Download CH 21 Notes Part 1

Notes CH 21 Part 1 pp. 454 -453 “Lee” THE FURNACE OF CIVIL WAR 1861 – 1865
The Opening Quote is significant: “My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and
is not either to save or to destroy slavery.” Abraham Lincoln, 1862….
NOTE: This quote reflects Lincoln’s view of the significance of the Border States AT THIS TIME…(states
in the Union with slavery) in the conflict… also he hopes that the Southern States in rebellion will give up
this fight and return… However, by September of 1862, after the battle of Antietam….he will change his
opinion and issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, in which he gives the South until the
beginning of 1863 to come back into the Union and end the War. They do not and so on January 1st, 1863
the Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect and changes dramatically the “PARAMOUNT PURPOSE”
of the War… from being one to “SAVE THE UNION,” to Ending Slavery Permanently….This change alters
the view of the whole world towards this War…and DUE TO THIS CHANGE…the effects are evident 
Intro***
Most people, on both sides, at the outset of the Civil War [Ft Sumter, April 12, 1861] thought that it
would be a short war. The evidence for this belief for the North is the duration of the enlistments of the
first 75000 soldiers JUST 90 DAYS…
Lincoln further states that he had “No purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with slavery in the
States where it already exists.”
Lincoln hoped that with a swift example of Federal force and Union victories….the folly of secession
would be evident and the states that had seceded would quickly return to the Union.
HOWEVER….THE WAR WAS NOT BRIEF…NOR LIMITED…AFTER 4 YEARS…OVER 600,000 SOLDIERS
WERE DEAD, SLAVERY WAS ENDED FOREVER, AND THE NATION FACED THE CHALLENGE OF
REINTEGRATING THE DEFEATED BUT STILL HOSTILE SOUTH INTO THE UNION.
Bull Run/Manassas (battle) Ends the “90 Day War”
Note: Most of the Battles in the Civil War have two names…as shown above [Bull Run-North, ManassasSouth] this was due to the North/Union usually naming the battle after the nearest geographical feature
(Bull Run Creek) and the South naming the battle for the nearest town (Manassas Junction).
The Civil War is often examined geographically in three (3) ways… Battles in the East, Battles in the West,
and Battles on the Water [Seas and Rivers]… Most reporting and thus most famous are battles usually in
the East due to them being closest to the major media and population at that time….
Bull Run is considered the 1st of the major battle of the Civil War.
Northern newspapers also believed the war would be short…and began saying “On to Richmond.”
The process of attempting to capture the Confederate Capital city was the chief goal of the Army of the
Potomac…the Eastern Union Army throughout the war… it did not come easy…and took 4 years to
accomplish….
This mission began at Bull Run or Manassas. The Army of the Potomac, 30,000, strong marched out of
Washington DC to attack a (at first) smaller Confederate Force at Manassas Junction.
Neither side was prepared for what was about to occur…
July 21, 1861 – As if going to a sporting event, the Union Army, along with a horde of bystanders began
the 1st Battle of Bull Run. At first the battle went well for the Yankees, however, General Thomas J.
Jackson’s regiment from the Virginia Military Institute held their line (He is known as “Stonewall” from
this point forward due to he and his men’s fortitude at this point in the battle) and the CSA received
reinforcements and the battle TURNED….The Raw Recruits of the Army of the Potomac (Union)
panicked….and RAN back to Washington DC in disarray[SAW THE ELEPHANT] …CONFUSION REIGNED…
and the CSA has the VICTORY. Was Washington DC safe?
Note: This is one of many battlefield TURNING POINTS OF THE WAR…The CSA could have at this point,
according to many historians of the war, marched into DC and taken the Union Capital….BUT did not…
basking in confusion and exhaustion THEY FEASTED ON THOSE BASKETS OF LUNCHES LEFT AS
TERRIFIED SPECTATORS RAN AWAY.
