slide 1 the civil war – part 1 1861-1865 major carlos rascon

The Civil War – Part 1The Civil War – Part 11861-18651861-1865

Major Carlos RasconMajor Carlos Rascon

ReferencesReferences

Dupuy and Dupuy, Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of The Encyclopedia of Military HistoryMilitary History, pp. 868-905, pp. 868-905

Fuller, Fuller, A Military History of the Western A Military History of the Western WorldWorld, Vol. III, pp. 1-53, Vol. III, pp. 1-53

Jones, Jones, The Art of War in the Western WorldThe Art of War in the Western World, , pp. 409-418pp. 409-418

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Know the different strategies used by the Know the different strategies used by the North and SouthNorth and South

Know the significance of the first battle of Know the significance of the first battle of Bull Run to the North and SouthBull Run to the North and South

Comprehend and compare the initial Comprehend and compare the initial invasions conducted by the North invasions conducted by the North

Comprehend and interpret Lee’s significance Comprehend and interpret Lee’s significance as a Great Captainas a Great Captain

ResourcesResources

NORTHNORTH– 23 million in 22 states23 million in 22 states– 4 million ages 15-404 million ages 15-40– 2.4 million mobilized2.4 million mobilized– Industrial EconomyIndustrial Economy– 109,000 plants109,000 plants– 22,000 miles of 22,000 miles of

integrated railwayintegrated railway

SOUTHSOUTH– 9 million in 11 states9 million in 11 states– 1.14 million age 15-401.14 million age 15-40– 1 million mobilized1 million mobilized– Agricultural economyAgricultural economy– 31,000 plants31,000 plants– 9,000 miles of non-9,000 miles of non-

uniform railwayuniform railway

Military LeadershipMilitary Leadership

1,080 officers active1,080 officers active– 286 went South (184 from West Point)286 went South (184 from West Point)

900 West Pointers in civilian sector900 West Pointers in civilian sector– 99 joined South99 joined South

55 of 60 largest battles were led by West 55 of 60 largest battles were led by West Point graduatesPoint graduates

Three most qualified Union generals joined Three most qualified Union generals joined South (Lee and two Johnstons)South (Lee and two Johnstons)

Union StrategyUnion Strategy

Aggressive offensive to crush rebellionAggressive offensive to crush rebellion Gen Winfield Scotts’ Anaconda PlanGen Winfield Scotts’ Anaconda Plan

– Links economics and combatLinks economics and combat• Naval blockadeNaval blockade• Seizure of ports and suppliesSeizure of ports and supplies• Two armies to constrict ConfederacyTwo armies to constrict Confederacy

– Only half-heartedly implemented by LincolnOnly half-heartedly implemented by Lincoln

Union Strategy (cont.)Union Strategy (cont.)

Take RichmondTake Richmond– Thought to be CSA center of gravityThought to be CSA center of gravity– IronworksIronworks– Urgency due to 3 month enlistmentsUrgency due to 3 month enlistments

Allow no rest for ConfederatesAllow no rest for ConfederatesNapoleonic tacticsNapoleonic tactics

Confederate StrategyConfederate Strategy

Defend and delay Union until tiresDefend and delay Union until tires Similar tactics of Revolutionary WarSimilar tactics of Revolutionary War

– War of attritionWar of attrition– Foreign support & recognitionForeign support & recognition

Threaten Washington & defend RichmondThreaten Washington & defend Richmond Lee favored tactical defenseLee favored tactical defense

– Dug in regiment ties down division as rest of forces Dug in regiment ties down division as rest of forces maneuver and attackmaneuver and attack

Inventions & InnovationsInventions & Innovations

TelegraphTelegraph– Davis uses to gather forces at ShilohDavis uses to gather forces at Shiloh– Fredericksburg sees first use on battlefieldFredericksburg sees first use on battlefield

RailwayRailway– Changes logistics and maneuverChanges logistics and maneuver– North had uniform system; South did notNorth had uniform system; South did not

Video 9 mins – Repeating rifleVideo 9 mins – Repeating rifleCavalry used for reconnaissanceCavalry used for reconnaissance

First Bull RunFirst Bull Run21 Jul 186121 Jul 1861

Political pressure demanded action despite lack of Political pressure demanded action despite lack of trainingtraining

16 Jul – Gen McDowell ordered 35,000 south to 16 Jul – Gen McDowell ordered 35,000 south to RichmondRichmond– Beauregard – 20,000 CSA troops waitingBeauregard – 20,000 CSA troops waiting– Johnston – 12,000 CSA 40 miles awayJohnston – 12,000 CSA 40 miles away– Patterson (union) – 18,000 ordered to block JohnsonPatterson (union) – 18,000 ordered to block Johnson– Patterson tricked into defensive, Johnston escapesPatterson tricked into defensive, Johnston escapes

