American Civil War

Framing the Early War (1861-1862)

A lot of soldiers did not know how to fight this war and were unprepared Wanted the war to be short and show the confederacy the error of their ways but instead turned into a long bloody struggle Affected them psychologically No compromises were going to be made during 1861-1862

The North Experiences the End

Crazy celebration Victory meant a lot for the people in the North (deep emotional impact) All deeply distraught over Lincoln's death - War meant a lot to them - Last 4 years meant a lot to them

Fort Donelson

Feb 11-16 Bloody battle (17,000 casualties) -15,000 confederate -2,000 union Decisive Union victory Strategic - were able to take waterways for easy transportation and invasion corridors Symbolically: -shocks the nation due to high casualties -morale boost Grant get his rise and early fame in the war -Unconditional surrender -People thought he was remorseless but knew he could get things done

Motivations of African Americans

Fighting for freedom and abolition

Union Advantages

Finance and industry Transportation and railroads Functioning government and political party system -Confederates had difficult time organizing parties -North = two party system -South = states (conflicts with one another) Population Manufacturing Navy -Anaconda Plan

First South Carolina Volunteers

First formally recognized black regiment. Authorized and made active in early 1863 35-40,000 former slaves

Lee's Northern VA Campaign

Lee is very successful Aug 29-30, 1862: Battle of 2nd Bull Run Lee engages General Pope 40-50,000 Union troops still guarding DC -Confederate victory -16,000 casualties (14,000 union) Convinces Lee to move forward with MD Campaign and invasion of the North

Motivations of both sides (north and south)

Liberty

Motivations of Southern Soldiers

To protect slavery and slave society Liberty and freedom in their own way

Anaconda Plan (General Winfield Scott)

Union attempt to defeat the Confederacy early in the war by blockading the coastline and southern ports to control the Mississippi River Strangle them economically Not conquest but will develop over time (2 years max) Not popular in the North (wanted to raise strong and powerful armies)

Four Factors of Emancipation

1.) Proximity to the war and the armies - Important factor for freedom was geography -The closer one was to the war or union army, the better the chances -Slave leasing -As armies moved, so did the slaves 2.) The nature of the southern slave society in and given location -Slave population -Contraband camps 3.) Policy of any given troop or army regarding slaves -Available resources 4.) Will to freedom -Willingness to risk everything and gain freedom -Risks = starvation, slave patrols, heat stroke, family, psychological and emotional -Heart of the general strike (congress legislation and EP was predicted on the reality that slaves would free themselves; will of slaves was the main motivation)

Timeline Toward Emancipation

1861 - slaves flee into northern lines as war breaks out 1861 to early 1862 - official policy of Lincoln and Union was "denial of asylum" (slave owners could come up there and take back their property) March 1862 - congress issues Article of War declaring fugitive slaves must be admitted to Union camps; left their legal status vague April 16, 1862 - DC compensated Emancipation act passed June 1862 - Second Confiscation Act explicitly freed slaves of all persons "in rebellion" (huge and more important than EA due to freeing border states) June-July 1862 - Drafting begins for EP August 20, 1862 - Horace Greeley publishes "The Attack of 20 Million" while Lincoln awaited the right timing to announce preliminary EP September 22, 1862 - Preliminary EP announced

Agrarian Thesis

Agriculture and cotton thesis (southerners are not big slaveholders but yemen/Jeffersonian farmers, businessmen, etc) => Southern Nationalism

Cornerstone Speech

Alexander Stephens - believes white supremacy and slavery are the cornerstone of society; government was founded on the idea that blacks were inferior to whites.

Discrimination and Abuse

Anti-black discrimination and prejudice was rampant among whites in Union Segregated regiments and wage discrimination -Very few led by African Americans or were made officers (rare) Fighting to restore Union and not to free slaves but forced to do it New York City Draft Riots, July 1863 -Immigration working class revolts due to formal draft Suffered interpersonal contempt and abuse in Union ranks Racial resentment affected the way Union officers assigned African Americans Black regiments led by white officers (received less resources)

Stonewall's Valley Campaign

April 29-June 5, 1862 A lot of military genius here Diversionary tactics (5 major battles where he out maneuvers and evades) => threw fear into Washington Marched 17,000 troops up and down the Shenandoah Valley to occupy the Army of the Potomac Remarkable and audacious military campaign (still taught in minute detail at West Point)

Battle of Chancellorsville (Lee's Perfect Battle)

