Battles and Turning Battles and Turning PointsPoints

First Bull Run First Bull Run

• WhereWhere - Manassas Junction - 30 miles from - Manassas Junction - 30 miles from WashingtonWashington

• When - July 21, 1861When - July 21, 1861

• Union wants a decisive battle to end the revoltUnion wants a decisive battle to end the revolt

• take S. Capital in Richmond VAtake S. Capital in Richmond VA

- only 100 miles from DC - only 100 miles from DC

• McDowell wants more time to prepare his McDowell wants more time to prepare his troopstroops

• Lincoln respondsLincoln responds

““It is true that you are green, but they are It is true that you are green, but they are green also; you are all green together.”green also; you are all green together.”

First Bull Run First Bull Run

GeneralsGeneralsUnion: Union: Irwin McDowellIrwin McDowell

Confederate: Confederate: Pierre G.T. Pierre G.T. BeauregardBeauregard

reinforced by reinforced by Joseph E. JohnstonJoseph E. Johnston

SpectatorsSpectators

• came from Washingtoncame from Washington

• wanted to witness whipping of wanted to witness whipping of ConfederatesConfederates

• sat within Confederate cannon sat within Confederate cannon rangerange

• ““monstrous picnic”monstrous picnic”

• Forces Engaged: 60,680 total (US 28,450; CS Forces Engaged: 60,680 total (US 28,450; CS 32,230) 32,230)

• Union forces attack Beauregard’s troops Union forces attack Beauregard’s troops continually pushing them backcontinually pushing them back

• late in daylate in day

- 12,000 Confederate reinforcements under - 12,000 Confederate reinforcements under Johnston arrive from Harper’s Ferry Johnston arrive from Harper’s Ferry

• Federals retreatFederals retreat

- out of control- out of control

- Confederates too unorganized to pursue- Confederates too unorganized to pursue

ResultsResults• 4,700 casualties (US 2,950; CS 1,750)4,700 casualties (US 2,950; CS 1,750)• Union learns: war will be costlier Union learns: war will be costlier

and harder than expectedand harder than expected

- replace McDowell - replace McDowell

- George B. McClellan- George B. McClellan• Confederates: boost of confidence Confederates: boost of confidence

Battle of ShilohBattle of Shiloh

• 55,000 Confederates 55,000 Confederates

• push Federals backpush Federals back

• Federals draw new line of defenseFederals draw new line of defense

The Peach OrchardThe Peach Orchard

Peach Orchard from Peach Orchard from the Federal position. the Federal position.

Death site of A. S. Death site of A. S. Johnston is in the Johnston is in the

trees at center trees at center

Death of Albert Sidney JohnstonDeath of Albert Sidney Johnston• highest ranking officer in the war highest ranking officer in the war

to die – believe it might be from his to die – believe it might be from his own menown men

• took a bullet behind the right kneetook a bullet behind the right knee

• didn’t believe it was serious and didn’t believe it was serious and sent his physician to tend to some sent his physician to tend to some Union soldiersUnion soldiers

• actually clipped his popliteal arteryactually clipped his popliteal artery

• soldiers saw him sway and asked if soldiers saw him sway and asked if he was wounded he was wounded

• his reply "Yes, and I fear seriously”his reply "Yes, and I fear seriously”

• bled to death in minutesbled to death in minutes

The Hornet’s NestThe Hornet’s Nest• Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss and men take up Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss and men take up

defense along the sunken roaddefense along the sunken road• Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant - "maintain that Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant - "maintain that

position at all hazards." position at all hazards." • fighting in peach orchard to their leftfighting in peach orchard to their left• hold off Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and hold off Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and

a 62 cannon bombardmenta 62 cannon bombardment• surrender after full day of fighting- completely surrender after full day of fighting- completely

surroundedsurrounded• succeeds in holding Confederates for Grant to set succeeds in holding Confederates for Grant to set

line of defenseline of defense

• 15,000 troops under 15,000 troops under Buell arrive during nightBuell arrive during night

• launch surprise at launch surprise at daybreakdaybreak

• 55,000 Confederates 55,000 Confederates • push Federals backpush Federals back• Federals draw new Federals draw new

line of defenseline of defense

General Buell arrived with Union reinforcements the evening of the 6th.  General Buell arrived with Union reinforcements the evening of the 6th.  They arrived by river under the cover of fire from the Union gunboats They arrived by river under the cover of fire from the Union gunboats

LexingtonLexington and and TylerTyler.  The Federals had established a line near Pittsburg .  The Federals had established a line near Pittsburg Landing.  The arrival of fresh troops and gunboats only stengthened this Landing.  The arrival of fresh troops and gunboats only stengthened this

line.  By morning the southern army was outnumbered. line.  By morning the southern army was outnumbered.

