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United States History (Unit 8)
Cartwright
The Civil War
(Chapter 17 (pp. 455 - 493))
I. The Two Sides
A. Two Very Different Sides
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By the time of the attack on Fort Sumter, eleven Southern states had joined the new
“Confederate States of America” (moving the capital to Richmond, Virginia) and provided
much needed men and supplies.
Virginia was the most important (due to size and population)
Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri became known as “Border States” (they
allowed slavery, but did not secede) due to the divided opinions about the war.
Maryland was the most important to the North (closeness to Richmond, important rail
lines, and had Washington DC within its borders), if they seceded the U.S. government would be
surrounded.
To solve this, Lincoln suspended the rights of the people of these “border states” (kept
the states in the Union, but many left to join the Confederate Army)
Tennessee and Virginia had many who did not approve of secession (especially in the western
Appalachian Mountains)
In 1863, West Virginia was created out of 48 Virginia counties that opposed secession.
In the North, they had the advantage of a larger population, more industry, more
resources, better ships, more railroad lines, more banks, and the leadership of
Lincoln.
The disadvantages for the North was that it had to invade the South (bring all their supplies
down) and would be facing a united enemy on their home ground.
In the South, they had the advantage of strong support among the population (defending
their way of life), much better military leaders (including Davis).
The disadvantages for the South was its smaller population, limited resources, little
industry, few railroad lines, and the belief in “states rights” (did not allow for a united
front)
The main goal of the North was to return the South to the U.S. (then later on, ending
slavery).
The North wanted to blockade Southern ports, control the Mississippi River to divide
the South, and capture Richmond.
The main goal of the South was to achieve independence and create their own nation (to
protect slavery)
The South wanted to fight a defensive war and defend their homeland, bring Britain
& France into the war on their side, and keep the North busy (hoping to get them to
give up)
B. Americans Against Americans
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Most people in the U.S. had some conflicts over the war (families were divided and longtime
friends faced each other)
The average age of a soldier was 25 (but many were older and younger) and the majority
were farmers.
Most served in periods of 90 days (but became much longer)
The Confederate Army (“Rebels”) had over 112,000 men at the beginning of the war
(eventually over 850,000 would fight)
The Union Army (“Yankees”) had over 187,000 men at the beginning of the war (eventually
over 2.1 million would fight)
The Union Army would also eventually have about 200,000 African Americans during the
war.
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Both the Confederate and Union armies believed the war would be over quickly
(both were wrong)
II. Early Years of the War
A. War on Land and at Sea
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The first major battle of the Civil War was the “Battle of Bull Run” (or “Manassas”) as Union
Gen. Irvin McDowell attacked Confederate Gen. P.T. Beauregard.
The Union did well at first, then the Confederates countered and chased the Union off the
battlefield (led by Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson).
The Union Army retreated back to Washington (collided with civilians), but the
Confederate Army was too inexperienced to follow.
For the first time, the North realized they were in a very difficult struggle (Lincoln called
for over a million Union soldiers to be lead by Union Gen. George McClellan in the “Army of
the Potomac”)
The Union Navy concentrated on blockading the Southern ports (to “strangle” them),
referring to this as the “Anaconda Plan”.
Southern “blockade runners” did their best to get by the blockade, but it was difficult (Union
built more and more ships)
The Confederate “ironclad” ship “C.S.S. Virginia” (old U.S.S. Merrimack) caused trouble
for Union Navy wooden ships (they could not damage the ship) and threatened to sail up the
Potomac to Washington DC.
The Union Navy built the “U.S.S. Monitor” with iron plates as well to fight the “Virginia”
(fought to a draw and the “Virginia” never threatened the Union Navy again)
After Bull Run (or Manassas), the war in the East was quiet as both sides built up their armies.
The Union Army continued to try and capture the Mississippi River to split the
Confederacy (led by Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant)
In 1862, Gen. Grant attacked the Confederates at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson (pushed
the Union Army into TN, MS, & AL) and pushed the South out of KY
In April of 1862, Gen. Grant and the Union Army was attacked in the “Battle of Shiloh” by
the Confederate Army (led by Confederate Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston / Gen. P.T.