April 30-May6, 1863 Union threatening Army of Northern VA; Richmond -Pressure on Lee Lee splits his forces multiple times Lee outnumbered and lore starts Confederate victory came at a high price: Thomas Stonewall Jackson killed by friendly fire. Lee sets his sights back on the North Hugely symbolic and creates legend around Lee and his desire to push toward North

Battle of Shiloh Church

April 6-7, 1862 Union victory First large scale bloody battle (23,000 casualties) Surprise attack - Johnston catches Grants troops with their pants down (many casualties and soldiers fled) Bloody hand to hand combat to take back territory Grant comes to conclusion that war would not be short and they had to end slavery

Ulysses S. Grant

Basic and boring before the war Went to West Point -Started as COL at start of war for this Nothing really happened during his life until the war Proved during conflict that he could be exceptional Civil War makes him who he is Strategic victory in TN (Fort Donelson) makes him famous

Expectations for the War

Both sides thought it would be quick

The Civil War and Death

By June 1864, 2000 casualties per day Population of America in 1861 was 30 million, now 315 million Todays Terms: - A war entering its fourth year, on the scale of the civil war, would have killed 5 million Americans (this is before the Overland Campaign) - 5 million suffered in hospitals (during the war, hospitals were deadlier then the battlefield) - Tens and millions dealing with PTSD - Trillions worth of property damage - 1 million tortured in prison camps - 1 million addicted to drugs and alcohol from war

South Experiences the End

Common words used afterward: - Bitterness - Submission - Conquered - Subjugation Despair and gloom over the entire south White southern victimization taking place - The Lost Cause - Deep divide between North and South Praised Booth for killing Lincoln, whom they described as a tyrant Confederate women keep ideology going throughout the South Deep political fear in the south for what would happen to them Had to take care of injured and sick soldiers Towns destroyed and burned

First Colored Kansas Volunteers

Composed mostly of free slaves and runaways from MO and AK Organized unofficially by a white officer COL Williams in 1862 Skirmish at island Mound, Oct. 1862 - Outnumbered but prevailed against confederate guerrilla troops -Early proof to white officers that black soldiers were a capable fighting force

Duty and Honor Thesis

Confederates are duty bound (conservatism - cannot change things rapidly but instead preserve)

Grant's Overland Campaign

Critical thrust necessary for Union to win the war May 5-7, 1864: Battle of the Wilderness - Grant does not move toward Richmond like Lee thought Army of Potomac and Army of Northern VA collided at a dense wooded area just west of Fredericksburg Battle was disorganized chaos Heavy casualties (dead and wounded) - Union: 18400 - Confederate: 11000 Battlefield fires took many lives Result inconclusive: but Grant remains on the offensive May 8-21, 1864: Armies collide again at Spotsylvania Courthouse - Inconclusive but mass casualties - Union: 30,000 - Confederate: 20,000 - Grant pushes on - Killing Northern Morale The Battle of Cold Harbor - May 31-June 12, 1864 - Grant's greatest mistake of the war - Misread size of Lee's army and landscape - Largest frontal assault of the war - 50,000 Union troops engage; 7000 die in first 30 min due to being flanked from both sides by Lee The war of attrition in VA resulted in 100,00 casualties

Election of 1864

Critical turning point for the war Lincoln's reelection was in jeopardy due to the war weariness of Americans. They had suffered a lot Left the door open for some sort of confederate "victory" Many republicans wanted to drop Lincoln Peace Democrats: "Copperheads" and Greg McClellan Democratic Platform - Lincoln the widow maker - Lincoln the black lover Changes after fall of atlanta and mobile bay 45% of Americans did not vote for Lincoln or Emancipation Lincoln and Frederick Douglas - Told Douglas to go and free slaves during election b/c he thought he was going to lose

Causes of Secession: Synthesis

Defense of slave society Difference between two societies moving forward (slave society and free soil society) Problematic Theories of Secession: - Agrarian Thesis - Duty and Honor Thesis

Fort Sumter, 1861

During secession crisis Federal army located off cost Lincoln knows provisions need to be sent to harbor/fort = Humanitarianism (people did not see it this way and were ready to start a war if ships came in) Charleston starts bombarding => Anderson surrenders => flew confederate flag and two people died First open engagement between confederacy and union force => war (no official declaration of war from Lincoln but calls for volunteer soldiers)

