The Civil War Begins-Ft. The Civil War Begins-Ft. SumterSumter

Lincoln did not want to provoke war, so he decided to send in food supplies only, forcing the Confederacy’s hand. (J. Davis had to act or concede that the Confederate States were not a sovereign nation ).

By Feb. 4, 1861, 7 southern states had seceded. By March, only 2 forts remained in control of the Union. One is Ft. Sumter, in Charleston Harbor. Soldiers at Sumter are in need of supplies to last. The new president, Lincoln is presented w/ his first major dilemma

Davis made the first move…on April 12, 1861 Confederate cannons began shelling Union forces. Sumter fell quickly.

Lincoln reacted by calling for volunteers to sign up for war. This provoked Virginia to secede. By May, a total of 11 states had seceded.

Most citizens – on both sides – thought this would be a short war. They could not have been more wrong.

The Civil War Begins-The SpecificsThe Civil War Begins-The Specifics

Civilian Resources: North (N) or South (S)

Total Population Advantage: North (2 to 1)Industrial Workers Advantage: North (4 to 1):Iron Production Advantage: North (15 to 1)Food Production Advantage: NorthRailroads Advantage: North

Military Resources: North (N) or South (S)

Advantage: North (Almost 4 to 1)Eligible for MilitaryNaval Ship Tonnage Advantage: North (25 to 1)Firearms Productions Advantage: North (32 to 1)Fighting Power Advantage: North

It seemed the north had all the advantages, what did the south have? The the will to win and defend their land and , most notably,cotton…and the profits from that world market. They also had the best generals and a strong military tradition. Both sides had solid military strategies, however the north had the more difficult challenge…conquer the south and force them back into the Union..

The Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthThe Civil War Begins-Strategy of the North

The southern strategy was quite simple, play defense. The north had the more difficult duty of the two sides. They had to force the southern, rebellious states back into the Union. Dubbed the Anaconda Plan by newspapers, the plan had three parts…

Anaconda

Union armies would capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia

Union riverboats & armies would move down the Miss. Riv. And split the Confederacy in half

Union Navy would blockade Southern ports, effectively

cutting off southern trade routes.

The Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthThe Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthPart 1 – The Move to RichmondPart 1 – The Move to Richmond

1st Battle of Bull Run

30,000 Union soldiers attacked, on their way to Richmond.

Many civilians came down from Washington DC to watch the ‘skirmish.’

The battle was back and forth. The union did well at first.

The Confederates fought back & held the line.**

Union troops retreated. Major morale boost for the Confederacy.

** This is where Stonewall Jackson got his nickname.

The fight for the ‘capitals’ was not over…

The Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthThe Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthPart 2 – Union Armies in the WestPart 2 – Union Armies in the West

Forts Henry & Donelson:Union commander Gen. Ulysses Grant captured 2 key forts on the Tennessee & Cumberland Rivers

Shiloh:

While gathered near Shiloh, Grant’s forces were attacked. Grant countered & pushed back the Conf. 25,000 casualties

Lower Mississippi:

Commander David Farragut ran past Confederate strong holds to take New Orleans.

Farragut took control of Natchez & Baton Rouge w/in 2 months. Only 2 cities stood in the way of the north controlling the lower Mississippi, Port Hudson & Vicksburg.

The Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthThe Civil War Begins-Strategy of the NorthPart 3 – Blockading Southern PortsPart 3 – Blockading Southern Ports

Union Blockade

Union ships blockaded all ports, including Charleston & New Orleans.

March 1862, the Monitor & Merrimack fought in a new style of naval battle – iron clads.

The Confederate Navy had to develop blockade runners, but was not enough to sustain the war effort in the south.

Union BlockadeUnion Blockade

The American Civil War – The First Modern The American Civil War – The First Modern WarWar

The Civil War introduced many new

technologies that forced commanders in the field to rethink their

military strategies.

Rifles

New & Improved RiflesNew & Improved Rifles

Enfield Rifle

.50 Caliber flintlock

Gatling Gun, the first machine guns.

Spencer breach load repeating rifle.

The American Civil War – The First Modern The American Civil War – The First Modern WarWar

The Civil War introduced many new

technologies that forced commanders in the field to rethink their

military strategies.

Rifles

Minie Ball

(bullets

Minie BallMinie Ball

Diagram of a minie ball

The American Civil War – The First Modern The American Civil War – The First Modern WarWar

The Civil War introduced many new

technologies that forced commanders in the field to rethink their

military strategies.

Rifles

Minie Ball

(bullets

Ironclad Ships

IronCladsIronClads

Ironclads were deadly against old wooden ships!

The American Civil War – The First Modern The American Civil War – The First Modern WarWar

The Civil War introduced many new

technologies that forced commanders in the field to rethink their

military strategies.

Rifles

Minie Ball

(bullets

Ironclad Ships

Communications

Communications Communications Revolution in WarfareRevolution in Warfare

The telegraph will revolutionize war communications…the north will

benefit because of extensive telegraph and rail lines.

““The Fight for the Capitals” – AntietamThe Fight for the Capitals” – Antietam

The second & third parts of Anaconda were progressing…however the land war, capturing the Richmond, was not going well. It wasn’t going at all. Gen. McClellan was too cautious & refused to move, even though he had an army of 120,000.

The Union:General McClellan

Extremely cautiousmoved slowlyUsed only battle tested tactics

After “7 Days Battle”, he moved toward the seaWas able to get a hold of Confederate battle plans.Met at Antietam.

The Confederacy:General Lee (took over for Johnston when he is injured)

Very determinedUses unorthodox battle

strategyPlans included splitting his

army from Jackson.After 2nd Battle of Bull Run,Lee goes after D.C.Meets McClellan at Antietam.

VS.

Antietam (September 1862): Bloodiest single day of warfare…26,000+ casualties. McClellan, always better safe than sorry, does not pursue Lee’s Army…giving up the chance at ending the war. Lincoln fired McClellan in November.