Topic # 16

The Civil War (Through 1862)

I. After Sumter -- Preparing for War

Comparison of two sides

Population

Total -- North: 20,700,000 South: 9,105,000
Blacks totalled more than 3,600,000 of South's population
Not eligible for fighting
Did free up a higher percentage of whites for fighting
North had a 4.5 to 1 advantage of men of military age
Before war ended, over 75% of southern white men and 45% of northern men would see service
Over 200,000 black soldiers would fight for North

Economy

North had huge advantage in industrial production

North -- 110,000 manufacturing establishments with 1,300,000 workers
South -- 18,000 establishments with 110,000 workers
North had big advantage in textile, coal, and iron production

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
Military production capabilities
North could produce 32 times the number of firearms as the South
South had only one factory (Trefalger Iron Works in Richmond) capable of producing heavy artillery

Transportation

Railroads

North had 2.4 times the railroad mileage of the South
South had additional problem in that its railroads often did not connect and track gauges were different -- talk about Chickamauga campaign

North had 9 times the tonnage of merchant ships and 25 times the tonnage of warships to the South

Armies

North has advantage of the Regular Army, but many will leave to join South
South has strong military tradition and a number of small military institutes

Why does South think it can win? American Revolution
Leadership

West Point connection

Most high ranking officers in both armies were trained at West Point
most men trained using a translation of Napoleonic strategy and tactics

Mexican War as training ground

Many of the young officers gained practical training during the Mexican war, serving under General Winfield Scott
Lee, McClellan, Jackson, and Grant all served
Developed a sense that bold frontal assaults could succeed if used against an enemy whose morale was weakened

How long will the war last?

Neither side thought war would last long

a Confederate congressman claimed he would drink the blood of all who fell in combat
Northern newspaper editor claimed the amount of blood shed could be held in a cup
Most states, when mustering troops, called for volunteers for 90 days, 6 months, or a year

Only a few states took precautions to call up volunteers for 3 years or the end of the war (whichever came first)
A few leaders argued the war would be long and hard

Union and Confederate strategy

South on the defensive

South sought only to protect its territories
Problem with defending such a broad border
Border defense causes South to spread its troops out early on

North on the offensive

Winfield Scott's Anaconda plan
Realities of politics and Anaconda plan

Communities go to war

News of war reaches communities

News takes some time
Reactions to news
Jubilation in South (some women hesitant)
Reactions affect entire community--no one untouched

Men who would fight
Women who would support
Black slaves who were an unknown quantity

Choosing sides -- influence of community and family
Raising troops
Why do men join?

For a cause -- unionism, slavery
Rite of passage into manhood
Adventure and travel

Why do others resist joining?

Family concerns -- who will care for them
Don't believe in war aims of their region

Mustering troops

Prominent citizens of a town or county would set up recruiting offices
They would advertise for recruits--newspapers, broadsides, word of mouth, church and social gatherings
Sometimes states offered bounties
When enough men enlisted a company was formed and officers elected, company then mustered into state service

Outfitting troops

Early in war communities and states supplied most of the uniforms and gear for the troops
Problems in getting suppliers--corruption and graft
Confusion created by the variety of uniform styles and colors

State training camps

After company mustered, normally went to a training camp in a centralized location in the state
Often first time many of the men away from home
Hard to adjust to military discipline for some
Drill unfamiliar to almost all--including officers

II. Innocence Lost

Initial campaigns

Securing Washington DC

Fears for safety of Capital
More troops arrive-- by May 10,000 troops in DC
Maryland, a divided state (30,000 fought for Union, 20,000 for Confederacy), is in effect placed under martial law

Western Virginia

Number of western counties remain predominantly loyal to Union after Virginia secedes
Important region because of B&O RR and Ohio River
George McClellan moves a 20,000 man federal army into region and secures it for the Union
June, the western counties of Virginia seceded from the state, and voted to remain with the Union--McClellan's victory consolidated that move

