Georgia , the Civil War, and other Civil War Facts

1. Georgia , the Civil War, and other Civil War Facts Georgia Studies

2. Georgians in the War • By October of 1861, more than 25,000 Georgians had volunteered to fight • Arsenals (buildings used to store weapons & ammunition) were built in Augusta, Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, & Columbus • Georgia’s governor during the war, Joseph Brown, was an avid supporter of states’ rights, and was often seen as a thorn in the side of the Confederate government

3. Life in Georgia during the Civil War • By spring 1862, Union forces had captured all of Georgia’s coastal islands, making them a popular destination for escaped slaves • Georgia was an important supplier for the Confederacy • More industry than other Southern states • More than 1,400 miles of railroad (Atlanta was hub) • “Heart of the Confederacy” • Destruction of resources would be fatal to Confederacy’s war effort

4. War Comes to Georgia • In November 1861, federal forces had occupied Tybee Island to give themselves control of the Savannah River entrance • Union forces used powerful artillery to destroy Fort Pulaski & force the surrender of its Confederate defenders • Union forces mainly limited their efforts to blockading Georgia’s coastal waters • Main goal was to blockade coastal waters and shut down supply lines

5. The Battle of Chickamauga • September 19 -20, 1863/Chickamauga Creek, GA • Union General Rosecrans led his troops against Confederate General Braxton Bragg • Bragg’s army defeated the Union forces and forced them back into Tennessee, but Bragg did not follow up on the retreat • By November 1863, General Ulysses Grant had arrived with more troops and recaptured Chattanooga forcing Bragg to retreat to Dalton

6. Sherman Invades Atlanta • Early in 1864, William T. Sherman pushed his troops south from Chattanooga toward Atlanta fighting in battles along the way • His Confederate counterpart, Joseph Johnston, had his troops dig into defensive trenches, then retreat South, following the W & A railroad line • Johnston would not allow Sherman to break up, or encircle, his army

7. Sherman Invades Atlanta, cont. • On June 27, at Kennesaw Mountain, Sherman recklessly attacked head on • Johnston taught him a lesson • 3,000 Union troops were lost • Only 500 Confederate troops were lost • Johnston’s troops now fell back and dug their trenches to defend Atlanta • Unhappy with his retreat, the Confederate govt. replaced him with John B. Hood

8. Sherman Invades Atlanta, cont. • Hood attacked Sherman’s army, but was thrown back several times • For 40 days, Sherman’s artillery pounded Atlanta • Hood & his army evacuated the city on September 1st to avoid being trapped • The next day, the mayor rode out under a white flag to surrender the city

9. Sherman Invades Atlanta, cont. • Sherman’s army occupied Atlanta until November, then following orders from Ulysses S. Grant, destroyed the city

10. Sherman’s March to the Sea • On November 16, Sherman began his “march to the sea” • Union forces were to live off the land and destroy Georgia’s resources • Particularly railroads & supplies to shut down Confederate army • Sherman divided his troops into columns and marched South through Macon • Often the troops plundered private property, despite orders not to • The goal was to bring “the sad realities of war” to Georgia

11. Sherman’s March to the Sea, cont. • In December, 1864, Sherman’s army entered Savannah • Along the way, they were joined by 14,000 African Americans • Sherman telegraphed Lincoln, “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with 150 guns and plenty of ammunition, also about 25,000 bales of cotton” • There were over 100 battles in Georgia, 92 of which happened during Sherman’s March to the Sea

12. Andersonville Prison • Approx. 10 miles from Americus, Georgia • One of the great tragedies of the war • Name became associated with horror & death • In November 1863, Confederacy needed a place to put Union prisoners, and the War Department picked SW Georgia • Its official name was Fort Sumter

13. Andersonville Prison, cont. • Originally built for 10,000 prisoners • Prisoners were sent before the prison was completed (no barracks were built) • In less than 2 months, the prison population was 12,000 • Eventually 33,000 prisoners were housed there together

14. Andersonville Prison, cont. • Conditions were horrible & unsanitary • Available water was polluted • Food supply so inadequate that prisoners starved • Clothing & medical supplies scarce • The only shelters were crude tents (not enough for everyone) • During the summer of 1864, over 100 Union prisoners died each day (dysentery & disease)

15. Andersonville Prison, cont. • The commander faced an impossible situation • Prison was overloaded, but govt. sent more prisoners • As was grew on, South could barely feed troops—let alone prisoners • Many of the staff were transferred North when Sherman advanced Atlanta to help protect Atlanta • In September 1864, many prisoners were transferred & conditions improved • Not before 45,000 were housed, and 13,000 died • Commander of prison was tried & hanged after the war for allowing excessive cruelty at the prison

16. Other Civil War facts • At the start of the war, men rushed out to volunteer, but the enthusiasm did not last • Soldiers lived in camps • Life was often dull, with a routine of drills, bad food, etc. • Sometimes they would play baseball or sing songs to pass the time

17. Other Civil War Facts • Both sides suffered terrible losses during the war because the new rifles were more accurate & more deadly • Medical supplies were scarce, and facilities were overwhelmed • Often wounded and dying men lay in fields for hours (up to 24) before being treated • There were many deserters • Trench warfare was used by both sides

18. Other Civil War Facts • Women took on new responsibilities as a result of the war • Some became teachers, nurses, salesclerks • Clara Barton got her start as a nurse during the Civil War. She later founded the American Red Cross. • Some women became spies (Harriet Tubman) while others disguised themselves as men & fought

19. The Economy During the War • Inflation occurred in the north • In the North, the economy boomed: • Need for supplies for troops helped farmers prosper • Railroad traffic increased • Coal, Iron, & clothing production increased

20. The Economy During the War • In the South, the economy was devastated: • Farmland was overrun & rail lines were torn up by fighting • Large portions of South lay in ruins • Many people were homeless • Many cities were burned • Essential goods were in shortage because of port blockades • Inflation was worse in South than North

21. The End of the War • ***ADDITIONAL NOTES: • March 1865- Lee’s forces were ½ the size of Grant’s as they continued to fight. • Lee asked to meet with Grant about ending the war. President Lincoln would not allow the meeting unless the South surrendered. • Lee tried one final time to defeat Union troops in Virginia. He failed, and was eventually captured near Irwinville, Georgia. • Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia