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UNIT 2J – AMERICA: A NATION DIVIDED C.1845-1877

Topic 4The War, 1861–1865

Sub-Topics Content Learnt Retrieved Assessed

4.1 The strengths and weaknesses of the Confederate cause

Military resources

Political and military leadership

Economic and geographical factors

Relations with foreign powers

4.2 The strengths and weaknesses of the Union cause

Military resources

Political and military leadership

Economic and geographical factors

Relations with foreign powers

4.3 The course of the Civil War:

Military campaignsThe reasons for the final defeat of the Confederacy

4.4 The United States at the end of the Civil War

the costs of war for the South

the costs of war for the North

the prospects for reconciliation

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4.1 The strengths and weaknesses of the Confederate

cause Military Resources

Military LeadershipBelow is the Confederate Army’s command structure. We will look in more detail at the military leaders and their role in the American Civil War when we look at key battles.

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Political LeadershipTHE PRESIDENT THE CABINET

X David meddled in the affairs of his subordinates (he found it hard to prioritise and delegate)

X He was indecisive (long Cabinet meetings with no conclusions)

X He was seen as too conservative when the Confederacy needed revolutionary inspiration

X Inability to establish good working relations (4 Secretaries of State and 6 Secretaries of War)

Jefferson Davis possessed both military experience (he had fought in the Mexican War) and political experience (had been a Senator and Secretary of War)

He had a realistic view of the situation (he never undermined the northerners and expected a long struggle)

Robert E. Lee said he could think of no one who could have done a better job. Davis appointing Lee was a good move in itself.

He was willing to take tough measures when necessary (Conscription Act in April 1862; martial law; impressment of supplies; high taxes on cotton and slaves)

He underwent several tours of the South (became a public figures)

• Congressmen in the provisional government (1861-2) were selected by their state legislature. But after this members were elected into Congress.

1/3 of the 267 men who served in Congress had served in the US Congress

1861-2 most Congressmen rallied around Davis,

X There was no two party system – this led to squabbling as there was no official opposition to debate against.

X Davis did not have party organisation to mobilise support/help him guide bills through

X Congress faced a dilemma (passing measures to ensure victory vs. preserving states’ rights)

X As morale deteriorated from 1863 onwards, opposition grew.

X 1863 Congressional election – 40% of members elected were new and many were opposed to Davis. This never became a cohesive voting block however.

JEFFERSON DAVIS’ CABINET VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS

X Jefferson Davis made 16 appointments to head the 6 cabinet departments, which means there was a high turnover of staff

High turnover of staff was not because of feuds but criticism in Congress that forced Davis to accept resignations.

Most cabinet members were capable men and government operated smoothly

Judah Benjamin, Stephen Mallory and John Regan served in the cabinet from the start, until the finish. Judah Benjamin was 3 of the 16 appointments made to the Cabinet.

Judah Benjamin was willing to protect Davis by taking the blame.

Much of what was achieved was down to local initiatives:• Men who led the local community were likely to

lead either on the battlefield or on the home front. Planters often organised and outfitted regiments with their own money

• 1861 most states relied on local communities to supply the troops with basic necessities

• Clergymen played an important role, preaching and writing in defence of the Confederacy

• Women’s groups made clothing, flags and other materials for the troops, and tried to feed the poor and help orphans.

OppositionNon-slaveholders in upland areas

Non-slaveholders in the upland areas opposed secession from the start There was so much support for the Union in East Tennessee and West Virginia, that they

basically seceded from the Confederacy!! This was a substantial drain of manpower (60,000 from those two states, and then 30,000

from other southern states joined the Union army). Remember: pro-Union sympathisers were a minority

Opposition to conscription

The introduction of conscription (1862) was a major cause of opposition in the Confederacy Organised resistance to conscription intensified (especially in the mountain regions of North

Carolina and Alabama). Armed men joined together to help one another in fighting off enrolment officers.

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Bands of draft evaders and deserters dominated some areas of the South.

Economic FactorsEconomic Factor Detail about it

BLOCKADE RUNNING

Blockade running is attempts by ships to avoid the Union’s blockade of Confederate ports

This was successful! Hundreds of ships were involved (Confederate, private and British ships) Popular routes: Nassau in the Bahamas to Charleston and from Bermuda to Wilmington 75% chance of success (surprise and speed) South imported 60% of its small arms and 75% of its saltpetre through blockade runningX However, blockade runners were concerned with making money rather than helping the

Confederacy (often brough in luxuries, not essentials). Not enough was done by the government to stop this.

ORDNANCE BUREAU

• The Ordnance Bureau was a government agency responsible for acquiring war materials• It was led by Josiah Gorgas (a Northerner who stayed loyal to his southern wife)

1863: There were enough arsenals/factories/gunpowder in the south to keeps its armies supplied. The War department took more control over the railway system in the South. Railway schedules

were regulated, and companies had to share spare parts and stock.

