writ. Justice Taney, in Ex parte MERRYMAN, then ruled the suspension of habeas corpus unconstitutional because the writ could not be suspended without an Act of Congress. President Lincoln and the military ignored Justice Taney's ruling.

Remaining with the Union In the end Lincoln’s approach worked and the border states stayed within the Union. Many of their citizens though, joined armies of the Confederacy. P.4 P.7

A Secession from the Confederacy Most white Southerners favored secession Pockets of Union support thrived in parts of TN and VA. People in the Appalachian region opposed secession.