Download The Martyrdom of Lincoln

Chapter 21: The Furnace of the Civil War 1861-1865
Copy Lincoln’s quote on page 453: When does he say this? What is his “paramount object” in the war?
For how many days did the original 75,000 soldiers Lincoln requested volunteer for? _________ What does this term of
enlistment tell us about how long both the Union (and the Confederacy) thought the war would last?
Bull Run Ends the “Ninety-Day War”
Why did Lincoln agree to the Union attack on Bull Run (AKA Manassas Junction)?
Were the Union troops adequately trained for battle on July 21, 1863?
Who ended-up winning the First Battle of Bull Run (AKA First Manassas)?
Read the quote on page 454: What did the observer and people with him do to try to stop the Federal troops from running?
At about Six PM when the observer describes the Union soldiers, what was their condition?
How was victory at Bull Run “worse than defeat for the South”?
How was “[d]efeat better than victory for the Union”?
FYI:
Union = Federal = Yankee = Northern (These terms are synonymous)
Confederate = Rebel= Southern (These terms are synonymous)
“Tardy George” McClellan and the Peninsula Campaign
What was the name of the major Union Army force in the East? _____________________________ Who was appointed to
command it? ______________________________
What were George McClellan’s strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Regardless of the situation, McClellan always believed what?
What did Lincoln say McClellan had a case of? _____________ What did McClellan call Lincoln? ____________________
Look at the political cartoon on page 455: How does this cartoon illustrate George McClellan’s greatest failing?
What offensive campaign did McClellan finally undertake in the spring of 1862? ________________________ What was his
goal?_____________________ How many men did McClellan have under his command? ___________________________
By June 1862, McClellan and his army were in sight of Richmond. Who was the Southern commanding general and what battle
did he engage McClellan in that drove McClellan and the Union forces back to the sea?
Read the excerpt from a Confederate soldier on page 457: What is he writing about?
How many casualties did the South suffer in the Peninsula Campaign of 1862?_____________ How many Northern casualties
were there? _________________ Who was the victor in the Peninsula Campaign? __________________________
Historians almost universally agree that General George McClellan’s greatest failing was a lack of desire to attack and keep
attacking—in other words, McClellan’s greatest failing was he was far too timid as a commander. Read President Lincoln’s quote
on page 456: How do you think Lincoln thought of McClellan as a commander?
What is the irony of the Union defeat in the Peninsula Campaign? According to the authors, if the Union had succeeded in taking
Richmond, what probably would have happened?
What did President Lincoln begin drafting after the Peninsula Campaign?
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After the failure to take Richmond, the Union’s strategy turned to total war. What were the six components of the total war
strategy?
1.
2.
3
4.
5.
6.
Look at the map on page 457: How many of the six components of the Union’s total war strategy can you find on the map?
The War at Sea
How effective was the Union blockade?_______________________ What were the main problems the US Navy confronted at
first?
Why did England recognize the Union blockade, even though it wasn’t really effective at first?
Blockade running became incredibly risky and incredibly profitable. By later in the war, how much could a successful blockade
runner make in profit?
What was the Union policy of “ultimate destination” or “continuous voyage” and why didn’t the English government make the
Union Navy stop this practice?
What were the Monitor and the Merrimack?
Read the excerpt on page 458 from Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles’ recollection of the reaction in the White House upon
hearing of the deployment (use in battle) of the C.S.S. Merrimack/Virginia?
FYI: C.S.S. = Confederate States Ship, U.S.S. = United States Ship, H.M.S. = His (or Her) Majesty’s Ship (British warships)
FYI: The first Confederate ironclad, the C.S.S. Merrimack/Virginia was called the Merrimack by the North because it was built
using the hull and machinery of the U.S.S. Merrimack. The Confederates renamed the new ship the C.S.S. Virginia.
The Merrimack before it burnt to the
waterline and sank.
The Monitor
The Merrimack being converted into the Virginia.
You can learn more about this historic battle at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/ nova/monitor/battle2.html
The Pivotal Point: Antietam
After defeating McClellan in the Seven Days Battle and the Peninsula Campaign, Robert E. Lee went on the offensive. What was
the first battle he fought on this offensive on August 29-30, 1862?
Why after his victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run (AKA Second Manassas) did Lee continue into the Union state of
Maryland?
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Look at the map on page 457 and find Antietam, where McClellan and Lee’s forces ended-up fighting. Where is Antietam in
relation to Washington D.C.?
When was the Battle of Antietam? ___________________________ Look at the picture of the aftermath of Antietam on page
460: How long was the battle and how many casualties were there on each side?
Who won the Battle of Antietam?
Why was Antietam so important diplomatically?
After the “victory” at Antietam what did Lincoln finally pronounce on September 23, 1862?
Prior to Antietam and the battles of later 1862, had the South been defeated the social, political and economic structures of the
region probably would have been retained. After Antietam, that all changed. Copy Lincoln’s quote after January 1, 1863 where
he calls the war a “remorseless ___________________________________.” Furthermore, Lincoln said, “The character of ______
______________________________________________________________________________________________.”
A Proclamation Without Emancipation
Who did Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declare to be free?