*******SIGNIFICANCE OF BULL RUN/MANASSAS I [1861](there is another battle here later in the war)
–The EFFECTS WERE Politically and Psychologically Paradoxical… a VICTORY FOR THE SOUTH…the
effects though were bad… 1- it inflated their overconfidence, many “Johhny Reb’s” went home, deserted,
believing that the war was over…2-Southern volunteer enlistments fell dramatically, 3- and preparation
for the “long war” which was to come slackened. A LOSS FOR THE UNION…1- it dispelled all illusions that
the War would be short 2- caused the North to “hunker down” and prepare for a long war 3- and plan for
a protracted struggle which when examining the scope of what was to come was an enormous
task….Lincoln and his staff had to prepare to “Conquer the Entire South” on three fronts … UNION
STRATEGY – created by Gen. Winfield Scott and Lincoln is called -THE ANACONDA PLAN
Photo: Library of Congress
… 1-Blockade the Southern Coastline… 2 - Capture Miss. River to cut CSA in ½ 3 - flow down those
3 western Rivers [Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio – and tributaries} into the heart of the CSA. 4Capture Richmond…. All the while keeping European Powers out of the War and still attempting
to just fight the war to “save the Union, not to free the slaves.”
Things will change moment to moment… so many key moments…remember contingency! What if the CSA
had marched into DC after the battle of Bull Run…. What would have happened, What would things be like
today?
************Note: SEE CIVIL WAR TIMELINE POSTED IN WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS FOR HELP IN
CHRONOLOGY OF WAR…
*******“Tardy General George” McClellan and the Peninsula Campaign -1862- [see brown boxes and
maps they will help ]
Note:
1 - ****The Peninsula Campaign is fought in the Eastern Front of the Civil War it is from the Union
perspective and its main objective is to capture Richmond and end the war quickly. The ultimate failure
of this effort has huge significances…for Gen.MAC and both the Union and the CSA.
2- The Civil War is fought across a huge area and encompasses many simultaneous efforts…the
focus of much of the study of the war is in the East…but please be aware that as events are occurring in
the East they are also other actions happening in the West, attacks along the coasts, and on the Ocean.
The text does not discuss these actions year by year across all areas but goes back and forth
chronologically from East to West…until the action is joined after 1863…
The Peninsula Campaign:
-A 34 year old graduate of West Point, “Young Napoleon,” Gen. George McClellan is appointed to head The
Army of the Potomac, the major Union fighting force in the East. MAC is a superb organizer and
drillmaster and after the disaster at Bull Run I injects a major boost to the morale of the Army…he is
extremely popular among his men***** who call him, “Little Mac.”
-******MAC is a perfectionist and finds great success training troops and energizing the Union
Cause…HOWEVER … his greatest flaw is that when tasked with great objectives he is TOO CAUTIOUS and
“has the slows,” these factors when engaging so brilliant and motivated an enemy, CSA Generals,
Johnston-Lee-Jackson-Stuart- and others… who were willing to take any risk due to defend their
home…CAUSES MAC AND THE EASTERN UNION ARMY TO FAIL CONSISTENTLY and ultimately come
into conflict with Lincoln, whom Mac calls a BABOON…this failed relationship is a major part of
this story.
Lincoln eventually persuades MAC to begin the campaign…and orders MAC to advance… reluctantly MAC
does… {great map of Peninsula campaign in text on-line p. 454}
In the spring of 1862 100,000 Union soldiers land just outside historic Yorktown (Cornwallis surrender
during rev. war-1781) and a month later comes within site of Richmond…(the Rebs are in trouble, but
IN a brilliant maneuver Stonewall Jackson breaks off and threatens DC…and Lincoln pulls troops from
MAC’s reinforcements to protect the capital) stalled in front of Richmond…MAC faces Robert E. Lee….
THE SEVEN DAY’S BATTLES BEGINS … LEE attacks MAC’s much larger Union armies and drives him
back down the peninsula…and MAC retreats and eventually takes the Army back to DC…in shame….
Another-SOUTHERN VICTORY.