Results of Battle of ShilohResults of Battle of Shiloh• Union Wins!Union Wins!

- beat back S.- beat back S.

- joined 2 armies together- joined 2 armies together

- threatened to divide the S.- threatened to divide the S.

• Union Casualties 13,000Union Casualties 13,000

• Confederate Casualties 10,000Confederate Casualties 10,000

• over 2,400 dieover 2,400 die

Both nations were Both nations were shocked at the carnage, shocked at the carnage, which foretold that no which foretold that no

single battle was likely to single battle was likely to end the conflictend the conflict

The IroncladsThe Ironclads

Battle between the C.S.S. Virginia and the U.S.S. Monitor Battle between the C.S.S. Virginia and the U.S.S. Monitor

• Sept 17, 1862Sept 17, 1862• Union attacks ConfedUnion attacks Confed• McClellan unable to McClellan unable to

break rebel lines even break rebel lines even w/ his huge #’sw/ his huge #’s

• Assaults against S. Assaults against S. center and right flank center and right flank E. and S. of E. and S. of Sharpsburg = no resultSharpsburg = no result

• 12,000 N. Casualties12,000 N. Casualties• 10,000 S. Casualties10,000 S. Casualties

AntietamAntietam

The Battle FYIThe Battle FYI• Confederates make their stand in the hills of Confederates make their stand in the hills of

Sharpsburg – canons on high ground and men Sharpsburg – canons on high ground and men scattered belowscattered below

• McClellan had 60,000 troops- double Lee’sMcClellan had 60,000 troops- double Lee’s• fighting begins at Dunker Churchfighting begins at Dunker Church• Federals attacked by Confeds in the cornfieldFederals attacked by Confeds in the cornfield• Confeds at old sunken road – repel 4 N. chargesConfeds at old sunken road – repel 4 N. charges known as bloody laneknown as bloody lane

- By 1 p.m. about 5,600 killed and wounded troops - By 1 p.m. about 5,600 killed and wounded troops from both sides lay along and in front of this 800-from both sides lay along and in front of this 800-yard lane. yard lane.

• Federals find weak spot and fire down sunken Federals find weak spot and fire down sunken roadroad

• Confeds retreat misinterpreting an orderConfeds retreat misinterpreting an order

• Rebel infantry attempted a weak Rebel infantry attempted a weak counterattack, while counterattack, while

• Lee rushed 20 cannon to the Piper farm Lee rushed 20 cannon to the Piper farm

• An attack through this hole would have An attack through this hole would have crushed the Confederate center, crushed the Confederate center,

• McClellan decided against a counterattack McClellan decided against a counterattack with his fresh reserves with his fresh reserves

The Battle FYIThe Battle FYI

• McClellan poorly managed the troopsMcClellan poorly managed the troops

• Lee expertly shifts army w/ each attackLee expertly shifts army w/ each attack

• Lee held off attack but too weak and must Lee held off attack but too weak and must retreatretreat

• = a tactical stalemate!= a tactical stalemate!

• McClellan claims victory – Lee withdrawsMcClellan claims victory – Lee withdraws

The Battle FYIThe Battle FYI

Burnside Burnside BridgeBridge

ConfederaConfederate Viewte View

Who won at Antietam?Who won at Antietam?• ““our march to and across the river was our march to and across the river was

undisturbed- This, of itself, will show to undisturbed- This, of itself, will show to the world the nature of McClellan’s the world the nature of McClellan’s victory. And if he had beaten and victory. And if he had beaten and

driven us… why did he allow us to pass driven us… why did he allow us to pass quietly away after holding the field a quietly away after holding the field a

whole day and night.”whole day and night.”

