2.1 - 1) Changing military strategies Flashcards
How long did the process of secession go on?
From December 1860 to June 1861
Where was the first government located?
Montgomery, Alabama
Where and why was the first government moved to?
Richmond, Virginia. It was a larger, better-served city with railway connections but close to enemy lines with a bigger industrial capacity
Which four states with slavery were important for both sides? and why?
Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri.
They wanted the support
What was the proportion of black people in Maryland?
50% slave and 50% free
Baltimore riot
In April 1861, Four soldiers and 12 civilians were dead after a riot in Baltimore attacking troops to defend Washington DC. In order to restrain Maryland from seceding, Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus in Maryland
Habeas corpus
Legal provision, limiting the time someone can be held by authorities without being charged
What could south do to convince Maryland to secede?
Nothing, since the decision against secession was made by the government
What was Delaware’s slave proportion?
90% free
What attempts were there in Kentucky to make the state secede?
An attempt to set up a confederate government of Kentucky, but the state capitol government in Frankfort regained control
What key reason contributed against Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware and Illinois’ secession?
Presence of the US armed forces; Lincoln moved more quickly and decisively than Davis did
Why did Lincoln choose to blockade the CSA ports?
It was less effective but less provocative and acceptable under international law
What did Lincoln decide the secession was?
Both a rebellion and a war
How did Britain feel towards the CSA?
- recognized CSA as hostile under international law, giving it rights but not as a state
- wouldn’t sign any treaties or send ambassadors
- accepted sea blockade
- remained neutral
What effect did Britain’s neutrality have on CSA?
90% of British trade stopped
How did Lincoln help the Union’s case?
- He made sure Kentucky didn’t secede
- He blockaded the south successfully thus limiting
- Lincoln’s actions that were in accordance with international law benefited negotiations
What was the confederate military strategy?
The cordon strategy, protecting its boundaries
It was later called the ‘offensive-defensive’ strategy, meaning defense against attacks but taking the offensive it possible
What was the Union’s general initial military strategy?
‘Anaconda Plan’
- devised by Winfield Scott
- Naval blockade was set up for economic loss
- Military control had to be obtained of the Mississippi river, splitting the south in two
What was the Union strategy in the eastern theatre in 1861-1862?
Similar to ‘offensive-defensive.’
Which Union general became notorious for never thinking attack was possible?
George McClellan
What did New York Herald Tribune and such newspapers demand?
Northern newspapers demanded immediate attack and victory
Who did Robert E. Lee replace?
Joseph Johnson, as he was injured
When was McClellan replaced
In November of 1862, as he failed at Antietam and couldn’t use Northern resources
When did McClellan advance into Virginia?
1862 peninsular campaign
Who won the Chancellorsville? Who died there?
In April and May the union was defeated but Stonewall Jackson died
When did the North gain control of the Tennessee and Cumberland river?
After Fort Henry victory in February 1862
After Fort Donelson respectively
When did New Orleans fall to US forces?
April 1862
What did the victory over New Orleans helped?
Towards controlling Mississippi and Ohio rivers
In the beginning (1862), who were the Northern commanders?
West - Ulysses S. Grant
East - George B. McClellan
What was the situation by 1864?
The US forces had pushed deep into the south
How long did the union forces fight to capture the confederate fortress at Vicksburg?
August 1862 to July 1863
What strategy did Grant order to Philip Sheridan in Virginia in 1864?
‘scorched earth’ / Total war
meant burning all infrastructure and farms in their way
This damaged CSA supplies as farms fed the army
What was north initially slow at?
- Scott & McClellan
- mobilizing resources
- lack of military leaders
- appreciate the potential of blacks as warriors
Northern military situation in 1861-62
In April 1861
- 16,000 strong regular army
- War department - 90 men
- Lincoln had no military experience
- Scott had no plans
- Lincoln’s call to arms in April for 75,000 volunteers was insufficient
- Congress agreed to raise 500,000 men to serve for three years
Southern military situation in 1861-62
- Davis had West Point experience
- 300 southern officers resigned from us regular army helped CSA
- February 1861 congress raised 100,000 volunteers to a year’s service
- In may it added 500,000 troops
- Main problem : equipping volunteers
How were many officers elected?
By men under their command or by state governors considering political standing
Why were American forces more amateur compared to other armies?
- lack of military discipline
- incorrect way of officer election, they had little military experience
What happened to the volunteers in early 1862?
Enthusiasm faded
What did Davis do in March 1862?
Introduced conscription for every man 18-35 (raised to 45) during the entire war
What was the carrot and stick approach in the union to recruit soldiers?
Bounties were offered, but the stick was Militia law
What did Militia law allow?
To call state militias into union service
What did some states have to do in order to meet the militia law?
Introduce militia draft - a conscription of men in militias
What was the union conscription in 1863?
All able bodied men 20-45 y/o.
How could Southerners avoid war?
By hiring a subsititute
What are the soldier statistics by 1865?
CSA - 900,000
Union - 2.1 Million
War of attrition
Relentless wearing down of enemy’s morale and strength by using continuous attacks
Rifle-muskets
accurate up to 600 yards, allowing to fire from a distance and benefit the defender
Why was capture of Tennessee and Cumberland rivers of importance?
allowing the movement of men, materiel, and supplies quickly from one area to another.
Who replaced McClellan
General Ambrose Burnside
What led up to Antietam
Robert E. Lee replaced Joseph Johnson, wining the seven days battle and advancing troops into Antietam
Antietam
After suffering a great loss of 14,000 thousand at Antietam, but a victory Lee retreated back into Virginia but McClellan failed to follow up a victory
Eastern Theatre strategy of the Union
“offense-defense”
Western Theatre strategy of the Union
“Anaconda plan”
Navy during April of 1861
- Union had 90 ships
- CSA had 0
- North had the shipbuilding capacity
- North armed merchant ships and sent them to blockade
First Manassas
George McDowell was urged by Lincoln to march on Richmond was defeated at First Manassas/Bull Run.
CSA suffered losses unable to march on Washington
When was George McDowell replaced by McClellan?
After the First Manassas
What did George McClellan accomplish well?
Raise the morale of main Union army as he took over after the First Manassas loss. Named it army of the Potomac.
What were McClellan and Grant’s differences?
McClellan wanted to avoid loss and bloodshed, Grant didn’t mind it.
Navy during December 1861
- Union’s fleet became 260 to avoid prolonging the war if the south was able to trade cotton for weaponry
Winter 1861-1862
McClellan to hesitant to use army of the Potomac to attack the CSA
Shiloh battle
6-7 April 1862
Grant pushed into Tennessee and after a two day battle CSA was on retreat. Breckenridge was a commander here
When was McClellan transported to Fortress Monroe to take up Richmond up the peninsula?
April 1862
What happened at Richmond in May 1862?
McClellan had twice the man of the confederacy but he was convinced he was outnumbered, waiting for reinforcements but Stonewall Jackson made sure at the Shenandoah Valley that the reinforcements did not arrive.
Lincoln did not send more men as he was scared of risks for Washington
June 1862
Lee took command of forces defending Richmond, renaming his army the Army of Northern Virginia
Seven days
He saved Richmond from McClellan by making him retreat down the peninsula
Second Manassas
Lee defeats forces north led by John Pope and invades Maryland