Railway System Draft EXEMPTIONS were issued to ensure railway companies had skilled workersX More could have been done to supervise railwaysX The system slowly collapsed due to lack of materials and labour

WomenX The war had a negative effect on the lives of most southern women; they had to work longer

hours; manage plantations and control restless slavesX In towns, women took over jobs traditionally done by menX Furthermore, the lost loved ones in the war

Confederate Socialism

Confederate socialism: attempts by the Richmond Government to control the Confederate Economy

X Short of trained personnel, Richmond was not up to the task of this ambitious schemeX Most of what was achieved, was done so through private initiate, not government initiativeX Tredegar Ironworks, for instance, remained in private control and was the main ordnance producer

By 1865, the Confederate economy was near collapse. Machinery was wearing out and could not be replaced. Sources or raw materials were lost as Union forces took over large areas of the South. The breakdown of the railways (destroyed by Union

army) was decisive in the Confederacies final demise.

FinanceWhen it came to finance, the Confederacy had few GOLD RESERVES. Furthermore, the Union BLOCKADE was making it hard to sell cotton and raise money from TARIFFS. In the South, taxation of income, profit and property were unpopular. Most state governments were reluctant to send money to Richmond. The Confederacy was also struggling to feed its troops. The table below outlines how the Confederacy tried to raise finance.

1. Print more paper money 2. 1861: Congress allowed Treasury Secretary Christopher Memminger to raise $15 million in BOND CERTIFICATES

3. 1863 Congress passed the IMPRESSMENT ACT and the TAX IN KIND ACT

X Printing more money led to serious INFLATION.

X In 1865, prices in the Eastern Confederacy were 5000 times their 1861 level.

X The Richmond Dispatch newspaper estimated that a grocery bill for a small family rose from $6.55 to $68.25

X Attempts to fix prices made shortages worse

A BOND is when you give the Confederate Government money, for a certificate that states you will get that money back at a later date, with interest added on (so you make money in the long run).

There were initially a lot of buyers both within the Confederacy and abroad!

X But after 1863 when the Confederacy began losing battles, Southerners and European financiers were reluctant to

The IMPRESSMENT ACT allowed the seizure of goods to support the armies at the front line

The TAX IN KIND ACT allowed government agencies to collect 10% of produce from all farmers.

These Acts helped to supply the army in the last 2 years of the war.

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X This led to widespread suffering in the South and eroded morale

risk loaning money to what seemed like a lost cause!

Geographic FactorsGeographic Factor What impact did this have on the Confederacy?

The Confederacy was 2 million km2 The Confederacy would have difficulty maintaining their supply lines

Confederate forces need not invade the North; the Union had little option but to attack

It is easier to defend your land, then to be on the offensive, which means trying to take over your opponent’s land.

Between Washington and Richmond was a series of west to east running rivers

These rivers would act as a useful natural barrier against the Union who would need to cross these rivers to try and capture Richmond.

Throughout the Confederacy were railways and roads

The confederacy could move its forces quickly (can concentrate their force against dispersed Union army).

Four upper Southern states did not secede, and Virginia split when West Virginia seceded from the state.

Whilst four upper states not seceding is not good news, men from Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky did still fight for the South!

Long coastline in the South A big coastline is good because it allows supplies to come into the country (the Confederacy had little resource of their own).

The Appalachian Mountains ran through the confederacy.

If the Union took control of these mountains, it would mean a war on two fronts for the Confederacy.

Relations with Foreign PowersKey Events

Cotton EMBARGO(1861)

• The aim of the cotton embargo was to force Britain into recognising the Confederacy• It was not a formal embargo (local ‘committees of public safety’ halted the export of

cotton).• The cotton embargo backfired because Britain had warehouses full of cotton from 1859-

60, meaning there was no immediate shortage of cotton in Britain.• Southerners consequently failed to sell their most valuable commodity when the

blockade was not effective.Confederate attempts to persuade Britain to support the Confederacy(1861)

• Agents were sent from the Confederacy to establish contacts with sympathetic MPs• The Confederacy set up a newspaper called The Index which promoted the Confederate

case• Purchasing agents purchased British armaments • It is hard to see what else the Confederacy could have done to get British support

The Trent Affair (1861)

• In November 1861, James Mason, and John Slidell (CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONERS for Britain and France) left Cuba for Europe in a British steam boat called The Trent.

• The Trent was stopped by a Union ship called USS SAN JACINTO (led my Captain Wilkes), and Wilkes removed the commissioners off the boat.

• This angered Britain who prepared a fleet and stopped exporting war essentials to the Union.

• The US government did not apologise but admitted that Wilkes had committed an illegal act and freed Mason and Slidell.

Britain consider mediation (1862)

• In the Autumn of 1862 (after Second Manassas), the French Emperor (Napoleon III) proposed that Britain/France should mediate in the conflict.

