Chapter 11
Section 3 and 4
The Emancipation may have renewed
enthusiasm for the North, but the war still
had to be WON!
When McClellan refused to march towards
Richmond after the win at Antietam,
Lincoln fired him for the second time.
Put General Ambrose Burnside in command
– not good commander
Battle of Fredericksburg
Burnside quickly advanced his 120,000
troops towards Richmond, VA.
Problem?
Confederates knew they were coming.
Lee massed his army of 80,000 near
Fredericksburg, VA.
Burnside marched right towards Lee instead of
going around staying out of artillery fire.
December 13, 1862 - Battle of Fredericksburg
started. Burnside ordered charge after charge
into Confederate gunfire.
Union suffered 13,000 casualties as opposed to
Confederates 5,000.
Huge win for Confederates
– Burnside asked to be relieved of command
Chancellorsville
Lincoln then appointed Joseph Hooker – “Fighting
Joe”
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Plan was to go around Lee’s forces at Fredericksburg
and attack behind enemy lines.
April 1863, Hooker marched two-thirds of 115,000
men around Lee’s troops.
Confederate cavalry men commanded by J.E.B. Stuart
discovered Hooker’s plan. Found them at a place
called Chancellorsville.
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Lee sent 40,000 men to meet Hooker
Battle of Chancellorsville
 Began on May 1, 1863
– When Union troops started their march towards
Fredericksburg, they found Lee’s troops – ordered them
back to take defensive positions
 Lee ordered Stonewall Jackson to march 12 miles to
attack Hooker’s troops on the right side of their flank
 Hooker was surprised – darkness saved them from
destroying the Union army.
Another Confederate Victory
Tragedy and Triumph
That night, Jackson left the confederate camp to scout out
positions for tomorrow – as they came back into the camp,
soldiers mistook them for the enemy and opened fire – three
bullets hit Jackson – lost his left arm
May 3 – Confederate army completed its victory in
Chancellorsville – “Lee’s most brilliant victory”
May 10 – Jackson died of complications from wounds
Lee: “He may have lost his left arm, but I have lost my right”
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville were the lowest points of the
war for the Union
Battle of Gettysburg
June 1863, Lee started to march forces
Northward
Why?
 lack of supplies stemming from the Union
Blockade (Anaconda Plan)
 Lee was hoping to find supplies in PA
 Also hoped that a Confederate victory up
north would prompt the north to settling
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Union forces kept themselves between the
Confederates and Washington DC
July 1, 1863 Several thousand of Lee’s
troops marched into Gettysburg, PA
Why? Rumored to have a shoe company.
Day 1: July 1, 1863
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Confederate forces encountered a small group of
Cavalry men, a skirmish broke out and the Battle
of Gettysburg had begun.
Hearing the skirmish thousands on both sides
rushed towards the town. Confederates
outnumbered the Union forces this time.
Arriving that night was new Commander,
General George Meade
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Each army took up camp on a series of
hills. Confederates possessed the town
and handled the fighting on Day 1.
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Union line – Cemetery Ridge
Confederate lines – Seminary Ridge
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Lee discussed battle plans with second in
command, General James Longstreet
Lee’s confidence was high – willing to take a
chance.
Longstreet advised against an attack with the
Union forces having higher ground, and knowing
their reinforcements were coming quickly.
Lee ordered Longstreet to lead an attack on the
southern end of the line the next morning.
Day 2: July 2, 1863
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Longstreet did not engage until 4pm on the
second day, giving Meade a chance to get
organized to fight
Heavy fighting took place in a wheat field, peach
orchard, and devil’s den.
Confederates soldiers noticed a hill named Little
Round Top that was nearly undefended, and
they rushed to take the hill (seeing how
important higher ground really was)
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350 Maine soldiers under the command of
Colonel Joshua Chamberlain were ordered to
defend the position. They held off repeated
attacks by Rebels until they ran out of
ammunition. Chamberlain then ordered a
bayonet charge. The charge worked and this
hold likely saved the Union army from defeat.
The Union lines remained strong and in tact by
the end of the day.
Day 3: July 3, 1863
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Afternoon 150 Confederate cannons started the
heaviest artillery barrage of the Civil War. Some
Union officials thought it was to protect a
Confederate retreat.
