Plans for victory differed significantly The Union Use the Navy to blockade southern ports Effectively cut the south off from manufactured goods from Europe Wanted to capture Richmond (southern capital) Hoped to end the war quickly by capturing the Confederate Government Wanted to capture the Mississippi River This would hinder the south's ability to supply its troops Would also split the states of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana off from the rest of the Confederacy
The Confederacy The south would fight a defensive war until the north got tired of fighting If it became unpopular in the north, Lincoln would have to stop the war and recognize the south’s independence The south would use its economic ties to Europe for support Cotton was important to European textile mills Would use money to buy war supplies Southerners were confidant that they would be recognized by Europe and that Europe would continue to buy southern goods
July 21 st 1861 Union troops headed for Richmond Hundreds of civilians followed to watch the fight Met Confederate forces near the town of Bull Run Union had early success and felt that would be the end of the war General Jackson held the line and earned the name “Stonewall” for his fortitude This act rallied the Confederate forces
The Union ended up scattering and fled due to the Confederate rally They ran all the way back to Washington D.C. This was a major embarrassment for the Union Army Highlighted the need for more training for troops from both armies After the defeat, Lincoln appointed George McClellen as commander of the Union army in the East Trained troops and prepared them for battle
McClellan was very cautious and hesitated to lead his army into battle Lincoln stated “If McClellan does not want to use the army, can I borrow it?” In March 1862, McClellan took his army towards Richmond Robert E. Lee counterattacked and Stonewall Jackson approached Washington D.C. This prevented Lincoln from sending the rest of the Union Army to help McClellan McClellan being cautious, he abandons his attack on Richmond
Union Navy blockaded southern ports Small, fast boats known as “Blockade Runners” slipped through carrying guns to the south Blockade got better Southern trade dropped by 90% South turned an abandoned Union ship called the Merrimack into an Ironclad ship named the Virginia The Union made their own ironclad known as the Monitor The two clashed but did no damage to the other Confederates had to sink the Virginia when the Union captured Norfolk The Union built more than 50 ironclads The ironclads changed naval warfare The South never again mounted an attack on the Union Navy and the blockade continued for the rest of the war
Robert E. Lee wanted a Confederate victory on Union soil In September, 1862 he led his troops north to Maryland His battle plans were found by a Union soldier at an abandoned Confederate camp site and were given to McClellan Again, McClellan was slow to act He attacked Lee on September 17 th at Antietam More than 23,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in the one day long battle
Lee retreated that night He was relieved that McClellan did not pursue There was no clear winner in this battle The North claimed victory because Lee withdrew Northern morale increased Lincoln was upset that McClellan did not pursue Lee McClellan was replaced with General Ambrose Burnside in November
Lee met Burnside in 1862 in the Battle of Fredericksburg The Union attack was repelled by the Confederate guns dug in on the crest of a hill This was one of the Unions greatest defeats Jackson and Lee defeated the Union again at the Battle of Chancellorsville in three days A Confederate sentry fired on what he thought was a Union soldier General Stonewall Jackson died several days later
General Ulysses S. Grant moved towards controlling the Mississippi River Captured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson On April 6 th, 1862 he was surprised by Confederate forces at Shiloh Union forces were pushed back at first but won on the second day There were about 24,000 casualties at Shiloh While Grant was fighting at Shiloh, Union troops and ships moved to take the Mississippi New Orleans and Memphis fell to the North