Download Jefferson Davis` Wartime Strategy

History of the Americas
Snyder
Civil War
Jefferson Davis, Wartime Pres.
Overall Strategy (1861) – Considering the overwhelming resource and troop advantage of
the North
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Retreat when necessary in the face of a stronger enemy
Go after isolated forces
Avoid full scale battles that could result in annihilation .
Prolong the war to wear out the superior army (strategy of winning but not losing)
Why strategy did not work1. Demand by public and Confederate leadership to defend the South leading to the
cordon defense (putting troops along the perimeter of the Confederacy including
Gulf and Atlantic coast) – Historians believed that this stretched forces to thin
2. Southerners were not satisfied just to sit and wait. The Richmond Examiner said
“The idea of waiting for blows, instead of inflicting them is altogether unsuited to
the genius of our people” (McPherson 337)
3. Davis finally settled on an “offensive-defensive strategy” which meant defending
the South by using interior lines of communication and then moving troops to
repel invading forces and then when opportunities arise, invade the North
Examples of the “offensive-defensive strategy” –
1. First Battle of Manasas (Battle of Bull Run), Virginia (July, 1861)
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July 18 the Union army sends 37,000 troops into Virginia (marches 25 miles into
Virginia)
General Beauregard of the Confederate troops got word from civilians of the
troop movement and he ordered his men to form an 8 mile line along one side of
Bull Creek near a railroad center called Manassas Junction
Beauregard orders his men to cross the creek and surprises the Union troops
General MacDowell of the Union Army ordered his men to attack the Confederate
left and disrupted the positions of the Confederate troops. Chaos seemed to
ensure.
General Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson was waiting on a hill in the center of the
Confederate line and ordered his men to charge.
Confederate reinforcements followed
Jackson as a great example of the charisma and boldness of the Confederate Army
The Union troops retreated
The orders were not to pursue the Union army which can be seen as inconsistent
with Davis’ strategy however it did serve to give the Confederacy the confidence
they needed over the next two years to plan for offensive actions
2. These offensive actions are best characterized by Battle of Antietam in September
1862 (incursion into Maryland) and Gettysburg in July 1963 (incursion into
Pennsylvania). Both of these battles were unsuccessful in making serious inroads
into the North and Border States