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!!!