War for the Union

The American Civil War

And Reconstruction, 1861-1877

IMMEDIATE CAUSES

• Election of Lincoln– the slave states would not accept the Republican policy of preventing further expansion of slavery.

• Slavery – the moral issue

• States rights vs. power of the federal government

The first States secede

The war begins - the firing on Fort Sumter

Border States Critical

Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, and the western part of Virginia all remained in the Union – force was used in Missouri and Kentucky to prevent secession.

Suppressing Secession in Missouri

Nathaniel Lyon (left) was an army captain in St. Louis in 1861. Learning that the governor of Missouri planned to ask the state legislature to vote for secession, he mustered militia troops from St. Louis, transported them by rail to Jefferson City, surrounded the capitol building and refused to allow the legislature to convene. The governor and his supporters fled to Arkansas. Missouri Was “occupied” for the rest of the war.

Brother against brotherThe civil war in Missouri was truly a bitter one, with families divided and murders often carried out under the guise of “warfare.” Railroads vital to Union armies had to be guarded constantly from “irregular” guerillas who were half soldiers, half looters.

One Missouri county – Callaway – declared itself “neutral” in the war. Callaway families disowned sons who joined to fight.

The Prisoner Issue

Because the Confederate states were “in rebellion,” the question arose as to how prisoners were to be treated – as traitors? When a Missouri commander executed 10 irregular prisoners (retaliating for attacks on the trains), the Confederate government threatened to begin executing Union prisoners. Both governments agreed informally to abide by “prisoner of war” rules, but this was violated more than once

A monument in Palmyra Missouri lists the names of 10 men executed by a Union firing squad. The issue still causes divisions among people in the area.

A continental war

Railroads would play a critical role in the war – all supplies to the armies moved first by rail, then by wagon, finally on foot or mule to the troops on the lines.

Both armies used huge numbers of troops and civilian workers (or slaves) to extend rail lines as the armies moved north or south

Disaster at Bull Run

Union over-confidence in victory was shattered in July 1861, when its Army of the Potomac met the Confederates at Manassas, Virginia – and were soundly beaten. The Union supply wagons, and some regiments, fled north, crossing the small stream known as Bull Run in such a panic that the event was later called “the great skedaddle.”

Better Luck near Columbus KYEvents in MO-KY aided Lincoln when a small force under US Grant fought a rebel force and began to open the Mississippi River.

It was the beginning of Grant’s rise in the new Union Armies.

Unconditional Surrender

In February 1862, Grant captured Forts Henry and Donelson, in Tennessee, demanding the “unconditional surrender” of the Confederate forces – the war was no longer “a lark.”

Imprisonment of “Copperheads”

Lincoln himself stirred controversy when ordered that prominent pro-South speakers (who urged soldiers to desert rather than fight) arrested and held without trial. The Supreme Court later ruled Lincoln’s action a violation of law.

The Republican Economic Program

In order to please the voters of the North, and pay for the war Lincoln’s government worked with Congress created new laws to stimulate economic growth:

•A “transcontinental Railroad Act” gave large tracts of land to railroads for each mile of new track they laid down.

•A Homestead Act gave land to settlers in return for farming and improving the land.

•A Currency Act issued Federal paper money, backed by gold, while a tax on other paper money drove it out of existence.

•A higher tariff was placed on imported goods.

•Special grants of land to fund agricultural colleges in the states.

These laws helped businesses in the north grow, and over time helped create a larger class of factory workers. None of this could have been passed by Congress had the southern senators and representatives not withdrawn with their states.

Union StrategyHaving failed to break the rebellion with one decisive battle, the Union Army employed a complex strategy for victory. The plan was devised by General Winfield Scott (a hero of the Mexican War. Known as the Anaconda Plan, because Scott wanted to “strangle the enemy like a giant snake,” the plan called for:

•Using the navy to blockade the southern coast (cutting off aid).

•Taking control of the Mississippi River by occupying New Orleans and taking by force key cities along the river.

•Gaining control of Tennessee from which armies could march south on Alabama and Georgia.

•Controlling the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, to deny the Confederates the grain there.

•Seizing Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital.

Corruption in the Army

Although confident that their armies could overwhelm the South, the Union military was hampered by lack of experienced generals and by corruption – newly enrolled regiments from the various states were often commanded by “political” officers who had paid bribes for their posts.

