Topic # 16
The Civil War (Through 1862)
I. After Sumter -- Preparing for
War
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Comparison of two sides
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Population
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Total -- North: 20,700,000 South:
9,105,000
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Blacks totalled more than 3,600,000 of South's
population
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Not eligible for fighting
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Did free up a higher percentage of whites
for fighting
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North had a 4.5 to 1 advantage of men of military
age
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Before war ended, over 75% of southern white
men and 45% of northern men would see service
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Over 200,000 black soldiers would fight for
North
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Economy
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North had huge advantage in industrial production
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North -- 110,000 manufacturing establishments
with 1,300,000 workers
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South -- 18,000 establishments with 110,000
workers
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North had big advantage in textile, coal,
and iron production
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North equalled or bettered the South in all
areas of agricultural production except cotton-- including draft animals,
livestock (pigs, cows, and poultry), wheat, and corn
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Military production capabilities
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North could produce 32 times the number of
firearms as the South
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South had only one factory (Trefalger Iron
Works in Richmond) capable of producing heavy artillery
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Transportation
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Railroads
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North had 2.4 times the railroad mileage of
the South
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South had additional problem in that its railroads
often did not connect and track gauges were different -- talk about Chickamauga
campaign
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North had 9 times the tonnage of merchant
ships and 25 times the tonnage of warships to the South
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Armies
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North has advantage of the Regular Army, but
many will leave to join South
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South has strong military tradition and a
number of small military institutes
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Why does South think it can win?
American Revolution
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Leadership
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West Point connection
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Most high ranking officers in both armies
were trained at West Point
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most men trained using a translation of Napoleonic
strategy and tactics
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Mexican War as training ground
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Many of the young officers gained practical
training during the Mexican war, serving under General Winfield Scott
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Lee, McClellan, Jackson, and Grant all served
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Developed a sense that bold frontal assaults
could succeed if used against an enemy whose morale was weakened
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How long will the war last?
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Neither side thought war would last long
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a Confederate congressman claimed he would
drink the blood of all who fell in combat
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Northern newspaper editor claimed the amount
of blood shed could be held in a cup
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Most states, when mustering troops, called
for volunteers for 90 days, 6 months, or a year
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Only a few states took precautions to call
up volunteers for 3 years or the end of the war (whichever came first)
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A few leaders argued the war would be long
and hard
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Union and Confederate strategy
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South on the defensive
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South sought only to protect its territories
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Problem with defending such a broad border
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Border defense causes South to spread its
troops out early on
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North on the offensive
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Winfield Scott's Anaconda plan
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Realities of politics and Anaconda plan
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Communities go to war
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News of war reaches communities
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News takes some time
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Reactions to news
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Jubilation in South (some women hesitant)
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Reactions affect entire community--no one
untouched
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Men who would fight
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Women who would support
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Black slaves who were an unknown quantity
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Choosing sides -- influence of community and
family
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Raising troops
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Why do men join?
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For a cause -- unionism, slavery
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Rite of passage into manhood
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Adventure and travel
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Why do others resist joining?
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Family concerns -- who will care for them
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Don't believe in war aims of their region
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Mustering troops
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Prominent citizens of a town or county would
set up recruiting offices
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They would advertise for recruits--newspapers,
broadsides, word of mouth, church and social gatherings
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Sometimes states offered bounties
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When enough men enlisted a company was formed
and officers elected, company then mustered into state service
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Outfitting troops
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Early in war communities and states supplied
most of the uniforms and gear for the troops
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Problems in getting suppliers--corruption
and graft
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Confusion created by the variety of uniform
styles and colors
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State training camps
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After company mustered, normally went to a
training camp in a centralized location in the state
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Often first time many of the men away from
home
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Hard to adjust to military discipline for
some
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Drill unfamiliar to almost all--including
officers
II. Innocence Lost
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Initial campaigns
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Securing Washington DC
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Fears for safety of Capital
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More troops arrive-- by May 10,000 troops
in DC
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Maryland, a divided state (30,000 fought for
Union, 20,000 for Confederacy), is in effect placed under martial law
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Western Virginia
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Number of western counties remain predominantly
loyal to Union after Virginia secedes
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Important region because of B&O RR and
Ohio River
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George McClellan moves a 20,000 man federal
army into region and secures it for the Union
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June, the western counties of Virginia seceded
from the state, and voted to remain with the Union--McClellan's victory
consolidated that move
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Kentucky and Missouri
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Neutrality (Ky--Leg. leans toward South, Gov.