- Jefferson Davis- Jefferson Davis

Antietam FYIAntietam FYI• just 18 days after the Confederate victory at just 18 days after the Confederate victory at

Second ManassasSecond Manassas• the first major Civil War engagement on Northern the first major Civil War engagement on Northern

soil soil • the bloodiest single day battle in American historythe bloodiest single day battle in American history

- resulted in nine times as many Americans killed - resulted in nine times as many Americans killed or wounded (23,000 soldiers) as took place on June or wounded (23,000 soldiers) as took place on June 6, 1944--D-day6, 1944--D-day- more soldiers were killed and wounded than the - more soldiers were killed and wounded than the deaths of all Americans in the Revolutionary War, deaths of all Americans in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, and Spanish-American War of 1812, Mexican War, and Spanish-American War combinedWar combined

Antietam a Turning PointAntietam a Turning Point

• changed the entire course of the Civil Warchanged the entire course of the Civil War

- halted Lee's bold invasion of the North - halted Lee's bold invasion of the North

- provided Lincoln with the victory he needed to - provided Lincoln with the victory he needed to announce the abolition of slavery in the Southannounce the abolition of slavery in the South

- with proclamation of Emancipation, Lincoln - with proclamation of Emancipation, Lincoln was able to broaden the base of the warwas able to broaden the base of the war

- prevented England and France from lending - prevented England and France from lending support to a country that engaged in human support to a country that engaged in human bondage bondage 

Two important Two important Union Victories Union Victories

in 1863in 1863

The Battle of VicksburgThe Battle of Vicksburg

• From mid-Oct. 1862, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. From mid-Oct. 1862, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant made several attempts to take Grant made several attempts to take VicksburgVicksburg

• siege of Vicksburg begins May 1863siege of Vicksburg begins May 1863 • Vicksburg surrenders July 4, 1863Vicksburg surrenders July 4, 1863

- citizens starving- citizens starving

• Union now controls the MississippiUnion now controls the Mississippi

PORTER'S FLEET SHELLING THE BATTERIES AT PORTER'S FLEET SHELLING THE BATTERIES AT VICKSBURG. VICKSBURG.

Importance of VicksburgImportance of Vicksburg• one of the main S. strongholds on one of the main S. strongholds on

MississippiMississippi

• Union victory = control of the Union victory = control of the MississippiMississippi

• Union splits the Confederacy in twoUnion splits the Confederacy in two

Emma BalfourEmma Balfour

• Wife of Dr. William Balfour; lived in house Wife of Dr. William Balfour; lived in house next door to Pemberton’s headquartersnext door to Pemberton’s headquarters

• Remained in house rather than living in a Remained in house rather than living in a cavecave

• ““We have slept scarcely none now for two We have slept scarcely none now for two days and two nights. Oh! It is dreadful…. days and two nights. Oh! It is dreadful…. [E]very shell… came rushing down like some [E]very shell… came rushing down like some infernal demon…”infernal demon…”

– Excerpt from diaryExcerpt from diary

Balfour HouseBalfour HouseShell damageShell damage

Cave LifeCave Life• To escape the bombardment, citizens dug caves into the To escape the bombardment, citizens dug caves into the

sides of the hills for shelter. sides of the hills for shelter. – The caves did their job very well – during the siege The caves did their job very well – during the siege

less than 20 civilians were killed by the bombardment.less than 20 civilians were killed by the bombardment.• ““The cave was an excavation in the earth the size of a The cave was an excavation in the earth the size of a

large room, high enough for the tallest person to stand large room, high enough for the tallest person to stand perfectly erect, provided with comfortable seats, and perfectly erect, provided with comfortable seats, and altogether quite a large and habitable abode (compared altogether quite a large and habitable abode (compared with some of the caves in the city) were it not for the with some of the caves in the city) were it not for the dampness and the constant contact with the soft earthy dampness and the constant contact with the soft earthy walls.”walls.”– Mary Webster Loughborough, Mary Webster Loughborough, My Cave Life in My Cave Life in

VicksburgVicksburg

Cave LifeCave Life

Gettysburg Gettysburg

Gettysburg Importance and Gettysburg Importance and Turning PointTurning Point

• last time Confederate forces last time Confederate forces seriously threaten the Northseriously threaten the North

• Added with Vicksburg = boost Added with Vicksburg = boost for Northfor North

Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant

• 18641864

• general in chief all general in chief all Union armiesUnion armies

• strategystrategy

- overwhelm the - overwhelm the SouthSouth

- it is OK to have - it is OK to have mass casualtiesmass casualties