1. The War in the West

2. Union Strategy in the West
Dorothy Pesci
Union Strategy in the West
Westerly strategy of the Union

3. Dorothy Pesci
Lincoln and Generals
Lincoln was frustrated over the cautious, hesitant General McClellan
Grant grew impatient when he was asked to lead defensive maneuvers
Grant wanted to be on attack

4. Strategy
Dorothy Pesci
Western campaign focused on taking control of the Mississippi River
The Union army could attack southern communication and transportation networks
In February 1862, Grant led an assault force into Tennessee
The force took two outposts on key rivers in the west
February 6, he captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River
Then Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River

6. Battle of Shiloh
Dorothy Pesci
When advancing through south Tennessee, Grant paused near Shiloh Church to await the arrival of the Army of the Ohio
April 6, 1862, the rebels sprang on Grant’s camp
This began the Battle of Shiloh, in which the Union army got control of the Mississippi River valley
Both sides gained and lost ground
The Ohio army helped Grant regain land and win
Both armies gave out each with about 10,000 casualties
Both sides claimed victory, but Grant won

7. When New Orleans fell! Caitlin McCann
The Fall of New Orleans
When New Orleans fell!
Caitlin McCann

8. General Ulysses S. Grant proceeded along the Mississippi
Union navy forced it’s way up river to meet them
The port of New Orleans, the biggest city in the Confederacy, was the first obstacle
Admiral David Farragut, with 18 ships and 700 men, approached the two forts that guarded the gateway to the Mississippi
Knew he couldn’t defeat the forts, decided to race past them
Operation would take place at night
Caitlin McCann

9. Wooden ships were wrapped in iron chains to protect them
Mud and trees attached to the ships to make them look like the shoreline
Before dawn, April 24, 1862, the union warships dashed past a barrage of bullets shot from gunboats and confederates on the shore
The fleet slipped past the two forts
New Orleans fell April 29
Farragut sailed on up the Mississippi to take Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi
He soon approached Vicksburg, Mississippi
Caitlin McCann

10. It’s been sieged! Maggie Lyons
The Siege of Vicksburg
It’s been sieged!
Maggie Lyons

11. The Siege of Vicksburg Vicksburg- impossible to invade
On top of 200 ft. tall cliffs above the Mississippi River
Surrounded by deep gorges on all other sides
Could rain down firepower on anyone who got close
Farragut couldn’t reach the city- General Grant decided to starve them out
The Siege of Vicksburg began May 1863
Union cut off the city and started to shell it repeatedly
People of Vicksburg turned to eating rats, dogs, horses
Only thing people could do- eat when they could, sleep when they could, and dodge the shells

12. The Surrender of Vicksburg
The soldiers and civilians were sick, hungry, and considering mutiny
Late June- soldiers sent their commander a warning that said if he didn’t feed them or surrender them soon, they would rebel
July 4 Pemberton surrenders
Grant sends food in for the soldiers and civilians immediately, saying “the fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell.”

13. Struggle for the Far West
The Far West is being struggled for!
Maggie Lyons

14. Struggle for Land
Early in the war, Union had to stop several Confederate attempts to control land west of Mississippi
August Union stops Confederate forces in Glorieta Pass (Colorado) and Pichaco Pass (Arizona)
1861- rebels fell back to NW Arkansas- attacked again in March 1862 with the help of 800 Cherokee
Union won the battle, despite the odds
Confederates continued to attack Missouri and Kansas, causing valuable Union troops to be left there

15. Sources