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