Slide 1 The Civil War – Part 2 Major Carlos Rascon

Slide 2 References Fuller, The Conduct of War, , pp Fuller, The Conduct of War, , pp Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of Military History, pp Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of Military History, pp Weigley, The American Way of War, pp , Weigley, The American Way of War, pp ,

Slide 3 Learning Objectives Comprehend and compare the battles at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness Campaign Comprehend and compare the battles at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness Campaign Know and understand the significance of said battles and how they affected the outcome of the war Know and understand the significance of said battles and how they affected the outcome of the war Comprehend the impact that the Civil War had on future conflicts Comprehend the impact that the Civil War had on future conflicts

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Slide 5 Antietam 17 Sep 1862 VA cleared of Union troops after win at Second Bull Run VA cleared of Union troops after win at Second Bull Run Lee attacks North with objectives: Lee attacks North with objectives: –Convince Maryland to secede –Capitalize on Union’s weariness –Indirectly threaten Washington –Gain international support

Slide 6 Antietam Lee crosses Potomac Lee crosses Potomac McClellan (back in command) marches NW with 95,000 McClellan (back in command) marches NW with 95,000 Union lucks upon Lee’s battle plan Union lucks upon Lee’s battle plan –Still, McClellan moves too slowly –Gives Lee time to fall back to Sharpsburg Intercept Lee near Potomac with 70,000 vs. Lee’s 39,000 Intercept Lee near Potomac with 70,000 vs. Lee’s 39,000 Lee outnumbered but holds of charge Lee outnumbered but holds of charge –Shorter interior lines of communication –By late afternoon in danger of collapse –Timely arrival of Hill with reinforcements ends battle

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Slide 8 Analysis McClellan again removed from command McClellan again removed from command –Waited too long to attack –Hesitated before committing troops when Lee was pressed –Allowed Confederates to escape back to VA Antietam had two far-reaching effects Antietam had two far-reaching effects –Caused international support to be postponed –Emancipation Proclamation

Slide 9 Preparation at Chancellorsville May 1863 Hooker – commander of Union forces Hooker – commander of Union forces 134,000 Union vs. 60,000 Confederates 134,000 Union vs. 60,000 Confederates Hooker’s plan Hooker’s plan –Three corps move up river –Two corps hold Lee’s attention –Cavalry corps maneuver to rear and destroy comm and supply –Double envelopment Lee’s plan Lee’s plan –Keep Hooker under surveillance –Use offensive, maneuver, economy of force to make up for inferior numbers

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Slide 11 Battle of Chancellorsville 1 May: Hooker falls back to Chancellorsville after skirmish 1 May: Hooker falls back to Chancellorsville after skirmish Lee informed of Hooker’s exposed flank Lee informed of Hooker’s exposed flank Lee “envelop the envelopers” Lee “envelop the envelopers” –17,000 hold Union attention –Jackson’s 26,000 make 15 mile-wide swing 2 May, 1700: Jackson charges Union’s flank 2 May, 1700: Jackson charges Union’s flank –Confederates weary after movement –Jackson wounded and Confederates pushed back –Hooker withdraws whole line next morning

Slide 12 Battle of Chancellorsville 3 May: Sedgewick (Union) assaults Marye’s Heights 3 May: Sedgewick (Union) assaults Marye’s Heights –Lee leaves Stuart (Jackson’s successor) with 25,000 to guard Hooker –Lee moves with 21,000 to meet Sedgewick & repels 6 May: Lee prepares to repel Hooker 6 May: Lee prepares to repel Hooker –Hooker surprises him by withdrawing

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Slide 14 Analysis Use of cavalry Use of cavalry –Stuart’s recon contributes to Lee’s plans –Hooker’s use as rear assault ineffective Lee uses principle of movement well Lee uses principle of movement well –Didn’t violate mass due to common mission –Hooker yielded the initiative when his stronger force could have divided Lee’s forces

Slide 15 Analysis Union loses 17,000 vs. CSA 13,000 Union loses 17,000 vs. CSA 13,000 –Remember … initially, 134,000 vs 60,000 Lee loses critical general: Jackson Lee loses critical general: Jackson Chancellorsville shows peak of Lee’s brilliance Chancellorsville shows peak of Lee’s brilliance –Lee’s moral superiority over Hooker –Napoleon: “The General is the head, the whole of the army.”