Kentucky and Missouri

Neutrality (Ky--Leg. leans toward South, Gov. toward north; opposite in Missouri)
Both camps arm themselves and form state militia units
In Sept. 1861, Confederates violate KY. neutrality, and state declares for Union
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

Northern Virginia--Summer of 1861

Focus of both sides on this area

Only 110 miles separated the two capitals
Both sides want to protect their capital
Rivers and streams provide natural barriers against offensives

Federal activity around Washington

Irvin McDowell placed in charge of the federal army forces in Virginia
troops and supplies reached McDowell very slowly--by early July he had around 35,000 men
Another body of 18,000 federal troops in western Maryland, commanded by very slow moving general (Robert Patterson)

Confederate activity in northern Virginia

Confederates had been gathering troops near the critical rail junction at Manassas since May
P.G.T. Beauregard commands--By the first of July, he has gathered a force of nearly 20,000 men
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

First Manassas

By early July, Lincoln pressing McDowell to move forward

McDowell delays, arguing his troops are not sufficiently trained
Lincoln argues that neither are southern forces
On July 16, McDowell moves his force of 35,000 men forward
Movement slow due to heat and lack of discipline

Plans of McDowell and Beauregard

McDowell plans to feint toward Confederate center and then strike at their left flank
Beauregard plans an almost identical attack--depending on Johnston's forces to reach him
On July 18, Johnston begins sending troops toward Manassas by RR

Battle of First Manassas--July 21

Spectators from DC
Union troops cross Bull Run early in morning, steadily pushing Confederates before them back to Henry House Hill--Judith Henry
Bee points to Jackson and his Virginians
Beauregard and Johnston have been funneling reinforcements northward and regrouping stragglers as best they can
Afternoon fighting--federal troops wear down, Confederates get reinforcements from the Valley
Rout of federal forces
Confederate troops fail to follow up -- disorganized, rain, lack of supplies

After First Manassas

North

Panic in the capital
Hardening of will to fight
Recruiting of three year volunteers swells

South

Reactions in Richmond seem like war is over
People see victory as God's will--sermon on parting of Red Sea by Presbyterian ministers across the South on July 21

McClellan takes command and creates the Army of the Potomac

McClellan

Served with distinction in Mexico, studied military methods in Europe, railroad experience
Hero of the West Virginia campaigns

Army dispirited
McClellan begins to whip force of 120,000 men into shape and calls his army the Army of the Potomac (naming of the armies)
McClellan agrees with press reports that he is man to save the country

Confederates fortify position at Centreville

Victory on the Water

Federal navy begins to close down the southern coast

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
April 1862, Fort Pulaski (guards sea entrance to Savannah) and New Orleans (key to southern Mississippi River) captured

Monitor v. Virginia

March 8--Virginia sails into Hampton Roads
sinks two wooden war ships, runs another two aground
March 9--Monitor sails into the roads, duel between ironclads ends in a draw
With McClellan landing on Peninsula and also taking Norfolk (May), Virginia has to be scuttled

The Blockade

The blockade slowly began to take effect
Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Pensacola, and New Orleans cut off from the sea
Wilmington, NC and Mobile, Ala become main ports for the Confederacy

War in Tennessee (Spring of 1862)

Rivers favor attackers in this sector, providing waterways

Confederate defenses
Albert Sidney Johnston's force spread out over southern Kentucky
Forts Henry and Donelson guard the river approaches near the Tennessee-Kentucky border

Forts Henry and Donelson

Early 1862, U. S. Grant (describe) plans a move up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers to attack the forts
Union admiral in charge of river fleet agrees with Grant's plan
Fort Henry on Tennessee River falls on Feb. 6
Fort Donelson on Cumberland River, guarded approach to Nashville falls on Feb. 26

Fall of Nashville and abandonment of Kentucky

Nashville surrenders to Union gunboats on Feb. 25 after Confederates abandon it
Confederates forced to abandon Kentucky because threatened from rear and supply line cut--fall back to northern Mississippi
In less than a month, Confederates lost Kentucky and western half of Tenn.

Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing)

Armies maneuver

Grant pushes forward to Savannah, Tenn. by Mar. 17
Halleck orders Don Carlos Buell to move to support Grant
Confederates under Albert S. Johnston decide to attack federal position

First day--southern successes
Second day--northern victory
23,000 casualties (12,000 Union, 11,000 Confed.)--more than previous 3 wars U.S. had fought combined

Virginia, 1862

McClellan's plans for Virginia

Move to Fortress Monroe
McClellan decides to move troops to the Peninsula
Problems with Lincoln, who wants DC defended
Disposition of Union forces

McClellan--75,000 men and 300 cannon move on 300 ships to Fort Monroe
Number later increases to over 110,000 men
Another 63,000 men spread from Fredericksburg to West Va. under different commanders
D.C. -- 10,000 troops in defenses, more ready to aid McClellan

Southern forces

Johnston with 50,000 men near Manassas, 16,000 at Yorktown guarding Peninsula
Jackson in the Valley
Jackson's Valley Campaign begins on March 23, with 17,000 men
Jackson's actions cause Lincoln to believe that Jackson must have more men than he does
Lincoln keeps reinforcements from McClellan because of this perceived threat from Jackson

The Peninsular Campaign

McClellan builds up at Fortress Monroe, then slowly moves up the Peninsula toward Richmond
Seven Pines--May 31-June 1, 1862 -- Joe Johnston wounded
Lee takes command

Lee's reputation
Lee strengthens Richmond defenses

Stuart's ride around McClellan (June 12-15)
Layout of McClellan's army

90,000 south of Chickahominy
30,000 in Porter's corps north of river

Seven Days battles

Preparations
Opening shots
Mechanicsville--June 26 (Beaver Dam Creek, Ellerson's Mill)
Gaine's Mill--June 27 (Cold Harbor, Boatswain's swamp)
McClellan retreats--calls it a change of base
Lee unsure of what McClellan will do--tries to trap him
for 3 days, Confederates attack w/o being able to destroy fed. army
Malvern Hill

Lee frustrated
Harvey Hill warns against attack -- "best let them alone"
Uncoordinated attack

Aftermath

casualties--Confed. 20,000, Fed. 16,500
New generals
Pope brought in to lead Army of Virginia
McClellan still in command of Army of Potomac
Lee now permanent head of Army of Northern Virginia

Second Manassas

John Pope
McClellan
Lee moves north
Lee decides to go after Pope
Cedar Mountain (Aug. 9)
Jackson slips behind Pope
Second Manassas

Confederates on the offensive - The Fall Campaigns of 1862

Lee's reasons for invading Maryland

Possibly persuade Marylanders to join Confederacy
Diplomatic recognition
Give Virginia a rest during harvest

Bragg plans to move into Kentucky

Sought to persuade Kentuckians to join Confederacy
Get Union forces out of central Tennessee

Maryland campaign

Lee's plan of battle
Special Orders # 191
South Mountain
Harper's Ferry
Antietam
Withdrawal and response

Kentucky-Tennessee campaign

Bragg invades Kentucky
Perryville (Oct. 7 & 8)
Retreat from Kentucky

High tide of the Confederacy?

Some historians argue that the fall of 1862 marked the highwater mark for Confederate military efforts --Reasons:

two offensives launched nearly simultaneously
two invasions--Maryland and Kentucky
Never again would the South be able to launch such coordinated attacks

Would it be the only turning point in the war?

Emancipation proclaimed

What the Emancipation Proclamation said--proclaimed freedom to slaves living in that part of the Confederacy not under Union occupation
Impact of the proclamation
Emancipation in fact

Winter of Discontent

Eastern theatre

Lee falls back to Northern Virginia after Antietam
Burnside maneuvers and waits
Fredericksburg--Dec. 13

Western theatre

Bragg and Rosecrans
Stone's River (Murfreesboro) Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, 1863
Reactions to battle