CIVIL WAR LEADERS

Map of Civil War Battles

Union leaders

ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA …proved to be a great asset to the Union. He never wavered from his goal of preserving the union. Son of poor mid-western farmer Educated himself by reading everything he could Lawyer 6’4” ---- Tall and Thin Married to Mary Todd Lincoln – 4 sons

General irvin mcdowell Appointed by Lincoln to lead the Union forces Graduate of West Point Veteran of Mexican War West Point instructor after Civil War BATTLE OF BULL RUN Lost Command after Bull Run Why?... Underestimated the South’s Military strengths and was forced to retreat Replaced by General George McClellan

GENERAL GEORGE MCCLELLAN West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran Engineer by trade Superior as… supply technician & training troops BATTLE OF ANTIETAM Has General Robert E. Lee on the run but did not follow through Lincoln was furious and fired him McClellan ran against Lincoln for President in 1864 and lost

General ambrose burnside West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran Trade: Tailor and Inventor Did not want to be a Commander but tried to live up to responsibilities Term “sideburns” comes from him because of HIS unusual “sideburns” BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG Defeated at this battle and relieved of his command

General joseph hooker West Point graduate Rancher Mexican War hero…earned him nickname “Fighting Joe” A man of “culture and class”…during war, traveled with comforts of home including best food, fine china, wine and music. BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE Lost beyond humiliation in this battle and relieved of his command

General george c. meade West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran & Indian Fighter BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG Proved himself in this battle, but the losses were so heavy, Lincoln still searched for and found an adequate leader in Ulysses S. Grant who replaced him.

General ulysses s. grant West Point graduate Mexican War veteran GRANT’S WAR STRATEGY Find your enemy, get your enemy, strike hard and as often as you can…and move on! Total Warfare! Take the war to you enemy from all sides and break their will to fight and ability to support their troops! Destroy Everything!!! Burn homes, burn crops, kill animals, destroy railroads and businesses

William t. sherman West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran Lawyer and Banker Grant ordered Sherman to “inflict all damage you can against the South’s war resources.” Sherman marched through Georgia and the Carolinas destroying everything his troops found of value. Grant and Sherman met near Richmond, VA and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.

Confederate leaders

JEFFERSON DAVIS PRESIDENT OF CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran 6’ tall and very lean Intense, hated politics Did not want to be President of Confederacy Devoted to the “secessionist” cause Was never able to form a strong, single nation out of the eleven strongly independent states of the Confederacy

General robert e. lee From oldest, distinguished Virginia family West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran Engineer by trade Lee captured John Brown at Harper’s Ferry even though he opposed slavery and secession Lincoln asked him to command Union forces but he declines because he was from Virginia and Virginia was a Confederate State. He would not fight against him home state. Became a Commander in Confederate Army

General pierre gustave toutant beauregard West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran Engineer by trade IMPORTANCE IN HISTORY… Gave the order to fire on Fort Sumter, the first shot of the Civil War

General albert s. johnston A Texan West Point graduate Mexican War Veteran Trade: Farmer 2 nd Highest Ranking Confederate Officer Lee gave him command of western part of Confederacy and ordered him to prevent Union from taking control of Mississippi River BATTLE OF SHILOH Shot in leg but kept on fighting. Later died from injury. Union was able to take Mississippi River away from South. Robert E. Lee… ”I have lost my left arm!!!”

GENERAL THOMAS “STONEWALL” JACKSON West Point graduate Mexican War Veteran Commander of 1 st major battle of war … the BATTLE OF BULL RUN BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE Mortally wounded by his OWN men General Robert E. Lee is devasted… “I have lost my right arm!”

General j.e.b. stuart West Point graduate Mexican War Veteran Career Military Man Helped capture John Brown at Harper’s Ferry Known as “Eyes of the Army” for skills in scouting and spying Mortally wounded in Battles of the Wilderness. Lee surrenders not long after his death.

GENERAL NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST Uneducated but not illiterate Farmer, horse and cattle trader and realtor One of America’s greatest “tactical minds” Rose from Private to General due to … “Military Genius” Raided Union lines of communication and led surprise attacks Grant and Sherman feared him Military school today teach classes on his tactical skills

General george pickett West Point Graduate Mexican War Veteran Insurance Salesman Commanded foot soldier infantry for Lee BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG Ordered by Lee to charge across an open field Decision was one of Lee’s few military mistakes Pickett lost many men and refused to speak to Lee after war

GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER West Point graduate, 1861 Active and daring cavalry officer during the Civil War He distinguished himself at the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863.Battle of Gettysburg His actions were particularly noteworthy in the battles immediately preceding the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Courthouse.

The End of the War… The Confederacy was not ever able to recover from the losses at Gettysburg. Difficulties continued until they finally lost the war. USA, Virginia, Appomattox Courthouse, Bugle Used to Sound the Assembly Ending the Civil War, April 9, 1865

Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9th, 1865 LIEUTENANT- GENERAL U. S. GRANT GENERAL: I received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. R. E. LEE, General

American Flag in the Civil War During the Civil War, stars were NOT removed from the United States Flag, as Confederate States seceded from the Union. The Federal Government did not recognize the legality of the secession, and would not acknowledge it with a removal of stars from the flag. The Southern states were not represented in Congress during these years, but their stars remained always on the flag.

The End