War in the West

The War in the West Lincoln finally found a general he could count on to take the fight to the South in Ulysses S. Grant, a mediocre West Point graduate who fought under the ideal of “unconditional surrender.” In Tennessee, Grant achieved smashing victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson but lost a horrific battle at Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862). Yet, later in the spring of 1862, a flotilla commanded by David G. Farragut joined with a Northern army to seize New Orleans. Shortly after, at the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Grant besieged the city, finally capturing it on July 4, 1863, thus securing the important Mississippi River and cutting the South in half. This Union victory at the Battle of Vicksburg came the day after the Union victory at Gettysburg. Consequently, the Confederate hope for foreign intervention was lost.

The War in the West

The political significance of the back-to-back Union military victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg was monumental: Victory at Vicksburg reopened the Mississippi to Northern trade and helped to quell the Northern peace agitation in the “Butternut” area of the Ohio River valley. Confederate control of the Mississippi had cut off that region’s usual trade routes down the Ohio-Mississippi River system to New Orleans, thus adding economic pain to that border section’s already shaky support for the “abolition war” – at least until these 2 conclusive victories. The twin victories also conclusively tipped the diplomatic scales in favor of the North, and by the end of 1863, all Confederate hopes for foreign help were irretrievably lost.

Sherman Scorches Georgia After Grant cleared out Tennessee, General William Tecumseh Sherman was given command to march through Georgia, and he delivered, capturing and burning down Atlanta before completing his infamous “March to the Sea” at Savannah. His men cut a trail of destruction, waging “total war” by cutting up railroad tracks, burning fields and crops, and destroying everything in an attempt to destroy Southern morale. Though despised in the South to this day for his ruthless destruction, one consequence of Sherman’s style of warfare was a shorter war that saved lives.

The Politics of War Lincoln even had troubles in his OWN party as many “Radical” Republicans were unhappy with his leadership. Plus, the Northern Democrats split after the sudden death of Stephen Douglas – the “War Democrats” supported Lincoln while “Peace Democrats” , the group most dangerous to the Union cause, did not. The worst of the Peace Democrats were the Copperheads - those who were totally against the war, and denounced the president - the “Illinois Ape” and his war. The most famous of the Copperheads was Clement L. Valandingham. This sometime Ohio congressman harshly denounced the war, was imprisoned for it, then banished to the South -then came back to Ohio (illegally), but was not further punished. Democracy Versus Rebellion The two American combatants exchange blows while Britain and France look on. Note the copperhead snake that threatens to distract the Union. “Copperhead” was the name given to those Northern Democrats who were willing to settle for a negotiated peace with the Confederacy.

The Election of 1864 In 1864, the Republicans cleverly joined the War Democrats to form the one-time-only Union Party and re-nominated Lincoln. Meanwhile, the Copperheads and Peace Democrats ran former general, George McClellan. The Union Party chose Southern Democrat Andrew Johnson to ensure that the War Democrats would vote for Lincoln, and the campaign was once again full of mudslinging. Near election day, the victories at New Orleans and Atlanta occurred, Union soldiers were pushed to vote, and Lincoln soundly defeated his opponent in the Electoral College, 212-21. The popular vote was closer: 2.2 million to 1.8.

1864: A political cartoon comparing the election of 1864 to a game of bagatelle showing the Democratic candidate for President, George McClellan (2nd left) and his running mate, George Pendleton (left) watching President Lincoln playing at the table and reassuring General Ulysses S Grant (3rd from right) and his running mate Andrew Johnson. Watching the scene is Clement Vallandigham (right), the leader of the copperheads, a group of Northern Democrats who opposed the war.