THE CIVIL WARChapter 15

Section 1 – The Call to Arms

TAKING SIDES IN THE WAR - NORTH Lincoln declared that a rebellion existed Called the nation’s governors for 75,000

troops Men eagerly signed up Some states wanted to send more than

requested

TAKING SIDES IN THE WAR - SOUTH

Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri – refused to send troops

Maryland and Delaware did not respond Virginia seceded April 17th

Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina seceded in May

50 counties in western Virginia did not support slavery and refused to secedeAdmitted into the Union as West Virginia1863Free state

BORDER STATES Border states – slave states that did not secede

Kentucky – important control of Ohio River Declared itself - neutral Generals wanted to occupy KY Lincoln refused, fearing occupation would tip it to secede September 1861 – South invaded KY – joined the Union

Missouri – sided with the Confederacy Lincoln sent troops – set up own state government Stayed with the Union throughout the war

Maryland Washington,DC-would be surrounded if part of

Confederacy Southern sympathizers destroyed railroads/telegraph lines Lincoln declared martial law (military is in charge, citizens’

rights are suspended) Officials suspected of disloyalty were jailed without trials

NORTH AGAINST SOUTH Southern Advantages

Military Advantage that the North would have to invade the South

Confederates would be fighting on own territory

Most of the experienced military officers were Southerners Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, Albert

S.Johnston – all resigned from the US Army to fight for South

NORTH AGAINST SOUTH Northern Advantage

1861 – US had 130,000 factories – 110,000 – North

Twice the railroad trackTwice the farmlandTwo-Thirds population in NorthOne-third of the South’s population – slavesNorth had more resources to field, feed, and

equip larger armies

STRATEGIES OF THE NORTH Union leaders hoped for a quick victory Lincoln ordered naval blockade of

seaportsCut off supplies of manufactured goodsPrevent overseas sale of cotton

Gain control of Mississippi RiverSouth’s major transportation linkSplit the South in half

Invade VirginiaConfederate Capital - Richmond – only 100

miles from Washington, DC

STRATEGIES OF SOUTH No need to invade the North Defend their land until North tired of

fighting Hoped to get support from

Britain/Europe Hoped Britain’s need of cotton would

force them to support South

AMERICANS AGAINST AMERICANS Families had members fight for both

sides Mary Lincoln’s four brothers fought for

South 1 million Southern white males

¾ fought (age 18-45) 3.5 million Northern white males

2/3 fought (age 18-45)½ Northern troops – farmers¼ - Northern troops – immigrantsSome as young as 14

A SOLDIER’S LIFE Beginning – 10 hours a day – training Stayed in camp Fresh, clean water – hard to maintain Food – hardtack - dry cracker – carried in

pack Wet weather – life miserable Lucky had tents – most slept outside Disease hard to control – typhoid fever,

smallpox

PRISONERS OF WAR Both sides – prison camps 10% deaths occurred in prison camps Elmira, New York – worst in North Andersonville, Georgia – worst in South

Inhumane conditionsLittle foodDeath by starvation/exposureOvercrowded

FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN Union General Irvin McDowell Wanted time to train troops Newspapers demanded capture of

Richmond 30,000 troops marched south into Virginia Sightseers came in wagons/have

picnic/watch Confederates waited at Manassas, VA

Railroad centerBull Run – river just north of Manassas July 21, 1861

FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN At first – Union Army pushed forward Confederate general Thomas Jackson

rallied his men to hold firm Union troops panicked and ran Sightseerers panicked and fled home,

too Confederates soldiers – too exhausted

to pursue South claimed victory North was embarrassed

START OF THE WAR North hopes for a quick victory ended at

Bull Run War would be long Lincoln needed to find a commander of

Union troops

THE CIVIL WARSection 2

Early Years of the War

NEW TECHNOLOGY Weapons were more advanced than

strategy New guns could shoot more accurately,

from longer distances Generals were slow to change tactics

and allowed men to charge right into bombardments

Artillery was advanced and attacking armies would bombard long before sending ground troops to battle

NAVAL TECHNOLOGY Invention of Ironclads Warships covered with protective iron

plates Cannon fire bounced off the armor Classic battle of the Monitor and

Merrimack Fought to a draw in March 1862 Confederates used ironclads to beat

naval blockade Used smaller gunboats up and down the

Mississippi River

THE WAR IN THE EAST After the defeat at Bull Run, Lincoln replaced

McDowell with General George McClellan Good organizer but very cautious For 7 months he trained his army but did not attack