Beauregard)
The Union Army eventually pushes the Confederates away, but over 20,000 soldiers
were killed in the battle (more than all other American wars so far) as the Union Army captures
the northern Mississippi River
A few weeks later, the city of New Orleans is defeated by Adm. David Farragut and the
Union Navy (gave the Union control of almost the entire Mississippi River)
B. War in the Eastern States
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Union Gen. McClellan continued to build up the “Army of the Potomac” (angered Lincoln,
who wanted an attack on Richmond)
In March 1862, Gen. McClellan began his “Penisular Campaign” to attack Richmond (but
took too long to get there and was way too cautious)
In the “Seven Days Battles”, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee (leading the “Army of
Northern Virginia”) ordered Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart to circle the Union Army to
disrupt their movements (and give Gen. Lee information), forcing them to retreat back away from
Richmond.
The North did well in the West, but was not doing well in the East (could not defeat Gen. Lee) and
Lincoln will order Gen. McClellan back (replaced him with Union Gen. John Pope)
In the “Battle of Second Bull Run” (or “Second Manassas”), Confederate Gen. Lee and
Gen. Jackson stop Union Gen. Pope from coming into Virginia (protected Richmond and
even threatened Washington DC)
After the victory, Pres. Davis ordered Gen. Lee to attack Maryland (hoped to get Britain
and France to notice)
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Despite the Union Army finding a copy of Gen. Lee’s battleplans, Gen. McClellan
waits too long again and Gen. Lee has time to change his strategy
The “Battle of Antietam” was the bloodiest battle of the war so far and was claimed as a victory
by the Union Army (since the Confederate Army moved back to Virginia).
Lincoln will fire Gen. McClellan for not chasing Gen. Lee, picking Union Gen. Ambrose
Burnside to face Gen. Lee.
C. The Emancipation Proclamation
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III.
From the beginning, Lincoln’s main goal of the war was to save the Union (not abolish
slavery) and did not want to anger the “border states” by abolishing it.
In the North, many felt that slavery was keeping the Confederate Army going (working,
growing food, etc.) and a law was passed to free slaves of those “active in rebellion against the
U.S.”
In September of 1862, Lincoln decided to “emancipate” all slaves being held in the
South (to hurt the Confederate Army and convince Britain and France to stay out)
On January 1, 1863; Lincoln signed the “Emancipation Proclamation” (didn’t really
free any slaves because the Confederacy did not listen to it) and hoped that Southern slaves might
begin running away.
Britain and France (who disapproved of slavery) decided NOT to recognize the Confederacy
after this (slaves were not actually free until the 13th Amendment)
Life During the Civil War
A. A Different Way of Life
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Both the North and South suffered during the war (especially in the South, where their homes
and farms were devastated by war
Soldiers lived in primative camps, living in tents and staying outside during the nights
(experienced long time periods of boredom with small periods of violent terror)
The new weapons in war were devastating (the killed and wounded littered the battlefield),
causing many to desert the army (1 out of 11 in the Union / 1 out of 8 in the Confederate)
For the Confederate Army, the lack of food and supplies was extremely harsh (often
invaded areas simply to get food)
During the war, women on both sides had to do jobs normally reserved for men
(worked in factories, farms, etc.) and suffered through the losses of sons, husbands, brothers, etc.
Many women also served as nurses on the battlefield despite many men thinking it was improper
(helped with food, bandages, etc.)
Women in the South were especially hurt by the war (lost homes, had an enemy army in
their towns, faced starvation, etc.) and the blockade was crushing the economy and
causing shortages in everything.
Some Southern women served as spies for the Confederate Army (Rose O’Neal Greenhow,
Belle Boyd, and Loretta Janeta Velaquez, etc.)
Northerners Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton and Southerner Sally Tompkins helped
created hospitals for both Union and Confederate soldiers.
B. Floridians and the War
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When the war began, Florida had only 140,000 citizens (not a very important element in the war).
