1. The War in 1864

2. Soldier Morale This is a very disappointing year on both sides
1863 looked so promising for the Union they thought they could close the war early on the next year
Grant finally moves east to be in charge of all Union soldiers

3. The Leadership of Grant
He is tired of everyone wondering what Lee is going to do next
It’s time for the Union to take the offensive
The Union wins the Battle of the Wilderness, but Grant won’t let them stop there

4. Spotsylvania Courthouse
Lee arrives first and entrenches his army
1 soldier in a trench is worth 3 on the ground
Grant tries to punch through the Confederate army and the bodies stack up quickly

5. Aftermath People think Grant is crazy
He loses 18,000 soldiers while the Confederates lose 12,000
However, the Confederates have lost any offensive spark they might have had

7. Sherman’s March to the Sea
William Sherman helps Grant close out the war with his merciless march south
Sherman’s march renews passion for Lincoln’s cause just before the election

8. The South’s fatal mistake
In the South, the reckless General Hood takes the place of General Johnston who keeps retreating
Johnston was a good general and popular with his troops
Hood was too aggressive and untrustworthy

9. Sherman’s Success
Sherman takes the city of Atlanta which pretty much is the nail in the coffin for the South
Support surges again for Lincoln from those on the fence and thinking of voting for McClellan
Absentee soldiers’ votes was key for Lincoln

10. Sherman goes too far? Sherman forces civilians out of major cities
He doesn’t have control of his army and they cause $100 million in damage

11. Did Grant go to far? Why or why not?
Should Sherman have had better control of his army? Why or why not?
Was destroying the South the only way to defeat it?
Why could the Northern army be so reckless and the Southern army could not?