Civil War 3 Flashcards
After Antietam, who was fired, why, and who was he replaced with?
McClellan was fired because he didn’t chase and destroy Lee and he was replaced with General Ambrose Burnside
Battle of Fredicksburg
Dec 13 1862
Burnside advanced towards Richmond with 122,000. Lee brought 79,000 to Fredericksburg and spread mean along a ridge called Marye’s Heights overlooking town. Burnside crossed directly in front of Lee’s army. After many charges, Union lost.
After the Battle of Fredericksburg…
Burnside resigned and Lincoln appointed “Fighting Joe” Hooker
Battle of Chancellorsville
Hooker: attack Confed from behind in Fred
J.E.B “Jeb” Stuart (cavalry commander): discovered Hooker’s plan
Lee’s troops built campfires to hide movement.
May 1 1863: Union started march towards Fred but spotted Lee’s army, Hooker said pull back into woods and build defenses. May 3: Confed won
Who died at Chancellorsville?
Hidden by woods and attack halted by darkness, Stonewall Jackson went to scout Union position, mistaken for enemy by own troops. Shot 3 times, left arm amputated, died May 10 of complications. Lee lost his strong right arm.
Battle of Gettysburg: Day 1
Lee marched army north to PA, hoped victory on Union soil would push them to give up.
July 1: Confed troops bump into Union cavalry in Gettsyburg
Confed outnumbers Union, Union pushed back to hills south of town. Set up on Cemetery and Seminary Ridges
Cemetery Ridge
Center of Union line
4 miles
General George Meade
Seminary Ridge
Confed lines
Lee and General James Longstreet
Battle of Gettysburg: Day 2
Longstreet not ready to attack until 4 pm; meanwhile Meade reinforced army. Heavy fighting in area called Devils Den. 350 Maine soldiers under Colonel Joshua Chamberlain protected Little Round top, withheld AL assault, used bayonets when ammunition out, saved Union from defeat. Day overall: heavy fighting, draw
Battle of Gettysburg: Day 3
Confeds attacked N end of U line, heaviest artillery barrage (cannons) of war. After 2 hours, Union stopped firing, Confed thought they destroyed their guns. Longstreet ordered Pickett’s Charge: direct attack on Cemetery Ridge, 15,000 soldiers 1 mile long 3 rows deep; Union resumed firing and killed half of Confed force. Lee retreated to VA on July 4 after losing third of army
Attempts on Vicksburg
One of the last forts on Miss River, located on a bluff high above a sharp bend in river, surrounded by swamps. Tried gunboats, attaching from N, building a canal.
Vicksburg daring plan:
When land dried, marched down LA side of River, crossed into MS south of Vicksburg, moved east and attacked Jackson, drew out Confeds under John Pemberton for a May 16 clash at Champion’s Hill. Grant won but couldn’t trap Pemberton’s army
Vicksburg siege
Surround enemy and starve into surrender. Bombarded with 2800 shells a day for more than a month.
Residents dug caves in hillsides, are horses mules and dogs. July 4 1863: Confed troops laid down arms
Importance of July 4, 1863
Independence Day really celebrated by Africans
Grants siege worked in Vicksburg
Lee returned to VA after Gettysburg
Gettysburg Address
Nov 19, 1863: 15,000 gathered at Gettysburg for ceremony to honor Union soldiers who died there
Featured guest: Edward Everett of MA
Lincoln gave a 2 min speech expressing grief and reasons for fighting and renewed efforts
Grant headed to ________ and fought # battles with Lee
Richmond
3
Battle of the Wilderness
1/3
Fighting so heavy the woods caught fire.
2 days, same spot as Chancellorsville, Longstreet shot by accident.
Grant moved past Lee and headed south
Battle of Spotsylvania
2/3
2 days later when Confed catches up with Union
Union dead piled 4 deep, but continue on
Battle of Cold Harbor
3/3
8 miles from Richmond
Union charged Confed forces behind fortifications
Petersburg
Grant unable to capture Richmond, next attacked Petersburg, a railroad center south of Richmond. Hoped to cut off Richmond food supply but failed, so began a siege. Lee built defenses and hoped upcoming election would change war.
Shenandoah Valley
Southern supply line in VA, important transportation route and Confed breadbasket. Grant ordered General Philip Sheridan to make it a barren waste. Southerners there called it The Burning
Atlanta
Sherman moved from TN to Atlanta (railroad center) with 98,000 men. Strategy: force Confed army to stop advance. Confed General James Hood left Atlanta after Sherman successfully laid siege. Sherman ordered Atlanta evacuated and burned.
March to the Sea
Nov 1864: Sherman led 62,000 men on a march to capture Savannah, GA
300 mile path of destruction: destroyed bridges, factories, railroads, livestock. Confeds fled from Savannah
Election of 1864
Republican Lincoln vs Democrat George McClellan
Lincoln won, people supported him sensing end of war near
Amendment during Lincoln’s presidency
13th amendment
Feb 1865
Ended slavery in US
Sherman and other destruction
Left GA for SC- the heart of the rebellion
2 goals: destroy Confed resources and will to fight
SC was treated more harshly than GA
Charleston surrendered and was spared.
Columbia SC burned to ground.
Appomattox Court House
Lee tried to meet with Johnston and slip around Grant’s army in VA, but was continuously blocked. Lee arrived at small VA town and surrendered to Grant. Johnston surrendered to Sherman a few weeks later in NC
John Wilkes Booth
Shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theater April 1865
Chased to a barn in VA, caught and killed