McClellan's Peninsula Campaign

Floats majority of Army of the Potomac (90,000) down the Potomac river and invade VA from the east toward Richmond Left 30,000 troops in NOVA to attack Richmond from the North Wanted to attack from the east b/c it would be quick and least expected Reveals: -Generals matter in this war - Political center and would have been symbolic, morale destroyed - Leads to a turning point for the Confederacy Confederates counter with Stonewall Jackson

Confederate Advantages

Geography and land Could fight a defensive war - Did not have to invade Could have sat there and let the war come to them (did not have to mobilize) Preservation, not conquest (did not have to conquer the north) Rifled musket -Inaccurate so had to line up alongside one another -Artillery was not as efficient -Spiral barrel made it more accurate Military leadership, at least at the beginning of the war Difficulties -Providing provisions to al the troops

Lee's Mindset for the Invasion

Get the war out of VA and put pressure on the North -DC and Philadelphia Establish and confederate foothold in Union territory -Strikes fear into North - Bring Great Britain into war on the side of the confederacy Attract new recruits to his army from MD who were sympathetic to the Confederacy - MD = border state - Does not work out for Lee - Captures runaway slaves to help in effort

Siege of Petersburg

Grant alters his strategy - Build miles and miles of trenches June 9, 1864 - March 25, 1865 Fueled Richmond (main supply) and the Army of NA Not a traditional siege; importance of trench warfare - Lee thinks he is headed to richmond but Grant instead goes to Petersburg - Grant drives Lee out of Richmond with siege Greatly outmanned, Lee's forces grind the conflict into a standstill - Grant: 125,000 troops, 50,000 reinforcements on the way - Lee: 50,000 troops suffering from disease, lack of resources, desertion March 25, 1865: Battle of Fort Stedman - Confederate surprise attack - Union forces hold; inflict heavy casualties and cut remaining supply lines into the city - Leaves confederate right flank and rear exposed April 2, 1865: The Breakthrough at Petersburg - Lee escapes with most of his army - "Evacuation Sunday," fleeing confederates set fire to city - Richmond falls the next day - Lincoln visits the confederate capital African American soldiers at Petersburg - Black soldiers proved their mettle to reluctant and often racist white soldiers by 1864; enter VA and join the Army of the Potomac - The Crater and Ambrose Burnside's 4th Division - Sept 29-30, 1864: Battle of Chaffin's Farm - Heavy casualties - 14 African Americans earn the Medal of Honor Cause = willing to take risks to prove themselves and fight for ending slavery Grant surrounds petersburg to starve the confederate to surrender of force Lee into a fight in the open Effectively end the Overland Campaign Grant lost more soldiers then Lee; hurts northern morale and puts Lincoln's reelection in jeopardy Lee losses were more significant

Gettysburg

July 1-3, 1863 Huge turning point in war Lee; Slaver, Kidnapper, Military Genius Day 1: Confederate victory Day 2: Little Round Top and Culp's Hill Day 3: Pickett's Charge -13000 men Significance: Lee retreats; 56,000 casualties -3000 Union -4000 Confederate Lee sees this as opportunity to reverse Underground Railroad, Confederate cause, and capture former and free slaves Lee knows he made a huge mistake and almost gave his resignation Boosts Union morale (stopped Lee's advance) African Americans at Gettysburg: -Army of Northern VA: Slave Catchers and violent abusers -No official combatants: black reg in South or West -Free or enslaved had a significant presence in PA and Gettysburg (working in camps and population that already lived there)

Battle of Fort Wagner

July 18, 1863 54th Massachusetts; volunteered by commander Shaw to lead the attack Confederates repel the attack on the fort, an important stronghold in Charleston Harbor 54th highly praised for their bravery, leading to the recruitment of more black soldiers

Battle of Bull Run

July 21, 1861 First major engagement of the Civil War -large scale armies -lasted 3 hours Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson led a counterattack against Union => Union retreated (many soldiers went missing and were not told where to go)

Fall of Atlanta and Sherman's March to the Sea

July 22, 1864: Battle of Atlanta - Major turning point. Boosts northern morale and effects election of '64 Johnson vs Sherman Atlanta destroyed, much of it burned - Destroys resources - Slaves - Plantations - Food - Many left homeless - Destroys southern morale Scorched Earth => Leads to the March to the Sea Sherman continues to Savannah, leaves it, and turns left - "Make Georgia Howl" The Reckoning on SC Pushes further into NC Confederate army depleted Sherman treats emancipated slaves terribly - Union Armies were unpredictable and still a threat