• However, this would mean recognising the Confederacy, which could have provoked war with the Union

• Lee’s failed Maryland invasion convinced Palmerston it would be unwise to mediate.Commerce Raider • Commerce Raiders were Confederate warships that attacked Union merchant ships

• Built by British shipbuilders• Confederate agents bought unarmed ships, and added the guns elsewhere• Commerce Raiders caused considerable damage: The Alabama sunk 64 Union ships

before being sunk itself• However, on balance Commerce raiders were only a nuisance, they did not cripple trade

Laird Rams • LAIRD RAMS were vessels with an iron ram attached that would sink a ship by smashing its skull

• The Laird Brothers (British) were building ironclad ships for the Confederacy

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• Charles Adam (Union) threatened war against Britain if these boats were sold to the Confederacy

• The British government bought the rams themselves and the crisis fizzed out.

4.2 The strengths and weaknesses of the Union cause

Military Resources

Military LeadershipBelow is the Union Army’s command structure. We will look in more detail at the military leaders and their role in the American Civil War when we look at key battles.

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Political and Military LeadershipTHE PRESIDENT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

X Lincoln had little administrative experience (only worked in the House of Representatives before becoming President).

X Lincoln can take little credit for foreign policy (Seward), finance (Chase) or economics (Congress).

X He is accused of incompetence (poor choice of commanders in the army of Potomac e.g. McClellan)

X Democrats accused Lincoln of ruling tyrannically (1862 suspended the writ of habeas corpus)

X Lincoln could be seen to have had an easier task!

Lincoln was resilient, diligent, honest with a sense of humour! He had a profound impact on those he met, including his cabinet. He could clearly articulate the Union wars aims.

Lincoln did not alienate his cabinet – this meant he did not need to focus on issues such as economy, and could instead focus on the war.

Often represented the middle ground because he was a moderate.

Lincoln did not avoid responsibility in terms of the army (April 1861 called for troops, proclaimed a blockade and order military spending of 2 million without Congress’ approval)

X Radical Republicans blamed Lincoln for not prosecuting the war more vigorously/moving against slavery quicker.

Had lost Southern members, and therefore was controlled by Republicans. 1861: HoR (105 Republicans, 43 Democrats, 28 Unionist). Senate (31 Republican out of 48)

Whilst there was conflict over the boundaries of Lincoln’s power, they were generally loyal and cooperated with Lincoln.

However, they were not disciplined, nor did they always oppose Lincoln (got their support when he needed it)

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S CABINET VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS

X Simon Cameron (secretary of war) had a reputation for corruption. In 1862 he was replaced by Edwin Stanton (ex-Democrat and effective).

More stable than Davis’ (most secretaries stayed in this position)

Met rarely and was to discuss timings and language or approval. Members often saw Lincoln one-on-one instead of as a group

Once a severe critic, Stanton became one of Lincoln’s closest advisors

Postmaster Montgomery Blair came from one of the best known political families in the Union

Voluntary Associations were set up to fill the gaps in terms of aspects of waro THE UNITED STATES SANITARY

COMMISSION helped the Army Medical Bureau. They prowled Union camps and hospitals insisting on better food and conditions. Thousands of women were the mainstay of the commission, knitting, wrapping bandages on raising funds

Opposition to the Union Government.COPPERHEADS CLEMENT VALLANDINGHAM• Whilst many Northern Democrats saw the conflict as a

‘Republican war, they still wanted the Union restored• Pro-Confederate Northerners were a minority• BUT this was not how many Republicans saw it• Republicans in the West called their Democrat opponents

COPPERHEADS (poisonous snake) and claimed that they belonged to a subversive, pro-Southern secret society which planned to set up a North West Confederacy that would make peace with the South

• Republicans leaders realised that charges of treason could

• Clement Vallandingham was campaigning to become Governor of Ohio

• He denounced the war and called for soldiers to desert• He wanted to become a martyr • On the orders of General Burnside, he was arrested in the

middle of the night• He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to

imprisonment for the rest of the war• This led to protest from Democrats and even some

Republicans

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be used to discredit the Democrat party as a whole, and could be used to set up Union Leagues (Republican-led societies pledged to defend the Union).

• Lincoln saw no alternative but to support Burnside • Lincoln banished Vallandingham to the Confederacy for the

duration of the war. Vallandingham would move from the South to Canada, and would lose the Ohio election

Economic FactorsEconomic Factor Detail about it

Economic Legislation

• Now the government was Republican dominated, they could pass legislation previously stopped by Democrats

HOMESTEAD ACT (1862): Granted settlers 160 acres in the west, free of charge to settlers who work on them for 5 years

Higher tariffs were passed to protect industry and to raise finance Railway subsidies were METED out (the most important railway development

was the transcontinental railway from Omaha to San Francisco) There was no rationing, no controlling prices, no central control of railways

Equipping the army

It was not certain in 1861 that industry would meet the challenge (lost southern markets through secession). However…

