1. Early Battles and Strategies
the Civil War
Early Battles and Strategies

2. January 1861 The South secedes from the Union
When Lincoln was elected in 1860, South Carolina issued its, “Declaration of the Causes of Secession.”
Believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and
In favor of Northern interests
Before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, seven states had seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas
Four more followed soon behind

3. February 1861 The South creates a government
At a convention in Montgomery, Alabama, the seven seceding states created the Confederate Constitution
Similar to the United States Constitution, but with greater stress on the autonomy of each state
Jefferson Davis was named provisional president of the Confederacy until elections could be held
South Seizes Federal Forts
When President Buchanan (Lincoln's predecessor) refused to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states, southern state troops seized them
At Fort Sumter, South Carolina troops repulsed a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to return to New York, its supplies undelivered

4. March 1861 Lincoln is inaugurated
The new president said he had no plans to end slavery in those states where it already existed, but he also said he would not accept secession
He hoped to resolve the national crisis without warfare

5. April 1861 Attack on Fort Sumter; The War Begins
President Lincoln planned to send supplies to Fort Sumter
In an attempt to avoid hostilities, he alerted the state in advance
South Carolina, however, feared a trick
The commander of the fort, Robert Anderson, was asked to surrender immediately
Anderson offered to surrender, but only after he had exhausted his supplies
His offer was rejected, and on April 12, the Civil War began with shots fired on the fort
Fort Sumter eventually was surrendered to South Carolina
Virginia secedes and joins the Confederacy
Richmond is named the Confederate Capitol

6. May 1861
Arkansas and North Carolina secede from the Union and join the Confederacy

7. June 1861 Tennessee secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy
West Virginia is born
Residents of the western counties of Virginia did not wish to secede along with the rest of the state
This section of Virginia was admitted into the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863
Four slave states remain in the Union
Despite their acceptance of slavery, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri did not join the Confederacy
Although divided in their loyalties, a combination of political maneuvering and Union military pressure kept these states from seceding

8. July 1861 The First Battle of Bull Run
Public demand pushed General-in-Chief Winfield Scott to advance on the South before adequately training his untried troops
Scott ordered General Irvin McDowell to advance on Confederate troops stationed at Manassas Junction, Virginia
McDowell attacked on July 21, and was initially successful
The introduction of Confederate reinforcements resulted in a Southern victory and a chaotic retreat toward Washington by federal troops
Now aware of the reality of a protracted war and the army's need for organization and training, Lincoln replaced McDowell with General George B. McClellan.

9. Stonewall Jackson
Jackson rose to prominence and earned his most famous nickname at the 1st Battle of Bull Run
July 21, 1861
As the Confederate lines began to crumble under heavy Union assault, Jackson's brigade provided crucial reinforcements on Henry House Hill, demonstrating the discipline he instilled in his men

10. Blockade of the South
To blockade the coast of the Confederacy effectively, the federal navy had to be improved
By July, the effort at improvement had made a difference and an effective blockade had begun
The South responded by building smaller, faster ships that could outmaneuver Union vessels

11. Advantages Population Money Industry Infrastructure Organization
Union
Confederate
Population
Money
Industry
Infrastructure
Organization
Best military officers
Dedication to “the Cause”
Fought a defensive war

12. Union Strategy Anaconda Plan Proposed by General Winfield Scot
Blockade of Southern ports and block trade
Advance down the Mississippi River splitting the South in ½
Capture Richmond
Destroy the Confederate Army
Like the anaconda, suffocate the victim

13. Confederate Strategy Defensive War
Defense of Richmond, the
Defense of the coastal areas
Gaining the Border States into the Confederacy
Blockade running and privateers
Diplomatic efforts to gain diplomatic recognition (or assistance) from Britain and/or France
And, the "offensive defense" of exhausting the Union

14. Peninsula Campaign Major Union Operation in southeastern Virginia
March – July 1882
1st large scale offensive in the Eastern Theater
Commanded by Major-General George B. McClellan
Intended to capture the Confederate capitol, Richmond
Initially successful against cautious Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson
Became a humiliating defeat when General Robert E. Lee showed up

15. Series of Battles
McClellan’s Union forces landed at Fort Monroe and moved northwest
Brig-Gen John B. Magruder waiting on the Warwick Line surprised McClellan
McClellan prepared for the siege of Yorktown
Confederates began to withdraw toward Richmond
Battle of Williamsburg
Battle of Drewry’s Bluff (James River)

16. McClellan reaches Outskirts of Richmond
Battle at Hanover Courthouse
Surprise attack by Johnson’s Confederate forces at the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks)
Johnson wounded
Robert E. Lee took over
Organized an aggressive offensive
June 25 – July 1, 1862—Seven Days Battles
Humiliating Union Defeat

17. the Western theater
The Western Theater of the Civil War included the area east of the Mississippi River and west of the Appalachian Mountains
It initially excluded operations against the Gulf Coast and the Eastern Seaboard but as the war progressed the definition of the theater expanded to encompass operations in Georgia and the Carolinas

18. Ulysses S. Grant Career soldier Graduated from West Point
Served in Mex-Amer War
Maj-Gen in Union Army
Took control of Kentucky and most of Tennessee
Victory in the Battle of Shiloh
Seized Vicksburg; took control of Mississippi River, dividing the Confederacy in 2
1864 series of bloody battles trapped Lee at Petersburg, VA
Captured Richmond
Lee surrendered

19. Review—the End of the Civil War
Battle of Antietam
Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland
Met by McClellan
North lost more men, but South lost higher %
Considered Union victory because Lee forced to retreat back to Virginia
Allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation

20. Siege of Vicksburg, MS
A siege is a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside
Vicksburg was the last major Confederate outpost on the Mississippi River

21. Battle of Gettysburg, PA
Robert E. Lee’s 2nd invasion of the North
Confederate troops defeated the same week as Vicksburg
Considered the turning point of the Civil War

22. Sherman’s March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted through Georgia
November 15 to December 21, 1864
Began with Sherman's troops leaving the captured city, Atlanta, Georgia and ended with the capture of the port of Savannah
His forces destroyed military targets as well as industry, infrastructure, and civilian property and disrupted the South's economy and its transportation networks
Considered total war--a war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, esp. one in which the laws of war are disregarded

23. Ulysses S. Grant Career soldier Graduated from West Point
Served in Mex-Amer War
Maj-Gen in Union Army
Took control of Kentucky and most of Tennessee
Victory in the Battle of Shiloh
Seized Vicksburg; took control of Mississippi River, dividing the Confederacy in 2
1864 series of bloody battles trapped Lee at Petersburg, VA
Captured Richmond
Lee surrendered

24. Lee’s Surrender In March of 1865 Grant laid siege to Petersburg
Starving them of supplies and reinforcements
Lee ordered a retreat of Petersburg in Late March and headed North to meet troops in North Carolina
After struggling with Union forces, Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House