1. Chapter 15 Section 2: The War in the East
The American Civil War
Chapter 15 Section 2: The War in the East
Pages

2. The American Civil War Fighting in Virginia
First major battle of Civil War in Virginia, in July 1861
Union army of 35,000 under General Irvin McDowell
Confederate army of 22,000 under General P. G. T. Beauregard
Neither army was well trained, or disciplined.
Clashed at Bull Run Creek near Manassas
Many civilians from Washington D.C. came out to watch the battle
The beginning of the battle seemed to be a Union victory.
Additional 10,000 Confederates arrived
Confederate troops under General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson held against Union advance
Confederates counterattacked
Union troops broke and ran
Union soldiers and civilians choked the roads back to Washington D.C.
Confederates won First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the first Battle of Manassas
At the height of the first major clash of arms
between North and South, the 11th New York
Fire Zouaves (made up of New York City Firemen)
and 14th Brooklyn New York State Militia together
battled atop Henry House Hill to regain control of two artillery pieces of Captain Charles Griffin's battery that were lost to the Confederate forces.

3. More Battles in Virginia
The American Civil War
More Battles in Virginia
Union General George B. McClellan placed in charge of 100,000 soldiers, called Army of Potomac
Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under command of General Robert E. Lee
Union General Georg B. McClellan
Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Lee attacked Union forces in series of clashes called Seven Days’ Battles and forced Union army to retreat in June 1862
Lincoln relieved McClellan of command.
Union and Confederates fought again at Second Battle of Bull Run, or Second Battle of Manassas, in August 1862; Confederates again forced a Union retreat. Lincoln fired General John Pope, and put McClellan back in command.
Battle of Frazier’s Farm, Virginia
June
Second Battle of Bull Run,
Manassas, Virginia
August

4. Focus Question #1
Describe how Union and Confederate forces fought for control of the war in Virginia.

5. Commander, Army of Northern Virginia
The American Civil War
Robert E. Lee
Born into wealthy Virginia family in 1807
Father was Revolutionary war hero Henry Lee III ( “Light Horse Harry” Lee)
Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Fought in Mexican-American War
Lincoln had asked Lee to lead Union army at start of Civil War
Lee declined and resigned from U.S. Army to become a Confederate general
VERY aggressive by nature; a risk taker.
Not worried about what his opponents did, or did not do.
Knew his enemies well, and could predict their reactions in battle.
General Robert E. Lee
Commander, Army of Northern Virginia

6. Sharpsburg, Maryland September 17, 1862.
The American Civil War
Lee Invades the North
Confederate leaders wanted to follow Lee’s victories in Virginia with victory on northern soil.
Lee’s Confederate troops and McClellan’s Union army met along Antietam Creek in Maryland on September 17, 1862.
Their goal was to reach and capture Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Ultimate goal was to threaten Washington D.C.
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history, with more than 12,000 Union and 13,000 Confederate casualties.
More Americans were killed and wounded than in all of America’s previous wars combined.
was an important victory for the Union, stopping Lee’s northward advance.
Lee’s Army of
Northern Virginia
crossed the
Potomac River
into Maryland
The Battle for Burnside’s Bridge, across Antietam Creek,
Sharpsburg, Maryland September 17, 1862.

7. Focus Question #2
How did The Battle of Antietam give the North an advantage in the war?

8. The American Civil War The War at Sea
Union navy controlled the sea and blockaded southern ports
Hurt southern economy by preventing the South from selling and receiving goods
Some small, fast ships got through blockade, but the number of ships entering southern ports was reduced from 6,000 to 800 a year.

9. The Union Blockade

10. C.S.S. Virginia, and U.S.S. Monitor, March 8-9 1862.
The American Civil War
Clash of the Ironclads
Confederacy turned to new type of warship—ironclads, or ships heavily armored with iron
Captured Union ship U.S.S. Merrimack, turned it into ironclad, and renamed it the C.S.S. Virginia
Successfully attacked the wooden ships of the Union
Met by Union ironclad, the Monitor, in battle near Hampton Roads, Virginia, in March 1862 and forced to withdraw
Designed by John Ericsson
Had a revolving gun tower and thick plating
The Monitor’s success saved the Union fleet and continued the blockade.
The Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia between the Ironclads
C.S.S. Virginia, and U.S.S. Monitor, March

11. How did the Confederacy attempt to break the Union naval blockade?
Focus Question #3
How did the Confederacy attempt to break the Union naval blockade?

12. Essential Question for Chapter 15 Section 2
Describe how Confederate and Union forces faced off in Virginia and at sea.