After the election of 1860, Gov. Madison S. Perry organizes a militia to provide soldiers for
the defense of Florida and to help the new Confederate Government (led by Col. William
Chase)
In the beginning, Florida had little fear of U.S. invasion due to buffer of Georgia / Alabama
Gov. Perry immediately orders the seizure of U.S. arsenals / forts in Florida to
provide weapons / ammunition for the Florida militia (hoped the U.S. would leave)
After Ft. Sumter, Florida is asked to recruit 5,000 soldiers for the war (over 6,500 joined,
despite the fact that most did not own slaves)
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During the war, the U.S. Navy began the “Anaconda Plan” to blockade and strangle the
South (Florida was very difficult to blockade due to the length of the coast)
Jacksonville / St. Augustine / Tampa / Apalachicola were occupied by the Union Army
for most of the war (to control the coastal regions)
Many Unionists lived in East Florida / along coastal regions (provided help to U.S. Army)
Soldiers from Florida served in almost every major battle of the Civil War
Over 16,000 Floridians served in the war (15,000 for South, 1,000 for the North), which
was amazing when compared to their overall population (140,000)
Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith becomes a Florida’s only full general in the Confederate Army
By 1864, most Florida troops were sent to relieve Army of Tennessee
Gen. Robert E. Lee’s strategy for Florida was to hold the interior of the peninsula (let
the Union land, but not move around and hurt the cattle business) and protect the
Apalachicola River (access to Georgia / Alabama)
Florida was upset that Confederacy just "gave us to the U.S." (often raided by U.S. groups)
Florida helped the South by keeping supply lines open to Georgia and keeping U.S. along
coast
Florida supplied most of the cattle / salt for Confederate Army in the East (after Vicksburg,
Florida provided almost all)
South Florida cattle were driven north to Georgia or south to Cuba for the Confederacy
The “First Florida Special Cavalry Battalion” (“Cow Cavalry”) was created to defend
Florida’s cattle ranching area during the war (Charles Munnerlyn / John J. Dickison /
John T. Lesley)
The largest salt works in Florida were St. Andrews Bay (Panama City) and Apalachee Bay
(Taylor County)
The U.S. Navy was constantly raiding Florida salt works (destroyed the kettles, burned
the buildings), but they were simply rebuilt somewhere else.
Many Floridians became smugglers, running the U.S. blockades to Cuba / Bahamas to trade
cattle / salt for the Confederacy (James McKay / Jake Summerlin / A.F. Hendry the
most famous)
Many of Florida’s smugglers also had no problem selling items needed by the Confederacy to
the Spanish / U.S. (went to the highest bidder)
C. Soldiers After Battle
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In the beginning of the war, both the Union and Confederate armies would exchange prisoners.
Andersonville, GA was the most notorious Confederate prisons (over 13,000 Union soldiers
died there, mainly of disease)
Elmira, NY was the most notorious of the Union prisons (thousands of Confederate soldiers died
as well)
Soldiers wounded in war often simply had the wounded limp amputated (field hospitals were
horribly unsanitary)
D. Political and Economic Change
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Both sides had groups who opposed the war and wanted it to end (Northerners divided into
“Lincoln Democrats” and “Peace Democrats” (nicknamed “Copperheads”) who wanted to
negotiate with the South)
Lincoln suspended the right of “habeas corpus” in the North to those who opposed the
war effort (took away their right to a hearing before being jailed)
As the war continued, it was harder to find soldiers to join the armies (both armies began the
“draft” to get new soldiers between 18 and 35, but both sides had exclusions or ways to buy your
way out of service)
In New York City, a violent draft riot occurred as many Northern whites did not want to
fight and die for African Americans (over 100 people were killed before the Army put it
down)
In the South, Pres. Davis declared military law and also suspended “habeas corpus” to
keep the citizens in line.
Both the North and South had to borrow money to fight the war (North borrowed $2 billion
and the South borrowed $700 million)
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IV.
They also began to print paper money, but it was not valuable since they printed so much.
In the North, inflation hit as prices increased greatly (but it had the industry and resources to
recover)
In the South, it had a tough time getting the resources and materials needed (since the fighting
took place on Southern soil, it devastated the area) due to the blockade.
Prices in the South rose 9,000% compared to 80% in the North.
The Strain of War
A. Southern Victories
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Between 1862 and 1864, the Confederate Army (under Gen. Lee’s “Army of Northern
Virginia”) seemed to be dominating the battlefield and the Union generals.