McDowell arrives 18McDowell arrives 18thth, attacked 21, attacked 21stst

– Gave time for Johnston to link up with BeauregardGave time for Johnston to link up with Beauregard

AnalysisAnalysis

McDowell’s plan was too complicatedMcDowell’s plan was too complicatedSouth developed false sense of securitySouth developed false sense of securitySouthern victory impressed EuropeSouthern victory impressed EuropeWoke up the UnionWoke up the Union

– Reality of long warReality of long war– Fear of attack on WashingtonFear of attack on Washington

22 Jul – McClellan put in charge of long-term 22 Jul – McClellan put in charge of long-term volunteersvolunteers

Ended era of romantic warEnded era of romantic war

McClellan’s Peninsula CampaignMcClellan’s Peninsula Campaign

1862: North focus on Richmond vice 1862: North focus on Richmond vice destroying CSA Armydestroying CSA Army

Precise methods differPrecise methods differ– Lincoln favored overland (Army between Lincoln favored overland (Army between

Washington and Richmond)Washington and Richmond)– McClellan favored waterborne move McClellan favored waterborne move

(envelopment)(envelopment)Johnston withdrew to FredericksburgJohnston withdrew to Fredericksburg

– Half way between capitalsHalf way between capitals– Astride McClellan’s prospective routes of Astride McClellan’s prospective routes of

advanceadvance


McClellan’s plan had promiseMcClellan’s plan had promise– Utilized federal control of the seasUtilized federal control of the seas– Useful base of operation at Ft. MonroeUseful base of operation at Ft. Monroe– Fewer rivers to crossFewer rivers to cross

Union Union MonitorMonitor neutralized neutralized CSS VirginiaCSS Virginia on 9 on 9 MarchMarch– Eliminated naval threat to SLOCEliminated naval threat to SLOC– Absence of good road on peninsulaAbsence of good road on peninsula– Limited room for maneuver also a problemLimited room for maneuver also a problem


4 Apr 1862: McClellan’s slow advance on 4 Apr 1862: McClellan’s slow advance on Richmond hampered byRichmond hampered by– Jackson became active in Shenandoah Valley to Jackson became active in Shenandoah Valley to

distract from Richmonddistract from Richmond– Gen MagruderGen Magruder

• Entrenched 15,000 troopsEntrenched 15,000 troops• Used dummy guns and feigned activiesUsed dummy guns and feigned activies

First engagement at Seven Pines leads to First engagement at Seven Pines leads to Johnston’s death; replaced by LeeJohnston’s death; replaced by Lee

Battle of Battle of Seven DaysSeven Days

26 Jun – 2 Jul 186226 Jun – 2 Jul 1862 Lee shows his military Lee shows his military

superiority over McClellan:superiority over McClellan:– Pretended to reinforce Jackson Pretended to reinforce Jackson

in Shenandoah, but secretly in Shenandoah, but secretly ordered him to Richmond to ordered him to Richmond to reinforce(87,000 vs 110,000 reinforce(87,000 vs 110,000 US)US)

– Defends south of Chickahominy Defends south of Chickahominy River with 28,000River with 28,000

– Remaining 59,000 attack Union Remaining 59,000 attack Union flankflank

– Lee pursues and saves Lee pursues and saves RichmondRichmond

AnalysisAnalysis

Union now more concerned about safety of Union now more concerned about safety of WashingtonWashington

North/South strategy revolve around capitalsNorth/South strategy revolve around capitalsMcClellan removed from commandMcClellan removed from command

– Didn’t attack vigorouslyDidn’t attack vigorously– Failed to apply principle of offensiveFailed to apply principle of offensive– Failure may have been more due to genius of Failure may have been more due to genius of

Lee than incompetenceLee than incompetence

TacticsTactics

Napoleonic tactics invalid due to advancing Napoleonic tactics invalid due to advancing technologytechnology– Repeating rifles, rifled cannons, fortificationsRepeating rifles, rifled cannons, fortifications– Union continues to use these tacticsUnion continues to use these tactics

• Column of troops w/bayonets fixed on fortified Column of troops w/bayonets fixed on fortified positionspositions

• Cavalry charges torn apart by longer range riflesCavalry charges torn apart by longer range rifles• Caused heavy casualitiesCaused heavy casualities

Lee was a master of defenseLee was a master of defense

Mounted InfantryMounted Infantry

SummarySummary

Advantages and disadvantages of North and Advantages and disadvantages of North and SouthSouth

Strategies of both sidesStrategies of both sidesBattles to take RichmondBattles to take RichmondTactics and Analysis of battlesTactics and Analysis of battles

Questions?Questions?

slide 1 the civil war – part 1 1861-1865 major carlos rascon

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