Lee Surrenders

Lee and grant meet for first time since Mexican-American War The surrender of Army of Northern VA did not end the war, but it was death knell of the Confederacy Terms of surrender were apolitical: - Confederates were just allowed to return home - No one was taken into custody, except Lee who was put under house arrest At the end of the war, only commandant of Andersonville Prison, CPT Henry Wirz, will be charged and hanged for war crimes After surrender, Confederate armies began surrendering knowing that they couldn't continue fighting Johnston surrenders to Sherman at Bennett Place, NC - Largest surrender of the Civil War; 89000 confederate soldiers lay down their arms May 9, 1865: New President Andrew Johnson declared at the end of the civil war Some conflict does continue, but it is a post-war conflict - May 12-13, 1865: General Watie surrenders the last sizable Confederate army after the battle of Palmito on the banks of the Rio Grande in Texas - Demonstrates will to fight but is unimportant Ex-confederates fear for the worst, many flee the country - Many in the south who supported the cause had deep fear as well

George B. McClellan

Lincoln brings him in in the wake of Bull Run -Did not get along with him but knew he had experience - Flamboyant and arrogant, outspoken -Was not decisive -Gets relieved -Does not want the war to turn into a "remorseless revolutionary struggle" Trained/led Army of the Potomac -One of the most efficient - Soldiers loved him at first due to knowledge and morale -Soldiers did not have any experience coming in (naive and young) Derisive of Lincoln and federal leadership

The Border States

MD, KY, MO Confederate interest here Manufacturing centers Contributed most soldiers to war

Grant arrives in VA

March 2, 1864: Grant is given control of all Union Armies: answers only to President Lincoln New Strategy: - Richmond not a strategic obj. - Instead draw Lee out - Control the political character of the war; win morale (support Lincoln and his cause for war) - Destroy southern morale - War on Confederate resources - In the East: defeat Lee and the Army of Northern VA - Grant still picks strategic locations - Petersburg - In the West: invade from the west and up through the south Grant initiates Overland Campaign with Army of the Potomac

Siege of Vicksburg

May 18-July 4, 1863 Most important turning point of war => opens Mississippi valley Grant lays siege to the fortress city of Vicksburg - Railroad city for confederates - Same day as Pickett's charge 30,000 troops and civilians locked down Starving the city; Confederate surrender Grant controls Mississippi Valley; escaped slaves poor into Union lines (many recruited) Confederacy is split in half Launch pad for conquest of TN and movement south

Seige of Port Hudson

May 21-July 9, 1863 Was a linchpin of confederate control in the west (keeping union from controlling the Mississippi) Union General Banks ordered to capture port in coordination with Grant at Vicksburg -Can control Mississippi valley/river (huge strategic advantage) Banks first attack fails -48 day siege (longest in US history) -Very Bloody Second attack also fails; the port is surrendered after Grant takes Vicksburg Major loss of life for Union Two black regiments (1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guard) attacked across "Slaughters Field" - Fear that they would not be brave/capable => proved everyone wrong and demonstrated immense bravery Union takes 2,000 casualties (600 from 1st and 3rd LA)

Battle of the Seven Days

McClellan's Peninsula Campaign ends in the seven days Sustained day to day fighting at numerous crossings around Richmond (extremely violent and bloody) Both sides suffer terrible casualties Fighting to end peninsula campaign Lee was given control of confederate troops after original commander is injured on first day -Military genius -Emergence during war starts here - Wants to invade North (change from defensive to offensive) Huge strategic victory for confederacy and were able to save Richmond

Emancipation Proclamation

Most important document in US history Emancipation of the slaves was the single greatest turning point in the war Limited (did not free all the slaves) Step for liberation and Emancipation African Americans did not care about details, but cared that US gov. acted to say they were free Makes abolition central to the Union Puts the war on course of conquest and near totality Everyone was required to be on board with it Leads to slaves increasingly escaping to freedom as word spreads Sanctions the recruitment of black men in the US armed forces Instills the idea of the opportunity to be freed Sabotaged confederate attempts to secure recognition from foreign governments

Why did the south secede?