toward north; opposite in Missouri)
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Both camps arm themselves and form state militia
units
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In Sept. 1861, Confederates violate KY. neutrality,
and state declares for Union
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Missouri--two sides end up fighting a series
of small running battles for four months which leaves state effectively
under Union control for remainder of the war
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Northern Virginia--Summer of 1861
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Focus of both sides on this area
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Only 110 miles separated the two capitals
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Both sides want to protect their capital
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Rivers and streams provide natural barriers
against offensives
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Federal activity around Washington
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Irvin McDowell placed in charge of the federal
army forces in Virginia
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troops and supplies reached McDowell very
slowly--by early July he had around 35,000 men
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Another body of 18,000 federal troops in western
Maryland, commanded by very slow moving general (Robert Patterson)
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Confederate activity in northern Virginia
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Confederates had been gathering troops near
the critical rail junction at Manassas since May
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P.G.T. Beauregard commands--By the first of
July, he has gathered a force of nearly 20,000 men
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Another group of 11,000 (many ill and poorly
equipped) Confederates had gathered at Harper's Ferry and the Shenandoah
Valley--commanded by Gen. Joseph Johnston
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First Manassas
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By early July, Lincoln pressing McDowell to
move forward
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McDowell delays, arguing his troops are not
sufficiently trained
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Lincoln argues that neither are southern forces
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On July 16, McDowell moves his force of 35,000
men forward
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Movement slow due to heat and lack of discipline
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Plans of McDowell and Beauregard
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McDowell plans to feint toward Confederate
center and then strike at their left flank
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Beauregard plans an almost identical attack--depending
on Johnston's forces to reach him
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On July 18, Johnston begins sending troops
toward Manassas by RR
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Battle of First Manassas--July 21
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Spectators from DC
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Union troops cross Bull Run early in morning,
steadily pushing Confederates before them back to Henry House Hill--Judith
Henry
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Bee points to Jackson and his Virginians
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Beauregard and Johnston have been funneling
reinforcements northward and regrouping stragglers as best they can
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Afternoon fighting--federal troops wear down,
Confederates get reinforcements from the Valley
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Rout of federal forces
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Confederate troops fail to follow up -- disorganized,
rain, lack of supplies
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After First Manassas
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North
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Panic in the capital
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Hardening of will to fight
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Recruiting of three year volunteers swells
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South
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Reactions in Richmond seem like war is over
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People see victory as God's will--sermon on
parting of Red Sea by Presbyterian ministers across the South on July 21
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McClellan takes command and creates the Army
of the Potomac
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McClellan
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Served with distinction in Mexico, studied
military methods in Europe, railroad experience
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Hero of the West Virginia campaigns
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Army dispirited
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McClellan begins to whip force of 120,000
men into shape and calls his army the Army of the Potomac (naming of the
armies)
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McClellan agrees with press reports that he
is man to save the country
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Confederates fortify position at Centreville
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Victory on the Water
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Federal navy begins to close down the southern
coast
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November 1861 Union naval and land force capture
Port Royal, SC after brief engagement--it serves as a naval station for
part of the Federal fleet, which had begun its blockade of southern ports
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April 1862, Fort Pulaski (guards sea entrance
to Savannah) and New Orleans (key to southern Mississippi River) captured
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Monitor v. Virginia
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March 8--Virginia sails into Hampton Roads
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sinks two wooden war ships, runs another two
aground
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March 9--Monitor sails into the roads, duel
between ironclads ends in a draw
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With McClellan landing on Peninsula and also
taking Norfolk (May), Virginia has to be scuttled
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The Blockade
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The blockade slowly began to take effect
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Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Pensacola,
and New Orleans cut off from the sea
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Wilmington, NC and Mobile, Ala become main
ports for the Confederacy
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War in Tennessee (Spring of 1862)
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Rivers favor attackers in this sector, providing
waterways
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Confederate defenses
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Albert Sidney Johnston's force spread out
over southern Kentucky
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Forts Henry and Donelson guard the river approaches
near the Tennessee-Kentucky border
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Forts Henry and Donelson
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Early 1862, U. S. Grant (describe) plans a
move up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers to attack the forts
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Union admiral in charge of river fleet agrees
with Grant's plan
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Fort Henry on Tennessee River falls on Feb.
