1. The Early years of the Civil War
Chapter 16 Section 2

2. Lots of Names for the Same Event!
Historians have called the Civil War at least 30 names. Here are just a few:
The War for Southern Independence
The War for States’ Rights
The War of Secession
The Great Rebellion
The War Against Slavery
The War for the Union
The War of the North and South
The War of the Blue and Gray
Mr. Lincoln’s War
The War of Northern Aggression

3. North and South Couldn’t even agree on the name of the War!
Officially, it was the “War of the Rebellion” because the U.S. government considered the Southern states rebelling.
Southern states didn’t agree to it because they felt secession was constitutional!
“Civil War” also wasn’t acceptable because Southern states saw themselves as an independent nation
Compromise: “War Between the States” name was adopted by many as a compromise

4. First Battle at Bull Run
It has an alternate name: Manassas
WHO: Gen McDowell (Union) vs. Gen Beauregard and Stonewall Jackson both Confederates
WHEN: July, 1861
WHERE: near Manassas Junction, Virginia
WHAT HAPPENED: Union troops pushed the Confederates back, then inspired by “Stonewall” Jackson Confederates led a counterattack….
Confederates made an “unearthly” scream that became to be known as the REBEL YELL.
Union troops were terrified and dropped their guns and retreated back to Washington D.C.
OUTCOME: Confederates won and they thought they would be close to end the war! The North was shocked and realized the war would take longer than expected.
President Lincoln called for more volunteers to enlist.

5. War at Sea
The North’s goal was to create a naval blockade southern ports.
The blockade would prevent the sell of cotton and block southern imports.
North did not want the South to be able to make money. WHY?
Unfortunately for the North: They didn’t have enough ships to block the southern ports.
Southern ships were able to go in and out of ports...they were called “Blockade Runners.”

6. Monitor vs. Merrimack
WHO: CSS Virginia (former Merrimack) vs. The Union’s Monitor
WHEN: March 9th, 1862
WHERE: on the Potomac River
WHAT HAPPENED: Ships exchanged fire for 3 hours! Both ships took about 2 dozen hits and eventually ended when both sides were too exhausted to fight anymore!

7. Battle of Shiloh: aka PITTSBUrg Landing or “BLOODY Shiloh”
GOAL: North wanted to capture important railway junction at Corinth Mississippi. Battle took place about 20 miles north of the junction near a church called Shiloh.
WHO: Gen. Grant (North) vs. Johnston and Beauregard (South)
WHEN: April 6th, 1862
WHERE: Shiloh, Tennessee

8. “BLOODY SHILOH” continued
WHAT HAPPENED: The Confederates led a surprise attack on the Union Troops. The battle lasted 2 days, one of the bloodiest! Combined casualties of 20,000+ and Gen Johnston was killed.
Soldiers were lying in the rain, waiting for medical help…the Bloody Pond.
OUTCOME: South retreated and the Union won and then took control of Corinth Mississippi and then Memphis Tennessee…closer to controlling Mississippi River. Why important?
It’s ironic that Shiloh in Hebrew means “Place of Peace.”

9. Battle at New Orleans
GOAL: North wanted to capture the city… get closer to taking control of the Mississippi River
WHO: D. Farragut (Union Navy)
WHEN: April 25th, 1862
WHERE: New Orleans, Louisiana
WHAT HAPPENED: The Union Navy was able to capture the largest city in the South! Rebels could no longer carry goods to the Gulf of Mexico for trading…one step closer to controlling all of the Mississippi River!

10. Seven days battle (Richmond)
GOAL: Union wants to capture Richmond because it was the capital of the Confederacy
WHO: McClellan (Union) vs. Lee and Jeb Stuart (Confederates)
WHEN: June 1862
WHAT HAPPENED: Stuart had his scouts gather information about the North’s position...only 1 died. Then Stuart’s troops circled around McClellan’s men. Gen Lee was able to push Union troops to James River.
OUTCOME: Union failed to take capital, disheartened the North and the South’s morale increased.

11. ANTIEtam (AKA Sharpsburg)
GOAL: South’s President J. Davis ordered Confed. troops to take the offense and attack into Maryland- a border state (close to Washington DC!)
If the South won then they were hopeful that France and England would aid the South and encourage people of Maryland to join the Confederacy.
WHO: Gen Lee (South) vs. McClellan (North)
WHEN: Sept 17th, 1862
WHERE: Sharpsburg, Maryland- along Antietam Creek
WHAT HAPPENED: Single bloodiest day of the entire war! 6,000 killed and 17,000 wounded. Gen Lee retreated to Virginia. North claimed the victory.

12. Antietam continued
Gen. McClellan is fired because he did not follow Pres. Lincoln’s orders. He was told to follow Confed. troops but did not. A. Burnside will take control of the Union troops afterwards.