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Learning Lessons Year By Year

Learning Lessons Year By Year. Overview. Hindsight is 20-20. Keep that in mind. The Civil War reminded us that we have to make decisions on the fly and the Civil War was as much of a war of mistakes as it was about defining our country’s image.

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Learning Lessons Year By Year

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  1. Learning Lessons Year By Year

  2. Overview • Hindsight is 20-20. Keep that in mind. • The Civil War reminded us that we have to make decisions on the fly and the Civil War was as much of a war of mistakes as it was about defining our country’s image. • Question: If you’re the Union, what is your goal? If you’re the Confederates, what is your goal in all this?

  3. 1861 • Fall of Fort Sumter • Assumption on both sides that it would be a short war. • Small Forces for both sides. • Major Battles • First Battle of Bull Run – Confederacy wins, shows that war will be long and drawn out • Battle of Wilson’s Creek – First major battle west of the Mississippi River • Battles concentrated in Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky • Leaders • Gen. George B. McClellan – Union • Confederacy – No formal leader, Jefferson Davis calls shots • Capture of 2 Confederate Officials by US Navy on Nov. 8. Another war with Britain?

  4. First Battle of Bull Run • Virginia, July 21st • Early Morning: Union forces chip away at the sides of the Confederates • Problems: Waterways, Bridges • Noon: Jackson’s Stand – Maybe a mistake and miscommunication BUT inspired the troops and allowed him to assert control over the main attacking portion of the Army.

  5. What would you do different?

  6. 1862 • Major Battles • Capture of Fort Henry & Fort Donelson – Union cuts off key rivers of the Confederacy • Monitor vs. Merrimac – Naval Battle, ironclad ships • Shiloh – More men die here than in all wars combined up to this point • New Orleans captured by Union • Seven Days Battle – Lee defeats McClellan • Antietam – Bloodiest single day of war, 23,000 die • Fredericksburg – Union loses 2x amount of men, shows inept Union leaders

  7. 1862 • Leaders • Robert E. Lee – Confederacy – given full command • Union • McClellan is fired after Antietam (Sept) • Replaced by Gen. Ambrose Burnside, Burnside fired after Fredericksburg • Replaced by General Joseph Hooker • Fighting takes place in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky • Fighting expands further south but Lee takes war north at the end of the year • Emancipation Proclamation • Frees slaves in non-Union territories • Makes war about slavery

  8. Second Battle of Bull Run • Union learns lesson, doesn’t get backed up by waterways • Fought more in open field • Lee has the advantage of numbers • Communication will be lost for Union • Concentration vs. Spread

  9. Haven’t We Seen This Before?

  10. 1863 • Non-Battle related issues • Draft for Military – Get out for $300 • Anti-draft Riots – Murder of Blacks by Poor Whites, Army has to subdue • Lincoln meets with Frederick Douglass • Major Battles • Chancellorsville – Lee’s genius: splits army twice, Stonewall Jackson shot by his own men, Lincoln loses faith in Hooker • Siege of Vicksburg – Cuts off Confederacy’s actions west of Mississippi, Grant becomes hero, Confederacy loses 7x amount of men as the Union, splits Confederacy army in two • Gettysburg – turning point of war, bloodiest battle, ends Confederacy’s hopes of northern invasion • Siege of Chattanooga – Union escapes siege, Confederacy fails to crush Union’s army

  11. 1863 • War will primarily be fought in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia • Gettysburg • South will fight for survival after failure • With army split in two (Vicksburg), Union strategy becomes entrapment • Meade wins but fails to follow up victory • Gettysburg Address • 5 different copies/versions exist • Makes war appeal to deepest emotions • Reiterates the values of the Declaration of Independence • Renews optimism in Union for victory

  12. How Many Things Are Wrong Here?

  13. 1864 • Lincoln appoints Grant to head Union Army • 5th Commander, Who else was there? • Last ditch effort for Union • New tactics • Overwhelm with men and munitions • Total War – Not in killing but in destruction • Sherman – Takes Atlanta, March to Sea • Fighting takes place in Western Confederacy • Lee and Grant meet, Lee initially wins opening battles but is losing men and resources • Lincoln defeats McClellan for Presidency

  14. Nashville

  15. 1865 • Thirteenth Amendment passed • Lincoln inauguration • “With malice towards none…” • Last offensive of the Confederates • Only two major forces remaining • Grant breaks through Lee’s lines • Final Stroke • Richmond evacuated

  16. 1865 • Richmond burned and later captured by Union • Surrender at Appomattox Court House • Leniency towards Confederates • April 9th, 1865 • April 14th – Lincoln shot, dies a day later • John Wilkes Booth found, shot dead • Final surrender of remaining Confederate Forces • End of War, now what?

  17. Looking Back • How would you have done things differently? • How did this shape our image? • How many mistakes does it take before you get fired?

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