19.5 The Tide of the War Turns

• Why was Gen. Stonewall Jackson not at Gettysburg? – May 1863,

• Gen. Lee defeated a much larger Union force in Chancellorsville, Virginia.

– Lee’s most trusted General, Stonewall Jackson, was accidentally shot by his own troops.

Why does Gettysburg happen?• The South led by General

Lee won a few victories in early 1863– Chancellorsville, Va – Fredericksburg, Va

• This encouraged Lee to launch another offensive into Union territory.

• Goals: – Break the North’s will to fight – To capture much needed

supplies for his army

Battle of Gettysburg

• The Battle began on July 1, 1863– Battle would last 3 days!

• Confederate Army– Led by Gen. Lee

• 75,000 men and cavalry

• Union Army– Led by Gen. George G. Meade

• 100,000 men and cavalry

Day 1 and Day 2

• Day 1– Ends with Confederate

army declaring small victory

• Had been able to push Union army to south side of town

– Called Cemetery Ridge

• Day 2– Ends in a stalemate

• Union holds the high ground

– Lots of casualties!!

Day 3

• Gen. Lee had a plan to break the Union army– 3 way attack led by huge

infantry attack • Led by George Pickett

– Called Pickett’s charge

– If it works, the war will end with the Confederacy the victor!

– How do you think it goes?

Pickett’s Charge

• 14,000 Confederates charged through the open field up Cemetery Ridge.– Union army had cannons and defended men behind

stone walls.

• The attack was a disaster.– ½ the men die on the way across the field. – All of those who made it to the ridge were either

captured of killed.

• Gen. Lee’s army is finally defeated…– He retreats back into Virginia on July 4, 1863

Gettysburg’s Address

• Nov. 19, 1863– Pres. Lincoln traveled

to Gettysburg to honor the soldiers who would be buried there.

– Gave a speech where he reminded America that

• “these dead shall not have died in vain”

The War Turns in Favor of the Union

• July 4, 1863– Gettysburg was won

by the Union– General Grant

Captured Vicksburg in Mississippi.

– Importance?• Lincoln was impressed

by Gen. Grant; made him commander of the Union army.

– Fired Gen. Meade for not destroying Gen. Lee

Grant’s Drive to Richmond• The Wilderness

Campaign – Series of battles launched

by the North from May through June in northern and central Virginia.

• Goal:– Capture Richmond,

Va!

– However,• Gen. Grant has a

secret weapon.

Sherman’s March to the Sea• 1864

– Lincoln needed a military victory to help him win re-election in 1864.

• Specifically deep in the South!

• Gen. William T. Sherman– Given orders to march southeast

from Tennessee to Georgia

– Destroy everything!• Called Total War

– Destroy all » Railroads» Industries» farms» homes» Crops» Livestock

Richmond, VABefore Gen. Sherman

Richmond,VAAfter Gen. Sherman

The South Surrenders• April 9, 1865

– Gen. Lee has finally been captured by Gen. Grant’s army

• Decides to surrender his army instead of having more of his men killed

• Appomattox Courthouse– Place where Gen. Lee

signs the surrender of his army to Gen. Grant

Losses of the Civil War

• 620,000 Americans dead.– More than all other

military conflicts combined:

• American Revolution• War of 1812• WWI• WWII• Vietnam• Korea• Persian Gulf• War in Iraq

The President Decides to Celebrate

• April 14, 1865– Pres. Lincoln decides

to walk to the theatre to see a show

• Called “Our American Cousin”

– Held at Ford’s Theatre

» About 6 blocks from the White House.

Ford’s Theatre, 1865

Ford’s Theatre, today

Booth Pres. Lincoln Sat In.

Lincoln’s Booth, today

Lincoln’s Assassination

• April 14, 1865 – John Wilkes Booth

• fatally shoots Pres. Lincoln at a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C

• Pres. Lincoln is rushed across the street to a house.

– Doctors called in but it’s too late…

» Dies the next day.

Lincoln’s Death Bed

Pres. Lincoln Travels America one last Time…

• VP Andrew Johnson becomes 17th POTUS– Job?

• Reconstruct the USA!

• Abraham Lincoln’s body is taken by train to his resting home of Springfield, Illinois– Train brought him

through CVNP!