[10.d.3] "Tonight we water our horses in the Tennessee"
The first really big engagement of the Civil War was the Battle of Shiloh (Tennessee, 6-7 April 1862). The Union army’s stand in the Hornet's Nest stalled the Confederate advance to the Tennessee River long enough for reinforcements to arrive and save Grant’s Army. Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston who was killed, failed to eject Grant from Tennessee. A month later, the Union occupied Corinth in northeastern Mississippi but got no further.
[10.d.4] Stunning Casualties
Shiloh’s 23,000 casualties stunned the nation. Grant realized the Union would never be restored until the South was completely conquered. The nation lost its innocence.
[10.d.6] The Valley Campaign takes Pressure off of Richmond
Jackson and Shenandoah
[16.f.5] The 1862 Off-year Election and the Battle of Antietam
In the November off-year election of 1862, the Republicans lost 34 seats in the House because many in the North disliked the party’s commitment to slave emancipation. However, these losses were offset by winning 5 more seats in the Senate and all but 1 New York had a Republican governor.
[10.f.9] Disappointment after Fredericksburg
Burnside’s defeat depressed the country. Lincoln said after, “If there is a place worse than hell, I am in it.”
[10.g.1] Confederate Commerce Raiders
Commerce raiders (ships) built in British yards dealt a severe blow to the US merchant marine. One of them, CSS Alabama was finally sunk off France in June 1864. After the war, the US sued the British government and the case was settled in arbitration.
[10.h.3] Ruthless Methods in the South
Home Guard
[10.h.4] Irish and Working Class Riot, July 1863
New York and anti-draft
[10.i.3] Why General Lee Invaded the North in Summer 1863
Lee's first invasion of the north ended at the Battle of Antietam (17 September 1862). Despite the losses suffered in the first invasion, Lee moved north again in June 1963. Confederate President Jefferson Davis approved the plan:
Give Virginia a rest by invading Pennsylvania and forage for much needed supplies.
Take the pressure of Vicksburg, Mississippi, under siege by Grant.
Allow Virginia agriculture to recover.
Lee's Army of North Virginia was a maximum confidence after its victory at the Battle Chancellorsville. Lee believed if he could lure the union Army of the Potomac into battle again he could destroy it. The loss of an entire army would topple the Lincoln government and the north would sue for peace.
Induce a foreign country (especially Great Britain) to intervene on the South's behalf.
[10.k.3] Black Troops Reinforce the Union Army
About 10%.
[10.m.4] An Unusual Battle in Virginia
The Battle of the Crater (30 July 1864) was a clever but failed attempt to take Petersburg, the train yard that supplied Lee's army. Click here for a look at what happened in a scene from the film Cold Mountain. Eight thousands pounds of gunpowder were used.
[10.m.6] Sheridan Clears the Valley
The Battle of Winchester • The Battle of Cedar Creek • rode 12 miles to rally his men.
[10.n.3] Marching Through Georgia
18%
[10.o.5] Lincoln Wins Second Term
Go to 1864 election to see the results. Lincoln won 78% of the soldier vote.
[10.o.6] President Abraham Lincoln Second Inaugural Address, 1865
Read the short text of Lincoln's short Second Inauguration Address (4 March 1865) in Washington D.C. I think it was greatest speech.
[10.p.3] Lee Sends his Army Home
Grant gave generous terms. The Army of Northern Virginia stacked arms and gave up its flags. Lee told his men to go home and be good citizens like they had been good soldiers.
[10.p.4] Lee did the Country a Service
In his last act Lee disobeyed Jefferson Davis who had ordered southern armies to disband and continue the struggle as a guerrilla war. Lee spared the country another generation of bloodshed by telling his men it was over.
[10.p.5] God Be Praised
historians : )
[10.q.3] Conclusions
In which direction did power within the Union flow as a result of the Civil War? Think both in terms of (1) geography and (2) states versus national government (3) Party strength.
Geography: to the North
In government: to the Federal
Party: to the Republican