****** HUGE******Effects of the failure of the Peninsula Campaign: again somewhat paradoxical…
-Lee, Jackson, and Stuart achieve a brilliant victory against a much larger superior force…
-**** Gen. MAC is removed from Command for the 1st time…. And Makes Gen. Pope Commander of
the Army of the Potomac..
- CONTIGENCY –WHAT IF??? [THE PARADOX] – If MAC would have captured Richmond at this point in
the war THE UNION WOULD HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND SLAVERY STILL IN EXISTENCE….
-****** HOWEVER….By successfully defending Richmond, Lee and the CSA, has now ensured that THE
WAR WOULD ENDURE UNTIL SLAVERY WAS ENDED AND THE OLD SOUTH DESTROYED.
-****THIS LOSS MOTIVATES LINCOLN TO CHANGE THE UNION STRATEGY OF THE WAR- he states, the
Rebels, “cannot experiment for ten years trying to destroy the government and if they fail still come back
into the Union unhurt.” HE ***BEGINS TO DRAFT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND TOTAL
WAR*****
*****The NEW STRATEGY: ANACONDA PLUS++ 6 components (you need to know) [see Map p 455]
1 – Suffocate the South by blockading their coast.
2 – LIBERATE THE SLAVES…to undermine the economic foundation of the OLD SOUTH
3 - Cut the CSA in half by seizing control of the Mississippi River
4 – Chop the CSA into pieces by sending troops through Georgia and the Carolinas
5- Decapitate it by capturing Richmond
6 – Gen . Ulysses S. [unconditional surrender] Grant’s and Lincoln’s focus…TO ENGAGE THE
ENEMY’S MAIN STRENGTH CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY AND GRIND THEM INTO
SUBMISSION.
****Lincoln says… “The character of the war will be changed…it will be one of SUBJUGATION…The
[OLD] South is to be DESTROYED and replaced by new propositions and ideas.”
Now Lincoln would have to wait for a victory to announce his Emancipation plans…he would have to
wait a while…until after ANTIETAM***
The War at Sea
Note: This section describes the blockade… and we take a break from the fighting on land in the East….we
will pick up the battles in the East with ANITEITAM/Sharpsburg…after this section 
-****The Blockade initially was not as effective….. and was not clamped down all at once but over
time… to effectively blockade 3500 miles of coastline was impossible…. THE UNON CONCENTRATED ON
PRINCIPAL PORTS AND INLETS WHERE DOCK FACILITIES WERE AVAILABLE FOR LOADING COTTON…
- How did Foreign Powers regard the blockade?… Britain recognized it a binding and warned its
companies attempting to trade with the South to “ignore it at your own peril.”
- Blockade-running was a risky proposition…but the scarcity of Southern goods drove prices sky
high…and profits were as high as 700% and more for the lucky gamblers who survived…The main port
for these risky adventurers was Nassau, Bahamas where the British would bring goods and the runners
would trade cotton for weapons and other products.
-****THE MOST ALARMING THREAT TO THE BLOCKADE WAS THE C.S.S. VIRGINIA (MERRIMACK
originally a US warship reconditioned and plated with melted down iron from railroad tracks) – AN
IRONCLAD***** this ship easily destroyed two wooden US ships in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia….
The Union countered with its own ironclad…THE MONITOR….
ON MARCH 9, 1862…THE 1ST NAVAL BATTLE IN WORLD HISTORY TOOK PLACE BETWEEN TWO
IRONCLADS…AND THE RESULT WAS A DRAW….THIS MARKS DOOM FOR WOODEN SHIPS AND A
GREAT CHANGE TO COME IN FUTURE NAVAL WARFARE****
-eventually as the Union Armies and Navies began to dominate the Southern coastlines the leading ports
from New Orleans to Charleston were cut off….and conditions in the South worsened considerably.