March 1862 – finally moved By boat took 100,000 along Chesapeake Bay to a

peninsula southeast of Richmond Advanced toward Richmond against 15,000

Confederate troops Stopped and requested more troops – a waited

month South reinforced in the mean time May 31, 1862 – Confederate forces stopped advance McClellan retreated

ULYSSES S. GRANT Graduated from West Point bottom of class Unsuccessful in the US Army – quit to work in

Dad’s store Given a field command under General Halleck

who Lincoln appointed as Commander in the West

Desperate for victories, Lincoln was aware that Grant gained small successes in KY and Tenn.

Different from McClellan McClellan wore fitted uniforms, arrogant, vain Grant took chances, wore rumpled clothes, ate and

drank with his men, smoked cigars, lived simply in the field

THE WAR IN THE EAST With Richmond safe, Lee decided to invade the

North hoping for a victory to turn public opinion and get British support

Lee slipped into western Maryland McClellan found Lee’s plan-learned that the

Confederate army had split in two parts McClellan attacked Lee at Antietam Creek near

Sharpsburg , MD on September 17, 1862 Union army attacked over and over - lost 12,000 Lee lost 14,000 – almost 1/3 of army Lee retreated into Virginia McClellan did not pursue No clear winner but because Lee retreated,

North claimed victory

THE WAR IN THE WEST Grant made advances in the west taking

control of the Mississippi River north of Memphis, Tenn.

Captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River

Two water routes into the western Confederacy were wide open.

Grant gained reinforcements and moved south toward Corinth, Mississippi – important RR center

Albert Sidney Johnston stood in his way Meet at a church called Shiloh April 6, 1862

SHILOH Grant/Sherman camped with troops on west side of

the Tennessee River Waiting a month for General Buell to join them from

Ohio – plan to join a plunge south to Corinth Johnston planned to attack before Buell arrived Beauregard (2nd in command) objected- drew up a

plan 9:30 am Confederates opened fire, charged into

Union camps 8 out of 10 men had not seen any action Intense fighting in the Peach Orchard and Hornet’s

Nest Johnston himself led a charge – wounded on his leg

that nicked an artery – bled to death Command passed to Beauregard

SHILOH Buell’s reinforcements began to arrive Federal gunboats shelled the

Confederate camp overnight At dawn the next day Grants 50,000

strong attacked Beauregard’s 30,000 weary troops

Beauregard retreated to Corinth Halleck removed Grant – took a month

to get the army to Corinth – by then Beauregard had fled

ANTIETAM CREEK – EASTERN FRONT

Lee decides to attack in the North since he believed that Richmond was safe

Hoped a victory in the North would entice Britain or France to support the South

Slipped into Maryland – McClellan got the battle plans by sheer luck

September 17, 1862 – McClellan attacks Lee near Sharpsburg, Maryland

Bloodiest day of the war

ANTIETAM Bloodiest day of the war

Union - 12,000 casualties (killed, wounded, missing)

South – 14,000 – almost 1/3 of army Lee was forced to retreat back to Virginia McClellan blew a chance to chase Lee and

deal the South a fatal blow Lincoln was upset

UNION FLEET CAPTURES NEW ORLEANS David Farragut commanded the Union

fleet Entered the Mississippi River from the

Gulf Captured the Mississippi as far north as

Vicksburg, MississippiRemained a Confederate strongholdUnion ships could not get throughCannons placed on the bluffsNeeded Vicksburg to control the Mississippi

THE EMANCIPATION

PROCLAMATIONChapter 15

Section 3

LINCOLN’S PRESIDENCY Initially was against freeing slaves Avoided aligning himself with

abolitionists Horace Greeley – abolitionist publisher

Lincoln wrote a letter: would not free any slaves or all slaves - if he could preserve the Union,

Abolitionists pressured Lincoln to free slaves

Lincoln worried that this would cause border states to secede

Lincoln’s goal was to restore the Union even if it meant letting slavery continue

LINCOLN CHANGES HIS MIND As the war progressed, Lincoln realized

how important slavery was to the war cause in the South

Told his Cabinet that he intended to issue an Emancipation Proclamation

Cabinet told Lincoln to wait until after some Union victories

Lincoln met with the Cabinet after Antietam and indicated he planned to issue the Proclamation