The Union had an abundance of raw materials, ready capital, and technology Production gains were notable (canned food, shipbuilding, munitions) Railways made great profits Increased money supply made it easier for manufacturers to pay off

debts/secure loans for expansion The lack of labour led to technological developments

Farmers also benefitted (needed to feed soldiers, but there was also growing demand abroad)

Exports of wheat, corn, pork and beef doubled There was more machinery and land under cultivation (1 million hectares

between 1862-4)

Economic problems

X Cotton Mills in New England suffered X Immigration reduced by 1.3 million people (nearly twice the number lost by both

sides)X This reduced the population by 5.6% from what it would have been without the

warX Some claim economic growth was slowerX People say the move to mass production was underway before the war

FinanceThe Union had an established Treasury, gold reserve and source of revenue from tariffs. However, the northern financial structure was not ready for war. Over the winter of 1861-2, the northern banking system was near to collapse… The table below outlines how the Union tried to raise finance.

1. Raised loans and issued bonds 2. Increase Tax 3. Inflationary monetary policy

A BOND is when you give the Union Government money, for a certificate that states you will get that money back at a later date, with interest added on (so you make money in the long run).

One million northerners ended up owning shares in the national debt

2/3 of Union revenue was raised by loans and bonds

An income tax (the first in US history, was enacted in 1861 (3% tax on incomes over $800)Internal Revenue Act 1862 (taxed everything)

1/5 of revenue was raised by tax

Legal Tender Act (1862) issued $150 million paper currency not redeemable in gold or silver.

Gave the treasury resources to pay its bills and restored confidence

National Banking Act (1863 and 1864) taxed state bank notes

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Inflation was only 80%

Geographic FactorsGeographic Factor What impact did this have on the Union?

The Confederacy was 2 million km2 The size of the Confederacy made it difficult to blockade and conquer.

Confederate forces need not invade the North; the Union had little option but to attack

The Union have the harder job, not only to take over land by winning battles, but to keep hold of that land!

Between Washington and Richmond was a series of west to east running rivers

These rivers were an obstacle in the way of capturing Richmond, this is where most of the battle would take place.

Throughout the Confederacy were railways and roads The Union dispersed armies could face larger Confederate armies

Four upper Southern states did not secede, and Virginia split when West Virginia seceded from the state.

The states that stayed loyal to the Union would have added 80% to the Confederacies industrial Capital if they had seceded.

Long coastline in the South A long coast line is hard to blockade, but the Union had naval supremacy

The Appalachian Mountains ran through the confederacy.

These mountains were another obstacle in the way of capturing Richmond. They would stretch manpower.

Relations with Foreign PowersReasons for Britain to support the Union What Britain did• Conflict with the Union could lead to the loss of

Canada• Conflict with the Union could lead to loss of

valuable markets and investments• Crimean War had indicated difficulties of

fighting far away from home

• Britain stayed neutral • But they had to decide whether to RECOGNISE

the Confederacy as a country or a rebellion? • In May 1861 Britain made a compromise

position: they acknowledged the Confederate states as BELLIGERENT (legally as waging war)

• Britain attempted to remain neutral throughout…

British Involvement

Key EventsThe Trent Affair (1861)

• In November 1861, James Mason and John Slidell (CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONERS for Britain and France) left Cuba for Europe in a British steam boat called The Trent.

• The Trent was stopped by a Union ship called USS SAN JACINTO (led my Captain Wilkes), and Wilkes removed the commissioners off the boat.

• This angered Britain who prepared a fleet, and stopped exporting war essentials to the Union.

• The US government did not apologise but admitted that Wilkes had committed an illegal act and freed Mason and Slidell.

Britain consider mediation (1862)

• In the Autumn of 1862 (after Second Manassas), the French Emperor (Napoleon III) proposed that Britain/France should mediate in the conflict.

• However, this would mean recognising the Confederacy, which could have provoked war with the Union

• Lee’s failed Maryland invasion convinced Palmerston it would be unwise to mediate.Laird Rams • Laird Rams were vessels with an iron ram attached that would sink a ship by smashing its

skull• The Laird Brothers (British) were building ironclad ships for the Confederacy• Charles Adam (Union) threatened war against Britain if these boats were sold to the

Confederacy

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• The British government bought the rams themselves and the crisis fizzed out.

4.3 The course of the Civil War

The following pages will give you details on the key battles fought between 1861-1865.There are (many!) more battles than what are in this handout.

Below are points you are looking to pull out of this information1. Examples of effective/poor leadership from Generals

2. Examples of effective/poor strategies3. Examples of missed opportunities

4. How important are the casualties (there are 2 Union soldiers, for every 1 Confederate soldier)?

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Battles in 1861Name First Manassas/First Bull Run

Location Eastern Theatre – Manassas, North VirginiaDate July 21, 1861

Winner The ConfederacyGenerals Confederate: Beauregard and Johnston Union: McDowell

Casualties Confederate: 3000 Union: 2000DetailsBeauregard (+22,000 men) were positioned south of the Bull Run River in Manassas, North Virginia. On July 16th, McDowell (+30,000 men) marched south and attacked Beauregard on 21st July. The Confederates were close to defeat, however they fought strong, especially Stonewall Jackson who stood ‘like a wall’. The Confederacy was saved by Johnston’s 11,000 troops who came from the Shenandoah. The Union panicked and fled.Why is this battle important?Some suggest that the Confederacy missed an opportunity by not following up on their victory at Bull Run with an attack on Washington D.C. However, the Southern army was disorganized and in short supplies… Successfully attacking Washington D.C. would not have won the war.