The Pivotal Point: Antietam/Sharpsburg
Note: before we get to the above battle… we continue the war in the East… after the failure of the
Peninsula Campaign… remember MAC has been demoted and Gen. Pope is in Charge  it is still 1862…
Robert E. Lee now begins to move the Army of Northern Virginia to the North…. [note: 3 companies
of Confederate soldiers from Iredell County, NC, “The Blues,” are with Lee and the Army of Northern Va.
until surrender in 1865 at Appamattox]
The 2nd battle of Bull Run- CSA Victory over Pope…Lee gives him a good thrashing…August 1862
ANOTHER KEY POINT IN THE WAR….
*******Lee decides to invade the North in Maryland with 55,000 men. [note: this is part of a triple
Confederate offensive…in Mississippi, Kentucky (the north as well) , and in Maryland…all fail- the
key turning point in the war)
Why?
1- To gain Foreign recognition and immediately end the war.
2- He thought that Maryland, a slave state, would welcome his troops and lead to other border slave
states joining the Confederacy.
3- He was fully confident due to his army having so much success.
He was mistaken…
Note: Some historians question Lee’s strategy at this point and at Gettysburg due to the South putting at
risk so much of the few resources they had to invade the North… attacking… when they could have been
consolidating their gains and strengthening their defenses…making the North’s task even more difficult…
However, when others consider the potential gain if victory was won in either battle….
INDEPENDENCE…. Some agree with his decisions. Of course this is all conjecture or hindsight…but there
were those at this time who did question Lee’s choice to invade the North.
****September, 1862…Maryland…ANTIETAM –THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR (to many historians,
some say Gettysburg/Vicksburg, July, 1863)
At this point Lincoln due to immense pressure restores “Little MAC” to command…Gen. George
McClellan….and sends him to meet Lee.
*****One of the great stories of the war happens…one that will influence the outcome significantly…
THE CIGAR STORY – the Union army was marching from DC to confront Lee and while marching over an
abandoned Confederate campsite, a private-Barton Mitchell –found three cigars…tobacco was scarce in
the Union army and this was a great find…. The cigars were wrapped in paper…. This paper just
happened to be Robert E. Lee’s special Order 191…which detailed the plan’s for the Southern Armies
invasion of the North…The orders explained that Lee had divided his army and exactly their objectives…
Little Mac received these complete plans and waited… unsure of what to do…this delay led to…The
SINGLE BLOODIEST DAY IN AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY***
*****The two armies meet at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg Maryland September, 17,1862. The oneday battle lasted from 5 30am until 5 30 pm. A total of 22, 700 casualties…over 3,600 dead total in one-
day. MORE AMERICANS DIED IN BATTLE IN ONE DAY THAN ON ANY OTHER DAY IN AMERICAN
MILTIARY HISTORY. THE next day Lee’s army left and retreated back into Virginia.
This battle was a DRAW…but a strategic Union victory due to Lee leaving the North and retreating
from the battlefield.
“The landmark battle of Antietam was one of the decisive
engagements in World History-probably the most decisive of the
Civil War.”
******The Effects were enormous: (YOU HAVE TO KNOW THESE 
]********
1- The British and French, on the verge of diplomatic intervention, both “cool” to help the
South after the display of Union strength. THE SOUTH WAS NEVER AS CLOSE AGAIN.
2- The Union’s “victory” –draw- was the Victory Lincoln had waited for to announce the
“Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, “ on September 23, 1862.
This warned the South that if they did not return…they would lose their 2 billion in
investments in slaves…if they came back….by Jan. 1st there could be compensation discussed.
3- Due to the Above…The Civil War now became a MORAL CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM and a war
of SUBJUGATION AND DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD SOUTH AND ITS IDEAS [CORNERSTONE]
A PROCLAMATION WITHOUT EMANCIPATION
****Note: This was a Temporary war measure done by the Commander-In-Chief to weaken the
Confederacies ability to wage war…to cause panic and loss of labor… and as a war measure its legality
would certainly be in question after the war…and is why the 13th amendment is so significant for
long term freedom!!!
*******NOTE: see TIMELINE TO FREEDOM [given out in class/posted on my website]
******to fully explain the process of how the slaves were freed MANDATORY******** WILL BE
PART OF QUIZ !!!