Instead, Lee risked everything to attack the
heart of the Union lines.
Why Center? Thinking it was weakest there
since he thought Union troops would be pulled
from the middle to protect the flanks.
Longstreet opposed the direct attack, but Lee
went ahead anyway.
Pickett’s Charge
After two hours, the Union halted their
barrage of artillery
– Confederates thought they destroyed
Union cannons – they didn’t
– Lee ordered a direct attack. 15,000
Confederate troops started to cross a one
mile field towards the Union center
Attack known as Pickett’s Charge
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Only a few hundred reached the Union lines,
they were hurt by rifle fire from troops.
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In about 30 minutes, half of the Confederate
army was destroyed.
Lee ordered Pickett to organize incase of a
counter-attack. Pickett responded by saying
“Sir, I have no division”
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Gettysburg – bloodiest battle of the civil war
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Union 23,000 casualties
Confederates 28,000 casualties
Lee lost more than a third of his army, never returned
to full strength
July 4, 1863 – Lee retreated and returned to
Virginia
Vicksburg
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Though only two ports were left for them
to take, Union forces were struggling to
capture the port city of Vicksburg, MS on
Mississippi River.
One of the last places that stood in the
way of controlling the entire Mississippi
River.
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Vicksburg sat on high ground, protected by a
sharp bend in the river. Artillery could hit any
incoming ship or troop movement from land or
river. Swamps also surrounded the Fort.
General Ulysses S. Grant’s attempts to capture
Vicksburg failed – over a year of attempts.
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April 1863 – Grant went to the West of the Mississippi
River and crossed the Miss, attacking from the South
East. He then attacked General Pemberton’s forces in
Jackson, Mississippi – capitol
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Victory there pushed Pemberton’s forces
back into Vicksburg since Grant could not
trap them in Vicksburg.
Grant’s response – a siege – tactic in
which an enemy is surrounded and
starved in order to make them surrender.
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Started in Late May, 1863
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For nearly a month, about 300 artillery
guns constantly pounded Vicksburg
Supplies were cut off – Soldiers and
townspeople were forced to eat horses,
dogs, rats
July 4, 1863 – 30,000 Confederate troops
laid down their guns and surrendered.
Importance of 1863
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1863 had begun horrible for the North,
but by Independence Day, it was a time of
celebration.
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The War just might eventually end.
July 4 marked the turning point of the war.
Lee troops would never again see the
strength they did pre-Gettysburg, and
Vicksburg is now in Union hands.
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July 8, 1863 – Port Hudson, LA
surrendered to the Union – now totally
controlled the Mississippi River
Anaconda Plan Check
Gettysburg Address
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November 19, 1863 15,000 gathered at
Gettysburg to dedicate a cemetery in honor of
Union soldiers. Lincoln was not to feature guest,
but was invited to give a few remarks.
Lincoln delivered what became known as the
Gettysburg Address – simply expressed both
grief at the terrible cost of war and reasons for
renewed efforts to preserve the Union.
The Gettysburg Address
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Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent,
a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all
men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or
any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on
a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that
field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that
nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we
cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled
here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The
world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here
to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased
devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and
that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth.
Section Four
Devastation and New Freedom
War strategy at beginning of 1864:
HOLD ON
keep Union out of Richmond, hold what we have
Why?
Some felt that if the war dragged on, casualties
continued, the Union would replace Lincoln in
November’s election and maybe the next
President will think about peace, or another
strategy.
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Grant Takes Command
Lincoln new reelection rested on battlefield
success
– March 1864 gave General Ulysses S. Grant
full command of the Union army.
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Grants plan to confront and crush the
Confederate army before November
Placed General William Tecumseh Sherman in
charge of the Western theatre
On To Richmond!
May 1864 – Grant moves troops into Virginia
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Grant had 115,000 men
Lee had 64,000 men
Grant marched right for Richmond
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Lee needed to stop him
Wilderness
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May 5 – Battle of the Wilderness
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Battle in intense forest – woods caught fire – heavy
casualties by Grant did not force him to retreat, but
he decided to move around Confederate forces and
continue on.
Three days later, Lee met Union forces at
Spotsylvania
Battle of Spotsylvania – series of clashes
lasting over two weeks – another large casualty
number
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Significance? Grant isn’t turning back!