Emancipate means to set free

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION January 1, 1863 Freed slaves – only in areas that were

fighting the Union Had little effect – Union had no power in

these states Did not free slaves in the border states Criticized and praised White southerners accused Lincoln of

trying to get the slaves to revolt Union soldiers supported it

EFFECTS OF THE PROCLAMATION

Changed the War into a War against slavery Ended any possibility that Britain would

support the South – they were against slavery

United the African Americans in support of the war

Freed few slaves

AFRICAN AMERICANS HELP THE UNION Until the Emancipation Proclamation,

blacks could not serve Encouraged blacks to enlist Ultimately 189,000 African Americans

servedMore than half were runaway or former

slaves If captured, most returned to slavery or

killed Navy

Black and white sailors served together Army

Most served in black-only regiments with white officers at less pay

BLACKS SUPPORT THE WAR Free blacks served in the Union army

Cooks, wagon drivers, hospital aides Enslaved blacks in the South

Worked to hurt the Confederate effortProvided military information to UnionQuietly resisted workWorked slowlyDamaged equipmentRefused to work

BLACK UNITS OF MERIT 54th Massachusetts Infantry

White leadershipAttacked Fort Wagner in South Carolina July 18, 1863Volunteered to lead the chargeReached the top before being turned backHalf of the unit were casualtiesMovie “Glory” made about them

THE CIVIL WAR AND AMERICAN

LIFEChapter 15

Section 4

DIVISIONS OVER THE WAR Not all Southerners supported secession Not all Northerners supported a war to

end slavery or to restore the Union

DIVISION IN THE SOUTH Opposition strongest in Georgia and

North Carolina Regions with large slaveholding

plantations had strong support for the war

Poor backcountry regions had less support

Other divisions were politicalStates rights argumentsSC governor objected to officers from other

states leading SC troopsGovernors of NC and Georgia did not want

conscription of their men

DIVISION IN THE NORTH Many opposed the Emancipation

Proclamation Some believed the South has the right to

secede Northern Democrats

Known as CopperheadsBlamed Lincoln for causing the warCriticized the war and called for peaceStrongest in Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana

DEALING WITH DISRUPTIONS

Opponents of war (on both sides)Disrupted war effortConvinced soldiers to desertHelped prisoners of war escapeTried to prevent men from volunteering

Suspended right of Habeas corpus (constitutional protection against unlawful arrest)Empowers judges to order imprisoned people to be

brought into court to determine if they are being legally held

Lincoln and Davis suspended the right in some placesMore than 13,000 people in the North, arrested and

held without trial

DRAFT LAWS Desertion – major problem

Soldiers left units to plant and/or harvest crops

At any time half to third soldiers were AWOL Draft Laws

South was first to pass Conscription – April 1862

White men between 18-35 – later 17-50Lincoln signed a similar act in 1863 – ages

20-45

EXCEPTIONS TO THE DRAFT LAWS

Southern exemptionsMen who owned 20 or more slaves Could hire substitutes

NorthWealthy could pay the gov’t $300 in lieu of

serviceComplaints that it was a ‘poor man’s war’Violent riots in New York CityFactory workers and laborers rioted for several

days Destroyed property Attacked African Americans and wealthy white men

ECONOMIC STRAINS - NORTH Industries boomed

Draft took away employees – constant shortage

First income tax levied in August, 1861Tax on money people earnUsed to pay for the war

Printed currency (paper money)Caused inflation – general rise in pricesPrices increased an average of 80%

ECONOMIC STRAINS - SOUTH Union blockage prevented South for

raising money by selling cotton overseas

InflationGreater inflation than northShortages caused prices to riseShoes ($18 in 1862)($800 in 1864)

Food production fellUnion armies destroyed farmland and cropsFood shortages led to riots in some cities

WOMEN IN THE CIVIL WAR Took over businesses and farms Became spies At least 400 disguised as soldiers Worked in factories, government jobs,

teachers Nursing

Elizabeth Blackwell (first female physician)Trained nurses

Dorothea Dix, Harriet Tubman Clara Barton

Angel of the BattlefieldSet up an American branch of the Red Cross

DECISIVE BATTLESChapter 14

Section 5

CONFEDERATE VICTORIES Fredericksburg, Virginia

Burnside vs LeeBurnside marches 120,000 directly to

RichmondLee met him with 75,000Burnside attacked with traditional chargesBurnside lost 13,000

