chapter 21 the furnace of the civil war 1861-1864
DESCRIPTION
“Tardy George” McClellan and the Peninsula Campaign command of the Army of the Potomac (Union) was given to 34 year old General George B. McClellan –constantly believed that he was outnumbered –never took risks –held the army without moving for months –finally ordered by Lincoln to advance decided upon a water-borne approach to Richmond, called the Peninsula Campaign, taking about a month to capture Yorktown before coming to the Richmond –Lincoln then sent him after Stonewall Jackson –Jeb Stuart marched around him –June 26 to July 2, Lee then launched a devastating counterattack (the Seven Days’ Battles)TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 21Chapter 21
The Furnace of the Civil WarThe Furnace of the Civil War1861-18641861-1864
““Ninety-Day War ?”Ninety-Day War ?”April 15, 1861April 15, 1861 - Lincoln called for 75,000 - Lincoln called for 75,000 militiamenmilitiamenBelieved a quick suppression of the South to prove Believed a quick suppression of the South to prove the North’s superiority and end this foolishness the North’s superiority and end this foolishness July 21, 1861July 21, 1861 – First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) – First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)– ill-trained Yankee recruits swaggered out toward ill-trained Yankee recruits swaggered out toward Bull Bull
RunRun to engage a smaller Confederate unit to engage a smaller Confederate unit – They had run advertisements in local newspapers to They had run advertisements in local newspapers to
come see the battle come see the battle – Congressmen gathered in picnics to watchCongressmen gathered in picnics to watch– Stonewall Jackson & confederates pushed the Union Stonewall Jackson & confederates pushed the Union
army into retreatarmy into retreat– Proved it was going to be longer than a 90-day warProved it was going to be longer than a 90-day war
““Tardy George” McClellan and the Tardy George” McClellan and the Peninsula Campaign Peninsula Campaign
command of the command of the Army of the PotomacArmy of the Potomac (Union) was given to 34 year old (Union) was given to 34 year old General General George B. McClellanGeorge B. McClellan – constantly believed that he was constantly believed that he was
outnumberedoutnumbered– never took risksnever took risks– held the army without moving for months held the army without moving for months – finally ordered by Lincoln to advance finally ordered by Lincoln to advance
decided upon a water-borne approach decided upon a water-borne approach to Richmond, called the to Richmond, called the Peninsula Peninsula CampaignCampaign, taking about a month to , taking about a month to capture capture YorktownYorktown before coming to the before coming to the Richmond Richmond – Lincoln then sent him after Stonewall Lincoln then sent him after Stonewall
JacksonJackson– Jeb Stuart marched around himJeb Stuart marched around him– June 26 to July 2, 1862 June 26 to July 2, 1862 - Lee then - Lee then
launched a devastating counterattack (the launched a devastating counterattack (the Seven Days’ BattlesSeven Days’ Battles) )
Union strategy (total war)Union strategy (total war)Suffocate the South through Suffocate the South through an oceanic blockade an oceanic blockade Free the slaves to undermine Free the slaves to undermine the South’s very economic the South’s very economic foundations foundations Cut the Confederacy in half by Cut the Confederacy in half by seizing control of the seizing control of the Mississippi River (Mississippi River (The The Anaconda PlanAnaconda Plan))Chop the Confederacy to Chop the Confederacy to pieces by marching through pieces by marching through Georgia and the Carolinas Georgia and the Carolinas ((Sherman’s March to the SeaSherman’s March to the Sea))Capture its capital, Capture its capital, RichmondRichmond, , VA VA Try everywhere to engage the Try everywhere to engage the enemy’s main strength and enemy’s main strength and grind it to submissiongrind it to submission
The War at SeaThe War at Sea Union blockade was leaky at Union blockade was leaky at first, but it clamped down later first, but it clamped down later Blockade-runningBlockade-running (smuggling) (smuggling) was a risky but profitable was a risky but profitable business business – Union navy also seized British Union navy also seized British
freighters on the high seas, citing freighters on the high seas, citing “ultimate destination” to the South “ultimate destination” to the South
biggest Confederate threat - an biggest Confederate threat - an old U.S. warship reconditioned old U.S. warship reconditioned & plated with iron railroad rails: & plated with iron railroad rails: the the VirginiaVirginia (formerly called the (formerly called the MerrimackMerrimack))MonitorMonitor arrived just in time to arrived just in time to fight the fight the MerrimackMerrimack to a to a standstill, and the Confederate standstill, and the Confederate ship was destroyed later by the ship was destroyed later by the South to save it from the North South to save it from the North
Pivotal Point: AntietamPivotal Point: Antietam Sept 17, 1862 Sept 17, 1862 - McClellan’s men - McClellan’s men found a copy of Lee’s plans and found a copy of Lee’s plans and were able to stop the Southerners were able to stop the Southerners at at AntietamAntietam – single bloodiest day of the Civil Warsingle bloodiest day of the Civil War– Federal losses were 12,410, Federal losses were 12,410,
Confederate losses 10,700 Confederate losses 10,700 European powers very close to European powers very close to helping the South, but after helping the South, but after Antietam, that help faded Antietam, that help faded Antietam was also the Union Antietam was also the Union display of power that Lincoln display of power that Lincoln needed to announce his needed to announce his Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation..Now, the war wasn’t just to save Now, the war wasn’t just to save the Union, it was to save the the Union, it was to save the slaves a well slaves a well
Proclamation without Emancipation Proclamation without Emancipation Jan. 1, 1863 - aJan. 1, 1863 - announced the emancipation of slaves in the nnounced the emancipation of slaves in the confederate territories, confederate territories, when the Union was rejoinedwhen the Union was rejoined– but slaves in the Border States (KY, MD, DE, MO) and the but slaves in the Border States (KY, MD, DE, MO) and the
conquered territories were not liberatedconquered territories were not liberated
Lincoln freed the slaves where he couldn’t and wouldn’t free Lincoln freed the slaves where he couldn’t and wouldn’t free the slaves where he could the slaves where he could many soldiers refused to fight for abolition and deserted many soldiers refused to fight for abolition and deserted many slaves, upon hearing the proclamation, left their many slaves, upon hearing the proclamation, left their plantations,plantations,– the Emancipation Proclamation did succeed in one of its purposes: the Emancipation Proclamation did succeed in one of its purposes:
the undermine the labor of the South the undermine the labor of the South
Angry Southerners cried that Lincoln was stirring up trouble Angry Southerners cried that Lincoln was stirring up trouble and trying to have a slave insurrectionand trying to have a slave insurrection– Unfair of President Lincoln?Unfair of President Lincoln?
