The Civil War – Part 2

The Civil War – Part 2The Civil War – Part 2

Major Carlos RasconMajor Carlos Rascon

ReferencesReferences

Fuller, Fuller, The Conduct of War, 1789-1961The Conduct of War, 1789-1961, pp. , pp. 92-15292-152

Dupuy and Dupuy, Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of The Encyclopedia of Military HistoryMilitary History, pp. 868-905, pp. 868-905

Weigley, Weigley, The American Way of WarThe American Way of War, pp. 59-, pp. 59-76, 92-15276, 92-152

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Comprehend and compare the battles at Comprehend and compare the battles at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness Campaign the Wilderness Campaign

Know and understand the significance of Know and understand the significance of said battles and how they affected the said battles and how they affected the outcome of the waroutcome of the war

Comprehend the impact that the Civil War Comprehend the impact that the Civil War had on future conflictshad on future conflicts

AntietamAntietam17 Sep 186217 Sep 1862

VA cleared of Union troops after win at VA cleared of Union troops after win at Second Bull RunSecond Bull Run

Lee attacks North with objectives:Lee attacks North with objectives:– Convince Maryland to secedeConvince Maryland to secede– Capitalize on Union’s wearinessCapitalize on Union’s weariness– Indirectly threaten WashingtonIndirectly threaten Washington– Gain international supportGain international support

AntietamAntietam

Lee crosses PotomacLee crosses Potomac McClellan (back in command) marches NW with McClellan (back in command) marches NW with

95,00095,000 Union lucks upon Lee’s battle planUnion lucks upon Lee’s battle plan

– Still, McClellan moves too slowlyStill, McClellan moves too slowly– Gives Lee time to fall back to SharpsburgGives Lee time to fall back to Sharpsburg

Intercept Lee near Potomac with 70,000 vs. Lee’s Intercept Lee near Potomac with 70,000 vs. Lee’s 39,00039,000

Lee outnumbered but holds of chargeLee outnumbered but holds of charge– Shorter interior lines of communicationShorter interior lines of communication– By late afternoon in danger of collapseBy late afternoon in danger of collapse– Timely arrival of Hill with reinforcements ends battleTimely arrival of Hill with reinforcements ends battle

AnalysisAnalysis

McClellan again removed from commandMcClellan again removed from command– Waited too long to attackWaited too long to attack– Hesitated before committing troops when Lee Hesitated before committing troops when Lee

was pressedwas pressed– Allowed Confederates to escape back to VAAllowed Confederates to escape back to VA

Antietam had two far-reaching effectsAntietam had two far-reaching effects– Caused international support to be postponedCaused international support to be postponed– Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation

Preparation at ChancellorsvillePreparation at ChancellorsvilleMay 1863May 1863

Hooker – commander of Union forcesHooker – commander of Union forces 134,000 Union vs. 60,000 Confederates134,000 Union vs. 60,000 Confederates Hooker’s planHooker’s plan

– Three corps move up riverThree corps move up river– Two corps hold Lee’s attentionTwo corps hold Lee’s attention– Cavalry corps maneuver to rear and destroy comm Cavalry corps maneuver to rear and destroy comm

and supplyand supply– Double envelopmentDouble envelopment

Lee’s planLee’s plan– Keep Hooker under surveillanceKeep Hooker under surveillance– Use offensive, maneuver, economy of force to make Use offensive, maneuver, economy of force to make

up for inferior numbersup for inferior numbers

Battle of ChancellorsvilleBattle of Chancellorsville

1 May: Hooker falls back to Chancellorsville 1 May: Hooker falls back to Chancellorsville after skirmishafter skirmish

Lee informed of Hooker’s exposed flankLee informed of Hooker’s exposed flankLee “envelop the envelopers”Lee “envelop the envelopers”

– 17,000 hold Union attention17,000 hold Union attention– Jackson’s 26,000 make 15 mile-wide swingJackson’s 26,000 make 15 mile-wide swing

2 May, 1700: Jackson charges Union’s flank2 May, 1700: Jackson charges Union’s flank– Confederates weary after movementConfederates weary after movement– Jackson wounded and Confederates pushed Jackson wounded and Confederates pushed

backback– Hooker withdraws whole line next morningHooker withdraws whole line next morning

Battle of ChancellorsvilleBattle of Chancellorsville

3 May: Sedgewick (Union) assaults Marye’s 3 May: Sedgewick (Union) assaults Marye’s HeightsHeights– Lee leaves Stuart (Jackson’s successor) with Lee leaves Stuart (Jackson’s successor) with

25,000 to guard Hooker25,000 to guard Hooker– Lee moves with 21,000 to meet Sedgewick & Lee moves with 21,000 to meet Sedgewick &

repelsrepels6 May: Lee prepares to repel Hooker6 May: Lee prepares to repel Hooker

– Hooker surprises him by withdrawingHooker surprises him by withdrawing

AnalysisAnalysis

Use of cavalryUse of cavalry– Stuart’s recon contributes to Lee’s plansStuart’s recon contributes to Lee’s plans– Hooker’s use as rear assault ineffectiveHooker’s use as rear assault ineffective

Lee uses principle of movement wellLee uses principle of movement well– Didn’t violate mass due to common missionDidn’t violate mass due to common mission– Hooker yielded the initiative when his stronger Hooker yielded the initiative when his stronger

force could have divided Lee’s forcesforce could have divided Lee’s forces

AnalysisAnalysis

Union loses 17,000 vs. CSA 13,000Union loses 17,000 vs. CSA 13,000– Remember … initially, 134,000 vs 60,000Remember … initially, 134,000 vs 60,000

Lee loses critical general: JacksonLee loses critical general: JacksonChancellorsville shows peak of Lee’s Chancellorsville shows peak of Lee’s

brilliancebrilliance– Lee’s moral superiority over HookerLee’s moral superiority over Hooker– Napoleon: “The General is the head, the whole Napoleon: “The General is the head, the whole

of the army.”of the army.”