The Secretary of War, Simon Cameron (left) disgraced the new Lincoln government when it was learned he had given arms-and-equipment contracts to his cronies.

Embarrassment in St. Louis

The defeat at Bull Run was followed by uproar in St. Louis when John Charles Fremont, Union commander of the region (and Republican presidential candidate in 1856) suspended all “unfriendly” newspapers, declared martial law, and announced he would free all the slaves in Missouri. Lincoln ordered Fremont to withdraw his statement, a move that divided Republicans.

Dissension in the Cabinet

Lincoln’s difficulties continued when some in his own cabinet tried to take command of the government. William Seward, his secretary of state, suggested that the nation might re-unite if the U.S. “found itself” in a war with Britain or France. Seward also offered to handle “all the affairs of government” for Lincoln, an offer that Abe politely declined. Seward, Chase, and others believed that they might be president in 1864 if defeats continued in “Lincoln’s war.”

The “Young Napoleon”

Lincoln’s greatest danger may well have been a threat from his own military. George McClellan was barely 35 when appointed to command the Army of the Potomac after Bull Run. Respected for his military knowledge, he was called by some the “American Napoleon” (and enjoyed acting the role, as the picture shows). Some urged McClellan to seize control of the government during the crisis of the war. McClellan certainly wanted to run for president in 1864.

March on RichmondIn March, 1862, McClellan transported his Army of the Potomac by sea to Urbanna, a port on the coast of Virginia. From there he planned to march west to Richmond and end the war by bombarding it into surrender. He may well have won with his superior numbers and heavy artillery. But Robert E. Lee (right), placed in command of the Confederate Army of Virginia, outmaneuvered McClellan in a series of brilliant moves and forced him to retreat. Lincoln never trusted McClellan again.

War in the WestIn 1861 and 1862, the Union armies made some progress in the west. New Orleans was invaded and occupied, and an army seized Fort Donelson, opening the door into northern Alabama. But the northern troops also lost battles in Missouri and Kentucky. At Shiloh, the two armies fought to a bloody draw, with heavy losses for both sides.

Grant – the Unexpected HeroAs McClellan and other generals failed, Ulysses S. Grant emerged as a leader of troops and winner of battles. Forced to resign from the army in 1854 because of drunkenness, Grant was an unlikely hero. But he commanded troops well, could execute complex maneuvers, and always attacked. When personal enemies urged Lincoln to dismiss Grant. Lincoln said “I can’t spare this man, he fights." Because he demanded (and got) the “unconditional surrender” of Confederate troops at Fort Donelson, Grant became known as “Unconditional Surrender” Grant. He was eventually to be given command of the entire army.

War on the River

By seizing major ports on the Mississippi River, the Union cut the connection between the heart of the Confederacy and Texas, a major source of troops for their armies. Beef from Texas, grain from Arkansas, and rice from Louisiana, all important for feeding the army, were also reduced.

Contraband SlavesPressed by anti-slavery forces in his own party to use the war to end slavery, Lincoln adopting a wait-and-see policy. He wrote a northern editor that if he “could save the Union without freeing any slave,” he would. “If I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.” Lincoln said he personally did not like slavery but that his first responsibility as president was to “preserve the Union.”

Important events in relation to slavery

• Lincoln permitted slaves to be “confiscated” if they were found to be “working in the service of the rebellion” – in other words if they dug trenches or hauled supplies for the Confederate troops, etc. The legal status of these “contraband” slaves was unclear; were they free?

• Learning of the “contraband policy” thousands of slaves fled northward, hoping to reach U.S. troops and surrender “into freedom.” Not sure what to do, Union officers fed and employed contraband slaves to work for the U.S. Army.

• 1862 – after a victory at Antietam, Lincoln announced the Emancipation proclamation. This left the slaves in the border states in slavery and freed only the slaves in the Confederate areas “still in rebellion.” The decision did not please abolitionists, nor some leaders in the Republican Party.

The War ContinuesMeanwhile the war continued. One general after another took command of the Army of the Potomac and marched south to seize Richmond, only to suffer defeat after defeat.

The Confederacy worried about Grant’s growing success in the west and pressed Robert E. Lee, their best general, to consider invading Pennsylvania and Maryland in order to threaten Washington DC.

Lee became to develop a plan for such a campaign.

Given command of the Army of the Potomac in 1862, Joseph Hooker told a friend that the nation “needed a dictator.” Hearing this, Lincoln wrote Hooker that he would “risk the dictatorship” once Hooker actually won a victory. Meeting Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Hooker was utterly defeated.

Confederate Raiders at seaBuilt in England for the Confederacy, the CSS Alabama sailed the Atlantic for nearly 2 years, attacking and destroying Union ships.

Relations with Britain deteriorated over the damages caused by this ship.

The Alabama was finally cornered and sunk by the USS Kearsarge in June 1864.

Northern ships meanwhile reduced imports into the southern states to bare 5% of what they had had in 1860.

New methods - war ships

The Monitor

One innovation that came during the Civil War was the introduction of “iron-clad” ships. The battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (built from the old USS Merrimac) was a draw, but a new age in ship warfare had begun.

Life in the Camps

Photographs of US and CSA army camps were usually staged carefully, with neat rows of tents and neatly dressed soldiers. In fact, disease ran rampant in the camps and more soldiers died of illness than were killed in battle. Conditions did not improve until Lincoln authorized an Army Sanitary Commission.

The Lot of Prisoners

Conditions in the Civil War era prisons was even worse than in the camps. Union prisoners in the south suffered from starvation in camps like Andersonville (above). Confederate officers at Andersonville were later tried for “war crimes.”

Draft Riots

As the war continued and the armies needed more men, both the Union and the Confederacy eventually turned to using a “draft” to obtain soldiers. In New York, anger over the inequalities of the draft caused bloody riots.

Grant Moves South

Out west, General Grant led his armies down the Mississippi in order to seize Vicksburg Mississippi. Once Vicksburg fell, the Union would have full control of the Mississippi River.

Slaughter at GettysburgLee’s invasion of Pennsylvania in June 1863 became the turning point of the war. Encountering the Union Army at Gettysburg, Lee intended to defeat his enemy, push east and seize Washington, thus forcing Lincoln to sue for peace. However, Gettysburg ended in a bloody three days that forced Lee to retreat to Virginia. A few days later, Grants seized Vicksburg in Mississippi.

Outnumbered and forced to stand and defend, the Confederacy slowly declined.

Prisoners

Although both sides exchanged prisoners at first, Confederate unwillingness to treat Black soldiers as prisoners led to overcrowded prisoners in the South.

Death Knell of Dixie

With Vicksburg taken, Grant – now in command of all the armies of the Union – devised a “grand plan” for ending the Army. Giving control of the western armies to William Sherman, Grant ordered Sherman to invade George and take Atlanta. Grant went east to travel with the Army of the Potomac as it invaded Virginia one more time.

Marching Through Georgia

In full command of 3 armies, Sherman (left) marched toward Atlanta. General Joseph Johnston, his opponent, could not stop the Union troops, which outnumbered him by 3 to 1.

Atlanta Burns

Taking control of Atlanta in September 1864, Sherman re-supplied his troops and prepared to march east into the Carolinas. To prevent the city and rail yards being used to form an army behind him, Sherman ordered much of Atlanta burned in November. When residents protested this, he replied “war is hell.”

Lincoln elected to a second term

The end of the Confederacy

• By 1865, the 13th amendment is ratified by all but three states (NJ, DE, KY)

• Desertion became epidemic - 12% total for Confederacy, 9 % Union by war’s end.

• Belief that “cause was hopeless” led to high inflation in the South.

• Destruction of the crops in Georgia, and the Carolinas made it impossible to feed Lee’s army.

Grant vs. Lee

In Virginia, Grant pushed the Army of the Potomac to the outskirts of Richmond. Several battles with Lee had produced a stalemate between the armies, but Lee could not send aid against Sherman, who was destroying the Carolinas. Food for Lee’s troops dwindled and by the beginning of 1865, Lee’s army was facing starvation.

Richmond Taken

His army facing ruin from starvation and lack of supplies, Lee was forced to retreat from Richmond in April 1865. Grant’s army then seized the city and destroyed much of it. Lee was forced to surrender his army a week later. The war was effectively over.

Lincoln is assassinated

Acting with a handful of supporters, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln on April 14, 1865. How the “reconstruction” of the South may have proceeded had Lincoln lived is uncertain. Because of the killing, the north favored a harsher treatment.