Chapter 23 Military stalemate

Union Military strategy in 1864 The north developed a unified command system to coordinate strategy on all fronts Lincoln made Grant general in chief

Red river campaign – Lincoln wanted a military presence in Texas as a warning to France which was setting up a government in Mexico – Banks in 1864 undertook an ambitious campaign up the red river in Louisiana, with the intension of capturing Shreveport – The Confederates under the command of Richard Taylor attacked the union at pleasant hill

The James river and Shenandoah valley campaigns Butler brought 30,000 troops up the James river, 15 miles south of Richmond Got pushed back to a narrow neck of land between the James and Appomattox rivers Sigel advanced up the Shenandoah valley, and was defeated at new market

The Battle of the wilderness Grant intended to move around Lees right to force him out in the open Lee planned to hit hit the federals in the flank before they came out of a dense forest know as the wilderness Most of the fighting took place near the intersections of to main roads through the wilderness Union suffered 17,000 casualties, confederates lost 11,000

The battle of Spotsylvania Grants objective was the Spotsylvania court house south east of the wilderness The rebels made trenches in the shape of a U Union casualties 18,000 Confederate casualties 12,000

Cold harbor Sheridan's cavalry took a cross roads known as cold harbor Yankee troops pushed back the Confederate line on June 1 On June 3 the Union attacked and failed 7,000 union soldiers were killed or wounded, only 1,500 confederates were lost

The Shenandoah valley General David Hunter replaced Sigel as commander of the union forces Hunter was ordered to advance up the valley, cut the rail road links with Richmond and destroy the confederate supply depots at Lynchburg. Sheridan’s cavalry was ordered to tear up the rail road east of the valley

Petersburg If Petersburg fell Richmond would have to be evacuated From June multiple attacks failed The Union lost 11,000 men in four days of fighting Grant settled down for a siege

The Battle of the crater Henry Pleasant had his men dig a tunnel more than 500 feet under confederate lines. They then filled it with four tons of gunpowder. It blew 300 rebels in the air and blasted a hole 170 feet long, 60 feet wide and 30 feet deep. The union attack after the explosion failed

Early’s raid on Washington He was trying to relive pressure on Richmond by threating Washington Once he got to the fortifications out side of Washington he retreated rather than be crushed by the troops in front of him and hunters force which was approaching from the rear Early took 220,000 $ from Hagerstown and Frederick in addition to burning Chambersburg

The Atlanta campaign May-July 1864 Sherman led his army south from Tennessee south towards Atlanta pushing Johnston back during a series of flanking maneuvers On July 17 th Hood took over after Johnston had let his army get pushed back to Atlanta Sherman settled down for a siege of Atlanta