The Beginnings of the War Weapons and Strategies Generals and Opinions

To understand how Lincoln solved the national dilemma faced at Fort Sumter. To understand how the Union and Confederacy viewed the prospect of war and how long it would last. To understand what new technology in weaponry and warfare changed the face of battle in the U.S. To explain the Northern and Southern strategies used to capture their opponent’s capital. Key terms to know: Anaconda Plan, Ft. Sumter, Bull Run, Shiloh, Monitor v. Merrimack, and Antietam

When the Confederacy formed, their first goal was to remove the national government from their states. Confederate troops had taken over the federal installations in their states (i.e. courts, post offices, forts). Only two forts remained when Lincoln took office, one of which was Ft. Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. What dilemma did Lincoln face upon entering office, and how did he show himself to be a very “clever” President? Ft. Sumter was surrounded by Confederate troops and under threat of attack. If Lincoln surrendered, he would look weak while legitimizing the Confederacy as a nation. If he fired first, he may force the remaining slave states to secede. He instead supplied the soldiers at the fort, forcing Jefferson Davis to act.

Forced with making a choice, Jefferson Davis chose war over looking weak. On April 12 th, 1861, the bombardment of the coastal fort began The fort was surrendered after being hit with over 4,000 rounds, and thus began the long and bloody Civil War. The fall of Ft. Sumter united the North and enlistment skyrocketed. This also prompted some upper Southern states to struggle with their loyalty to the Union. Virginia seceded on April 17 th, but the western counties of VA were anti-slavery and broke off to form West Virginia in Other states such as Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina seceded as well.

Both the North and South expected a short, glorious war. Soldiers marched off to battle in parades with bands playing. The North and South were mismatched greatly, with the North boosting more people, industries, and resources over the South. Political differences also contributed to Northern advantages since the South lacked a real centralized government, and Southern states often were resistant to the Confederate government’s demands. The South did have superb generals, as well as home field advantage. Soldiers fiercely defended their homeland, and upheld a proud military tradition.

Union Strategy The North had a 3 part plan known as the Anaconda Plan. 1) Naval blockade of Southern ports. 2) Split the Confederacy by advancing down Mississippi River. 3) Capture Richmond, VA (Capital city) Defensive Strategy If the opportunity arose, attack Northern cities. Survival as a nation. Confederacy Strategy

July 21 st, 1861, was the first major bloodshed of the war. 30,000 Union soldiers stumbled upon a large group of Confederate soldiers encamped by Bull Run Creek in Virginia. The battle was won by the Confederates due to the leadership of Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and the reinforcements that arrived Picnickers watched from a distance, but found that the war was far more horrifying than expected. How did Bull Run change the opinion of the war? The North realized that the war would last longer than a single battle, and the Southern morale was greatly boosted.

Alarmed by the outcome of Bull Run, Lincoln called for the enlistment of 1 million soldiers for a term of 3yrs, and appointed Gen. George McClellan as the head of the Union army. General Ulysses S. Grant headed the western units that captured two Southern forts in Tennessee; Ft. Donelson & Ft. Henry While camped at a small church called Shiloh in TN, Grant’s troops were ambushed by thousands of Confederate troops. He was forced to retreat, but regrouped, was reinforced, and charged back in to push the Confederates out of the area. What was learned from this battle by both sides? The North and South realized that scouts, trenches, and fortifications were necessary. Also, the war was going to be long and bloody. 25,000 troops died in this skirmish

The Union naval fleet of 40 ships began their campaign to blockade Southern ports in Louisiana. Led by Admiral David Farragut, the fleet took the South’s busiest harbor in New Orleans. Over the next few months, Farragut helped to capture Baton Rouge and Natchez. Why was capturing port cities and establishing a blockade essential to a Union victory? By taking ports and blockading the Southern coasts, the Confederacy would be unable to ship or receive the resources needed to continue the war.

The ironclad ship became a devastating machine of war that could tear through the wooden hulls of older ships, resist fire, and cannon fire. The Northern Monitor faced off against the Southern Merrimack on March 9 th, 1862 in one of the greatest stalemates of all time. The breech-loading rifle and minié ball ammunition also changed warfare. The rifle could load faster and was more accurate, and the ammo was more accurate and did more damage than the older style.

Although the blockade and splitting of the Confederacy were going according to plan, Gen. McClellan was failing to take the capital of Richmond due to his cautious nature. The Seven Days’ Battles was pivotal as it pitted McClellan versus the clever Robert E. Lee in VA en route to Richmond. Lee’s unusual strategies forced McClellan to take retreat even though Confederate troops were fewer in number and took higher casualties. Lee moved on to Bull Run and won successive victories, but McClellan was lucky to find Lee’s plans which revealed a weakness in the Confederate army. McClellan attacked Lee at Antietam Creek, and this would become the bloodiest single day battle of the Civil War with 26,000 casualties.

McClellan’s failure to pursue Lee’s retreating forces led to Lincoln questioning his head General, and firing him for being overtly cautious. What do you notice in the picture? (Hint: look at the two flags and how they are placed.) The Union flag is kept off the ground, while the Confederate flag is on the ground.

HW: Double-Entry Notes 11.2 If you did not complete your research rough draft, see me after class! Leave the room better than you found it and have a great day!