Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Civil War Notes 2 12/17/07

Lincoln inaugurated May 4th

Didn't want to use his Union forces to protect Fort Sumter

Confed. attacked FS April 12, '61,

First armed conflict of the CW

Confed. wins conflict

Fort Sumter unifies the North

Overwhelming response to Lincoln's call for troops ("Over in 90 days")

Four more states secede: VA, NC, Arkansas, and TE

Western counties of VA oppose slavery, and secede from Virgina, admitted to Union as West Virginia

1st Battle is Battle of Bull Run/Manassas

North names battle after closest town, South names after river

South wins

25 Miles from DC

Union is winning, but Gen. Stonewall Jackson turns the tide

Confederate morale soars.

Union needs to step up efforts

2 big Gens.

McClellan

More politician than general

Won't engage in battle, for fear of losing men or popularity

Wants to be president

Leads the Army of the Potomac

Ulysses Grant

Captures key Confed. forts in the West

Willing to sacrifice troops for victory

Enlistments are up to 3 years

Mississippi critical to South, Union blockades sea board

Ironclads-1862

Wooden warships covered with iron

Confederate: Virgina (Formerly Merrimack)

Union Monitor

Neither side could claim outright victory, no serious damage to either ship

Revolutionized naval warfare

Battle of Shiloh

April 62

Confederates under Johnston attempt to regain upper hand in Tennessee

Grant/Union narrowly avoids disaster with Confed attack in which Johnston is killed

1/4 of the 100,00 men are killed/wounded/captured

13000 Union dead, 11000 Confed dead

Bloodiest battle fought in N. America up to that time

New Orleans

Spring 62

New Orleans captured by combined Union land/naval forces - Farragut

Significant bc it is Confed's largest city and busiest port

First step in Union taking control of the Mississippi and the West

Next Target: Vicksburg, MS

2nd Battle of Bull Run

Aug 30, 62

Threat to Richmond

Confed. capitol

Confederate Victory, Stonewall Jackson

Casualties, 16000 U, 9000 C

Union forces commanded by Pope

Antietam, Maryland

McClelland fails to take Richmond

Retreats to Potomac to regroup

Rob. E. Lee follows

McClellan stumbles on Lee's war plan

Lee's and Jackson's armies are seperated

Acts aggressiely for once

McClellan puts wedge between them

Confronts Lee, 26000 Union die, worse that Shiloh

Infections, bad amputation

Union victory at high cost

Lee has to retreat

Instead of pursuing, McClellan lets him go

Afraid of losing men and reputation

Lincoln fires McClellan

Disease kills just as many as battles

Fredericksburg, VA

Dec. 62

Union led by Ambrose Burnside  loses 3x as many men as Confed.

Pontoon bridges turn the tide

Chancellorsville, VA

May 63

Troops 130000U Hooker to 60000C under Lee

Important strategic battle for the South

Jackson dies from friendly fire

Jackson's death a blow to the South

Emancipation Proclamation

Early in the war, it was not Lincoln's goal to abolish slavery, his main goal was to save the Union

Later in the war, he decided to use his authority as Commander in Chief to emancipate slaves

Jan 1, 63

N-Gave war higher purpose

S-Infuriated, no compromise possible

Draft angers many

NYC, 100 killed in draft riot


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