The Civil War
Dec 16, 2015
The Civil War
Civil WarCivil WarWar between the Northern
(Union) and Southern (Confederate) states
1861 - 1865
“From Bull Run to Antietam
Causes of the Civil WarCauses of the Civil War
1. Regional differences between the industrial North and the agrarian South
2. Question of slavery in the territories 3. Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-
Nebraska Act inflame passions4. Abraham Lincoln is elected President5. Lower South secedes6. Confederacy attacks Fort Sumter
Strengths of SouthStrengths of SouthMost officers were SouthernDefensive position Fighting to preserve their
way of life and right to self-government
Strengths of NorthStrengths of NorthTwice the railroad tracksTwice as many factoriesBalanced economyMore moneyGovernment, Army and NavyLarger population
Strategy of NorthStrategy of North• Naval blockade of southern ports
ordered by Lincoln
• Would stop South from shipping cotton to Europe and from receiving goods from Europe
• Gain control of the Mississippi River to divide the South
• Anaconda Plan
South’s StrategySouth’s Strategy• Prepare and wait (wanted to go
in peace); defensive war• War of attrition – wear down
enemy; failed to realize that the North had more resources
• But…the North had stopped exports of cotton and Europe turned to Egypt and India
Jomini’s Art of War• The standard textbook taught
to all trained military leaders of the Civil War
• Emphasized the importance of position and maneuvering your troops
• Battles were seen as unnecessary if you were able to capture important points (the high ground)
• Try to force enemy from his position from your BETTER position
Tactics and Tactics and TechnologyTechnology
• Generals trained in European warfare of having masses of troops charge
• New rifles and artillery were more accurate and deadly; bullet shaped ammunition and rifling
• Artillery could fire shells and canisters
• Commanders were slow to change tactics
Why the techniques didn’t work….
• Both sides tried to use these techniques at the beginning of the Civil War
• Both sides had the same strategy and knew the drills cold
So…a New Style of Fighting Developed• There was a lot of
shooting but not a lot of aiming!
• The element of surprise became important
• The troops advanced though “minie” balls, sulfurous smoke, and loud noise from cannon fire,
• Hand-to-hand combat was important after the ammo ran out
The Divisions of the Civil War Army
• Cavalry• Artillery• Infantry
Johnny Reb and Billy Yank
• The “common man” soldier
• Enlisted and usually infantry
• Generally aged 17-25
• Died by the thousands
•If a Northerner: Could not pay someone to fight for them•If a Southerner: Did not own 20+ slaves•Died by the thousands on both sides throughout the war•Paid the ultimate price for their convictions
Who were these common soldiers???
The Union’s Strategy
1. Defend Washington with the Army of the Potomac and try to capture Richmond
2. Gain control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in half
3. Blockade the South (Anaconda)
The Confederacy's Strategy
• Turn back every Union advance until the British or French joined their side
• Fight defensively
• Make the people of the North weary of fighting
• Force Lincoln to negotiate
• “A war of attrition”
The Campaign of 1861• “Our battle summer…”
• A short and painless war
• 90-day enlistments were common
• “ A short vacation from the plow”
• “An excursion party to the Sunny South”
The First Battle of The First Battle of Bull Run (Bull Run (Manassas)
• July 21, 1861• General Irvin McDowell-North• General P.G.T. Beauregard-South• Railroad used to move troops• Sightseers watch; North flees• Casualties: North 2900; South
2000
The First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)• Took place north of
Richmond, VA• Congressmen, reporters,
socialites, and curiosity seekers came to watch the “show”
• Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson became Confederate hero
• Fierce gun fire surprised both sides
The Union Panics and Retreats…
• Spectators in carriages and with picnic lunches were trampled by troops and peppered with gunfire
• A Confederate win• Washington DC is VERY close by• “What if……????????”
