The Civil War: Battles & Strategies in Virginia

1. The War in the east 19.2

2. Two Armies meet The first major battle- The First Battle of Bull Run- took place in July 1861. Occurred near Manassas Junction, Virginia, about 30 miles from Washington, D.C.

3. Two armies meet • The Battle • Union troops drove back the left side of the Confederate line. • A Confederate unit, led by General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, held firm. • Other Confederates were inspired and heartened by Jackson’s example. • Southern reinforcements arrived, and the Union army retreated in defeat. • The First Battle of Bull Run ruined Union hopes of a quick and easy war. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/first-battle-of-bull-run

4. More battles in Virginia • Union general George B. McClellan led troops into Virginia but waited too long to attack; gave the Confederates time to strengthen Richmond’s defenses. • McClellan took Yorktown in early May, and fighting occurred near Richmond.

5. More battles in Virginia • Robert E. Lee • Placed in charge of the Confederate Army in Virginia in June 1862 • Was a West Point graduate and one of the most talented officers on either side • Opposed slavery and secession but remained loyal to Virginia and the South

6. More battles in Virginia • The Seven Days’ Battle • Lee attacked McClellan’s forces to drive them from Richmond, and the two armies clashed in five battles during late June and early July of 1862. • Union- nearly 16,000 casualties; Confederacy- more than 20,000 casualties • Union army was forced to retreat from Richmond.

7. More battles in Virginia • Confederates defeated the Union at Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862. • By the end of August, Lee had pushed most of the Union forces out of Virginia.

8. The battle of antietam • Invasion of the North • In September 1862 Lee led Confederate forces into Maryland- Union territory. • Hoped a victory on northern soil would break the Union’s spirit and European powers to aid the South • Union soldiers found a copy of Lee’s battle plan and were able to prepare.

9. The battle of antietam • Occurred on September 17, 1862, near Antietam Creek in Maryland • Key Union victory and the bloodiest single-day battle of the war • Union- more than 12,000 casualties; Confederacy- more than 13,000 casualties

10. Burnside Bridge

15. The battle of antietam • Results • Stopped the Confederate army’s northward advance and cost Lee many troops • Lincoln removed General McClellan, who had allowed Lee to retreat to Virginia

16. The war at sea • Union Control of the Sea • North had most of the U.S. Navy’s fleet plus the industry to build more ships. • Union navy had trouble blockading thousands of miles of southern coastline. • South used small, fast ships called blockade runners to get through the blockade.

17. The war at sea • A New Kind of Ship • South captured a Union ship and made an ironclad, a ship armored with iron. • The Confederate ironclad, renamed the Virginia, easily sank two Union ships. • The Union navy, however, had already built its own ironclad, the Monitor. • The two ships met in an inconclusive battle in March 1862.

18. Blockade Runner Ships of the Civil War