CH. 11-2 FIGHTING ERUPTS

1. CH. 11-2 FIGHTING ERUPTS AMERICAN HISTORY

2. THE MAJOR BATTLES BEGIN • Generals warned Lincoln that people were still green (not ready to fight). • Lincoln said the South was green also and that army must attack • July 16, 1861—General McDowell’s 35,000 man Union army marches into VA • 22,000 Confederates waited for them at Manassas Junction, VA by a stream called Bull Run • It took the Union 2.5 days to march 25 miles from Washington, DC to VA • This allowed 11,000 more Confederates to join in • ***Bull Run Battlefield is now a national park. There are 384 battlefields designated as national historic sites***

3. FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN • Both sides has careful plans for battle but inexperienced troops couldn’t care out the plans • It became a chaotic free-for-all • By late afternoon, the Union troops began to fall back • Confederate INFANTRY (foot soldiers) forced the Union troops to drop everything and retreat.

4. Casualties (killed, wounded, MIA)—South—2,000; North—2,900 • If the south had pursued the north, they might have destroyed the Union army. Instead they stayed on the battlefield not sure what to do. • Hopes for a short war faded • Lincoln replaced General McDowell with General George McClellan • His first task was to get 100,000 individuals to function as a real army

5. TACTICS AND TECHNOLOGY • Instruction was based on wars conducted by Napoleon • Muskets—1840s-range of 250 yds and accurate to about 80 yds; projectile was a ball; 25 seconds to load • 1850s-accurate to 500 yds; projectile was a bullet; fire about 10 times per minute • Artillery-cannon balls were replaced by shells that exploded upon impact or above the target spreading shrapnel • Some historian call the Civil War the last old-time war and the first modern war

6. NEW DEVICES OF WAR • Balloons were used to direct artillery fire • Camouflage used to disguise tents and guns • Limited use of machine guns, wire entanglements, flame throwers, stink bombs • Telegraphs allowed generals to communicate quickly with government leaders • Railroads were used to move large numbers of troops

7. THE FIGHT FOR THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY • One of the most successful new weapons was the Union’s IRONCLADS (armored gunboats) • 3 inch metal plate made ship almost immune to Confederate cannon fire • GRANT MOVES SOUTH • February 1862—Gen. Grant led 7 gunboats and 15,000 troops up the Tennessee River • The captured Fort Henry, KY and Fort Donelson • Grant demanded unconditional surrender • This made him famous and a Union hero

8. THE BATTLE OF SHILOH • April 6, 1862—Confederate soldiers surprise Union soldiers at Shiloh Church outside Pittsburg Landing, TN • Union soldiers wanted to retreat but instead Grant attacked at daybreak • By 2:30 pm Confederate army was in retreat • Casualties—Union 13,000; Confederacy 10,000 • Grant: “The only way to save the Union is complete conquest”

9. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CAMPAIGN • April 24, 1862--Union forces under Admiral David Farragut attacked forts surrounding New Orleans • They slipped past the forts under cover of darkness • Lead ship sustained heavy damage • April 25th—City of New Orleans surrenders • General Grant would be needed to take other towns upriver

10. THE WAR IN THE EAST • General McClellan has a plan to move down the Potomac River and attack Richmond from the east because the defenses were weaker • However, McClellan seemed reluctant to move, Lincoln lost patience • THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN • McClellan encountered confederates outside Yorktown, VA (near Richmond) • He waited a month before attacking • Confederate troops retreated to Richmond and didn’t offer resistance

11. McClellan’s delay allowed Confederates to get more troops • May 31—Confederates attack—heavy casualties on both sides by no real victor • Robert E. Lee takes over Army of Northern Virginia • Lee and Stonewall Jackson’s Confederates joined forces and attacked McClellan in late June 1862 in 5 separate battles. McClellan won 4 of 5 but retreated

12. THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN • General John Pope started a new union army near Washington • Lincoln ordered McClellan to renew his attack on Lee to trap him between the two union armies. McClellan did nothing. • Lincoln ordered McClellan to withdraw and join Pope’s troops • August 29th—Lee lures Pope’s troops into battle at Manassas and defeated Pope • Lincoln put McClellan back in command despite protests from his cabinet

13. THE UNION IS INVADED • Union morale low after several defeats • Lee suggested to Pres. Jefferson Davis that this would be a good time to enter Maryland • Davis agreed • Sept. 1862—Lee’s army crossed the Potomac into western MD with McClellan’s army in pursuit • A union soldier found a copy of Lee’s marching order lost by a careless soldier • McClellan informed Lincoln • Lincoln responded “Destroy the rebel army, if possible”

14. THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM • McClellan caught Lee near Sharpsburg, MD • Union outnumbered Lee’s army 70,000-40,000 • McClellan waited 16 hours before attacking • Sept. 17, 1862—battle waged • The bloodiest single-day battle in Civil War and US History • Combined casualties numbered 23,000 • Lee lost 1/3 of his army • McClellan had 25,000 troops in reserve but did not use them

15. McClellan had a chance to follow Lincoln’s order to “destroy the rebel army” but did not. • Lincoln relieved McClellan of his command for good. • THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG • McClellan was replaced by Ambrose Burnside • Dec. 13, 1862—Burnside ordered his troops to charge Lee’s army 14 times • Only darkness and pleas to stop ended the slaughter. • Union army lost nearly 13,000 men—more than twice the confederate losses

16. Upon learning of the results, Lincoln said, “If there is a worse place then Hell, I am in it.” • THE END