Civil War Begins 1861-1865

United States of America vs. Confederate States of America

The War Begins U.S. government declared it was illegal for any state to secede – Southerners disagreed North is the Union ~ other nicknames are Blue Bellies, Yankees and Billy Yank South is the Confederacy ~ other nicknames are Grey Backs, Rebels and Johnny Reb Confederate troops seized all federal forts, navy yards and arsenals arsenals – storehouse for weapons 500 volunteers seized the Alamo, a U.S. arsenal in Texas

North vs. South

The War Begins One fort in the South was still being controlled by the Union Fort Sumter, located in South Carolina, was important to the Confederacy It guarded the port of the Charleston Harbor On April 12, 1861, the Confederacy fired the first shot and attacked Fort Sumter The Union quickly surrendered the fort the next day – ran out of ammunition This marked the beginning of the Civil War that would last four (4) terrible years

Fort Sumter

Strengths and Weaknesses South’s Disadvantages / North’s Advantages Only 1 million men of fighting age in South 4 million men of fighting age in North South’s population was 9 million North’s population was 22 million South had to import war supplies from Europe North had factories (80%) to produce weapons North had more railroads to move soldiers North had stronger navy / larger fleet of ships North’s government was more organized

Strengths and Weaknesses South’s Advantages / North’s Disadvantages South fighting a defensive war North fighting offensive war – had to travel South knew countryside better – “home turf” North had huge area of unfamiliar land to conquer – “invaders” South believed they were fighting for independence ~ defending their way of life North had much longer supply lines to protect and open to attacks

Military Leaders South had more experienced military leaders President Jefferson Davis Graduated from West Point Served as Secretary of War Officer in Mexican War General Robert E. Lee Surrendered at Appomattox Court House

Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis

Military Leaders North had many military leaders throughout the Civil War President Lincoln would appoint new commanders to try to get better results Irvin McDowell – Bull Run George B. McClellan – Antietam Ambrose Burnside - Fredericksburg George Meade - Gettysburg Ulysses S. Grant – Shiloh and Vicksburg

Union Strategies The Union Navy attempted to blockade southern ports blockade – closes a port by positioning ships to keep people or supplies from moving in or out Ports were important to the South South were dependent on imports from Europe for weapons and supplies Union would seize control of the Mississippi River ~ New Orleans port

Civil War Blockades

Famous Battles Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War in July 1861 Confederacy won the Battle of Bull Run Both sides learned that their soldiers needed more training It also showed that the war would be long and bloody Union won the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 ~ bloodiest battle of Civil War Ulysses S. Grant would lead the Union army at Shiloh

Battle of Bull Run

Battle of Shiloh

Ulysses S. Grant

Famous Battles Neither side was a clear winner in the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 23,000 Union and Confederate soldiers killed or wounded In December 1862, Confederacy won the Battle of Fredericksburg Fredericksburg was one of the Union’s worst defeats In May 1863, Confederacy won the Battle of Chancellorsville

Battle of Antietam

Famous Battles In July 1863, Union won the Battle of Vicksburg Union won the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 These two (2) Union victories marked a turning point in the Civil War It appeared Confederacy would fall… South was still determined to fight The war would last another two (2) years!

Texas Battles Texans intended to seize Southwest and California for the Confederacy It would give them access to gold mines and ports on Pacific Ocean Texas soldiers captured Santa Fe and Albuquerque They were running low on supplies Union troops captured their supply train at Glorieta Pass Confederate troops were forced to retreat Union controlled Southwest for rest of war

Glorieta Pass

Battle of Galveston Union warships set up a blockade off the Texas coast to stop trade Union troops occupied Galveston Texans converted two (2) steamboats into warships in early 1863 Texans forced the Union warships out of the Gulf and retook Galveston Confederates controlled the port for the rest of the war The defense of the Texas coast was one of the Confederacy’s greatest successes

Battle of Galveston

Battle of Sabine Pass Union troops tried to attack the Texas coast again at the Sabine Pass (port) Texans traded cotton for much needed weapons and medical supplies at the port Union tried to take a fort that protected the pass in September 1863 Texans fired cannons from the fort and forced two (2) Union ships to retreat Texans captured 300 Union soldiers The Texas coast was needed to trade with Europe during the war

Battle of Sabine Pass

Laredo and Red River In April 1864, Union soldiers tried to storm Laredo They wanted to burn its store of cotton At the Battle of Laredo, Benavides and his Tejano troops drove off the Union forces Union tried to invade Texas again They marched into Texas from Louisiana using the Red River Confederates won the Battle of Mansfield but fighting at Pleasant Hill ended in a draw

Battle of Laredo