Battles in 1862Name Shihloh

Location Western Theatre – Shiloh, TennesseeDate April 6-7, 1862

Winner The UnionGenerals Confederate: Johnston then Beauregard Union: Grant and Buell

Casualties Confederate: 10,600 Union: 13,000DetailsGrant (+40,000 men) was encamped at Shiloh, waiting for Buell’s army. On April 6th Johnson launched a surprise attack on Grant. Many Union soldiers panicked and fled, but enough stayed to ensure the rebels did not win a total victory. Albert Johnston died and therefore Beauregard took over. Buell’s army (25,000) arrived in the night. The next day the Confederates were forced to retreat.Why is this battle important?Halleck becomes general-in-chief of the Union army (Lincoln hopes he will be vigorous) and Davis replaced Beauregard with Bragg

Name Shenandoah ValleyLocation Eastern Theatre – Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Date March-June 1862Winner The Confederacy

Generals Confederate: Stonewall Jackson Union: McClellanCasualties Confederate: 2,600 Union: 5,300

DetailsStonewall Jackson (+18,000 men) were sent into Shenandoah Valley to stop Union troops moving south into Richmond. From March-July 1862 there were 6 battles (over 5000 Union casualties, Jackson diverted 60,000 Union troops from other tasks and inspired the South).Why is this battle important?Lincoln sent no troops to help McClellan, because he was worried about the threat Jackson posed on Washington D.C.

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Peninsula Campaign (March through July) McClellan planned to attack Richmond up the peninsular between the York and James River to avoid a frontal attack. Instead of attacking, he besieged Yorktown (giving Davis more time). When McClellan was about to attack, the Confederates withdrew. McClellan advanced cautiously. Convinced that they were outnumbered, he waited for reinforcement. Led to the subsequent Seven Days Battle…

Name Seven Days BattleLocation Eastern Theatre – Richmond, Virginia

Date June 25th – July 1st 1862Winner The Confederacy

Generals Confederate: Robert E. Lee Union: McClellanCasualties Confederate: 20,614 Union: 15,849

DetailsLee attacked McClellan and his men at the end of June. Lee had overcomplicated battle plans and defects in command structure, which led to disjointed attacks. Stonewall Jackson was also lethargic (lacking enthusiasm). But it did save Richmond from being taken over by McClellan.Why is this battle important?This battle tainted the reputation Jackson had at First Manassas and Shenandoah. However, Lee’s offensive saved Richmond.

Name Second Manassas/Second Bull RunLocation Eastern Theatre – Manassas, Virginia

Date August 29-30th 1861Winner The Confederacy

Generals Confederate: Robert E. Lee and Jackson Union: McClellan and PopeCasualties Confederate: 9,000 Union: 16,000

DetailsLincoln ordered McClellan to join forces with General Pope (commanding forces around D.C.). With a united army, Pope would advance on Richmond. Lee (determined to strike first) headed North with 55,000 men. Lee sent Jackson (+25,000 men) north of Pope, who was still awaiting McClellan’s arrival. 26-27th August, Jackson captured Pope’s main supply depot. McClellan came and with Pope they attacked Jackson on the 29th-30th August. This was a Union disaster (failed to realise that the rest of Lee’s army was coming). Most Union troops escaped.Why is this battle important?Lincoln reluctantly reappoints McClellan

Name AntietamLocation Eastern Theatre – Sharpsburg, Maryland

Date September 17th 1862Winner The Union

Generals Confederate: Robert E. Lee Union: McClellan then BurnsideCasualties Confederate: 11,000 Union: 12,000

DetailsLee (+40,000 men) invaded Maryland (to protect Virginia’s harvest; gain Maryland volunteers; win a decisive victory; demoralize the North; persuade Britain to recognize the Confederacy). Lee lost a copy of his orders, what made their way into McClellan’s hands… McClellan forced Lee back to the Potomac River. Lee took position behind Antietam Creek. McClellan did not attack (despite Lee being hopelessly outnumbered!). Jackson’s corps re-join Lee. Across 3 separate battles (morning, midday and afternoon) at Antietam, the Union won partially with no follow through to complete success, meaning Lee managed to hang on. McClellan was able to claim victory when Lee retreated to Virginia.

