Bull Run / Manassas

First major battle of the war.July 21, 1861

Union army invades Virginia and attempt to capture Richmond.

Bull Run / ManassasBoth sides meet at a stream called Bull Run (on farm of Wilmer McLean).

Army of the Potomac led by Irvin McDowell.

Army of Northern Virginia led by P.T. Beauregard.

Bull Run / ManassasUnion thought it could invade South and quickly win the war.

McDowell was initially successful causing a retreat by the Confederates.

Confederate general Thomas Jackson refused to retreat and allowed reinforcements to arrive.

Bull Run / ManassasMany politicians and wealthy come out to watch the battle and have a picnic.

They saw a chaotic, bloody battle.

Later battles had few spectators.

The Union army retreated.

Bull Run / Manassas

Bull Run / ManassasCasualties:

Union - 460 killed; 1124 wounded

Confederacy - 387 killed; 1582 wounded

Thomas Jackson becomes known as “Stonewall” Jackson.

Lincoln is unhappy with McDowell and replaces him with George McClellan.

Antietam / Sharpsburg

After their wins at Bull Run, Seven Days, and 2nd Bull Run, the Confederacy decided to invade the north.

Confederate general Robert E. Lee planned to sneak north into Maryland, turn back south, and invade Washington D.C.

Assigned to protect Washington D.C. was George McClellan.

McClellan accidentally discovered Lee’s plans and attacks.

September 17, 1862

McClellan could have attacked on September 16 and routed Lee’s forces. Instead, he spent the day planning and investigating the terrain.

That whole day the Confederates were reinforcing.

Much of the fighting and dying took place near Burnside’s Bridge and the Sunken Road.

Antietam / Sharpsburg

Burnside’s Bridge

Antietam / Sharpsburg

Antietam / Sharpsburg

Sunken Road

Called “Bloody Lane”

Antietam / Sharpsburg

One of the largest cannon engagements of the war.

Described as “Artillery Hell”.

Antietam / Sharpsburg

Casualties:

Union - 2108 killed; 9500 wounded

Confederacy - 1512 killed; 7800 wounded

September 17, 1862 -

Single bloodiest day in American history.

Lee retreats. McClellan lets Lee’s forces escape. This angers Lincoln.

Antietam / Sharpsburg

Lincoln replaces McClellan with Ambrose Burnside.

The battle was a draw, but the Union considers it a win they desperately needed.

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln needed a win to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Antietam was the “win”.

Emancipation Proclamation

5 days after Antietam, Lincoln issues a document stating that “all persons held as slaves in any state in rebellion against the United States shall be forever free.”

Did not include the border slave states:

West Virginia splits from Virginia.

- Missouri- Kentucky- Maryland- Delaware

Ambrose Burnside did not want to be the leader of the Union army. Lincoln was convinced that Burnside would be a great general. Lincoln was wrong.

FredericksburgDecember 13, 1862

Burnside would be remembered for two things: the mistakes at Fredericksburg and his sideburns.

Union troops advanced on the town of Fredericksburg to attack Robert E. Lee’s forces.

Fredericksburg is situated on the Rappahannock River.

Fredericksburg

Union on the east side.

Confederates on the west side in town.

FredericksburgThe Union army needed to cross the river to reach the city.

Burnside Mistake #1: He ordered pontoon bridges. When they did not arrive on time, he chose to wait. This gave Lee time to set up an ambush in town.

FredericksburgAfter the ambush in town, the Confederates retreated west of town and up Marye’s Heights.

They took up fortifications on the hill behind a stone wall.

Burnside Mistake #2: He sent the Union army on suicidal charges up the hill.

Fredericksburg

FredericksburgThe Union was forced to retreat. Luckily, Lee’s forces were to beat up to counterattack.

Casualties:

Union - 1284 killed; 9600 wounded

Confederacy - 608 killed; 4116 wounded

Many of the officers at Fredericksburg would meet again.

- Lee, Longstreet, Hill, Early, Stuart

- Hancock, Sickles, Sykes, Chamberlain

“It is well that war is terrible, we should grow to fond of it.”

- Robert E. Lee

FredericksburgRichard Kirkland - “The Angel of Marye’s Heights”

Chancellorsville

After Fredericksburg, Burnside was replaced by Joseph Hooker. “Fighting” Joe was known as a ferocious leader. Before the battle, he suddenly became very cautious.

The Union was camped at Chancellorsville, just west of Fredericksburg.

May 2, 1863

As the Confederates (led by Lee) advanced on the Union camp, Hooker spent the day planning a double envelopment.

Chancellorsville“Stonewall” Jackson disrupted Hooker’s plan by leading a sneak attack on the Union’s west flank.

For 2 days, the Union attempted to fend of the Confederates, but they were forced to retreat by a force half their size.

ChancellorsvilleMay 2 May 3 May 4

Chancellorsville

ChancellorsvilleThough Hooker’s caution caused the Union to be defeated, Lincoln did not replace him. He remained the leader of the Army of the Potomac until 2 weeks before Gettysburg.

Despite the victory, the Confederates had their own loss. As “Stonewall” Jackson was returning from a scouting mission, he was mistakenly shot by his own soldiers. His left arm was amputated and he died a few days later.

“He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.” - Robert E. Lee

After Chancellorsville, the Confederates win very few battles.