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Battle of Cold Harbor – June 3 – 8 miles from
Richmond
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Two direct charges on Confederate lines – 7,000
Union deaths
Grant unable to take Richmond
Grant attempted another attack south of Richmond,
Petersburg – attempted to cut off supplies – failed
Less than two months saw 65,000 Union
casualties
Cold Harbor
New Strategy
Grant ordered General Phil Sheridan to
destroy everything he could in the
Shenandoah Valley
Why?
Luscious food supplies and railroad
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Making sure the South could not gain supplies
from this area if the war were to last longer.
Start of many more things to come
Sherman in Georgia
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Sherman began to move South from Tennessee
where his army was waiting
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Goal was to take Atlanta, and if the Confederates
attempted to stop them, he had 98,000 troops to
fight with
Confederate Commander, General Joseph Johnston –
attempts to stall union until November – just like Lee
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Despite best attempts – Union was within miles of Atlanta by
July, 1864.
Jefferson Davis replaced Johnston with General Hood
Atlanta
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Hood went right after the Union forces. After a
series of battles and many casualties, Hood
retreated his army, almost 20,000 less than the
60,000 he took over to Atlanta.
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Sherman started to bombard Atlanta
Siege – like in Vicksburg
Early September – Confederate Army left Atlanta
for the Union to take.
Significance? This will help Lincoln
Sherman to the Sea
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Sherman convinced Grant to let him March
62,000 soldiers to the sea to capture
Savannah, Georgia. He first evacuated and
burned Atlanta.
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Union forces destroyed nearly everything
between them and Savannah
December 21, 1864 Union entered the city
without a fight.
Election of 1864
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Republicans, though hesitant, re-nominated
Lincoln for a second term.
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Added Andrew Johnson, pro-northern Tennessean as
VP.
Democrats nominated General George McClellan
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Twice fired by Lincoln – promised to negotiate an end
to the war
Lincoln won in a landslide
Why? Capture of Atlanta showed many that peace
might not be the way to go just yet.
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A New Birth of Freedom
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February 1854 – Congress joined Lincoln’s
determination against slavery and
proposed the 13th Amendment
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Ratified by the states in December, 1865.
Ended slavery in the United States.
As Lincoln’s second term began, it was
clear that the war was nearly over and it
was time to think about post-war America
THE WAR ENDS
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February 1865 – Sherman starts to head
towards South Carolina
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Sherman destroyed much of South Carolina
on his way
By the time they hit North Carolina – orders
were put through to cease destruction
Why?
Appomattox
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April, 1865 – Confederate army had less
than 35,000 starving men
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Lee attempted to sneak around Union forces
and join with General Johnston’s men fleeing
from Sherman.
Every time Lee moved, Grants troops cut
them off
April 9 – Lee and his troops became
surrounded at a town called Appomattox
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Lee’s general’s proposed:
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guerrilla tactics – surprise raids, hit-and-run
tactics
Lee thought against it
That afternoon, Lee and Grant met in a
house in the town.
Lee asked for terms of surrender. They
were generous
1. Soldiers would not be punished. They
could take their horses and go home,
must follow laws of their area.
2. Soldiers would be fed
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Papers were signed and Lee left on horseback
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Many started to fire cannons to celebrate
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Grant ordered it stopped, reminding those
that we were no longer enemies, but
countrymen
Johnston surrendered to Sherman a few
weeks later
War is now over!
Lincoln Assassinated
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Throughout the winter of 1864-65 a group
of southern loyalists in D.C. planned to
kidnap Lincoln and exchange him for
P.O.W.’s
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Leader – John Wilkes Booth
Booth later revised the plan – kill top Union
officials – including VP Johnson, General
Grant, especially Lincoln which he would do
himself.
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April 14, 1865 – Booth slipped in to Lincoln’s
unguarded box at Ford’s Theatre
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Booth shot Lincoln in the head with a small pistol.
President Lincoln died the next morning – never
regained consciousness – millions lined the tracks to
see his funeral train go from DC to Springfield,
Illinois.
Booth was tracked to a Virginia tobacco farm, where
he refused to surrender. Barn was lit and he either
was shot by a soldier or killed himself.