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Why is this battle important?It was the bloodiest single-day battle (C- 11,000 and U- 12,000). Within days Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which meant the likelihood of British intervention for Lee was now small. Finally, McClellan was replaced with Burnside when he fails to follow up his victory (ironic)

Name FredericksburgLocation Eastern Theatre – Fredericksburg, Virginia

Date December 11-15th 1862Winner The Confederacy

Generals Confederate: Robert E. Lee Union: BurnsideCasualties Confederate: 5,377 Union: 12,653

DetailsBurnside (+100,000 men) men marched South. Lee (+75,000 men) took up a strong position in Fredericksburg. On 13th December, Burnside launched a series of suicidal attacks, losing 11,000 men. Lee lost less than 5000 men. Burnside attempted to turn Lee’s flank but got bogged down in mud…Why is this battle important?Decline in Union morale

Battles in 1863Name Chancellorsville

Location Eastern Theatre – Chancellorsville, VirginiaDate April 30th- May 6th 1863

Winner The ConfederacyGenerals Confederate: Robert E. Lee Union: Hooker

Casualties Confederate: 5,377 Union: 12,653DetailsHooker (+130,000 men) reach Chancellorsville on the 30th April. Lee led 50,000 Confederates to meet Hooker. He sent Jackson with 28,000 men to attack Hookers right flank. Jackson attacked just before dusk, driving Union forces back in confusion. Jackson is shot by his own men at night when they were inspecting the battlefield. He had his arm amputated, contracted pneumonia and died on May 10 th. But he had ensured defeat as Hookers troops retreated. Why is this battle important?It was an impressive victory for Robert E. Lee (many see it as his most impressive) because he had significantly fewer men and inflicted 17,000 casualties. Confederate morale was high despite Jackson’s death. Hooker resigned after this battle, and Meade took charge of the Army of Potomac

Name GettysburgLocation Eastern Theatre – Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania

Date July 1-3rd, 1863Winner The Union

Generals Confederate: Robert E. Lee & Longstreet Union: MeadeCasualties Confederate: 23,000-28,000 Union: 23,000

DetailsLee invaded Pennsylvania thinking it would be the only way to make Lincoln accept Southern independence. On July 1st rebel soldiers stumble across Union soldiers at Gettysburg. The Confederacy won on the first day of battle, with Unionists retreating to Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Hill. On July 2nd, Longstreet attacked the Union left. They had some success in doing this, but the day ended in stalemate. On 3rd July Lee launched his main attack, but his charge was a disaster. In less than an hour the Confederacy suffered 6,500 casualties. Lee had been beaten.Why is this battle important?Lee lost 28,000 men in 3 days (1/3 of his command). He retreated back to Virginia and accepted full responsibility for the lesson. He even tried to resign, but Davis would not accept his resignation. The myth of Lee’s invincibility had been broken – impact on morale. After this, Lee is never strong enough

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to invade the North BUT VICTORY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A TURNING POINT because Lee could not have held a Northern city if captured and the Union were seeing success in the West. Meade is unable to follow up the victory to suggest Gettysburg caused the defeat.

Name VicksburgLocation Western Theatre – Vicksburg, Mississippi

Date May 18th – July 14th 1863Winner The Union

Generals Confederate: Pemberton Union: GrantCasualties Confederate: 38,586 Union: 10,142

DetailsIn April, seeking a way to capture Vicksburg, Grant took a gamble. Marching his army down the west side of the Mississippi, he relied on Admiral Porter’s fleet sailing past Vicksburg. Two weeks after this happened, Grant’s army was ferried across the Mississippi. Grant then cut inland, in 3 weeks he won several battles and besieged Vicksburg. On the 4th July, 30,000 Confederate troops surrendered. Port Hudson was captured 5 days later meaning the Confederacy was cut in two.Why is this battle important???

Name ChattanoogaLocation Western Theatre – Chattanooga, Tennessee

Date September 21st – November 25th 1863Winner The Union

Generals Confederate: Bragg Union: Rosecrans, Thomas and GrantCasualties Confederate: 6,000-8,000 Union: 5,824

DetailsUnder pressure from Lincoln to advance, General Rosecrans advanced against General Bragg. Bragg gave battle at Chickamauga, reinforced by 12,000 men from the Army of North Virginia. Bragg came close to winning. Only the brave action of Thomas enabled the Union army to retreat to Chattanooga. Bragg now besieged Chattanooga. The Union was so short on food they thought they’d have to surrender. Grant acted swiftly, ensuring Chattanooga was supplied and then stormed. The next day Grants men besieged Missionary Ridge. Rebel forced retreated. Why is this battle important?Union victory confirmed that Grant was the Union’s greatest general

Battles in 1864Shenandoah Valley (autumn 1864) The Confederacy suffered serious setback in the Shenandoah Valley. Sheridan, the new Union commander, chased the Confederates up the valley, winning the battles at Winchester and at Cedar Creek.

