THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

The Civil War was fought in 10,000 places. This is just a few places where

the greatest number of Americans would loose their lives in war.

First Shots of war

First shots fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC

President Lincoln was re-supplying fort Cadets from Citadel attack US supply

ships Confederate victory

US plan and the South plan

Anaconda plan South plan War of Attrition Inflict heavy

losses on opponent until they give up.

First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas - 1861

Proves war will be long and arduous

Showcases the Confederate strengths (Better Generals)

Confederate victory and unorganized Union retreat

Spectators complicate battlefield actions

General Irvin McDowell if fired

The Peninsula Campaign1862

After McDowell is fired George McClellan is given command of the Army of the Potomac (union)

It takes him 8 mo to get in the war He would sit outside Richmond for

Months

Stonewall Jackson'sValley Campaign in April and May 1862 To keep Union forces from reinforcing

McClellan on the Peninsula

Grant In the Western Campaign1862

Grant wins victories at Donelson TN., Fort Henry TN and at Shiloh TN.

Great loss of life 23,000 wounded or dead in 2 days @

Shiloh alone

Monitor vs. Merrimack - 1862

First battle of ironclads in the history of the world

At this moment every navy in the world was obsolete

Why? The Merrimack is

sometimes referred to as the Virginia

Why?

The Mississippi River 1862

Farragut captures New Orleans

Grant stalls out at Vicksburg.

Vicksburg is all that stands in the way of the Union dominating the Miss. R.

The Peninsula CampaignRobert E. Lee is given command

Robert E. Lee drives McClellan out of Virginia

Antietam - 1862 Bloodiest 1 day of war – 23000 casualties 1 of 4 battles fought in the north Must win for both sides

Antietam

McClellan had Lee’s battle plans but did nothing for 18hrs.

If McClellan had attacked within these 18hrs the war would have been over.

Instead he gave Lee time to gather his forces

General McClellan McClellan could have

ended the war here but would not press the attack.

It would take 19 days for him to go after Lee.

He is Replaced as commander of the Eastern Union forces by General Burnside.

Emancipation Proclamation?

What did this proclamation do? Why did Lincoln wait till now to issue it? Why did Lincoln need to issue it? How would this proclamation change the

war?

Fredericksburg

Because McClellan was fired for not attacking General Burnside would make a terrible mistake at Fredericksburg.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg - 1863 General McClellan is too cautious and fired Burnsides takes over and marches right at

Richmond (battle of Fredericksburg) Union suffers 13,000 loses Confederates suffer 5,000 Gen. Ambrose Burnside was replaced by

Gen. Joseph Hooker after the disastrous Battle of Fredricksburg.

Hooker would have his own disaster at the Battle of Chancellorsville and be replaced by Maj. Gen. George Meade.

Chancellorsville

Chancellorsville

Hooker lost 17,000 men at Chancellorsville . After Hooker’s disaster at the Battle of

Chancellorsville and be replaced by Maj. Gen. George Meade.

Unfortunately for Lee Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded in this battle. He would die some weeks later

“Jackson might have lost his left arm, I lost my right”

R. E. Lee

Battle of Gettysburg

The turning point of the war occurs in 1863

Battle of Gettysburg - 1863

South attempts to invade the north

Cut-off at Gettysburg Pennsylvania

Robert E. Lee felt a southern victory on Union soil would lead to a union surrender

Confederate defeat ends the Confederates offensive capabilities

Battle of Gettysburg

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Casualties

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Gettysburg Day 1

Gettysburg Day 2

Gettysburg Day 3

The Aftermath of Gettysburg

Lee takes responsibility for the loss.

Offers resignation The south is

crippled Meade angers

Lincoln by not pursuing Lee’s army.

Meade will be replaced soon

Aftermath of Gettysburg

Because of the need to replace soldiers to end the war the draft is used in the north

Draft had been going for some time in the south

Rich man’s war, poor man’s battle The draft is very unpopular especially to

the Irish immigrants Draft Riots -100 people are killed Blacks are allowed in the Military (they

want to fight)

Gettysburg Address

Upon completion of the battle a cemetery is commemorated

President Lincoln commemorates the cemetery with a famous speech

Why did they commemorate this battle ground?

President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Arlington National Cemetary

Battle of Vicksburg 4th of July1863

Union victory the day after Gettysburg Completes the execution of the Anaconda

plan New “siege” technique used (48 days) Battle leads to Ulysses S. Grant’s fame Grant chosen to be Union Commander

after victory He will soon bring his good friend William

T. Sherman as well

Battle of Vicksburg

March on Atlanta

Battle of Atlanta The fall of Atlanta was

especially noteworthy for its political ramifications (Lincoln is reelected)

Confederate general Joseph P. Johnston is fired

Replaced with John Bell Hood

By this time the Union was armed w/ Henry repeating rifles (15 shots)

Battle of Atlanta

Joseph A. Wheeler Confederate Cavalry

Commander One of the defenders

of Atlanta Atlanta would fall

after 6 weeks.

Battle of Atlanta

“War is all Hell” William T. Sherman

1865

William T. Sherman brings about a new yet old type of warfare

“Total Warfare” By the time he is done Sherman causes

$100,000,000 worth of damage. Along the way escaped prisoners of war

from Andersonville were found.

Sherman’s march to the Sea

Lee’s last stand

Surrender at Appomattox Court House

Name of the town, not courthouse Lee surrenders at the house of Wilmer

McLean. “the Civil War began in my front yard

and ended in my front parlor?