the war to manassas

The War to Manassas

Mr. White’s US 1 History Class

Union AdvantagesMore people and menMore factories and productionControlled the Atlantic Ocean – naval power

Confederate AdvantagesOnly had to fight a defensive war; didn’t have to “win” the war, had to not loseBetter generals in the right positions, at the startSoldiers were more accustomed to campaigning

Union Strategy – Anaconda PlanCapture Richmond, Virginia – capital of the ConfederacyControl the Mississippi River and split Confederacy into two partsControl the oceans and ports so that South couldn’t export cotton

Confederate StrategyMostly defensive in nature; defend territoryAttack when necessarySometimes they got a little too aggressive and attacked when they shouldn’t have

First Manassas/First Bull RunFirst major battle of the warUnion troops left Washington, D.C., and met Confederate forces at ManassasMany people came to the battle and tried to get a good view, some picnicked, thought it would be funBloody battle; Confederate victoryMany knew the war would not be short, now

Union Victories in the Western Theater

Ulysses S. Grant - captures Forts Henry and Donelson along the MississippiBattle of Shiloh - bloody battle, again U.S. GrantDavid G. Farragut - captures Baton Rouge and Natchez, closing in on New Orleans

George McClellan

Commander of the Union forces in 1861 and 1862 is George McClellanVery good planner and army-builder – trains the men wellReluctant to attack – Lincoln has to threaten him many times to get him moving

Peninsula CampaignMcClellan finally gets moving in March of 1862Attacks up the Virginia Peninsula, headed for RichmondMcClellan is cautious; always thinks he is outnumbered, and doesn’t attackWhen Robert E. Lee takes command of Confederates, he pushes McClellan back off the PeninsulaCampaign is a failure – McClellan is fired

Confederate InvasionRobert E. Lee is in command of the South; after winning at Peninsula, Lee decides to invade the NorthDecides to go through MarylandThinks that Marylanders will rise up in support of the SouthWants to live off the Northern soil for a whileA victory in the North could end the war

Before AntietamAs Lee invades the North, McClellan actually captures a copy of Lee’s orders for movement – McClellan knows exactly where Lee’s men areStill moves slowly!McClellan at first thinks it might be a trick, but finally starts moving

Antietam

Union corners Lee at Antietam creekMcClellan still cautious, but manages to defeat Lee – doesn’t take advantage of the victoryLee is forced to retreat back into the south

Emancipation ProclamationLincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation after the victory at AntietamFrees slaves in any areas in rebellion after January 1st, 1863Does not free slaves in states not in rebellion (why?)

Effects of Emancipation Proclamation

War now takes on a moral tone for the North – before it was simply to restore the Union, now it will be to end slavery, as wellOther nations such as England and France will not enter a war to defend slaveryIf Union wins, slavery will be ended, forever.

After AntietamMcClellan is again fired, then replaced by Ambrose Burnside, then Joe Hooker.Both of these generals fail, and the Union has spent the first three years of the war trying to find a capable general

Lee’s Second InvasionAfter some victories in early 1863 by the Confederacy, Lee decides to invade the North again, this time PennsylvaniaThe Confederate and Union armies converge around a town called Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaGeneral George Meade takes command of the Union armies

GettysburgFirst day – Lee’s men push Union troops back through the town and the Union forms defensive linesSecond day – Lee attacks the Union line on the sides, but the lines holdThird day – Lee attacks the Union in the center, but the Union lines holdLee has been defeated; must retreat back into Virginia

ResultsLee’s army is badly damaged, and morale begins to dropMeade, even though he did well at Gettysburg, is replaced by General Ulysses S. GrantWar will go on for two more years, but tide has turned for the Union

In the WestVicksburg captured on the Mississippi by Grant (before he commands the Union)General William Tecumseh Sherman marches his army through Georgia and South Carolina, destroying the South’s will to fight

Gettysburg AddressCeremony was held to dedicate the cemetery in Gettysburg a few months after the battleLincoln spoke for two minutes (the main speaker spoke for two hours), but his speech is better rememberedSome say that Lincoln’s speech “remade” America

Confederacy Wears DownMany soldiers start going home to help their families – lack of food, nobody to workConfederate states didn’t work well togetherSmall peace movement starts in the Confederacy

Grant vs. LeeGrant and Lee face off in VirginiaGrant’s strategy was to hold Lee’s army in place and continuously attack him; don’t let him maneuverLee’s army can’t sustain the large number of casualties that it takes now

Election of 1864Lincoln runs for re-election; McClellan runs for president as a DemocratMcClellan promises to work for peace with the ConfederacyLincoln thinks he will lose the election, but doesn’t, and is re-elected President

Lee’s Surrender and the End of the War

Grant and Lee fight through trench warfare for several monthsLee finally decides to surrender his armyLee Surrenders to Grant at AppomattoxWar is over!