Name Atlanta CampaignLocation Western Theatre – Atlanta, Georgia

Date May 7th – September 2nd, 1864Winner The Union

Generals Confederate: Johnston (then Hood) Union: ShermanCasualties Confederate: 6,000-8,000 Union: 5,824

DetailsIn May, Sherman with 100,000 men, left Chattanooga and headed towards Atlanta (Georgia capital and important industrial/rail center). His Confederate opponent, General Johnston (70,000 men) retreated. By July Union forces had reached the outskirts of Atlanta. Davis now replaced Johnston with Buell (little skill as commander). A series of attacks on Union lines led to the loss of 20,000 Confederates. At the end of August, Hood was forced to abandon Atlanta.

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Why is this battle important?Boost northern morale

Marching through Georgia (autumn 1864) Sherman left Thomas to watch Hood, and set off with 62,000 men on a march through Georgia to Savannah on the coast. Cutting adrift from supplies, Sherman’s aim was to demoralize the South, destroying its capacity to fight. He left a swath of destruction 100km wide. Union forced captured Savannah in mid-December. The 450km march inflicted $100 million damage, crippling the railway network and gave a lie to the Confederates promise to protect its people.

Name Franklin and NashvilleLocation Western Theatre – Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee

Date Winter of 1864Winner The Union

Generals Confederate: Hood Union: ThomasCasualties Confederate: 6,000-8,000 Union: 5,824

DetailsInstead of trying to stop Sherman, Hood invaded Tennessee. His scheme to defeat Thomas, reconquer Kentucky and then help Lee – came to nothing. In November Hood ordered a suicidal assault on Union forces at Franklin (losses were 3x the North). The Union was now pulled back to Nashville. One 15-16th December, Thomas struck the most complete victory of the war.Why is this battle important?It showed Thomas as one of the Civil War’s unsung heroes. It virtually destroyed Hood and the Army of Tennessee

Battles in 1864Name Battle at Appomattox Court House

Location Eastern Theatre – Appomattox, Virginia Date April 9th, 1865

Winner The UnionGenerals Confederate: Lee Union: Grant

Casualties Confederate: 195 Union: 164DetailsThe Battle of Appomattox Court House, was the final engagement of Confederate General in Chief, Robert E. Lee, before it surrendered to the Union Army of the Potomac under Grant. Lee, having abandoned the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia was hoping to join his army with the remaining Confederate forces in North Carolina. Union forces under Gen. Sheridan cut off the Confederates' retreat at Appomattox Court House. Lee launched a last-ditch attack to break through the Union forces. When he realized that the Union force had back up, he had no choice but to surrender. The signing of the surrender documents occurred in the parlor of the house on the afternoon of April 9. On April 12, a stacking of arms marked the disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia with the men free to return home.Why is this battle important?This marked the end of the American Civil War.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLean_House_(Appomattox,_Virginia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appomattox_Court_House_National_Historical_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Sheridan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Potomac

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_in_Chief_of_the_Armies_of_the_Confederate_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_in_Chief_of_the_Armies_of_the_Confederate_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_Army


Why did the Confederates lose?

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4.4 The United States at the end of the Civil War

The cost of the war for the North

Casu

altie

s

Figures immediately after the war: An estimate for the Union Army’s death toll (279,689) was deduced shortly after the war ended from BATTLEFIELD REPORTS, in which each regiment recorded, often imprecisely, the names/fates of its members.

20 th Century figures: That figure was increased to 360,222 in the early 20th century to reflect applications by widows and orphans for pensions and SURVIVORS BENEFITS, which could be claimed whether a soldier had been killed in battle, succumbed to his injuries later on or died of disease. (Historians believe that two-thirds of fatalities among soldiers serving in the Civil War were due to illness.)

Econ

omic

cos

t

The Union's industrial and economic capacity soared during the war as the North continued its rapid industrialization. Nearly every sector of the Union economy witnessed increased production.

Farming Mechanization of farming allowed a single farmer to grow and process much more than was possible by hand and animal power. By 1860, a threshing machine could thresh 12 times as much grain per hour as could six men. This mechanization became important as farmers enlisted in the Union military. Those remaining could continue to manage the farm.

Transport: Northern transportation industries boomed during the conflict - particularly railroads. The North's larger number of tracks and better ability to construct and move parts gave it an advantage over the South. Union forces moving south or west to fight often rode to battle on trains traveling on freshly lain tracks. In fact, as Northern forces travelled further south to fight and occupy the Confederacy, the War Department created the UNITED STATES MILITARY RAILROADS, designed to build rails to carry troops and supplies as well as operating captured Southern rail lines and equipment. By war's end, it was the world's largest railroad system.

Impa

ct o

n im

mig

ratio

n

Immigrant Soldiers: Pre-war settlement patterns contributed enormous numbers of soldiers to win the war. After the war, the status of certain immigrant groups increased tremendously in both the North and the South. Immigrants were perceived as a crucial element in various competing strategies for economic recovery in the South.

Immigration and Agriculture Northern politicians who feared the return of planter power the Southern Homestead Act of 1866, with the goal of breaking up the larger plantations into small family farms that would be parcelled out to new immigrants.

