Civil War Begins

1. Civil War Begins

2. “A Divisive Symbol” • Southern Mobilization • After lower south seceded they mobilized as if at war • Seized forts, Arsenals, customs houses, & federal buildings • Buchanan never blinked an eye to the seizure of federal possessions except - • Refused to give up Fort Sumter • Lincoln’s “Conundrum” Fort Sumter 1861 • Fort needed supplies – S. Carolina had called for forfeiture of all forts in the state • Inauguration stated to maintain & “posses the property” of federal gov. • Northerners in general opposed more concessions • Southerners wanted the fort (for their own) & to avoid further tension/conflicts • Fort Sumter - battle of wills • Lincoln - chose to relieve the forth with supplies; despite only two opposing his decision • Force was to re-supply not re-enforce

3. “A Divisive Symbol” • The Challenge • Re-supply was a challenge to Southerners authority • Considered the re-supply a ruse – to place a garrison • Others – a welding link of Confederacy • “Sir, unless you sprinkle blood in the face of the people of Alabama they will be back in the union in less than 10 days” • South raises the ante • C.S.A. gov. demanded the surrender of the fort – having learned of Lincoln's expedition • “If Major Anderson will state time at which…he will evacuate, you are authorized to avoid blood shed. If this, or its equivalent, be refused, reduce the fort..” • Series of conferences occur between Anderson & C.S.A. commanders – • Anderson refuses to evacuate • Sumter attacked April 12,1861

4. Advantages vs Disadvantages • Fort Sumter • Came under fire from the harbor cannon • 40 hours of bombardment • No one was killed • Relief crew could do nothing but carry off the dejected soldiers • Southern Border states united with C.S.A. quickly there after • Lincoln calls for a draft of 75,000 troops two days later • South mobilizes for war as well • North 22 million • 4:1 pop. Advantage - 3 ½ times the man power of the South • 3,500,000 men • All South’s industry & Banking were in the North • 7-1 or 9-1 advantage in terms of materials produced (pig-iron, firearms, rail road tracks) • Large infrastructure • Largest arms manufacturing in the U.S. • South 9 million • Half pop. is slaves • 1:4 pop. Advantage • 1,000,000 men • Limited infrastructure

5. Advantages vs Disadvantages • Physical advantage • Defensive Position • North has to expend man power on the South – invasion • Holding occupied territory • North has to invade South to “restored” the Union • North expend resources maintain presence • South – long coastline – possibility of trade with foreign nations • South has interior lines – rapid mobilization • Psychological; • Greater cause for fighting • North – unification of the union – noble & emotional • South – fighting for independence • Patriotism - sentiments • Believing in what your fighting in – Southern sentiments ran high • Northern sentiments – inarticulate and disjointed • Better leadership • South has better generals than the North – most if not all top West point grads. • Each saw the war as being small and short

6. North & South Strategies • North: Winfield Scott (Anaconda Plan) • Capture and hold Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee • Control Mississippi River – Detaching Southern-Western states of the south • Implement a blockade of south • Protect Wash. D.C. • Fresh & new equip. • Minimize southern destruction of resources – • Creating voluntary re-union of the South • South: Passive role • Defend Richmond • Interior lines – deny Northern “Conquerability” • Provide surprise attacks • Mystify and mislead the Union Forces.

7. First Campaigns • Bull Run – July 1861 • McDowell urged to defend D.C. • Offensive – thrust (Mannasas) • Push against South; at railroad junction • Operated off the premise that CSA P.G.T. Beauregard not be reinforced • Attempted to Isolate Joseph E. Johnston; CSA troops • Union sends 69 yr old General Patterson to isolate Johnston • Johnston Slipped away from Patterson; reinforced Beauregard's troops • Beauregard expected attack from right (along railroad) • North advanced to the left of CSA – caught them be surprise (temporary victory) • South only had to defend their position – not make long advances • Reinforcements arrived from behind the CSA Lines • Union pushed back South to Henry House Hill • Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson • Stonewall and his brigade maintained their position and he rallied the left flank; Rebel Yell • McDowell failed to deploy to Union reserve brigades to help; South pushed back the Union and caused them to retreat • Orderly retreat becomes disorderly; turns into a mob • “There was never anything like it for causeless, sheer, absolute, absurd cowardice, or rather panic, on this miserable earth before. Off they went, one and all; down the highway, over across the fields, towards the woods, anywhere, everywhere to escape”