1862 and Stalemate
• The British and the French did not join the Southern cause
• Lincoln evokes the wartime powers given to him by the Constitution (the loss of the writ habeas corpus) cut the heads of the “copperheads”
• Robert E. Lee takes over the Confederate Army
The Battle of Shiloh (Tennessee)
• A surprise Confederate attack by General Joseph Johnston’s 4000 Rebel troops
• Grant was reportedly still drunk from the night before
• The bloody battle lasted throughout the next day
• 11,000 Southern losses and 13,000 Northern losses
• Mass graves were dug… “Shiloh was a horror”
Lessons from Shiloh (April 1862)
• The war would be a long one and a bloody one
• Both sides would suffer great losses
• Fraternization between the two sides ceased between battles
• The idea of the “summer battle” was no longer boasted about by either side
War in the EastWar in the East• Monitor and the Merrimack
• Merrimack was wooden ship with iron plates bolted on
• Merrimack damaged three wooden ships
• Wooden navies now obsolete
War in the WestWar in the West• General George McClellen led Northern
Army; ordered to build and train the army
• General Ulysses Grant led Northern Army in the West to try to seize the Mississippi River
Forts Henry and Forts Henry and DonelsonDonelson
•Used gunboats•Forts in Tennessee and fell to Grant–Nashville fell to federal troops
•Grant moved farther south toward Mississippi
Mississippi RiverMississippi River• Naval squadron under David
Farragut seized New Orleans for the Union
• He captured Baton Rouge, La and Natchez, MS
• Took Memphis, TN on June 6, 1862• Only Vicksburg, MS and Port
Hudson, LA remained for the North to capture to split the Confederacy
Peninsular Peninsular CampaignCampaign
•Confederates destroyed Merrimack to keep it from being captured by the North
•McClellan was too cautious•Moved army east of Richmond
•Heavy casualties in the Battle of Seven Pines
George McClellan
Robert E. LeeTrained at West Point, he takes command at the Battle of Seven PinesWell liked by his troopsServed as President of Washington and Lee University after the war
The South Goes on the The South Goes on the Offensive…Offensive…
• General RE Lee General RE Lee now in Charge!!!!now in Charge!!!!
• Second Battle of Bull Run– Stonewall Jackson
attacks from the rear and General Lee from the front
– Another Confederate Victory!
The War at Sea• Union sailors assigned to the
blockade had many long, boring days at patrolling sea waiting for action
• Confederate sailors however on commerce-raiding ships destroyed or captured more than 250 northern merchant ships and $15 million in ships and cargo
The Union’s Ironclad • The Union Monitor was an odd
shaped ship “that resembled a cake tin riding on a platter”.
The Confederate's Ironclad
• The Confederate Merrimac (Virginian) was an old battleship that had been armed with iron plates that covered it in the shape of a tent
The Clash of the First Ironclads
•On March 9, 1862 the two ships battled for 5 hours
•Technically a draw
•The Merrimack had to withdraw for repairs so it became known as a Union win
Battle of AntietamBattle of Antietam• Lee invaded Maryland, hoping for
European support• McClellan delayed after getting
battle plans of Lee; Sept. 17, 1862• North lost 12,000 and Lee 14,000;
retreated to VA; As Lee withdrew, McClellan did not attack
• Bloodiest one-day battle of war
The Battle of Antietam
• President Davis was not happy with Lee’s defensive victory’s and wanted him to make a major push north
• His army of 40,000 met McClellan’s 80,000 men at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, VA
• McClellan found Lee’s battle plans, due to a fatal stroke of bad luck• The Rebel forces lost 25% of their men
Life Behind the LinesLife Behind the Lines
Southern ConstitutionSouthern ConstitutionRecognized states’ rights Recognized states’ rights
and slaveryand slaveryNeeded to build loyalty ofNeeded to build loyalty of
southernerssouthernersFewer resources than NorthFewer resources than North
DraftDraftRequired military serviceLaw required 3 years service
for white men from 18 to 35; later moved to 50
Large slave owners excused; wealthy hired substitutes
EconomyEconomy Confederate government regulated commerce and
railroads Farmers paid 10% of produce to war effort Income tax imposed Borrowed slaves for labor
Help from EuropeHelp from EuropeNo recognition (official
acceptance of government)Great Britain built privateers
for the ConfederacyEurope decided to wait and
see who would win
Politics in the NorthPolitics in the NorthStrained relations with Great
BritainNorth removed Slidell and Mason
from British ship, the Trent, and then had to free them
