The Early Years of War

THE EARLY YEARS OF WARThe South Dominates

BULL RUN In July of 1861, Union forces under the

command of Irvin McDowell attempted to capture the Confederate capitol of Richmond Virginia.

They met up with a Confederate force at Manassas Junction in northern Virginia

BULL RUN The battle was a disaster for the Union and

the Confederate forces overwhelmed them The Union forces fled back to Washington

D.C., getting tangled up with citizens who came to watch the battle

BULL RUNThe people of Washington DC came to watch the battle, expecting a quick victory and a quick end to the war.

The battle went horribly for the Union and the citizens quickly realized the war would not be short.

SHILOH One of the main goals of the Civil War was

the Union capture of the Mississippi River. It was a main transportation hub of supplies and resources for the Confederacy.

Ulysses S. Grant was put in charge of capturing the Mississippi River, but the Confederacy would not give up the river so easily.

SHILOH In April, 1862 Grant’s was surprised by a

Confederate army outside of a small church. The fighting was fierce and bloody and after

the first day it looks like the Union was going to be defeated again.

However overnight, additional Union forces arrived and pushed the Confederacy out of the area.

SHILOHShiloh was an important battle because it helped the Union gain control of the Mississippi River and was the first major victory for the Union Army.

Shiloh also helped launch the career of Grant, who one day would help to end the Civil War

The map shows Grant’s attack on the second day that forced the Confederates to retreat.

THE RISE OF ROBERT E LEE In July of 1862, the Union Army near

Washington attempted to capture Richmond Virginia again.

Now under the leadership of General McClellan, the army marched from the Atlantic Ocean towards Richmond.

McClellan was within striking distance of the Confederacy, all could be lost

ROBERT E. LEE Confederate President Jefferson Davis asked

a skilled army commander named Robert E. Lee to help defend Richmond.

Robert E. Lee’s skill in battle was immediately noticed. He successfully pushed the Union Army away from Richmond and back towards Washington.

ROBERT E. LEELee was offered the command of the Union Army by President Lincoln before the war began, but Lee was loyal to his home state and declined.

Lee’s skill was unmatched by any Union General. If he accepted Lincoln’s offer, the war might have been a very short one.

ANTIETAM Emboldened by his success against

McClellan, Lee took his army into Maryland in September to try to recruit soldiers and plunder the fall harvest from the Maryland countryside.

McClellan’s army met up with Lee as he was trying to retreat back into Virginia.

The ensuing battle is still the bloodiest day in American history.

Lee’s army was defeated and forced to cross back into Virginia after a one day battle.

ANTIETAM Casualties: Union

Dead- 2100 Wounded- 9500

Confederate Dead- 1546 Wounded – 7550

ANTIETAMMany described the fighting as vicious, dead bodies and shot down corn husks littered the fields and roads outside the small town.

While technically a Union victory, Lincoln was outraged that McClellan let Lee escape and he was fired.

After two years of fighting, the Confederacy seemed to have the advantage. Lee was dominating the Union Army and people in the north seemed tired of fighting. The North needed a decisive victory.

However, the small victory at Antietam allowed Lincoln to announce the freeing of southern slaves in the Emancipation Proclamation, transforming the war into one over slavery.