6
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Fort Donelson on Cumberland River, guarded
approach to Nashville falls on Feb. 26
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Fall of Nashville and abandonment of Kentucky
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Nashville surrenders to Union gunboats on
Feb. 25 after Confederates abandon it
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Confederates forced to abandon Kentucky because
threatened from rear and supply line cut--fall back to northern Mississippi
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In less than a month, Confederates lost Kentucky
and western half of Tenn.
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Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing)
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Armies maneuver
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Grant pushes forward to Savannah, Tenn. by
Mar. 17
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Halleck orders Don Carlos Buell to move to
support Grant
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Confederates under Albert S. Johnston decide
to attack federal position
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First day--southern successes
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Second day--northern victory
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23,000 casualties (12,000 Union, 11,000 Confed.)--more
than previous 3 wars U.S. had fought combined
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Virginia, 1862
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McClellan's plans for Virginia
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Move to Fortress Monroe
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McClellan decides to move troops to the Peninsula
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Problems with Lincoln, who wants DC defended
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Disposition of Union forces
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McClellan--75,000 men and 300 cannon move
on 300 ships to Fort Monroe
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Number later increases to over 110,000 men
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Another 63,000 men spread from Fredericksburg
to West Va. under different commanders
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D.C. -- 10,000 troops in defenses, more ready
to aid McClellan
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Southern forces
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Johnston with 50,000 men near Manassas, 16,000
at Yorktown guarding Peninsula
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Jackson in the Valley
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Jackson's Valley Campaign begins on March
23, with 17,000 men
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Jackson's actions cause Lincoln to believe
that Jackson must have more men than he does
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Lincoln keeps reinforcements from McClellan
because of this perceived threat from Jackson
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The Peninsular Campaign
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McClellan builds up at Fortress Monroe, then
slowly moves up the Peninsula toward Richmond
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Seven Pines--May 31-June 1, 1862 -- Joe Johnston
wounded
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Lee takes command
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Lee's reputation
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Lee strengthens Richmond defenses
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Stuart's ride around McClellan (June 12-15)
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Layout of McClellan's army
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90,000 south of Chickahominy
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30,000 in Porter's corps north of river
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Seven Days battles
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Preparations
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Opening shots
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Mechanicsville--June 26 (Beaver Dam Creek,
Ellerson's Mill)
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Gaine's Mill--June 27 (Cold Harbor, Boatswain's
swamp)
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McClellan retreats--calls it a change of base
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Lee unsure of what McClellan will do--tries
to trap him
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for 3 days, Confederates attack w/o being
able to destroy fed. army
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Malvern Hill
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Lee frustrated
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Harvey Hill warns against attack -- "best
let them alone"
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Uncoordinated attack
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Aftermath
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casualties--Confed. 20,000, Fed. 16,500
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New generals
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Pope brought in to lead Army of Virginia
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McClellan still in command of Army of Potomac
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Lee now permanent head of Army of Northern
Virginia
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Second Manassas
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John Pope
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McClellan
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Lee moves north
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Lee decides to go after Pope
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Cedar Mountain (Aug. 9)
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Jackson slips behind Pope
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Second Manassas
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Confederates on the offensive - The Fall Campaigns
of 1862
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Lee's reasons for invading Maryland
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Possibly persuade Marylanders to join Confederacy
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Diplomatic recognition
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Give Virginia a rest during harvest
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Bragg plans to move into Kentucky
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Sought to persuade Kentuckians to join Confederacy
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Get Union forces out of central Tennessee
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Maryland campaign
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Lee's plan of battle
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Special Orders # 191
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South Mountain
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Harper's Ferry
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Antietam
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Withdrawal and response
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Kentucky-Tennessee campaign
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Bragg invades Kentucky
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Perryville (Oct. 7 & 8)
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Retreat from Kentucky
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High tide of the Confederacy?
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Some historians argue that the fall of 1862
marked the highwater mark for Confederate military efforts --Reasons:
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two offensives launched nearly simultaneously
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two invasions--Maryland and Kentucky
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Never again would the South be able to launch
such coordinated attacks
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Would it be the only turning point in the
war?
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Emancipation proclaimed
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What the Emancipation Proclamation said--proclaimed
freedom to slaves living in that part of the Confederacy not under Union
occupation
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Impact of the proclamation
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Emancipation in fact
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Winter of Discontent
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Eastern theatre
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Lee falls back to Northern Virginia after
Antietam
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Burnside maneuvers and waits
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Fredericksburg--Dec. 13
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Western theatre
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Bragg and Rosecrans
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Stone's River (Murfreesboro) Dec. 31 and Jan.
2, 1863
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Reactions to battle