Demanded $19 billion for damages by privateers from Great Britain
RepublicansRepublicans1862, passed Pacific Railroad
Act: gave land and money to companies for construction of railroad from Nebraska to Pacific Coast
Homestead Act: free landTariff to protect industry
Economy of NorthEconomy of North Federal income tax Internal Revenue Act of 1862: tax on certain items such as
liquor, tobacco, medicine, and ads Created national currency: greenbacks
Wartime ActionsWartime Actions Delaware secure Maryland: arrested disloyal representatives Missouri: supported uprising to overthrow pro-Confederate
state government Kentucky: martial law
Northern DraftNorthern Draft1863, military service for
white males 20 to 45. Could pay $300 or hire a
substitute to serve
Opposition to WarOpposition to War Riot over draft: 100 died in New York City Copperheads (Democrats): said freed slaves would
take jobs 13,000 imprisoned for opposition
Writ of Habeas CorpusWrit of Habeas Corpus Legal protection requiring that a court determine if a
person is lawfully imprisoned Constitution allows suspension during a rebellion 13,000 Americans imprisoned without trial;
newspaper editors and elected state officials
EmancipationEmancipation Jan. 1, 1863, Lincoln
issued the Emancipation
Proclamation Freed slaves in areas of
rebellion against the
government
Effect of ProclamationEffect of Proclamation
Inspired southern slaves to escape to the protection of Union troops
Encouraged African Americans to serve in the Union army
ContrabandContrabandSeized possessions would
be kept by the enemy; included slaves
Used to build fortifications, etc.
1863, used to fight South
African American African American SoldiersSoldiers
By 1865 180,000 African Americans had enlisted
Served in all-black regiments1863 54th Massachusetts
Infantry, under Colonel Robert Gould Shaw attacked Fort Wagner; lost half his men
Hardships of WarHardships of War
South’s economy: food shortage
Men at war; women workedInflationArmy deserters
North’s EconomyNorth’s EconomyIndustry boomedWomen workedSome products were shoddy
and fell apart
Prison CampsPrison CampsAndersonville, GeorgiaHeld 35,000 Northerners,
kept in a fenced open area100 died a day of starvation
or exposureCommander hanged later
Medical ConditionsMedical Conditions 1 out of 4 soldiers died Women cared for sick Clara Barton: “angel of battlefield” American Red Cross Disease killed more than guns
The Tide of War TurnsThe Tide of War Turns
Battle of FredericksburgBattle of Fredericksburg
General McClellan replaced with Ambrose Burnside
Burnside attacks Lee in VA by charging into Confederate gunfire
Union casualties 13,000
Battle of Battle of ChancellorsvilleChancellorsville
Burnside resignsJoseph “Fighting Joe”
Hooker takes over for NorthLee split forces to counter
Hooker approaching from the rear; builds fires in camp
Lee and Jackson
ChancellorsvilleChancellorsvilleMay, 1863; On the second
day, Stonewall Jackson attacked on right of Hooker
Jackson scouting at night and is hit by own troops; arm amputated; died
1863….The Battle of Chancellorsville
• General Lee had 60,000 troops• General Hooker had more than double that amount• Lee took a chance and divided his army and took Hooker by surprise• Known as Lee’s last great victory although the Southtechnically lost more men• The Confederates mourned the loss of Stonewall Jackson
The Siege of Vicksburg• Vicksburg an important trading
center was high on a rocky cliff
on the Mississippi River• City was considered impassable• General Grant created a new plan…assault the
society and the civilians who live nearby!• After several successful confrontations, he
settled down for a successful 7-month siege• Vicksburg surrenders on July 4, 1863
Battle of GettysburgBattle of GettysburgNorth at low point due to losses
Lee weakened by blockade and lack of supplies
Lee hoped North would give up if he won in Pennsylvania
Lee’s Biggest Lee’s Biggest MistakeMistake
General James Longstreet, Lee’s second in command
He advised Lee not to attack the North’s strong position
But…Lee orders the attack
The Gettysburg Campaign• Lee decided to threaten
Washington DC by way of Pennsylvania• At first everything went his way, and he caught the Union soldiers
off guard• General Meade was looking for Lee and
Lee was looking for a shoe factory• They found each other in a little town
called Gettysburg
The 3-Day Battle Begins…• The Rebels were on
Seminary Ridge and the Union was on Cemetery Ridge• Lee attacked and almost won on the first day but the Federal line held• On day two, the Union held its place on Little
Round Top where they could shoot onto advancing troops
• Remember…the advantage always rests with the _________________?
