Chapter 17 Lesson 4- The Civil War: The Strain of War

After Vicksburg fell, what did the Confederacy lose?

A few days after Vicksburg fell, the Confederacy lost Port Hudson in Louisiana, its last stronghold on the Mississippi River. The Union had split the South in two. Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas were now cut off. The tide of the Civil War had turned.

Where did General Lee move his army from after the loss at Antietam?

After Antietam, Robert E. Lee moved his army out of Maryland into Virginia.

Why did Lincoln not allow African-Americans into the Union army?

At first, President Lincoln resisted calls to enlist African Americans in the Union army. He feared that such a policy would be unpopular in the border states.

What did the North relax as time passed?

At first, both the North and the South barred African Americans from serving in their armies. As time passed, the North relaxed its rules.

What was the outcome of Pickett's Charge?

At first, it seemed that Pickett's Charge might work. The Confederates broke the first line of Union defense. In the end, however, half of those who started the attack lay dead or wounded on the ground.

What iconic event happened at the Soliders' National Cemetery at Gettysburg?

At the ceremony, former governor of Massachusetts Edward Everett delivered a two-hour speech. After him, President Abraham Lincoln spoke for about two minutes. In 272 words, Lincoln honored the soldiers and their cause, and stated his vision for the country.

What did Congress decide to reverse?

By 1862, though, it was clear that the North needed more soldiers in order to defeat the Confederacy. Many African Americans were eager to fight. As a result, Congress decided to reverse past policy and allow the formation of all- African American regiments.

Why didn't the Confederate leaders want African-Americans to be soliders?

Confederate leaders feared that once armed, African American soldiers would attack their fellow troops or even begin a general revolt.

How were African Americans in the war?

Despite this, African Americans joined. By the end of the war, they made up about 10 percent of the Union army. Some were freed people from the North. Others had fled enslavement in the South. These men fought hard and effectively, too.

Who were not allowed to enlist according to the Confederate leaders?

Even though African Americans made up more than 30 percent of the smaller Southern population, Confederate leaders would not allow them to enlist.

When was the 54th Massachusetts regiment? Who formed it?

Founded in 1863, the 54th was under the command of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who came from a Boston abolitionist family.

What was General Lee's strategy at the Battle of Chancellorsville? What was the result?

General Lee again showed daring and a brilliant command of tactics. Although Hooker had twice as many men, Lee divided his forces. Some Confederate troops confronted the main Union force. Others under the leadership of Stonewall Jackson secretly marched to a spot on the far end of the Union line. The risky plan worked perfectly. Jackson's army surprised the Union force with a crushing attack on its flank. Lee struck from the front. Caught between the two Confederate forces, Hooker eventually withdrew his men.

What did the Battle of Gettysburg end for the Confederacy?

Gettysburg ended the Confederates' hope of gaining help from Britain and France. The South had hoped to receive two ironclads from the British and use them to sweep Union shipping from the Atlantic. However, in October 1863, the British government decided not to release the ships.

When did Grant first attack Vicksburg?

Grant had first attacked Vicksburg in April. His army surrounded the 30,000 Confederate troops there. In May, Grant began a siege of the town, preventing food and supplies from reaching the Confederates. Union gunships on the river supported Grant's 77,000 troops by firing thousands of shells into the city.

What was the reaction to the death of Stonewall Jackson?

His death cost the South one of its great leaders. It also affected the morale of its army and its citizens.

Why was the Gettysburg a strange place to have a such a decisive battle?

In July 1863, a small town in southern Pennsylvania became the site of one of the most decisive battles in the Civil War. Gettysburg was not a capital, a key port, or the location of a fort. It was almost an accident that such serious fighting took place there.

Where did Lee meet Union forces?

In May 1863, Lee met Union forces led by General Joseph Hooker in the Battle of Chancellorsville.

How did Union leadership the East disappoint Lincoln?

In contrast, Union leadership in the East disappointed the president. In less than a year, a frustrated Lincoln saw three different generals try and fail to lead the Union to victory.

Who had the upper hand in the spirng of 1863?

In spring of 1863, the Confederates had the upper hand.

Describe the events that climaxed at the death of Stonewall Jackson.

In the confusion of battle, Confederate soldiers fired on and wounded Stonewall Jackson by mistake. Surgeons amputated Jackson's arm. Making matters worse, Jackson developed pneumonia. After a week of suffering, he died.

What were the results of the Battle of Gettysburg?

It was there, however, that he encountered the enemy. When Lee's troops crawled out of Gettysburg four grueling days later, they had suffered 25,000 casualties. The Union—the victor—lost 23,000.

What would cause the 54th Massachusetts Regiment to have notoriety?

