Fighting Erupts Chapter 11, Section 2 American Anthem

The Major Battles Begin First Battle of Bull Run o Both armies were inexperienced so the fighting became chaotic o Union army ended up retreating o Confederate army suffered almost 2,000 casualties (those killed, injured, or missing in action) o Union army suffered almost 2,900 casualties o The battle ended northerners hopes of a short war o George McClellan became the general for the Union army

Tactics and Technology Both armies used tactics that involved sending infantry or cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to charge the enemy Weapons were much more advanced than they had ever been o Led to increased range and accuracy o Rifles were introduced o Cannon balls were replaced by shrapnel (shells that exploded in the air over a target or when they struck a target) New weapons produced large numbers of casualties Tactics were “old time”, but weapons were modern

New Devices of War Observation Balloons used to direct artillery fire Camouflage used to disguise tents and guns (protect against observation balloons) Machine guns Barbed wire Flamethrowers Telegraph allowed generals to communicate easier Railroads used to move large numbers of troops

The Fight for the Mississippi Valley Ironclads – armored gunboats that were nearly invincible against Confederate cannon fire Helped with the North’s campaign in the Mississippi River Valley Union soldiers tried to take control of the Mississippi River Southerners tried to stop them by invading western Kentucky and fortifying parts of the river

Grant Moves South Union General Ulysses S. Grant Takes over Fort Henry, a Confederate fort near the Kentucky-Tennessee line Captures Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River As a result of these two events o Two major rivers in the western Confederacy were wide open o Confederate defenses along the Mississippi were vulnerable to attack

The Battle of Shiloh April 6, 1862 – Confederate troops surprised Union troops at Shiloh in Tennessee Confederates believed that they would win the battle easily Union army attacked the next morning and forced the Confederate troops to retreat 1 in 4 soldiers was killed in this battle Union army suffered 13,000 losses Confederate army suffered 10,000 losses Battle of Shiloh ended Union hopes that the rebellion would fall apart on its own

The Mississippi River Campaign Because of the Battle of Shiloh, Union troops believed that they could split the Confederacy and gain complete control of the Mississippi River Union troops move to New Orleans and force the Confederate troops there to surrender Confederate troops were now worried because one of their major port cities was captured by the Union

The War in the East Union General McClellan’s plan was to attack Richmond (the Confederate capital) from the east Confederate defenses were weaker on the eastern side It took a while for McClellan to start this campaign

The Peninsula Campaign March 1862 – McClellan finally started to move his troops Battle of Seven Pines – neither side won, but both suffered many casualties Seven Days’ Battles – Confederacy attacks the Union in the Shenandoah Valley o McClellan and the Union troops won 4 of the 5 battles o He retreats and the Confederacy wins

The Second Battle of Bull Run August 29, 1862 Lee and the Confederate army attacked Union troops at the Second Battle of Bull Run Union troops lose the battle

The Union is Invaded Northern morale is lowered because of the series of battles lost in Virginia Lee and the Confederate army thought this would be the best time to take advantage o A victory on Union soil might prompt the North to ask for peace o If not, it might persuade France or Great Britain to recognize the Confederacy as a nation o Moving the war out of Virginia would allow farmers to harvest crops that the south needed to feed their troops and civilians

The Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 The bloodiest single day battle of the Civil War and of US history The battle ended when both sides became too exhausted to continue fighting Over 23,000 casualties combined between the Union and Confederacy Union victory

The Battle of Fredericksburg Lincoln replaced General McClellan with General Ambrose Burnside Burnside marched towards Richmond but met Confederate troops at Fredericksburg Union army lost nearly 13,000 men – more than twice the number of Confederate losses Union troops were slaughtered in battle