8. Battle of Bull Run

9. McDowell & McClellan • McDowell Failure • Bull Run a non-decisive battle • Promoted Southern Pride – Union humiliation (demoralized) • McClellan advances • Winfield Scott retired Nov. 1 1861 • McDowell (Irvine) discredited • Defenses of D.C “full of drunken men in uniform” • Two Tasks • Defense of D.C. • Drilling & Discipline • Brilliant Organizer • Absorbed in preparation • South not any better • Disorganized by victory (Bull Run) • President Davis – grandeur of leading troops into battle • Mucked up communication – opposed a coordinated attack on McDowell before Bull Run

10. Lincoln vs. McClellan • Lincoln & pressure • 7 months McClellan assumed all military command • Devoted to communication & military signals • Building up his staff; writing up plans to be used • Lincoln was under pressure to have something done • McClellan’s disdain • Lincoln though not militarily trained poured over books and strategies • McClellan hated listening to Pres. Advice • Believed the safety of nation rested with him (McClellan) • He snubbed the president; wrote complaining letters; disregarded Commander & Chiefs requests • Pres. General War Order No. 1 – call of union forces to advance Feb. 22 (Push McClellan) • McClellan chose (obviously) a differing approach on Johnston’s (ignored War Order)

11. Peninsular Campaign - 1862 • Peninsular Campaign - Union • Attempts to attack Richmond from the south; Cut off the South from their capital • Attacks from Fort Monroe/ Norfolk to York Town to outskirts of Richmond. • McClellan advanced with 120,000 men towards Richmond: insisted on more • South halts union advance at Williamsburg • South • General Jackson – tactics – mystify and mislead the Union forces (diversionary tactic) 16,000 vs. 45,000 • He made a series of attacks 5 attacks towards D.C. • This halted the advance of McClellan from South – Lincoln dispatched troops to capture Jackson (concern over D.C. assault) • This left McClellan with limited troops; (still had 140,000 to South’s 85,000 • Union Forces attempt weak assault • Union forces become attacked; when crossing a river • 40% of troops across river – South attacks – North routed • Seven days war in which Union forces driven back and out of Richmond • McClellan order back to Fredericksburg (Pope replaces McClellan) 1862

12. Antietam • Union is in a bad case of affairs: • Lost Peninsular Campaign; Lost Seven Days Campaign, Lost Second Bull Run • Pope is replaced by McClellan (again) • Sept. 1862 • Lee’s assault; live off land; destroy critical industries of the North • Draw out union forces; Threaten vital union lines; Attack railroad • Allow Confederacy to be recognized by foreign Empires • South cross’s Potomac river; Northerners concerned capital will be captured • Order No. 191 – private found Lee’s orders dispatching Jackson to Harper’s Ferry • Military No-No; Never divide your troops • Jackson & Harper’s Ferry • Jackson’s U turn to come back and assist Lee who is able to fend off the Union advance • Jackson arrives on the battle field: this give Lee backbone to stay and fight

13. Antietam • Confederate army has choice of ground since they arrived first • Union attacks along Antietam Creek; along a ridge: flanking attacks on the South (vice) • Union fighting disjointed from the right and left under Hooker & Burnside • Allows Lee to send troops back and forth where ever needed • Confederate center broken; McClellan refuses to send in reserve troops (Union can’t hold it) • Burnside & Bridge fighting on the left is fierce • Burnside takes the bridge on the Southern right; could allow a sweep of Southern flank • A.P. Hill to rescue arrives in time to push back the Union forces and save the Southern flank • Antietam claimed more soldiers in a single battle than any other • 12 – hours 12,401 (north) • South – 10,318 (31% of their army)

14. Results of Antietam • McClellan claimed victory but failed to capture the CSA army; who waited a day before retreating! • McClellan’s Failure • Failed to gather intelligence w/ cavalry • Sent driblets of reinforcements in the heat of the battle • Failed to stop Lee’s retreat • He waited 5 weeks before moving • North Stops South on their first major assault • McClellan asks for more men and supplies to venture after Lee • Lincoln could stand no more; replaces McClellan with Burnside • Lee’s failures • Accomplished none his goals: • Failed to influence foreign powers • Failed to get Lincoln out of office

15. Fredericksburg • Burnsides colossal blunder • (Nov - Dec 1862) • North has an opportunity to take the south – take Jackson & Longstreet division – days previous • Attacks at Fredericksburg – waits for pontoons to cross river • North 110,000 vs. South 75,000 • Burnsides cross’s river – takes Fredericksburg • March’s against CSA – Marye’s heights (high hill position) • CSA entrenched behind the sunken wall (Cobb, Cooke’s, Kershaw’s) • 13 separate charges; made by Union army – across open field (nightfall stopped the slaughter) • North’s loss 12,600 (1,284 killed 9,600 wounded) vs. South’s 5,300 (600 actually killed for CSA)