1863-1865Turning the tide of the War

PRE-GETTYSBURG

South scores victory at Chancellorsville, VA Robert E. Lee defeats Union Gen. Joseph Hooker

Unlucky turn of events for South Stonewall Jackson, mistaken for Union soldier, is

shot in the arm; surgeon forced to amputate Dies days later of pneumonia HUGE loss for Lee and the South

Lee decides to press the advantage Needs supplies, hopes to force Lincoln to pull

troops away from Vicksburg, and hopes beating North on Northern soil might tip political scales in the Union

GETTYSBURG – DAY 1 (JULY 1, 1863)

Most decisive battle of the war Group of Confederate soldiers (A.P. Hill) advance

on Gettysburg in search of shoes and to meet up with Lee’s men

Run into a couple brigades of Union cavalry (John Buford)

Buford orders men to defend the city, shooting attracts reinforcements from both sides

Gen. George Meade (now leading Union) orders men to retreat to the high ground outside of town

Confederates win the town, but Lee knows battle is still not won

GETTYSBURG – DAY 2

90,000 Yankees, 75,000 Rebels ready to fight Rebels launch assault through peach orchard

(southern end of the Union line) Nearly take Little Round Top (hill overlooking

much of the southern part of the battlefield) Colonel Joshua Chamberlain leads his Maine

troops to the undefended hilltop to repel the South When running short of ammo, and having lost more

than 1/3 of his men, orders a bayonet charge Exhausted Confederate soldiers surrender in droves

At day’s end, Union lines hold – Why is high ground so important?

GETTYSBURG – CONCLUSION (DAY 3)

Lee still feels he can win – orders massive artillery barrage at the center of the Union line – both sides exchange artillery fire for more than 2 hours

Orders infantry to attack the battered center, but as Confederate soldiers approach, Union cannons resume fire, Confederates come under infantry fire as well, advance is stalled

Flanking maneuver by Confederate cavalry is also stalled, essentially Confederate effort is stalled.

Lee leads long retreat back into Virginia, basically gives up hope of an invasion of the North

AFTERMATH

Union: 23,000 men killed or wounded Confederacy: 28,000 killed or wounded Lee would continue to lead his men ably for 2

more years, but never could recover the terrible losses at Gettysburg Why is it so hard on the South?

VICKSBURG (LATE MAY-JULY 4, 1863)

Grant continuing his mission – which was? Vicksburg one of the last important port

cities left to the South Two frontal assaults fail, so Grant settles in

for a siege – persistent artillery barrage forces residents to shelter in caves

Food supplies dwindle, force the Confederates to surrender

5 days later, Fort Hudson (LA) surrenders – Union owns the Mississippi, divides the Confederacy

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

Cemetery dedication in Gettysburg “..government of the people, by the people,

for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

CONFEDERACY WEARING DOWN

Unable to press the course of the war, only hoping to drag out long enough to force a cease-fire (instead of surrender)

Morale at home is low – food, labor in short supply

Morale among soldiers is low (many desertions and defections)

Some areas of South openly argue for peace

GRANT’S STRATEGY

Grant made commander of all Union forces, he appoints friend William Tecumseh Sherman commander in Mississippi Both believe in “total war” – fighting against

armies and civilians who supply them Break the will of the people, the Confederacy

collapses Grant can afford to fight a war of attrition –

keep throwing armies into battle – he can afford high casualties, Robert E. Lee cannot

From May 4 to June 18, 1864, Grant loses nearly 60,000 soldiers to Lee’s 32,000

SHERMAN’S MARCH TO THE SEA

Confederate soldiers cut off Sherman’s rail supply lines

Sherman abandons them – decides he and his men will march through Georgia living off the land and destroying what they don’t need Livestock, fields, homes, etc.

After taking Savannah, turns north and continues the swath of destruction through Georgia into and through South Carolina

LINCOLN’S RE-ELECTION AND SOUTHERN SURRENDER

In face of immensely long war, recent losses, astronomical casualty rates, Lincoln feels he will lose – McClellan running against him, as is John C. Fremont

Union army scores timely victories though, and that plus ballots cast by Union soldiers secure victory for Lincoln

By March 1865, Union is closing in on Richmond – Confederate government abandons city and sets it on fire

Lee and Grant meet at Appomattox Court House to formalize Southern surrender