Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy, 1863-1865

Dr. Ethan S. Rafuse

U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

Ethan.Rafuse@us.army.mil

Chancellorsville,3 May 1863

“it must have been from

such a scene that men in ancient days rose to the

dignity of the gods." – Charles Marshall

Before the War• Stratford to West Point,

1807-1829• Young Engineer, 1829-46• Mexican War, 1846-48• USMA Superintendent,

1852-55• Texas Cavalryman and

master of Arlington, 1857-61

“gallant and indefatigable . . . . The very best soldier that I ever saw in the field.” –

Winfield Scott

Confederate Strategy, April 1861-May 1862

The approach Defensive strategically Defensive operationally Attempt to cover all possible avenues of

approach Results

Middle and West Tennessee Lost Union coastal enclaves in North Carolina,

South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana Manassas, Fredericksburg, Yorktown, and

Norfolk lost McClellan at the gates of Richmond

To the Gates of Richmond: The failure of Confederate strategy in the East

“We are engaged in a species of warfare at which we can never win. We canhave no success while McClellan is allowed, as he is by our defensive, to choose

his mode of war.” – Joseph E. Johnston, April 1862

“McClellan will make this a battle of posts. He will take position from position, under cover of heavy guns, & we cannot get at him.” – Robert E. Lee, June 1862

Confederate Strategy, June 1862-May 1864

• “Offensive-Defensive”– Strategic defensive– Operational offensive– Concentrate forces in field

armies– Take the initiative to impose a

war of maneuver– Exhaust Northern will to fight

• Results– Richmond saved– Central Virginia regained– Union offensives stalled in the

West– Confederate hearts and minds

sustained– Union frustration until 1864

ConfederateTide

Making Confederate Strategy, May 1863

“At Chancellorsville, we gained another victory; our people were wild with delight. I, on the contrary, was more depressed than after Fredericksburg; our losses were severe, and again

we had gained not an inch of ground and the enemy could not be pursued.” – R.E. Lee

The Campaign

“They will come up, probably through Frederick; broken down with hunger and hard marching, strung out on a long line and much demoralized, when they come into

Pennsylvania. I shall throw an overwhelming force on their advance, crush it, follow up the success, drive one corps back and another, and by successive repulses and surprises before

they can concentrate; create a panic and virtually destroy the army.” – R.E. Lee

Pipe Creek Line

The Battle: Day 1

The Battle:Day 2

The Battle:Day 3“I believe the Union Army had something

to do with it.” – George Pickett

Fall 1863 Bristoe Station,

9-16 October

Rappahannock Station and Kelly’s Ford, 7 November

Mine Run, 27 November–2 December

McClellan’s Enduring Acolytes:The Army of the Potomac Officer Corps

“Lying here on the James within a few miles of Harrison’s Landing it is impossible not to be constantly reminded of 1862. . . . I see nothing but to admit that ‘my plan’ (that is Mr. Lincoln’s) is not the way to get to Richmond, and then take McClellan’s with the James

River as his base.” – Charles Wainwright, June 1864

“The James River is the true and only practicable line of

approach. . . . Unfortunately, the blind infatuation of the authorities at Washington, sustained, I regret to say by Halleck, who as a soldier

ought to know better, will not permit the proper course to be

adopted.” – George Meade, November 1862

The Great Compromiser“I would respectfully suggest whether an abandonment of all previously-attempted lines to Richmond is not advisable, and in

lieu of these, one to be taken further south.” – U.S. Grant, January 1864

“He agrees so well with me in his views, I cannot but be rejoiced at his arrival.”-

George Meade, March 1864

The Road to Defeat

“Grant, with a sweep of his finger indicated a line around Richmond and Petersburg

and remarked, ‘When my troops are there, Richmond is mine.’ –

Horace Porter, May 1864

“If he gets there [the James] . . . It will be a mere question of time.” – Robert E. Lee, June 1864

“Grant’s operations in 1864-65 to a large extent vindicated arguments that the way to

achieve victory in Virginia was . . . by operating from the James.”

Why did the Confederacy Fall?

“After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to

overwhelming numbers and resources.” – Robert E. Lee to his troops, April 1865

Bell I . Wiley: “Died of Big-man-me-ism” Frank L. Owsley: “Died of State Rights”

David Donald: “Died of Democracy”Richard Beringer, et al: “Died of Loss of Will”

Edward Pollard: “Died of a V”Richard N. Current: “God was on the

side of the heaviest battalions”Thomas Connelly: “Died of R.E. Lee”

Questions??