Civil War - Outline #4 – Chapters 16-17 C. Summer of 1861 =both armies marched off with flags flying and drums beating, each expecting to win and to win quickly (in time they would realized no quick victory was in site) + Fighting would take place in 3 main areas, the southeast, the southwest, and at sea. 1. Union Strategy (3 stages) a. Blockade Southern ports, cutting off any supplies from Europe b. Seize Richmond, VA Take the capital and the government, the war may end earlier c. Take control of the Mississippi River Keep supplies down, cut the CSA in half A Union Gunboat, Part of the Blockade of the South 2. Confederate Strategy = Fight a defensive war hoped North would tire of war hoped the North would get rid of Lincoln a. What was the South relying upon? Why? Counted on European supplies and recognize South as an independent country use commerce, in exchange for their cotton Union Strategy Control river systems and split the Confederacy in half and isolate the 3 sections. Union Leaders: General Ulysses S. Grant Union Army: Army of the West Confederate Strategy Fight a defensive war and drive Union out of South USA General Ulysses S. Grant Confederate Leader: Several different generals Confederate Army: Army of Tennessee 3. Battle of Bull Run = on July 21, 1861, untrained troops from both sides met here in Virginia. Battle of Manassas – the South named battles after nearest town, the North named battles after the nearest body of water Battle of Bull Run st (1 Manassas), July, 1861 Lincoln sent 30,000 inexperienced soldiers to fight at Bull Run. a. How did the citizens come prepared to the battle? Why were they disappointed? Followed the army from DC, festive, many brought picnic baskets of food and drink Disappointed that the Southerners did not turn and run b. Who was the Southern hero and why? Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, the Commandant from VMI with his recently trained cadets Jackson held his ground “like a stone wall” and stopped the CSA retreat c. What may have happened if the Southern troops pursued the fleeing Northern troops? The might have been able to capture the USA capital, causing havoc amongst the North Battle of Bull Run st (1 Manassas), July, 1861 Northern troops were pushed back to D.C. South won this battle but “lost the war”. WHY? Failed to capture Washington, D.C. Would never be so close to Washington, D.C. d. What did the battle show each side? The war was to be long and very bloody soldier needed training 4. Union General George McClellan = Appointed commander of the Union Army (Army of the Potomac) after the loss at Bull Run superb organizer, transformed inexperienced recruits into trained soldiers General George B. McClellan a. Too Cautious = Delayed leading troops into battle Lincoln was losing patience, forced McClellan to fight always worried about the numbers (did not want to be outnumbered, wanted guaranteed victories) b. McClellan’s push on Richmond (sum up) = March 1862, moved out of DC towards Richmond CSA Lee launched counterattacks, USA McClellan abandoned attacks later CSA Lee sent CSA “Stonewall” Jackson to march on DC, keeping Union reserves in DC Peninsula Campaign, 1862 Union Blockade = with the possession of the majority of the naval ships, the Union enforced a blockade on the South (not letting goods in or out of the South, attempting to starve and financially break the South). Blockade Runners were used by the South to counter the problem the blockade presented. The runners were small fast boats that would slip through the blockades, bringing in the necessary supplies. 1. How successful was the blockade eventually? Trade to Southern ports dropped by more than 90% CSA tried to break the blockade with ironclads 2. The Merrimac versus the Monitor a. The Merrimac / Virginia = The CSA took the abandoned Union warship, the Merrimac (run aground) and added it to their fleet (renamed the Virginia) CSA covered the wood with 4 inch thick metal plates Promptly destroyed 2 Union boats and ran 3 others aground Union ships could not penetrate the steel b. Describe the battle = The Union countered with their own ironclad, the Monitor Both boats were not seriously damaged and left in a draw South considered this a victory due to not losing The CSA Virginia was later sunk by the CSA, did not want the Union to take it over after the fall of Norfolk Merrimack Versus the Monitor c. How did this battle change naval warfare? Now navies were to be made of metal Union built an additional 50 ironclads South never had another serious naval threat during the war E. Lee on the Offensive = Lee, the Southern Commander, in September 1862, advanced his troops into Maryland. Lee felt a Confederate victory on Northern soil would be a great blow to the North’s morale.Unfortunately for Lee, Union General McClellan found out his plans when a careless Confederate general had left Lee’s plans behind at an abandoned Confederate campsite. + What was Lee’s military belief? Thought a victory on Northern soil would be a blow to the Northern morale 1. Battle of Antietam (sum up) = McClellan was again slow to act, attacking days later, Sept 17, 1862 23,000 Union and CSA soldiers killed or wounded McClellan was again slow to act, attacking days later, Sept 17, 1862 23,000 Union and CSA soldiers were killed or wounded a. Antietam Winner? Lee retreated at night on September 18, CSA’s army survived, Union McClellan did not pursue North claimed victory due to CSA retreat Lincoln was upset, McClellan did not pursue McClellan is replaced by Ambrose Burnside Dead Soldiers after Antietam 2. Battle of Fredericksburg (sum up) = December 1862, CSA Lee dug in on a crest of a hill outside Fredericksburg, VA CSA mowed downed wave after wave of Union troops one of the worst Union defeats, 13,000 Union dead, only 5,000 CSA 3. Battle of Chancellorsville (sum up) = May of 1863, CSA Lee and CSA Stonewall Jackson outmaneuvered Union forces in Chancellorsville, VA in thick woods CSA defeated the Union forces in the 3 day battle a. Lee’s response, “I have lost my right arm” = During the battle, CSA sentries (lookouts) thought approaching troops were Union troops Mistakenly shot Stonewall Jackson, who died days later F. Grant in the West = While the Union commander McClellan moved slowly against Lee, Union General Ulysses S. Grant moved much more quickly and deadly towards the Union goal of taking the Mississippi River (dividing the Confederacy). Grant’s forces took Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee, forts that guarded important tributaries of the Mississippi. Theater/Battles 1862 1. Battle of Shiloh (sum up the situation and the first day) = Shiloh, village on the Tennessee River April 6, US Grant is surprised by CSA troops and driven back to the river a. The second day and results = With reinforcements, US Grant beat back the CSA troops one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war Grant knew he had the numbers, willing to lose large number of men for victory (Lincoln starting to take notice of Grant) 2. What Union goal was achieved and how (in addition to the victory at Shiloh)? While Union Grant was fighting at Shiloh, the Union Navy was gaining control of other portions of the Mississippi New Orleans, LA, and Memphis, TN soon fell the South could no longer use the river as a supply line Split the CSA in half