Later that year, the 54th served on the front lines in an assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Confederate gunfire caused nearly 300 casualties in the 54th alone, including Colonel Shaw. Though the Union could not capture the fort, the 54th became famous for the courage and sacrifice of its members. It would also serve with distinction in other battles, such as the Battle of Olustee in Florida.

When Lee intercepted the Union army, what did his forces do?

Lee intercepted the Union army near Fredericksburg. Lee's forces dug trenches in hills south of the town. This gave them the advantage of higher ground from which to fight.

How was General Ambrose Burnside disappointing?

Lincoln pushed his next commander, General Ambrose Burnside, to take aggressive action. Burnside quickly lost the president's favor after his crushing loss at Fredericksburg.

Who was Lincoln's next commander?

Lincoln's next commander needed to prove himself quickly. Major General George Meade assumed command three days before one of the war's great battles.

Why was Major General Joseph Hooker disappointing?

Next, Lincoln appointed Major General Joseph Hooker, who had often been critical of other generals. Hooker's attitude matched the president's. Despite Hooker's confidence, Lee's much smaller army crushed Hooker's forces at Chancellorsville. Hooker soon resigned.

What was the result of the Battle of Fredericksburg?

On December 13, 1862, Union forces attacked. Lee's entrenched troops drove them back with heavy losses. Devastated, Burnside resigned.

What happened the same day that the Lee retreated from Gettysburg?

On July 4, the day that Lee retreated from Gettysburg, the Confederacy suffered another major blow. The important river city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, fell under the control of Union troops led by Ulysses S. Grant.

What happened on November 19, 1863?

On November 19, 1863, officials and citizens gathered to dedicate the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg.

How was the second day of fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg?

On the second day of fighting, Southern generals tried to drive Union forces from hills named Round Top and Little Round Top. In furious fighting, Union forces under General George Meade held their positions.

When did the Confederacy finally allow for African-American enlistment?

Only in the last days of the war, when defeat drew near, did they consider it.

How did the people react to the Gettysburg address?

Reactions to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address were mixed. Everett, along with the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Springfield (Mass.) Republican, thought the speech was a success. It remains one of the most enduring and powerful speeches in American history.

What was the Confederate strategy?

The Confederate strategy was similar to that of the colonies in the Revolutionary War. Though far outnumbered, the colonies won the support of France—and the war. Now, France and Britain missed the goods—especially cotton—Southern planters had once supplied. If the Confederates appeared to be winning, those nations might help.

At what cost did the Confederate victory come at?

The Confederate victory came at a high cost.

Why did the Confederates enter the town?

The Confederates entered the town looking for supplies. General Lee hoped to avoid fighting in a landscape he did not know well.

How did the Battle of Gettysburg start?

The battle started at 7:30 a.m. on July 1. Outnumbered Union troops retreated to a section of high ground called Cemetery Ridge. Reinforcements arrived for both sides.

What is the best known African American regiment?

The best-known African American regiment was the 54th Massachusetts.

How was Major General George McClellan disappointing?

The first, Major General George McClellan, commanded the Union forces at the Battle of Antietam in March 1862. Although he was expert at preparing for battle, he was overly careful and slow to act. The last straw came when, after victory at Antietam, McClellan failed to obey Lincoln's order to follow the retreating Confederate troops and destroy them.

Who was a key factor in the Confederates' military success in the East?

The military leadership of Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson was a key factor in the Confederates' military success in the East. With their knowledge of the land and ability to inspire troops, these two often defeated larger Union forces.

What was Confederate General Lee attack plan?

The next day, Lee ordered an attack designed to "create a panic and virtually destroy the [Union] army." First, the Confederates fired nearly 140 cannons at the Union lines. Then, General George Pickett led thousands of Confederate troops in an attack on the Union's position at Cemetery Ridge. Putting themselves directly in the line of fire, they advanced across open land in what came to be remembered as Pickett's Charge.

Flank

The side or edge of a military formation

How long was the siege on Vicksburg? What was the result of the siege of Vicksburg?

The siege lasted 47 days. There were more than 9,000 Confederate and 10,000 Union casualties, and many soldiers died of disease or starvation. Despite heavy losses of soldiers, fewer than 20 citizens of Vicksburg were killed in the long siege.

What was Lee's reason for bringing the war more north?

Their victory at Chancellorsville ruined Union plans to attack Richmond. Lee was emboldened. He decided to take the war once more into the North, hoping to impress France and Britain.

Why were the new Union soliders in a tough position?

These new Union soldiers were in a tough position. Many white Union regiments doubted their fighting ability. Others resented them. Many Southern troops also especially hated the Union's African American soldiers. They often focused their fiercest fire on African American regiments.

What did General Ambrose Burnside choose to do?

This encouraged newly named Union commander, General Ambrose Burnside, to march his troops toward the Confederate capital at Richmond.

Entrench

To place within a trench, or ditch, for defense; to place in a strong defensive position