Lesson 2: Early War Strategy and Battles

Fort Sumter On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m., After Lincoln sent word to the Confederate States that he was sending in Union supply ships to Charlestown harbor; Confederate batteries opened fire on Fort Sumter, the Union fort located inside Charlestown harbor. Officially marking the beginning of the war, the confederates fired for 34 straight hours forcing the fort commander Robert Anderson to eventually surrendered the fort. (Not a single casualty was sustained inside the fort, with the only Confederate casualty being because of a Misfire) Why Did Lincoln inform the Confederates of his plans to send supplies to the fort?

States Succession -Acting Quickly Lincoln calls up 75,000 militiamen from across the nation to put down the South Carolina rebellion. - Not wanting to attack their southern neighbors, many of the southern states follow South Carolina to secede, including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and the wealthy and highly populated state of Virginia. Leaving 24 Union States and 11 Confederate states. - With Virginia joining the cause the southern states also gain vital location by being close to Washington D.C., as well as gaining the United States Greatest General, Robert E. Lee, as he resigned from the U.S. Military when Virginia secede.

Union Strategies - To invade the south and force it to surrender. They wanted to complete this by using the Anaconda Plan. Developed by General Winfield Scott, the Anaconda Plan had three parts. 1 st the Union would Blockade Confederate ports. 2 nd the Union wanted to take complete control of the Mississippi River Valley. And 3 rd, they wanted to capture the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia. What was the Design purpose of each of these three parts of the plan? What are the Benefits of being on the offensive? The draw backs?

Confederate War Strategy -The Confederacy plan was to play the defensive and hope that a long war would weaken northern willpower. They also hoped that for an inclusion in the war from their trading partners, Britain and France. -What are the benefits of fighting a defensive war? The draw backs? - Who had What Advantages -Union Population was 22 million; Southern was 9 million. -Union Industry Far outmatched the Confederates. 85% of factories in Union -Union had Far more Railroads than the Confederates. 75% of Railroads in Union. -Union had a large navy, Confederates didn’t. -Confederates had Home Field advantage and better Generals. (Stonewall Jackson, Lee) - Confederacy was very large and hard to maneuver through. What did these advantages allow?

First Battle of Bull Run -Northerners called for an immediate attack on the southern capitol of Richmond so Union forces moved south(followed by hundreds of spectators) to attack the southern army in Manassas Virginia. No one was truly prepared. - The Confederate victory, led by the rallying of the Confederate troops by Stonewall Jackson was not decisive because of the mass chaos that resulted from the fleeing Union soldiers and spectators. All in all it was a confederate victory and showed that first of all the fighting would be bloody,(2,700 union casualties and 2000 Confederate casualties) the was not going to be over quickly, and that the south would fight fiercely for their country.

New Civil War Technologies - Many new Technologies came about or where first introduced during the Civil War. New rifles, ships, cannons, grenades, and defensive works. -New rifles and ammunition added range and accuracy to the old style weapons. Often times range increased accurately from 100 yards to up to 400 yards. -Naval Vessels such as the infamous “Monitor” and “Merrimack” became known as Ironclads (ships covered with iron and had steam engines) which were faster and far stronger. -Stronger Defensive works added huge strategic advantage for people who were hidden behind these structures. How did these new technologies change the strategies and tactics of warfare.

Grant to the Rescue -As the Main Union General, George McClellan was advancing intolerably slowly a young general named Ulysses S. Grant used Iron clad gunships to capture two major Confederate river forts in Tennessee. Opening up much of the south with the capture of these forts, Grant moved south quickly and was attached in force by Shiloh Church and won the bloodiest battle yet of the war. The Battle of Shiloh left 13,000 Union soldiers injured or dead, and 11,000 Confederates in the same shape. - Near this same time, the largest city in the south, New Orleans was captured by Admiral David Farragut in a daring victory that really scared the south. The South Strikes back -Lee, Taking Charge of the Main Confederate army in Virginia, strikes McClellan’s forces that are threatening Richmond. A battle known as the Seven Days’ Battles looses Lee 20,000 Men, but ends the Union threat on the Capitol.

Lee Invades the North - Following a Union withdrawal back to Washington, Lee decides to invade the north. -Lee hoped for four things from this invasion. - 1 st he hoped a victory in the north would force Lincoln to discuss peace. - 2 nd he hoped the invasion would give Virginia farmers a rest from the devastation. - 3 rd the invasion would allow for plundering of the northern states. - And 4 th Lee hoped the invasion would show Britain and France that the south could win the war and thus help the Europeans to side with the south. Withdrawal from Antietam - Soon after Lee invaded his Strategic plans were recovered by the Union and McClellan went on to strike. The Day became the Bloodiest day in American History with a combined loss of 23,000 casualties, with Lee Loosing almost a quarter of his men. McClellan again was slow to strike with the Confederate retreat and the day became a draw.