Blacks Battle BondageBlacks Battle Bondage At first, Blacks weren’t enlisted in the armyAt first, Blacks weren’t enlisted in the armyas men ran low, these men were eventually allowed as men ran low, these men were eventually allowed ininby war’s end, Black’s accounted for about 10% of by war’s end, Black’s accounted for about 10% of the Union army the Union army Southerners refused to recognize Black soldiers as Southerners refused to recognize Black soldiers as prisoners of warprisoners of war– executed them as runaways and rebelsexecuted them as runaways and rebels– Fort PillowFort Pillow, Tennessee, Blacks who had surrendered , Tennessee, Blacks who had surrendered
were massacred were massacred many others walked off of their jobs when Union many others walked off of their jobs when Union armies conquered territory that included the armies conquered territory that included the plantations plantations
Lee’s Last Lunge at Gettysburg Lee’s Last Lunge at Gettysburg After Antietam, After Antietam, A. E. BurnsideA. E. Burnside (known for (known for sideburns) took over the Union army--lost sideburns) took over the Union army--lost badly--at badly--at FredericksburgFredericksburg, Virginia, on Dec. 13, , Virginia, on Dec. 13, 18621862““Fighting Joe” HookerFighting Joe” Hooker (known for his girls) (known for his girls) was badly beaten at was badly beaten at ChancellorsvilleChancellorsville, Virginia , Virginia Lee now prepared to invade the North for the Lee now prepared to invade the North for the second and final time, at Gettysburg, second and final time, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania General General George G. MeadeGeorge G. Meade, who by accident , who by accident took a stand atop a low ridge flanking a shallow took a stand atop a low ridge flanking a shallow valley and the Union and Confederate armies valley and the Union and Confederate armies fought a bloody and brutal battle in which the fought a bloody and brutal battle in which the North “won.” North “won.”
War in the WestWar in the West Lincoln finally found a good general in Ulysses S. GrantLincoln finally found a good general in Ulysses S. Grantfought under the ideal of “immediate and unconditional fought under the ideal of “immediate and unconditional surrender.” surrender.” – Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, ShilohFort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S. Grant besieged the city and Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S. Grant besieged the city and captured it on July 4, 1863, thus securing the important captured it on July 4, 1863, thus securing the important Mississippi RiverMississippi River
Sherman Scorches GeorgiaSherman Scorches GeorgiaGeneral General William Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman was given command was given command to march through Georgiato march through Georgiahe delivered, capturing and burning down Atlanta before he delivered, capturing and burning down Atlanta before completing his famous “completing his famous “march to the seamarch to the sea” at Savannah ” at Savannah waging “waging “total wartotal war” by cutting up railroad tracks, burning ” by cutting up railroad tracks, burning fields, and destroying everythingfields, and destroying everything
Grant Outlasts Lee Grant Outlasts Lee Grant was a man who could send thousands of men out to die Grant was a man who could send thousands of men out to die just so that the Confederates would losejust so that the Confederates would losehe knew that he could afford to lose many men while Lee he knew that he could afford to lose many men while Lee could not could not – Example:Example: Cold Harbor, Union soldiers with papers pinned on their Cold Harbor, Union soldiers with papers pinned on their
backs showing their names and addresses rushed the fort, and over backs showing their names and addresses rushed the fort, and over 7000 died in a few minutes 7000 died in a few minutes
Grant and his men captured Richmond, burning it, and Grant and his men captured Richmond, burning it, and cornered Lee at cornered Lee at Appomattox CourthouseAppomattox Courthouse at Virginia in April at Virginia in April 99thth of 1865 of 1865
Aftermath of the NightmareAftermath of the NightmareCivil War cost 600,000 men, $15 billion, and wasted the cream of Civil War cost 600,000 men, $15 billion, and wasted the cream of the American crop the American crop slavery was destroyedslavery was destroyedReconstruction was about to begin but the course was unsureReconstruction was about to begin but the course was unsure
Martyrdom of Lincoln Martyrdom of Lincoln April 14, 1865April 14, 1865 - Abraham - Abraham Lincoln was shot in the Lincoln was shot in the head by head by John Wilkes John Wilkes BoothBooth and died shortly and died shortly thereafterthereafter– his sudden & dramatic his sudden & dramatic
death erased his death erased his shortcomings and made shortcomings and made people remember him for people remember him for his good things his good things
he would have almost he would have almost certainly treated the South certainly treated the South much better than they were much better than they were actually treated during actually treated during Reconstruction Reconstruction