The Struggle Begins

The Struggle Begins

Chapter 16, Section 2

Strategies for Victory

Fighting during the Civil war took place in three major areas, the East, the West and at Sea

Union Plans

Planned to blockade southern ports› To cut off the South’s supply of

manufactured goods by halting its trade with Europe

In the west the Union planned to seize control of the Mississippi River› Keep the South from using the river to

supply its troops Separate Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana from

the rest of the Confederacy

Union Plans In the East Union generals wanted to

seize Richmond, Virginia and capture the confederate headquarters.

Confederate plans

The confederate army would stay at home and fight a defensive war› Northerners would tire of fighting› Lincoln would have to give up the effort

to bring the South back into the Union

Confederate plans Counted on European money and

supplies to help fight the war› Cotton was important to textile mills in

England and other countries Confederate thought European nations

would recognize the South as an independent nation and continue buying southern cotton

Forward to Richmond

A clash of untrained troops Responding to public pressure

Lincoln launched an attack on Richmond Virginia› Union troops clashed with the

Confederates near a small stream called Bull Run in Virginia

Forward to Richmond Hundreds of Washingtonians rode

out to watch the battle, many with picnic baskets› Spectators were disappointed to see

southern troops did not turn and run like expected

› General Thomas Jackson held his ground like a “stone wall” From then he was know as Stone Wall

Jackson

A Union Retreat

Confederates did not pursue the fleeing army› Stayed behind to gather the gear

thrown away by the Union troops Battle of Bull run showed both sides

that their soldiers needed training and the war would be long and bloody

“All quiet along the Potomac”

After the disaster at Bull Run President Lincoln appointed General George McClellan as commander of the Union army› In 6 months he transformed a mob of

raw recruits into an army of untrained soldiers

“All quiet along the Potomac

He was cautious› Delayed leading troops in to battle

So long so that the president snapped “ if McClellan is not using the army I should like to borrow it”

A Cautious Move on Richmond

Match 1862 McClellan and most of the Union army left Washington by steamboat and sailed down the Potomac River for Richmond› Inching their way toward the

Confederate capital

A Cautious Move on Richmond

Robert E. Lee launched a series of attacks › He sent Stone Wall Jackson north to

threaten Washington This prevented Lincoln from sending the rest

of the Union army to help McClellan McClellan decide to abandon the

attack and retreated

Naval Action

Union ships had blockaded southern ports› Blockade runners slipped through the

blockade bringing in everything from matches to guns

Naval Action The blockade became more effective

› Trade through ports dropped 90%› Merrimack: Union abandoned warship

that the South covered in iron plates 4 inches thick South used it in battle against the Union

navy› Monitor: Union’s own ironclads

Neither ship seriously damaged the other and both withdrew

Naval Action Ironclad ships changed naval

warfare› Both sides rushed to build more

South never mounted a serious attack against the Union navy

Antietam

September 1862 General Lee took the offensive and marched troops North into Maryland› Wanted to have a victory in northern

soil to hamper their morale› A Confederate messenger lost Lee’s

battle plans Two Union soldiers found them and turned

them over to McClellan

Antietam McClellan was slow to act

› Finally attacked Lee’s main force at Antietam In a day more than 23,000 Union and

Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded Lee withdrew troops and McClellan did not

pursue them

Antietam Neither side won a clear victory at

the battle of Antietam› Because Lee withdrew his troops, the

North claimed the victory

Winning the Mississippi

General Ulysses S. Grant began moving toward gaining control of the Mississippi

February 1862 Grant captured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee› Guarder two important tributaries of the

Mississippi

Shiloh

Battle of Shiloh: Grant pushed South to Shiloh located on top of the Tennessee River› Grant was surprised by Confederate

forces

Shiloh› One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil

War More Americans were killed or wounded then

in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War combined

The fall of Vicksburg

April 1862 Union gunboats captured New Orleans and other boats seized Memphis, Tennessee› Union now controlled both ends of the

River South could no longer use the Mississippi

The fall of Vicksburg The North could not safely use the river

either› Confederates still held Vicksburg,

Mississippi Sat on a cliff high above the River

Canons could reach boats on the River

The fall of Vicksburg 1863 Grant’s forces tried and tried to

capture Vicksburg› After 6 weeks Vicksburg finally surrendered

The fall of Vicksburg Union had achieved two of its goals

› Naval blockades cut of the South’s trade with Europe

› Took control of the Mississippi River Splitting the Confederacy in two.