Preparation for GettysburgPreparation for Gettysburg

Lee wants to use his initiativeLee wants to use his initiative– Morale high after ChancellorsvilleMorale high after Chancellorsville– Attack on North would remove Feds from VAAttack on North would remove Feds from VA

Lee’s favored defensive tactics would not Lee’s favored defensive tactics would not workwork– Limited ammunition supplyLimited ammunition supply– Confederates unfamiliar with territoryConfederates unfamiliar with territory– Lee’s confidence in troopsLee’s confidence in troops– Stuart’s lack of proper intelligenceStuart’s lack of proper intelligence

Lincoln vetoes Hooker’s plan to counter in Lincoln vetoes Hooker’s plan to counter in Richmond; replaced by Gen MeadeRichmond; replaced by Gen Meade

Battle of GettysburgBattle of Gettysburg1 July 18631 July 1863

Confederates outflank at Cemetery Hill and Confederates outflank at Cemetery Hill and hold Gettysburghold Gettysburg

Pickett to arrive with 15,000 fresh CSAPickett to arrive with 15,000 fresh CSALee has no luck assaulting flanksLee has no luck assaulting flanks

– 3 July: Decides to try final, frontal assault3 July: Decides to try final, frontal assault– Union troops expertly entrenchedUnion troops expertly entrenched– ““Pickett’s charge” fails to break Union linesPickett’s charge” fails to break Union lines

Both sides lose 20,000+Both sides lose 20,000+Lee withdraws across PotomacLee withdraws across PotomacMeade misses opportunity to overwhelm LeeMeade misses opportunity to overwhelm Lee

AnalysisAnalysis

Shows importance of communicationShows importance of communicationLee relied too heavily on frontal assaultLee relied too heavily on frontal assault

– After breaking lines, numbers to small to assaultAfter breaking lines, numbers to small to assaultStuart’s cavalry neutralized by CusterStuart’s cavalry neutralized by CusterLee still weakened by loss of JacksonLee still weakened by loss of Jackson

– New leadership lacked proper commNew leadership lacked proper comm– Also lacked experienceAlso lacked experience

Lee overestimates his troopsLee overestimates his troopsUnion victory which begins decline of CSAUnion victory which begins decline of CSA

U. S. Grant U. S. Grant

Feb 1864: Grant promoted to Lt. Gen.Feb 1864: Grant promoted to Lt. Gen.– Considers big pictureConsiders big picture– Meade to contain Lee while Sherman strikes from Meade to contain Lee while Sherman strikes from

southsouth Begins the Wilderness CampaignBegins the Wilderness Campaign

– Intensely bloody battles as Grant fights to RichmondIntensely bloody battles as Grant fights to Richmond– 50,000 Union vs 25,000 CSA losses50,000 Union vs 25,000 CSA losses

Wilderness CampaignWilderness Campaign Grant smashes into Lee’s linesGrant smashes into Lee’s lines

– Grant repelledGrant repelled– Grant would “slide down”Grant would “slide down”– Lee would followLee would follow– Grant would hit Lee’s line, repelled, etc.Grant would hit Lee’s line, repelled, etc.

Both sides winBoth sides win– Lee keeps Grant from reaching RichmondLee keeps Grant from reaching Richmond– Grant weakened Confederate armyGrant weakened Confederate army– Grant’s army – troops replenished; Lee’s – no Grant’s army – troops replenished; Lee’s – no

replacementsreplacements

PetersburgPetersburg Grant attempts to flank LeeGrant attempts to flank Lee

– Lee unawareLee unaware– Union commanders too cautiousUnion commanders too cautious– StalemateStalemate

Apr 1865: Lee withdraws to west to resupplyApr 1865: Lee withdraws to west to resupply– Find supply lines cutFind supply lines cut– Retreat route blockedRetreat route blocked– 9 Apr 1865: Appomattox Court House9 Apr 1865: Appomattox Court House

Impact of Future ConflictsImpact of Future Conflicts

Expanding battlefield due to new technologyExpanding battlefield due to new technologyLand and water mines see first useLand and water mines see first useTrench warfare beginsTrench warfare beginsBreech-loading rifle appearsBreech-loading rifle appearsTrend toward dispersal and increased Trend toward dispersal and increased

“individual” combat“individual” combat

SummarySummary

ChancellorsvilleChancellorsville– Lee’s pinnacleLee’s pinnacle

GettysburgGettysburg– Turning point of Civil WarTurning point of Civil War

Wilderness CampaignWilderness CampaignFuture of warfareFuture of warfare

Questions?Questions?

The Civil War – Part 2

Documents

Transcript of The Civil War – Part 2