- “FOREVER FREE” really?
EP-issued Jan. 1st 1863
1-The EP officially issued and put into effect Jan. 1st 1863 declared FOREVER FREE those slaves in
Confederate States still in rebellion. (10 states) not in the Border States in the UNION.
2- ordered that suitable persons among those freed could be enrolled into the paid service (less than
white soldiers) of the United States Military forces….**** a huge idea*** fighting for their
freedom***
3 ordered all of the US Armed Forces to recognize and maintain the freedom of ex-slaves.
It did not:****
Compensate slave owners
Did not outlaw slavery (13th amendment)
Did not grant citizenship to ex-slaves (14th amendment)
Slaves in the Union’s Border States were not freed.
Slaves in Some…. Southern areas already controlled by the Union were not freed.
*******The Emancipation Proclamation DID NOT “LEGALLY” FREE
ANY SLAVES “0”…THE 13TH AMENDMENT IS THE ONLY WAY ALL
SLAVES ARE LEGALLY FREED !!!!!
HOWEVER….its effects were liberating to many slaves in practical reality, just not legally****
From Wikipedia:
Booker T. Washington, at age 9, remembers:
“As the great day drew nearer, there was more singing in the slave quarters than usual. It was bolder, had more ring, and
lasted later into the night. Most of the verses of the plantation songs had some reference to freedom.... Some man who
seemed to be a stranger (a United States officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper—the
Emancipation Proclamation, I think. After the reading we were told that we were all free, and could go when and where we
pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her
cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing
that she would never live to see.” WOW
Thousands of jubilant slaves flocked to the invading Union Armies…after the announcement spreads
across the South… Many slaves had already left the plantations and flocked to Union Armies already as
documented in TIMELINE TO FREEDOM – POSTED ON DOC’S PAGE – AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
READ*******
******EFFECTS:
1 Foreshadows the LEGAL end of slavery with the 13th amendment.
2 Strengthens the Union Cause at home and abroad****
3 it removed any chance of a negotiated settlement in the future, both sides knew that now it would be a
bitter fight where only one victor could emerge and set the stage for the most VIOLENT PHASE OF THE
WAR.
4 THE NORTH NOW HELD THE STRONGER MORAL POSITION AND THE SOUTH WAS DIMINISHED IN
THE EYES OF THE WORLD CONSIDERABLY
REACTION:
1 Some applaud Lincoln for finally acting on the slave’s behalf
2 Some criticized Lincoln for not going far enough “freeing the slaves where he could not, and not freeing
the slaves where he could.”
3 Some felt that he had gone too far…esp. Democrat Copperheads…and the mid-term congressional
elections held in Nov. 1862…just before it went final…favored Democratic Copperheads somewhat…
although they do not even come close to controlling congress.
4 The South CRIED….and COMPLAINED….
LINCOLN RESPONDS TO NORTHERN CRITICS (like Gen. McClellan {Who was fired after
Antietam for the last time…and later runs against Lincoln for President in 1864 for the Democratic
Copperheads)
“You say you will not fight to free negroes. Some of them seem
willing to fight for you; but no matter. Fight you, then, exclusively
to save the Union. I issued the proclamation on purpose to aid
you in saving the Union.”
Blacks Battle Bondage
Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation formally orders blacks to be able to join the US Armed Forces.
The Regular Army contained 0 Blacks at the Civil War’s beginning. Refusing to enlist free blacks.
The Union Navy, however, had a tradition of allowing free blacks to serve.
By wars end over 180, 000 Blacks served in the Union Armies. About 10% of the Total
2 full regiments were recruited in Massachusetts – the 54th (movie; Glory) and 55th regiments
Participated in over 500 engagements and received 22 MEDALS OF HONOR
38,000 Black men died
Black Soldiers and their White Officers were PUT TO DEATH WHEN CAPTURED
Ft. Pillow MASSACRE, 1864, is the most gruesome example of the above CSA rule…
End Part 1 