Not just for slavery Attack on Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for volunteers Theory 1: -Slavery is massively profitable -Great wealth spread all over the south -Threat to economic engine Theory 2 - Fear Thesis: - Racialize fear of shrinking south - Slave insurrection - Building on older fear => slave insurrections more common => destruction of society => white supremacy - Fear of republican hostility - John Brown's Antislavery Radicalism (diminishing planter/slave owner control and political power) Theory 3 - Southern Nationalism: - Belief in sense of southern unity - shared identity and place - fear of common enemy (Lincoln and republicans) - something at stake for all southern states

Women on the Battlefront

Nurses - Middle class under 30 - Union = 9000 - Confederate = 1000 (There was less need because slaves were forced to serve as nurses in the camps.) Performed many duties; faced the threat of disease and illness in hospitals. Women in combat: - Spies - Soldiers

Black Military Service

Of 4.5 million, 180,000 escaped and served in 163 units for the Union Army and Navy 10% of Union was African Americans; 80% were former slaves 1/3 of all African Americans lost their lives Their cause was always emancipation and abolition as soon as the war started Escaped slaves were always tremendous assets on the battlefield and intel: more manpower and knowledge of terrain

3 Major Battles Black Soldiers Fought In

Port Hudson Milliken's Bend Fort Wagner

2nd Confiscation Act lay groundwork for ____________

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation

Motivations of Northern Soldiers

Preserve the Union (1861-1862) -Language of liberty and freedom Constitution Save the Republic

Battle of Antietam

September 17, 1862 Bloodiest single day of battle -23,000 casualties in first 8 hours The legend of the Lost Order -Union found plans from Lee -Presents them to McClellan War's first major turning point Strategically, not a decisive victory for either side (both suffered heavy casualties) Tactical blunder on both sides. Lee allowed to retreat back to VA and McClellan was fired -Lost order -Lee had his back to the creek -Took pressure off DC

African American's throughout war

Slaves never accepted their enslavement Rebellions happen; always concerned about insurrection in the southern slave society and police state The Haitian Revolution W.E.B. Dubois and the General Slave Strike After start of war, slaves start freeing themselves; revolts. Many ask to fight for the Union or start industrious family lives Congress begins freeing and recruiting slaves => EP (slaves will be increasingly recruited for service) Slaves did NOT fight for the Confederacy - Served in confederate camps and the building of confederate fortifications. 1865, slaves were enlisted for training as a last ditch effort, but none of them saw combat in Confederate uniforms - Lee tried to convince enlistment of slaves - Slaves that enlisted (very small number) were signed up by their masters and promised their freedom if they did so dutifully

Conscription

Strategy for war Brought people to fight (draft) Rich man's war (bought out the war) Class system developed (resulted in tension) Many problems with this

Confederate Women

Suffered shortages of food and other provisions due to blockade Lonely (all men left to fight in the war) Slave rebellions and slave management Benevolent societies but not under USSC Hired by treasury, factories, etc (similar to northern women) Difficulties with union and confederate armies - Field hospitals - Army headquarters Demographic changes for men - PTSD - 25% killed - 25% maimed Political activity - Petitions for provisions - Bread riots (march-april 1863)

Battle of Milliken's Bend

Supply station for Grant June 7, 1863 Confederates attack during the night to lift the siege on Vicksburg - Siege would not have worked if this fell Defended by green black regiments: 9th LA Infantry, 13th LA Infantry, 1st MS Infantry - 9th LA lost 45% of their regiment (most of any single regiment) Engaged Confederates in fierce hand to hand combat Fought off attack long enough for Navy gunboat to arrive

African American Women

The experiences of black women are inherently linked to the general slave strike. Many would attach themselves and their families to Union armies as they passed through to escape slavery. Faced dangers from both Northern and Confederate armies - Union troops and soldiers were unpredictable. Black women faced the threat of horrific acts of abuse and sexual violence. Slaves remaining on plantations also faced hardships. They were often punished in retaliation for an escaping family member and were left homeless as plantations and resources were destroyed. Slave women ultimately won with emancipation.

Lost Causism

The words of confederates: - revisionism - a lot of racism and white supremacy - hostile to the north (anarchists) - "War between the states" vs "War of the southern rebellion" - valorization to this righteous cause -wasn't about slavery but instead defending the constitution

Secession of the Upper South

VA, TN, NC, AK Political concerns and state rights Did not have the supplies for war

Women on the Northern Homefront

Women were not passive but taking action 20,000 "Benevolent Societies" operate across the North and South during the war. Organize Sanitary Fairs. Almost all women in volunteer benevolent societies were white and middle or upper class; assigned work and responsibilities based on class The experiences of women always depended on where one was. Working-class women were also impacted the war and were impacted by it. - They take dangerous jobs producing for the war in factories. - Manufactured everything from uniforms to tents, blankets to ammo cartridges. - Law pay, dangerous conditions, terrible hours. Women enter the federal bureaucracy