Immigration following the War: Of the three million immigrants who came to America from 1865 to 1873, almost none settled in the South. Some historians contend that these efforts failed because they were founded on the unrealistic belief that immigrants would passively accept the sort of living conditions and treatment that slaves had been forced to endure. In 1866, an Alabama planter persuaded a group of thirty Swedish immigrants to settle on his plantation. He fed, housed, and clothed them as he had formerly provided for his slaves. Nevertheless, they all quit within a week.

Politi

cal D

ivisi

ons

Sherman: 40 acres and a mule January 1865, General Sherman declared that free slaves should receive 40 acres (16 hectares) of land and a surplus mule. Sherman was far from a humanitarian reformer. His main concern was the relive pressure caused by the large number of impoverished black people following his army. He stressed that Congress would have to agree to his plan.

Republicans and plantation land Republican congressmen favoured confiscating plantation land and redistributing it among freedmen and loyal whites. Such action would reward the deserving and punish the guilty. However, unable to agree on a specific measure, Congress failed to pass a redistribution bill.

Position of ex-slaves Whilst some northerners were anxious to help ex-slaves, many feared an exodus of freed slaves to the North. Border States have no wish to give Blacks equal rights. Missouri and Maryland freed their slaves, Kentucky still had 65,000 slaves in Bondage in April 1865. It survived until December 1865.

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The cost of the war for the SouthCa

sual

ties

Different casualty figures 1860 census figures suggest that 18% of all white males in the South aged 13 to 43 died in the war.

Historian William F. Fox argues 74,524 were killed and died of wounds; 59,292 died of disease.Fox complained that records were incomplete, and that battlefield reports likely under-counted deathsIf you add in Confederate estimates of battle losses where no records exist would bring the death toll to 94,000

Thomas L. Livermore put the number of Confederate non-combat deaths at 166,000, using the official estimate of Union deaths from disease and accidents as a comparison. However, this excludes the 30,000 deaths of Confederate troops in prisons, which would raise the minimum number of deaths to 290,000.

Francis Amasa Walker, Superintendent of the 1870 Census, used census and Surgeon General data to estimate 350,000 Confederate military deaths

Role

of w

omen

Role of women during the war The war placed a burden on southern white women: they were often left alone on farms and plantations; forced to manage business affairs and discipline slaves; mobilized to support soldiers in the field and stepped out the traditional sphere; in Richmond ‘government girls’ staffed many clerkships in the bureaucracy.

Attitudes of women as the war progressed the war went on and death toll mounted, women believe independence wasn’t worth the cost. Dissatisfaction grew conveyed in letters to loved ones. This decline in civilian morale encouraged desertion from the army.

Econ

omic

Cos

t

Slavery A system of sharecropping as developed where landowners broke up large plantations and rented small lots to the freedmen and their families. Sharecropping was a way for very poor farmers, both white and black, to earn a living from land owned by someone else. The landowner provided land, housing, tools and seed, and perhaps a mule, and a local merchant provided food and supplies on credit. At harvest time the sharecropper received a share of the crop (from one-third to one-half, with the landowner taking the rest). The cropper used his share to pay off his debt to the merchant.

Infrastructure The war destroyed much of the wealth that had existed in the South. All accumulated investment Confederate bonds was forfeited. Most banks and railroads were bankrupt. Income per person in the South dropped to less than 40 percent of that of the North, a condition that lasted until well into the 20th century. In South Carolina before the war, for instance, there were 965,000 hogs. After the surrender of the Confederate Army in 1865, the hog population in South Carolina had dropped to 150,000. The South's farms were not highly mechanized, but the value of farm implements and machinery in the 1860 Census was $81 million and was reduced by 40% by 1870.

Expenditure The Confederacy spent $3.3billion. Also, inflation reached 9000% by end of the war compared to 1861 (printing more paper money). Currency was almost worthless – gold, silver and currency was in short supply.

Dest

ructi

on

Physical destruction of Sherman’s Campaign: Sherman's March was devastating to both Georgia and the Confederacy in terms of economics and psychology. Sherman himself estimated that the campaign had inflicted $100 million (about $1.4 billion in 2012 dollars) in damages, about one fifth of which "inured to our advantage" while the "remainder is simple waste and destruction." His army wrecked 300 miles (480 km) of railroad and numerous bridges and miles of telegraph lines. It seized 5,000 horses, 4,000 mules, and 13,000 head of cattle. It confiscated 9.5 million pounds of corn and 10.5 million pounds of fodder, and destroyed uncounted cotton gins and mills.

Impact of Sherman’s campaign on civilians Sherman's campaign of total war extended to Georgian civilians. In July 1864, during the Atlanta campaign, Sherman ordered approximately 400 Roswell mill workers, mostly women, arrested as traitors and shipped as prisoners to the North with their children. There is little evidence that more than a few of the women ever returned home.

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The prospect of reconciliation

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