The Civil WarThe Cause, Comparisons, and Early Years 1861-1862

Fallout from the Election of 1860▶ As a direct result of Lincoln’s election 7 southern

states seceded from the Union, afraid that their state rights, and other sectional interests, such as slavery, would be in jeopardy with Lincoln as president.

▶ The States were: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

▶ In February 1861 delegates from these 7 states met in Montgomery, Alabama, and agreed to form the Confederate States of America. The delegate chose Jefferson Davis, Mississippi's Senator, as their president, and adopted a new constitution.

▶ President Buchanan was unable to stop any of the states from leaving diplomatically, and wouldn’t allow the federal government to use force to stop the states from seceding.

▶ When Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, he remained both consilitory and firm. He would not interfere with slavery in states that already allowed it, but he would also retain control over federal property in seceded southern states.

Fort Sumter

▶ Fort Sumter was one of two federal outposts guarding the harbor in Charleston, South Carolina. The day after Lincoln took office, he received a letter from the fort that they were rapidly running out of supplies.

▶ Lincoln wanted to retain control of federal instalation in the South without provoking a war. He sent a letter to South Carolina that he was sending a resupply ship to Fort Sumter, not to defend it, but to only bring more supplies.

▶ Jefferson Davis responded with a letter demanding the surrender of the fort.▶ When Major Anderson, the commander of the fort refused to surrender, the Confederate

army opened fire with artillery on April 12, leading to Anderson’s surrender the next day.▶ No one was killed in the bombardment, but this marked the beginning of the Civil War.

Fallout from Fort Sumter▶ On April 15, 1861, Lincoln called for a 75,000 man

militia to secure federal installations in the South. In response Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia all seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy over the next several months.

▶ Four slaves states remained with the Union: Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri.

▶ A large portion of western Virginia disagreed with Virginia’s secession decision, and broke away from Virginia, waging a guerrilla war in the state. West Virginia would later be admitted as a state in the Union in 1863.

▶ Most of the initial fighting of the Civil War was relatively small skirmishes with militias until larger standing armies were formed.

North and South Comparisons▶ Both the North and the South had various strengths and weakness at the start of the Civil War.▶ Philosophy:

▶ North - Federal power trumped states rights.▶ South - States rights trumped federal power.

▶ Goals and Morale:▶ The North had to conquer and hold the South, invading unfamiliar and unfriendly territory.▶ The South had to hold out against the North’s invasion. They knew the territory and were

defending their homes and way of life.▶ Quality of Officers:

▶ North - Most high ranking officers were either inexperienced, too old, or incompetent.▶ South - Numerous talented officers due to military traditions. Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall”

Jackson are notable examples.▶ Quality of Soldiers:

▶ North - Most recruits were new, from cities, and had little training.▶ South - While most recruits were new, many had experience hunting for subsistence, and

dealing with orders and disciple related to slave plantations.

North and South Comparisons▶ Population:

▶ North - 22 million▶ South - 9 million (33% were slaves)

▶ Number of Soldiers:▶ North - 2 million (50% of draft-age men)▶ South - 1 million (85% of draft-age white men)

▶ Economy and Industry:▶ North - Heavily industrialized with large financial resources. Over 90% of factories and arms

manufacturing capacity of the the USA.▶ South - Rural, heavily focused on cotton, which was heavily desired internationally.

▶ Railroad Infrastructure:▶ North - 21,800 miles (71%) Interconnected across the North.▶ South - 8,800 (29%) Multiple separate lines, primarily for cotton transportation.

▶ Navy:▶ North - Started with approximately 100 ships, which rose quickly to over 600 during the war.▶ South - Started with less than 30 seaworthy ships, which grew to 101 during the war.

Technology and the War

▶ Multiple new technological innovations influenced the course of the war heavily.▶ The “Minie Ball”, a new type bullet, combined with barrel rifling, made rifles much more

deadly and accurate.▶ The “Gatling Gun” was the first automatic weapon, though it required hand cranking.▶ Trench Warfare increased due to the need for heavier defenses.

▶ Ironclads - Both the North and the South fielded new ships that were protected from attack though iron hull or cladding.

▶ The South created the Merrimack, a large wooden warship, which used old iron railroad rails as armor.

▶ The North created the Monitor, a small entirely iron ship, with a rotating turret that resembled an early submarine.

War Strategies▶ Initially both sides believed that the war would be short, lasting only months, but it ended up

lasting 4 long years.▶ The North’s initial plan was drawn up by Abraham Lincoln and General Winfield Scott, his

chief military advisor. Named the Anaconda Plan, the idea was to blockade all southern ports and “squeeze” the South by denying them supplies

▶ The plan led to tensions with Great Britain, as they initially traded goods with the South, including supplies, weapons, and even warships.

▶ The plan was later amended to include Union invasion into both the Mississippi and Tennessee River Valleys. Political pressure to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, only 100 miles South of Washington D.C., further modified the plan and diverted important manpower and resources.

Early Years of the War 1861 - 1862▶ The first major battle of the Civil War occured on July 21, 1861, near Manassas Junction,

Virginia. 30,000 Union troops under General McDowell engaged 22,000 Confederate soldier under General Beauregard as part of a plan to capture Richmond.▶ The battle was known as the First Battle of Bull Run by the Union, and the First

Battle of Manassas by the Confederacy.▶ The battle attracted hundreds of spectator from Washington D.C., as it was only 26 miles

South of the capitol.▶ The Confederate troops under “Stonewall” Jackson held out against the larger Union

forces until 9,000 reinforcements caused an uncontrolled route of Union forces.▶ This led to the North realizing that victory was not going to come easily, despite superior

numbers and resources.▶ After the battle Lincoln appointed General McClellan as the commander of the Army of the

Potomac. While McClellan trained his men well, and was an excellent organized, he was reluctant to commit to battle, often ignoring orders to advance.

Early Years of the War▶ In early 1862 McClellan finally led his army of 100,000

against a smaller Army commanded by Lee defending Virginia and Richmond, leading to a series of battles known as the Seven Day’ Campaign.▶ In this campaign Lee held off the Union troops,

forcing them to withdraw back to Washington D.C.▶ Lee responded by trying to take Washington, but was

held off by McClellan at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland.▶ While the Union won, they lost about ⅓ more

troops than the Confederates.▶ Finally in December 1862, Lee won another battle against McClellan near Fredericksburg,

leading to the resignation of General Burnside who had taken over from McClellan.▶ Lincoln gave command of the Army of the Potomac over to General Hooker at the end of 1862,

though the eastern front of the Civil War remained a stalemate.

Early Years of the War 1861 - 1862▶ The Union was much more successful in the West under commanders such as Ulysses S.

Grant.▶ Grant used ironclads to secure both Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, securing his troops a river

route into the Confederacy’s heartland.

▶ In early April 1862, an ambush of Grants forces by Confederate General Johnston at Shiloh resulted in high casualties of 24,000 dead, wounded, or captured, and Confederate withdrawal, but no clear victor.

▶ Three weeks later the South was dealt a devastating blow with the capture of New Orleans by Union naval forces under Admiral David Farragut. This gave the North control of the South’s largest city, financial center, as well as the sugar plantations in the region.