In December of 1862; the Confederate Army decimated the Union Army under Gen.
Ambrose Burnside in the “Battle of Fredricksburg” (killed thousands of Union soldiers)
In May of 1863; the Confederate Army again destroyed the Union Army now under Gen.
Joseph Hooker in the “Battle of Chancellorsville” (but Gen. Lee lost Gen. Stonewall
Jackson)
B. African Americans in the Civil War
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With the proclamation, African Americans would be allowed to join the Union Army
(they had been denied this opportunity at the beginning of the war)
When the war started, there were 3.5 million slaves in the South (with 1/6 escaping during
the war)
Out of fear of rebellion, the South did NOT allow slaves to join the Confederate Army
(did not want to give them weapons)
Gen. Lee believed that slaves should be allowed to join the Confederate Army, then
get their freedom after the war (Confederate Congress passed a law allowing slaves to join
the army in 1865)
Many runaway slaves (like Harriett Tubman) worked as spies for the Union Army during the war
By the end of the war, over 200,000 African Americans joined the Union Army (with
37,000 dying in battle)
African American regiments in the Union Army were separated into different units and
received much lower pay than white soldiers.
The “54th Massachusetts” was the most famous African American regiment in the Union Army
(fought in South Carolina and Florida)
In the South, many Confederate officers threatened to execute any African American
soldiers they captured in battle (rarely happened)
C. The Tide Turns
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Gen. Lee suffered great losses, but the Union Army was not able to destroy his “Army of
Northern Virginia” despite outnumbering them over 2 to 1 (hoped this would push Britain and
France to war)
As Gen. Lee moved North, Gen. Hooker wanted to attack Richmond (but Lincoln wanted
Gen. Lee destroyed)
Gen. Hooker is replaced by Union Gen. George Meade, who was ordered to attack Gen. Lee
and protect Washington DC.
In July of 1863, the Union and Confederate armies meet in the “Battle of Gettysburg”
(Confederates pushed the Union, but the Union was able to get the high ground)
In a final attack, Gen. Lee ordered “Pickett’s Charge” in a failed attack on the Union center
(named for Confederate Gen. George Pickett)
Gen. Lee retreated back to Virginia and took blame for the failed battle (first battle
that Gen. Lee fought “blind” (without Gen. Stuart or Gen. Jackson to give him valuable
information))
On the same day, the Confederate city of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River fell to
Union Gen. Grant after a 7 month seige (now cut off TX, LA, AR from the Confederacy)
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On November 19, 1863; Lincoln gave his “Gettysburg Address” (a very powerful speech about
what was at stake in the war)
V. The War’s Final Stages
A. The Union Closes In
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After Vicksburg and the basic defeat of the Confederate Army in the West, Lincoln turned to
Gen. Grant to come East and face Gen. Lee (no Union generals could destroy his army)
Gen. Grant decided that his “Army of the Potomac” would hit Gen. Lee and keep him busy
while Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman would attack his way through the South
(burned Atlanta and Savannah to the ground with “total war” tactics)
Gen. Grant’s army of 115,000 soldiers chased Gen. Lee’s army of 64,000 (fought at the
Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Courthouse, and Cold Harbor), with Gen. Lee’s army
causing huge losses for Gen. Grant, but he kept coming (nicknamed Grant the “Butcher”)
Gen. Grant then turned to attack Petersburg, the last city in the way before Richmond.
In the election of 1864, these Union victories (plus the capture of the Gulf) allowed Lincoln to
win easily.
B. The War Ends
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On April 2, 1865; after surrounding Petersburg for months, Gen. Lee finally escaped out of
the city to try and pull Gen. Grant away from the city (Petersburg fell, then so did
Richmond)
On April 4, Lincoln visited the streets of Richmond.
On April 9, 1865: Gen. Lee is forced to surrender to Gen. Grant (signed the
surrender at Appomatox Court House)
Gen. Grant allowed all Confederate soldiers to simply lay down their guns and go home
Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith (from Florida) is the last Confederate general to surrender.
The Civil War cost over 640,000 dead and billions of dollars of damage (mostly in the South),
freed the slaves in the South, and finally cemented the U.S. Government as more powerful than
the individual states.