Slide 16 Preparation for Gettysburg Lee wants to use his initiative Lee wants to use his initiative –Morale high after Chancellorsville –Attack on North would remove Feds from VA Lee’s favored defensive tactics would not work Lee’s favored defensive tactics would not work –Limited ammunition supply –Confederates unfamiliar with territory –Lee’s confidence in troops –Stuart’s lack of proper intelligence Lincoln vetoes Hooker’s plan to counter in Richmond; replaced by Gen Meade Lincoln vetoes Hooker’s plan to counter in Richmond; replaced by Gen Meade

Slide 17 Battle of Gettysburg 1 July 1863 Confederates outflank at Cemetery Hill and hold Gettysburg Confederates outflank at Cemetery Hill and hold Gettysburg Pickett to arrive with 15,000 fresh CSA Pickett to arrive with 15,000 fresh CSA Lee has no luck assaulting flanks Lee has no luck assaulting flanks –3 July: Decides to try final, frontal assault –Union troops expertly entrenched –“Pickett’s charge” fails to break Union lines Both sides lose 20,000+ Both sides lose 20,000+ Lee withdraws across Potomac Lee withdraws across Potomac Meade misses opportunity to overwhelm Lee Meade misses opportunity to overwhelm Lee

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Slide 19 Analysis Shows importance of communication Shows importance of communication Lee relied too heavily on frontal assault Lee relied too heavily on frontal assault –After breaking lines, numbers to small to assault Stuart’s cavalry neutralized by Custer Stuart’s cavalry neutralized by Custer Lee still weakened by loss of Jackson Lee still weakened by loss of Jackson –New leadership lacked proper comm –Also lacked experience Lee overestimates his troops Lee overestimates his troops Union victory which begins decline of CSA Union victory which begins decline of CSA

Slide 20 U. S. Grant Feb 1864: Grant promoted to Lt. Gen. Feb 1864: Grant promoted to Lt. Gen. –Considers big picture –Meade to contain Lee while Sherman strikes from south Begins the Wilderness Campaign Begins the Wilderness Campaign –Intensely bloody battles as Grant fights to Richmond –50,000 Union vs 25,000 CSA losses

Slide 21 Wilderness Campaign Grant smashes into Lee’s lines Grant smashes into Lee’s lines –Grant repelled –Grant would “slide down” –Lee would follow –Grant would hit Lee’s line, repelled, etc. Both sides win Both sides win –Lee keeps Grant from reaching Richmond –Grant weakened Confederate army –Grant’s army – troops replenished; Lee’s – no replacements

Slide 22 Petersburg Grant attempts to flank Lee Grant attempts to flank Lee –Lee unaware –Union commanders too cautious –Stalemate Apr 1865: Lee withdraws to west to resupply Apr 1865: Lee withdraws to west to resupply –Find supply lines cut –Retreat route blocked –9 Apr 1865: Appomattox Court House

Slide 23 Impact of Future Conflicts Expanding battlefield due to new technology Expanding battlefield due to new technology Land and water mines see first use Land and water mines see first use Trench warfare begins Trench warfare begins Breech-loading rifle appears Breech-loading rifle appears Trend toward dispersal and increased “individual” combat Trend toward dispersal and increased “individual” combat

Slide 24 Summary Chancellorsville Chancellorsville –Lee’s pinnacle Gettysburg Gettysburg –Turning point of Civil War Wilderness Campaign Wilderness Campaign Future of warfare Future of warfare

Slide 25 Questions?