Who did Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation not declare to be free?
What do the authors mean when they write: “Thus, the Emancipation Proclamation was stronger on proclamation than
emancipation”?
Even though the Emancipation Proclamation did not directly free many slaves, there were thousands of slaves who freed
themselves. In fact, _________ in _________ Southern slaves ran away to Union Camps.
While the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t go far enough in freeing the slaves, which Constitutional Amendment, passed when
did abolish slavery?
How did reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation vary? (Read the quote from the Cincinnati Enquirer on page 461)
Radical Abolitionists:
Moderate Abolitionists:
Midwesterners and Border State Citizens:
In response to the Emancipation Proclamation, how did many people in the Midwest and the “Butternut Regions” of southern
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois vote in Congressional elections of November 1862?
Read the quote from Lincoln’s open-letter to Democrats on August 26, 1863 on page 462: How does he tell them to view the
Emancipation Proclamation?
Blacks Battle Bondage
What did Lincoln try and do for Blacks while he moved to emancipate them?
Prior to the Civil War what was the status of Blacks in the military?
By the end of the war, how many Blacks were serving under the Union army.
How did Blacks view the war?
What was the risk Black soldiers faced if captured by the South?
Finish the statement: Remember ______________ ____________________
Read the affidavit on page 463 from a white Union sergeant about the treatment of surrendered Black soldiers.
What were the blacks forced to do while serving under the Confederacy?
What were some forms of slave resistance?
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About how many slaves, ran away by the end of war?
Read Lincoln’s three quotes on page 464 about the importance and conduct of Black soldiers: How do Lincoln’s three quotes
illustrate how his views of Black soldiers changed?
Lee’s Last Lunge at Gettysburg
Lincoln was desperate for a commander who would fight General Lee and the Army of Virginia so after he fired McClellan for the
second time, after Antietam, Lincoln appointed who as commander of the Army of the Potomac? __________________________
What did this new appointee say about his fitness for command of such a large (almost 100,000 men) force?
What happened on December 13, 1862?
After the disaster at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, who next was put in charge of the Army of the Potomac (Union Army
in the East)?
What battle did General Hooker lead the Union troops into? ____________________ How many months after Fredericksburg
was this battle? __________________ Who won the battle? _________________
Who was killed at Chancellorsville?
What was Lee’s next move? What did he hope to accomplish?
Who did Lincoln appoint commander of the Union Army three days before the Battle of Gettysburg? _____________________
Where is Gettysburg? _________________________ When was the battle? ___________________ How long into the war
was the Battle of Gettysburg? __________________________ How much longer did the war last? _______________________
Why was Gettysburg an important battle?
In November of 1863, while you could still smell the decay of horses and soldiers killed in the battle Lincoln gave his Gettysburg
Address at a ceremony honoring the dead and dedicating a new war cemetery at the site. How did the Times of London describe
Lincoln’s brief remarks? ________________ How did Democratic newspapers describe it? _______________________________
Read: Examining the Evidence on page 465. How long is the Gettysburg Address? ______________________
Gettysburg Address (below).
Now read the
Transcript of Gettysburg Address (1863) from Our Documents (www.ourdocuments.gov)
Executive Mansion,
Washington, , 186 .
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition
that "all men are created equal"
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on
a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live.
This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground-- The brave
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember
what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.
It is rather for us, the living, to stand here, we here be dedica-ted to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have
died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from
the earth.
FYI: It only took Lincoln two minutes to read the Gettysburg Address. When Lincoln sat down after delivering the Address, he
turned to an acquaintance and said, “I have failed.” Lincoln himself, thought the Gettysburg Address was not a success. That
opinion would later change.
The War in the West
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McClellan, Burnside, Hooker . . . Lincoln needed and wanted a General to command the Army of the Potomac who would fight
and use the army to wear down and eventually defeat the Army of Virginia. Lincoln finally found that General in the West,
Ulysses S. Grant.
What previous military experience did Grant have?
What was Grant doing when the Civil War began?
What were Grant’s first victories? _________________________________ When were they and where are they? (Look at the
map on page 468)
What was Grant’s nickname?
Grant’s victory at Ft. Donaldson and Ft. Henry opened-up what waterway for the Union? ________________________
Furthermore, the victory “riveted” what key border state to the Union? ____________________
Just two months after the victory at Forts Donaldson and Henry, Grant was attacked by a Confederate force and nearly lost his
army at what battle? _________________________ What was learned from this battle?
What rumors spread about Grant? ____________________________ Why did Lincoln ignore the rumors?
What did Admiral David Farragut and the US Navy and Army accomplish in the spring of 1862?
After the seizure of New Orleans by Farragut in the south and Grants continued advance from the North the Union almost had
complete control of what vital waterway? (look at the map on page 468) _____________________ What section of the river did
the Confederacy still hold? ________________________ to __________________________ Why was this section important?