July 1, 1863July 1, 1863General George Meade, new
Northern generalNortherners held hills south
of town; Cemetery RidgeSoutherners held Seminary
Ridge; field in between
July 2, 1863July 2, 1863Meade brings reinforcementsLittle Round Top, undefendedMaine soldiers under Colonel
Joshua Chamberlain hold it and then attack with bayonets
Saved Union army from retreat
Day Three: Pickett’s Charge• Between 1:00 and 2:00, General
Longstreet was ordered against his will to head across “no man’s land”
• The “Billy Yanks” were waiting on top of Cemetery Ridge with reinforcements who were loaded with rifles and artillery
• The “Johnny Rebs” were slaughtered first by artillery and then by minie balls
1. McPHERSON'S RIDGE 2. THE RAILROAD CUT 3. OAK HILL 4. OAK RIDGE 5. THE ELEVENTH CORPS LINE
The Results of Gettysburg• The attack was a nightmare for the South that
lasted less than an hour but over 10,000 men were dead wounded or missing
• 5 of 25 commanders were injured; the other 15 were killed and 2 Brigadier Generals were killed.
• Southern morale was ravaged• But a second attack never came…Lincoln was
furious.• The South was never able to launch an
offensive campaign again
Actual Scene from after the Battle
July 3, 1863July 3, 1863Lee opens with artillery
barrage15,000 Confederates attackPickett’s Charge; cut up by
Northern artillery; ½ casualties
GettysburgGettysburgBloodiest battle of warUnion had 23,000 casualtiesSouth had 28,000 casualtiesJuly 4, 1863, Lee retreats to
Virginia
The Gettysburg Address• Lincoln’s moving speech
is among the most famous in U.S. History
Gettysburg AddressGettysburg Address Nov. 19, 1863 President Lincoln explained the meaning of the Civil
War Freedom and equality belong to all
After Gettysburg…• Southern Campaign
• The Tennessee Campaign becomes more important as General William Rosecrans followed orders to push General Braxton Bragg into northern Georgia
• Union troops then attacked Chattanooga one of the South’s only important railroad centers
VicksburgVicksburgNorth wanted control of the
Mississippi RiverGeneral Ulysses S. GrantSeveral attacks failedBegan a siege in May 1863Surrender July 4, 1863
Ulysses S. Grant
Turning PointTurning PointGettysburg and VicksburgMississippi River taken by
North, cutting Confederacy in two
A New Birth of A New Birth of FreedomFreedom
Grant Takes CommandGrant Takes Command
Lincoln must win battles to win the election of 1864
Grant plans to use North’s superior population and industry to wear down the South
Battle of the WildernessBattle of the Wilderness
May 5, 1864 in VirginiaGrant beaten, but moved
south anywayNo retreat
Battle of SpotsylvaniaBattle of SpotsylvaniaMay 12, 1864Northern losses were huge,
with bodies piled four deepAgain Grant moves his army
further south
Battle of Cold HarborBattle of Cold HarborJune, 1864, armies met
eight miles from RichmondLarge Northern lossesGrant lost 7,000 Union
soldiers in less than one hour
Siege of PetersburgSiege of PetersburgGrant moved around capital of
Richmond and attacks Petersburg
In last two months, Grant lost 65,000 men
Lee has trouble replacing casualties and waits
Sherman in GeorgiaSherman in GeorgiaSherman wanted to seize
Atlanta, a rail and industrial center
98,000 Union menConfederate General -
Joseph Johnston
General William Sherman
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
AtlantaAtlantaJohnston wanted to delay
Sherman until after the Nov. elections
Mid-July, Sherman is near Atlanta
Johnston replaced with General James Hood
AtlantaAtlantaHood engaged Sherman in
several battles and lost thousands of men
Sherman laid siege to the citySept. South’s army left Atlanta
The South’s last true victory…
Chickamauga
• A surprise awaited Rosecrans, when Bragg hit him hard at Chickamauga just south of Chattanooga
• The Confederate force of 70,000 beat the Union force of 56,000 one of the bloodiest battle of the war
• The Rebels lost 18,454 and the Yankees 16,179 in the bloodiest two days of the War.
