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Introduction to the Civil War
USA vs. CSA
Lincoln took office in early 1860. Seven Southern states
had seceded. He did not know whether he should declare war on them or accept the Southern
secession.
His decision was made easy when the Confederate forces in
Charleston, South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter on April
12th, 1861.
Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort two days later to General Beauregard of
the CSA. After the battle, 4 more upper southern states seceded.
The “Civil War” was underway….
By calling out 75,000 state militiamen, Lincoln forced all states to choose sides. Border states have
a tough time deciding which side to fight for.
What should I do? I own slaves but I don’t want to be part of a rebel government?
Half of the Southern population lived in the border states. 2/3 of
the whites lived in the border states, including the nation’s best
military leaders. They also contained ¾ of the industrial capacity and 3/5 of the food
production.
Virginia was so torn it split into two states!
The war tore families apart, as brothers,
cousins and friends often chose opposing sides.
The most important state in the Confederacy was Virginia and
they set up their permanent capital in Richmond.
Virginia, the most populated Southern state contained more
industrial capacity than all other Southern states combined.
The Confederacy
elected Jefferson
Davis as their
president.
Both sides prepared for war.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee of Virginia rejected
Lincoln’s offer to lead the Union Army stating, “I cannot draw
my sword against my country, Virginia”!
One in every three U.S. army officers resigned to join the Confederate Army and fight against their former comrades.
The Civil War forced the country to industrialize even further. Both the
USA and CSA saw advancements in: 1. Railroads
2. Weaponry
3. Ironclad ships
4. Cameras (Mathew Brady)
5. Telegraphs
6. Medicine (Clara Barton and the American Red Cross 1881)
Let’s compare the North and South:
Item NORTH SOUTH
States -Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont,
Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas,
California, Oregon, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia (23)
-Virginia, North Carolina, South Caroline, Tennessee, Arkansas,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas
(11)
Population -20 million -10 million(4 million were slaves)
Army totals
-2,128, 948 total (before the war, the entire US army was
only 16,350)
-Estimated 600,000- 1,500,000 (no way to
tell since records were burned in Richmond
African Americans
-178,895 total-134,111 from slave
states-21 Congressional Medal of Honor
recipients-54th Mass Regiment led
attack on Ft. Wagner
-Not allowed to fight until March 13, 1865 (CSA surrendered on
April 9th, 1865)
Navies -42 ships in 1861-84,415 white sailors-29,000 black sailors
-Blockaded 3,500 mile CSA coast
-No Navy at first
President -Abraham Lincoln (two terms)
-Jefferson Davis
Capital -Washington D.C. -Richmond, Va.
Commanders -General Irvin McDowell-General Winfield Scott
-General George McClellan-General John Pope
-General Ambrose Burnside-General Fightin’ Joe Hooker
-General George Meade-General Ulysses S. Grant
-General Joseph E. Johnston
-General Robert E. Lee
Advantages
-Leadership of Abe Lincoln
-Double Population-9 times more
industrial capacity-5 to two advantage in
men able to fight-More wealthy
-¾ more railroads-2/3 more farm
acreage-Controlled shipping
-Army grew more talented as war
progressed.-More equipped army
-Outstanding generals-Strong military
tradition-Strong motivation and
confidence-Defense!!
-Cotton made them valuable to European
onlookers
Disadvantages -Ungressive officers-Longer supply lines and communication-3,500 mile enemy
coastline (only caught 1/8 of ships
with their 33 boats—by 1865-1/2 caught)
-Vast land to conquer-European aid to
Confederacy-Less confident in
battle
-Autocratic leadership to
Jefferson Davis-Inflation!!
-Inferior numbers in med, money and
industry-Had to start
everything from scratch
-Disaffection (“rich man’s war, poor
man’s fight”)
Strategy -Capture Richmond-Split the
Confederacy by gaining control of the
Mississippi (Anaconda Plan)
-Blockade the South to cut off trade
-Capture Washington-Seize central Pa
-Divide Northwest and Northeast
-Gain recognition of Confederacy’s
independent status-Protect the Army from annihilation
Casualties -340,000 deaths -280,000 deaths
Napoleonic Linear Tactics and the American Civil War
• How it worked– Enemies would face each other in straight
lines between 50-100 yards away from each other.
– Stand in 2 lines shoulder to shoulder 13” from the man in front of them
– Fix bayonets
– Fire a rally into the opposing sides forces.
• Why did they fight this way– Took advantage of the poor accuracy of
the weapon (smooth boor rifles)
– The powder used in the weapons created a lot of smoke and was loud
– Lacked communication
Smooth Bore Rifle
Napoleonic Linear Tactics
Marching Commands
Building an Army
• Army = 50,000+ soldiers commanded by at least a Lieutenant General
• Corps = 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers– 2-3 Divisions– Commanded by a Lieutenant General
• Division = 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers– Commanded by a Major General– Able to fight battles and sustained operations
• Brigade = 3,000 to 5,000 men
– Commanded by a colonel
• Regiments = 600 to 2,000 soldiers
– No longer exist are now in brigades
• Battalion (aka: squadron) = 300 to 1,000 soldiers
– 4-6 companies
– Lieutenant colonel
– Can do independent operations
• Company (aka: battery or troop) = 62 to 190 soldiers
– Commanded by a captain
– (3-5 platoons)
• Platoon = 16-44 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant
• Squad = 9-10 soldiers commanded by a sergeant
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