Who lead the attack on Vicksburg and when did it finally surrender? _________________________________ When did Port
Hudson surrender? _________________________
What was happening in the East at the same time as the victory at Vicksburg? __________________________
What were some of the outcomes of the twin victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg?
Read the quote on page 468: What were many people in the “west” or the Butternut Region of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,
seriously talking about?
What did a US Congressman say the East was fighting the war for?
Sherman Scorches Georgia
Where was Grant sent next after his victory at Vicksburg?
After a series of brutal battles Grant and his troops succeeded in defeating the Confederates at Lookout Mountain and
Chattanooga. When were these battles? ________________ Once the rebels were defeated in this area they retreated into Georgia
and Alabama. What happened to Grant next?
Who did Grant put in charge of the Army of Tennessee (as the Union forces at Chattanooga were called)? _________________
How do the authors describe this man?
In the spring of 1864, General Sherman undertook one of the most famous military campaigns in history. From where did he and
his 60,000 soldiers depart? _________________________ To where were they headed? _____________________
How did they supply themselves along their 250 mile march?
Sherman and his men practiced “total war.” What did they do as part of this practice?
What was one of Sherman’s major purposes?
The authors call Sherman’s methods “brutal” but also give him credit for what?
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When did Sherman and his men take Atlanta? ________________ Savannah? ________________ Columbia? _____________
By the time the war ended in April 1865, where was Sherman’s army?
What famous quote did Sherman utter?
The Politics of War
As amazing as it seems, factions within the Republican Party wanted to do what to Lincoln before the 1864 election?
Furthermore, Lincoln was criticized by a congressional committee dominated by Republicans! Who were these Republicans who
criticized their own president and what was the committee’s name?
Which leading Democrat died seven weeks after the war began?
The Democratic Party divided into three groups. What were they?
FYI:
The Peace Democrats wanted a negotiated peace with the South—they were willing to let the South go.
Look at the picture on page 470: Who are the two combatants?
Define: Copperhead
Who was the most famous or infamous Copperhead? ____________________________ What did he do?
The Election of 1864
Define: Union Party
Who did some Republicans want to nominate instead of Lincoln?
Who was selected as Lincoln’s vice presidential running mate?
Who was the Democratic nominee?
Look at the cartoon on page 471: Who is the “hero” of this cartoon and what is he advocating?
What did the slogan, “Vote as you shot” mean?
Not only was the war going badly in the autumn of 1864, even Lincoln feared what?
What three military events took place in late 1864, which helped swing the tide for Lincoln?
What steps did Republicans take to get more votes for Lincoln?
What were the vote totals in 1864?
Lincoln
McClellan
Grant Outlasts Lee
Why did Lincoln bring U.S. Grant in to replace George Meade, the hero of Gettysburg?
What was Grant’s basic strategy?
What was Grant’s motto? ___________________________________ How does this compare with earlier Union Generals?
How many Union casualties were suffered in the Wilderness Campaign? ________________ How heavy were Confederate
casualties?
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Read the map and caption on page 472: How many major battles were there in the campaign? __________ How does the soldier
quoted in the caption describe the fighting?
What happened on June 3, 1864 at Cold Harbor?
Grant was called a “butcher” for his style of relentless attack while Lee was called a “genius” for his style of fighting, yet, what
surprising statistic do the authors give about the death rates of soldiers under each man’s command?
What did Grant mean when he wrote “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer”?
What did the Confederates propose in February 1865?
When and where did the end of major fighting come?
How did Grant treat the Confederate soldiers in Lee’s army?
What two amazing things happened to Abraham Lincoln when he finally went to Richmond?
The Martyrdom of Lincoln
Who shot Lincoln, when and where?
From a political view, what effect on Lincoln’s legacy did his assassination have?
How as Lincoln’s assassination a tragedy for the South?
Read the editorial on page 474: Who besides Lincoln does the editor say was kindly disposed to the South?
FYI: As part of the plot, Lewis Paine, an accomplice of John Wilkes Booth attacked and slashed the throat of Secretary of State
Seward. Seward nearly died, which is why the editorial on page 474 writes of the strike on Lincoln and Seward. Furthermore,
another accomplice was to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson—he didn’t get close enough to try.
A great explanation of the whole plot can be found at the Famous Trials website from the University of Kentucky Law School:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/lincolnconspiracy.html
Read the caption accompanying the pictures of Lincoln’s funeral procession on page 475: Who was going to be kept from
participating until the Mayor of New York relented? __________________ What was his condition for participation?
Andrew Johnson will endure a miserable presidency, greatly through his own errors. Some historians say Lincoln would have
suffered the same fate and classed with the radical wing of his own party. What do the authors say would have happened?
Aftermath of the Nightmare
How many men died in the war?
How much did the war cost? __________________ But this number does not include what?
What are the “intangible costs” the authors speak of ?
What two “twin nightmares” were put to rest by the war?
What “grave dangers” were prevented by Union victory?
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