THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865
The Civil War was fought in 10,000 places. This is just a few places where
the greatest number of Americans would loose their lives in war.
First Shots of war
First shots fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC
President Lincoln was re-supplying fort Cadets from Citadel attack US supply
ships Confederate victory
US plan and the South plan
Anaconda plan South plan War of Attrition Inflict heavy
losses on opponent until they give up.
First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas - 1861
Proves war will be long and arduous
Showcases the Confederate strengths (Better Generals)
Confederate victory and unorganized Union retreat
Spectators complicate battlefield actions
General Irvin McDowell if fired
The Peninsula Campaign1862
After McDowell is fired George McClellan is given command of the Army of the Potomac (union)
It takes him 8 mo to get in the war He would sit outside Richmond for
Months
Stonewall Jackson'sValley Campaign in April and May 1862 To keep Union forces from reinforcing
McClellan on the Peninsula
Grant In the Western Campaign1862
Grant wins victories at Donelson TN., Fort Henry TN and at Shiloh TN.
Great loss of life 23,000 wounded or dead in 2 days @
Shiloh alone
Monitor vs. Merrimack - 1862
First battle of ironclads in the history of the world
At this moment every navy in the world was obsolete
Why? The Merrimack is
sometimes referred to as the Virginia
Why?
The Mississippi River 1862
Farragut captures New Orleans
Grant stalls out at Vicksburg.
Vicksburg is all that stands in the way of the Union dominating the Miss. R.
The Peninsula CampaignRobert E. Lee is given command
Robert E. Lee drives McClellan out of Virginia
Antietam - 1862 Bloodiest 1 day of war – 23000 casualties 1 of 4 battles fought in the north Must win for both sides
Antietam
McClellan had Lee’s battle plans but did nothing for 18hrs.
If McClellan had attacked within these 18hrs the war would have been over.
Instead he gave Lee time to gather his forces
General McClellan McClellan could have
ended the war here but would not press the attack.
It would take 19 days for him to go after Lee.
He is Replaced as commander of the Eastern Union forces by General Burnside.
Emancipation Proclamation?
What did this proclamation do? Why did Lincoln wait till now to issue it? Why did Lincoln need to issue it? How would this proclamation change the
war?
Fredericksburg
Because McClellan was fired for not attacking General Burnside would make a terrible mistake at Fredericksburg.
Battle of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg - 1863 General McClellan is too cautious and fired Burnsides takes over and marches right at
Richmond (battle of Fredericksburg) Union suffers 13,000 loses Confederates suffer 5,000 Gen. Ambrose Burnside was replaced by
Gen. Joseph Hooker after the disastrous Battle of Fredricksburg.
Hooker would have his own disaster at the Battle of Chancellorsville and be replaced by Maj. Gen. George Meade.
Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville
Hooker lost 17,000 men at Chancellorsville . After Hooker’s disaster at the Battle of
Chancellorsville and be replaced by Maj. Gen. George Meade.
Unfortunately for Lee Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded in this battle. He would die some weeks later
“Jackson might have lost his left arm, I lost my right”
R. E. Lee
Battle of Gettysburg
The turning point of the war occurs in 1863
Battle of Gettysburg - 1863
South attempts to invade the north
Cut-off at Gettysburg Pennsylvania
Robert E. Lee felt a southern victory on Union soil would lead to a union surrender
Confederate defeat ends the Confederates offensive capabilities
Battle of Gettysburg
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Gettysburg Day 1
Gettysburg Day 2
Gettysburg Day 3
The Aftermath of Gettysburg
Lee takes responsibility for the loss.
Offers resignation The south is
crippled Meade angers
Lincoln by not pursuing Lee’s army.
Meade will be replaced soon
Aftermath of Gettysburg
Because of the need to replace soldiers to end the war the draft is used in the north
Draft had been going for some time in the south
Rich man’s war, poor man’s battle The draft is very unpopular especially to
the Irish immigrants Draft Riots -100 people are killed Blacks are allowed in the Military (they
want to fight)
Gettysburg Address
Upon completion of the battle a cemetery is commemorated
President Lincoln commemorates the cemetery with a famous speech
Why did they commemorate this battle ground?
President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Arlington National Cemetary
Battle of Vicksburg 4th of July1863
Union victory the day after Gettysburg Completes the execution of the Anaconda
plan New “siege” technique used (48 days) Battle leads to Ulysses S. Grant’s fame Grant chosen to be Union Commander
after victory He will soon bring his good friend William
T. Sherman as well
Battle of Vicksburg
March on Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta The fall of Atlanta was
especially noteworthy for its political ramifications (Lincoln is reelected)
Confederate general Joseph P. Johnston is fired
Replaced with John Bell Hood
By this time the Union was armed w/ Henry repeating rifles (15 shots)
Battle of Atlanta
Joseph A. Wheeler Confederate Cavalry
Commander One of the defenders
of Atlanta Atlanta would fall
after 6 weeks.
Battle of Atlanta
“War is all Hell” William T. Sherman
1865
William T. Sherman brings about a new yet old type of warfare
“Total Warfare” By the time he is done Sherman causes
$100,000,000 worth of damage. Along the way escaped prisoners of war
from Andersonville were found.
Sherman’s march to the Sea
Lee’s last stand
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
Name of the town, not courthouse Lee surrenders at the house of Wilmer
McLean. “the Civil War began in my front yard
and ended in my front parlor?
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