Strategies
Strategies
South “The Confederates eventually synthesized [combined] these various strands of strategic theory [ideas] and political reality into what Davis called an “offensive-defensive” strategy. This consisted of defending the Confederate homeland by using interior lines of communication . . . to concentrate dispersed forces against an invading army and, if opportunity offered, to go over to the offensive, even to the extent of invading the North. . . . [I]t emerged [came out or began] from a series of major campaigns in the Virginia-Maryland and Tennessee-Kentucky theaters [area of warfare] during 1862, and culminated [finished] at Gettysburg in 1863.” -James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, p. 338, Oxford University Press, NY, 1988.
The U.S. Civil War
Each Battle… Where? When? Who? Strategy? Outcome?
Battle of Shiloh
Shiloh (April 6, 1862) Following the Fort Donelson victory, the Union was overconfident and thus surprised when they were attacked at the woods near Shiloh in southwestern Tennessee. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman remarked, “My God, we’re attacked,” after his orderly [servant soldier] was unexpectedly [by surprise] killed. Sherman recovered, however, and for the next twelve hours, his leadership was as one historian wrote, “cool and courageous.” Leading from the front of his troops, Sherman was wounded, and had three horses shot out from underneath him. Despite the heavy losses the Union sustained [had] in the first day of surprise battle, Grant counterattacked [attacked the attackers] the next day, sending his 40,000 troops to battle against P.T. Beauregard’s 25,000 soldiers. Later in the day, Grant’s troops were reinforced [made stronger] with additional [more] troops. By the afternoon, the Confederacy was in retreat. The Union did not follow as the casualties [dead and wounded soldiers] from the battle were overwhelming [too much]. The Battle of Shiloh was the bloodiest battle of the war thus far. More than 20,000 soldiers died or were wounded. Some historians argue that this battle was the beginning of “total war” for both the Union and the Confederacy. It also marked the end of Southern control of the Mississippi Valley
Hornet’s Nest Field next to a sunken road Union controlled Southerns charges 8-14 times Should have gone around Took 7 Hours to Capture Enough time for Grant to advance and win. Confederate General Johnston is killed
Basics 23,741 Casualties 10,694 C v. 13,047 U.S. Wins? (April 6-7, 1862) Tennessee Wins? -Confederate- General PGT Beauregard & Albert Sydney Johnston -Union- Don Carlos Buell & Ulysses S. Grant 23,741 Casualties 10,694 C v. 13,047 U.S.
Basics 23,741 Casualties 10,694 C v. 13,047 U.S. Union Wins (April 6-7, 1862) Virginia (next to D.C.) Union Wins -Confederate- General PGT Beauregard & Albert Sydney Johnston -Union- Don Carlos Buell & Ulysses S. Grant 23,741 Casualties 10,694 C v. 13,047 U.S.
Outcome Grant is blamed for so many lives lost North wants Grant removed Lincoln, "I can't spare this man; he fights." Buell and Sherman emerge as a hero
Casualties: 23,741 April 12, 1861: Battle of Fort Sumter Casualties: none June 30, 1861: Battle of Philippi Casualties: 30 4 Union 26 Confederate July 21, 1861: First Battle of Bull Run/First Battle of Manassas Casualties: 4,700 2,950 Union 1,750 Confederate August 28-29, 1861: Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries Casualties: 773 3 Union 770 Confederate October 21, 1861: Battle of Ball's Bluff Casualties: 1,070 921 Union 149 Confederate November 7, 1861: Battle of Belmont Casualties: 1,464 498 Union 966 Confederate January 19, 1862: Battle of Mill Springs Casualties: 671 232 Union 439 Confederates February 6, 1862: Battle of Fort Henry Casualties: 119 40 Union 79 Confederate February 11, 1862: Battle of Fort Donelson Casualties: 17,398 2,331 Union 15,067 Confederate March 8, 1862: Battle of Hampton Roads Casualties: 433 409 Union 24 Confederate March 23, 1862: First Battle of Kernstown Casualties: 1,308 590 Union 718 Confederate April 5, 1862: Siege of Yorktown Casualties: 320 April 6-7, 1862: Battle of Shiloh Casualties: 23,741 13,047 Union 10,694 Confederate