Chapter 3 Analysis: The Clash of Amateur Armies

The American Civil WarMr. Contipodero

The Basics

• Both armies were not ready for war

• Confederacy – no arms/weapons

• Union – lack of organization in military

“Cotton is King”

• Confederacy wanted – England and France to intervene in war

• If England couldn’t get cotton from mills– The South could send cotton for troops

• The South put on the pressure

Making Weapons

• South reluctantly imported European goods• Small arms, gunpowder, bullets• Captured arms from the Union

First Battle of Bull Run

Main Characters - North

• General Irvin McDowell

• “Forward to Richmond!”

• Northern troops were not fast-moving

• Urgency develops

Main Characters - Confederacy

• General P.G.T. Beauregard

• General Joseph Johnston

• Colonel Thomas Jackson

1st Battle of Bull Run

• July 1861 Manassas Junction in VA• “The Fight of the Amateurs!”• Various uniforms• Soldiers would break ranks to– Drink water, get shade, eat blackberries

• Some men ran away but most fought

1st Battle of Bull Run Stats

Union• 2,896 Casualties• General McDowell• 28 – 35,000 troops

Confederacy• 1,982 Casualties• 32-34,000 troops

The Tide Has Turned

• McDowell’s troops pushed through Confederates

• Thomas Jackson’s Stand– “There is Jackson

standing like a stonewall!”

– Rally cry for the Virginians

– Confederates pushed forward

The Result

• McDowell called for the retreat• Union troops remained steady• Not enough drilling for counterattack• Retreated to Centerville – closer to

Washington• Confederates did not pursue – very tired

The Traffic Jam?

• Hundreds of Washingtonians • Wagons, buggies, etc…

• Both sides unorganized

• The Realization…

Your Assignment

• Open your notebooks• Create a notes section titled, “The First Battle

of Bull Run”• Complete Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions

• How did Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.) Professor, Thomas Jackson get his nickname?

• According to the chapter and the PowerPoint presentation, name 3 unique occurrences before, during, and/or after the First Battle of Bull Run.

• After the First Battle of Bull Run, what realities of war did both sides discover?

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run

• http://americancivilwar.com/bullrun.html