“The Battle
Above the Clouds”
• A fog began to cover much of the top half of Lookout Mountain at 10:00am that morning, obscuring the view of the participants of the battle and the men in the Chattanooga Valley.
• It was this meteorological phenomena that gave the fighting on its nickname, "The Battle Above the Clouds."
“The Rock of Chickamauga”• The Union forces fled
back to Chattanooga in part because of General George H. Thomas, a Federal soldier who had remained loyal to the Union
• Thanks to Thomas, the North was able to retire in good order to the fortifications of Chattanooga
-William B. Hamilton--(Lt., 22nd Michigan Infantry, Co. F)
The Rock of Chickamauga Let rebels boast their Stonewall braveWho fell to fill a traitor's grave,We have a hero grander far,The Union was his guiding star,The "Rock of Chickamauga." When foot by foot, stern RosecransRound grim Lookout, with bold
advance,Pressed back the rebels from their lair,Our Thomas was the foremost there,The "Rock of Chickamauga."
Grant’s “Total War”• Lincoln promoted
General Grant to the rank of Lt. General
• Gave him total command of the Union forces
• He called off the “gentlemen’s war
• Make war not only on the Confederate army but on the Southern people as well
Sherman’s March to Atlanta- 1864
• Ringgold Gap• Dalton• Rocky Face
Ridge• Resaca• Adairsville• New Hope
Church
• Pickett’s Mill• Dallas• Kolb’s Farm• Kennesaw
Mountain• Peachtree
Creek• Jonesborough
Grant’s Right Hand Man…
William Tecumseh Sherman
• Was he mentally ill?
• Was he a brilliant strategist?
• How did his plan to cut through Georgia work?
• How did Atlanta fit into his plan?
The March to the The March to the SeaSea
Some thought Sherman was mentally unstable
He ordered Atlanta burnedCut a 300-mile long path of destruction
Captured Savannah in Dec.
The Election of The Election of 18641864
Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, Vice President, Republicans
Former General McClellan, Democrat (Lincoln had relieved him of his command!)
Capture of Atlanta helped Lincoln win reelection
Thirteenth Thirteenth AmendmentAmendment
Passed by Congress in February, 1865
Ratified by the states and became law on Dec. 18, 1865
Ended slavery in the U.S.
End of the WarEnd of the WarSherman moved through
South Carolina, burning most houses
Did not destroy North Carolina
AppomattoxAppomattoxApril 9, 1865 Lee met Grant
and surrenderedGrant offered food and
ordered celebration by Northern troops ended
Effects of the WarEffects of the WarBoth sides suffered great
losses; more than half a million people died
Union preservedSlavery abolished
Lincoln’s Lincoln’s AssassinationAssassination
April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln while he was watching a play
Lincoln died the next day and Booth was killed in Virginia
John Wilkes Booth
The Death of a President
• Did not live to see the peace he helped to create– Conspirators and
southern sympathizers plotted against the president
– Died in office on April 14, 1865
Lincoln’s Rocking Chair
at Ford’s Theatre
Bed in which Lincoln Died
Lincoln Laying in StateFuneral Hearse
Funeral Procession
John Wilkes Booth
Other Conspirator’s
How would the South be Treated After the War??
•Welcomed Back??•Or…paid back???•Find out in Chapter 15…–Reconstruction!!!