Western Theater

1862

Objectives

• Learn te war goals in the Western Theater of the war.

• Learn how and by whom the goals were reached.

Western War GoalThe war goals in the Western theater were easy to understand: Control the tributaries of the Mississippi River. Control the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two.

U. S. GrantHeading the Union Army of the Tennessee was Hiram Ulysses Grant. Grant would be part of a systematical conquering of the key southern strongholds.

PaducahGrant first captured Paducah where the Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River in Kentucky.

Fort HenryGrant, with naval support from Andrew Foote, bombarded the fort into submission on February 6, 1862.

Fort DonelsonLocated on the Tennessee River, Fort Donelson was commanded by Grant’s prewar friend, Simon Bolivar Buckner.

February 15, 1862After several days of bombardment, Buckner asked for terms of surrender. Grant replied, “No terms, but immediate and unconditional surrender.” The northern part of the Tennessee River was now controlled. Grant was promoted to Major General.

Printed in newspapers, everyone believed the initials U.S. stood for “unconditional surrender”.

Corinth Mississippi The next step in the western campaign was to capture Corinth Mississippi, a key railroad junction where supplies from the west were transported east. The drive to capture Corinth would lead to the Battle of Shiloh, aka Pittsburgh Landing.

Union StrategyGrant moved his army of 42,000 moved toward Corinth. He was to meet with the 55,000 men of Don Carlos Buell’s Army of the Ohio. Together they would invade Mississippi.

Pittsburgh LandingGrant arrives first and sets his camp on the west side of the Tennessee River. Some of his troops are camped near a log built Methodist Church called “Shiloh”, a Hebrew word which means “place of peace”.

Confederate ForcesAlbert Sydney Johnston commanded all western armies for the South. He had 37,000 men and he saw the opportunity to attack Grant before Buell joined him. So he orders his men to attack early on April 6, 1862.

Confederate SuccessThe attack caught the Union completely by surprise. Thousands of troops ran. But General Benjamin Prentiss made a stand near a sunken road.

“Hornet’s Nest”The Confederates launched 14 assaults against the Union defenses. One southern soldier remarked the fighting was like a “hornet’s nest”.

Johnston’s DeathJohnston himself led the last charge. When it was over, he was struck by a bullet behind the right knee. At first it was not thought to be serious. But then blood began to fill his boot. He soon bled to death.

Daniel RugglesRuggles brings up 62 cannon and trains the guns on the Hornet’s Nest. The signal to fire is given. Prentiss surrenders, but he has held up the Confederate advance for five hours.

Beauregard’s ErrorP.G.T. Beauregard took command of the Southern Army. But instead of continuing the attack, he halts, and sends a telegram to Jefferson Davis that he had achieved “a complete victory” and would finish Grant in the morning.

Buell ArrivesDuring the night, Buell’s army began to arrive. The first was General William “Bull” Nelson. When the boat tied up to the dock he spurred his horse over the rail to get to land. By morning Grant had 70,000 troops to the rebs 30,000.

Confederate RetreatThe fighting on the second day reflected the numbers. The Union drove the Confederates from the field causing a general retreat. Nathan Bedford Forrest covered the retreat. When he saw General Sherman, he spurred his horse after Sherman. Soon he was surrounded. He was able to ride to safety, but was wounded. The North would see General Forrest again.

Results2,477 men killed at Shiloh. Over 23,000 casualties in two days were greater than the total number of casualties in all previous wars combined. Grant was relieved of command.

After ShilohGrant was relieved of command. Henry W. Halleck replaces him. One month later Corinth is taken.

New OrleansThe Union Navy blockaded southern ports. New Orleans was a prime target for the North. Controlling New Orleans would stop southern river traffic on the Mississippi.

David G. FarragutFlag Officer Daniel G. Farragut led a flotilla past confederate forts and captured New Orleans.

Benjamin ButlerThe occupation forces were commanded by Benjamin Butler. He earned the scornful nickname “spoons” for allegedly stealing silverware from local plantations.

General Order 28When a chamber pot (bed pan) was dumped on Union soldiers. Butler issued General Order 28 which proclaimed that any actions like this, the women of New Orleans would be “treated as ladies of the town applying their avocation”. An enterprising entrepreneur put Butler’s image inside a bowl.

ResultsAs 1862 drew to an end in the attempt to control the Mississippi River, only Vicksburg remained in rebel hands.