Chancellorsville, VirginiaHooker vs LeeLee defeats Hooker with force ½ its sizeLee loses Stonewall Jackson in the battle

GETTYSBURG Lee believed that a victory on northern soil

would force the North to end the war Crossed into Pennsylvania North commanded by Meade Lee’s forward army went into Gettysburg to

find shoes Instead they found Meade’s army More troops joined both armies Fought for 3 days with over 51,000 casualties In the end, North had won; Lee leaves the

North – never to return. Meade blows a chance to knock out Lee’s army.

VICKSBURG Grant began siege in May 1863 Pemberton dug in using caves, shelters Grant blockades starved out the

residents After six weeks, Pemberton surrendered

to Grant -the last stronghold on the Mississippi

Surrendered on July 4th

Turning point of the war in favor of Union

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS Lincoln addressed about 15,000 at the

dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg

Lincoln foretold of a Union victory

LINCOLN CHANGED COMMAND Lincoln appoints Grant – Commander of

all Union forces Grant appoints Sherman as the

Commander in charge of the Western army

Grant takes over the Army of the Potomac

Immediately decided to attack Richmond

GRANT VS LEE After seven weeks of engagements,

Grant continued to outflank Lee’s position

Union losses totaled 55,000 – reinforcements were available

Confederate losses totaled 35,000 – no replacements possible

PETERSBURG Grant decides to drive south of

Richmond to Petersburg to cut off Lee’s supplies

Petersburg – important RR center Both armies dug in trenches Grant began the siege of Petersburg –

not unlike Vicksburg

SHERMAN IN THE WEST After taking Chattanooga, Sherman drove his

army towards Atlanta Faced Joe Johnson – beloved Confederate

general Sherman pushed Johnson back to outskirts of

Atlanta in a series of battles in Georgia Jefferson Davis replaced Johnson with John

Bell Hood Stalemate outside of Atlanta Sherman began siege of Atlanta Finally attacks from the southwest Atlanta falls on September 2, 1864

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 1864 Lincoln vs McClellan Many blamed Lincoln for the war With many Union losses, Lincoln thought

he would lose the election South tried to influence the election Victory at Atlanta gave Lincoln the

support he needed to defeat McClellan Lincoln was a huge victory in November Sherman ordered Atlanta burned

MARCH TO THE SEA Sherman believed in ‘total war’

All out attack at destroying an enemy’s army, its resources and its people’s will to fight

Determined to march to Savannah,GA and the sea – would cut the Confederacy in half

Troops set fire to buildings, seized crops and livestock, and pulled up RR tracks

Path of destruction – 60 miles wide Sent Lincoln a telegram at Christmas – giving

Lincoln Savannah as a Christmas gift By February, army headed north to North

Carolina

GRANT WEARS DOWN LEE In March, Grant’s army extended his battle

lines around Petersburg Lee know it was only a matter of time

before Grant would capture the city In his Inaugural address in March 1865,

Lincoln asked Americans to forgive and forget, “With malice toward none; with charity for all…let us strive together…to bind up the nation’s wounds”

IMPORTANT MEETING ON SHIP Lincoln, Sherman, Grant Met on a ship off the coast Met to discuss pending surrender/terms All agreed that the Confederates had

only to give up their weapons and return home

No retaliation would be sought Confederates would be countrymen

again

SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX On April 2nd Grant’s troops finally broke

through Lee’s lines By evening, Richmond was in Grant’s control Sherman was outside Goldsborough, NC –

ready to join forces with Grant Lee’s army retreated to Appomattox Court

House – escape cut off – Lee surrendered Grant allowed men to keep horses, give up

weapons Lee agreed – rode off on Traveler Grant warned the Union soldiers not to

celebrate in front of Lee

TERRIBLE TOLL OF WAR Bloodiest conflict in US history Confederate dead – 260,000 Union dead – 360,000 Union African American dead – 37,000 Returning home - wounded – 500,000

KEY RESULTS OF THE WAR Reunited the nation Ended slavery

100 years would pass before blacks realized real freedom

Civil Rights Act – 1964

Now comes the challenge of putting the Union back together again