Lecture 7 Flashcards
Union leaders understand that the occupation of the south is impossible
What is the Anacoda Plan?
The Anacoda Plan was devised by Mr. Winfield Scott, has he was the one that devised the plan to take down the confederates as Secretary of War in those times.
The Anaconda Plan devised by?
The plan was devised by General Scott, in which he had to two Naval key points ( he had a plan to take it down by 2 years) - calling it the Great Snake - as slowly squeezing of the enemy, in which the acual war was fought on.
The Anacoda plan was divided into two different parts?
- 1 part calls for the destruction of Richmond as a capital;
- 2 long term plan is to clear out the confederates out of west virginia; clearing and securing the B&O railway, and pushing confederates out of Shenandoah valley;
- Need to secure railways and rivers (rivers as transport)
- Attack Mississippi from North and the south; pincer
- And push confederates into Western ocean
- Mentality of warfare is of quick victories; total war is still foreign
- Press is very derisive
- Calling it Scotts’ great Snake
- The anacedona plan; slow squeezing of enemy
- Actually how war will be fought
What actually occured in the War ? for the Anaconda plan?
- Hoped it could be done in 2 years but will take longer than that
- People thought it would be like war in the pre-industrial age; nope.
- This long war with long supply lines standing armies that never go home fighting month after month is inconceivable; closest to it were Napoleonic wars
- Cry in press for quick victory
The actual plan of the Anaconda?
The overarching plan, which requires several years to execute, calls for the 2 pronged approach. Firstly, victory at Richmond must be achieved to destroy it status as a Confederate capital. The long term plan is clearing Confederates from West Virginia, clearing and securing the B&O railway, and pushing the Confederates out of the Staunton valley. Another army will attempt to secure the Cumberland River, Ohio River, and eventually the Mississippi river. This is key due to rivers transport and railway usefulness. The Union is to encircle the south, with a north and south attack on Mississippi. Subsequently, the army will turn inwards and push the Confederates towards the ocean
What occurred as Lincoln finally figured out that this was going to be as the south as issues?
At this point, Lincoln realizes a 3 month war is impossible and issues a call for troops under a 3 year commitment. By July 1st, Lincoln has raised an army of approximately 300,000 men under a variety of contracts (some 90 days, some 3 years etc). Lincoln rushes in, without getting Congressional approval (but receiving it retroactively).
What was the Battle of the Bull Run?
The Battle of the Bullrun for the Union was known for them, and the battle of Manassas was for the confederates.
First Battle of Manassas ( First Battle of the Bull RUN)
Mc Dowerll tells his troops (Union side to pin down Johnsons troops, to prevent Enemy advancement, and takes Mcdowell to take troops and attack Manassas, in which in JULY 21st, everything everything goes wrong. In which what occurs,
due to the esponiage by Rose O’Neal Greenhow - he is a spy for the south, and ruins the ellement of suprise for the north, in which report by telegraph to the south ( to Beauregard ( that the Union Army is going to him) - and telegraphs Robert E LEe, as this allows in which conveys these messages to another general all communcation within an hour.
Batte of Mansas? whos the victory here?
Stonewall Jackson, in which was not moving towards the Brigade in which he was given the nickname stonewall Jackon - for he stood there at Jackson’s Bridage - it stands like a stonewall! Mc Dowell becomes the first out of the Union to attack - as the Diversion attack, does not work - as the Confederacy does not fall back at Henry Hill
What occurs with Stonewall Jackson?
As the Brigade of Viriginians, are not moving, the legend has it that the officer saw Jackson, As by noon the confederacy i driven down - but “ there is Jackson standing like a stonewall - we will have to fight it out ourselves. The cursing one sounds more true, in which the Viriginan Paper needs a here in Charletons and Mc Dowell’s plan wrecks that.
What occured between the Union and Confederates? In the Battle of Mansas.
- So union artillery fires at Confederates, sees blue unit, sees that these are confederates it is too late and all gunners are killed; take out artillery, and use their guns
- Militia unions; different colours and uniforms
In the Battle of Manasas what keeps occuring?
- Johnson arrives with fresh troops by railway and all of a sudden there is a sudden infusion
- Commanders feed wars; first half hour troops get tired, demoralized, frustrated, energy falls, so you feed new troops every 30 minutes, new troops bolster other guys; second wind you can say that keeps moral up
- Johnson throws reserve of 11,000 troops in
- Union without guns and artillery are overwhelmed
- Confederates advance; Union tries to retreat over retreat; civilians mixed in (bc they were watching) fog of war; troops get lost, officers loose troops, rains, etc.
What occurs simenautanously?
- Confederates advance; Union tries to retreat over retreat; civilians mixed in (bc they were watching) fog of war; troops get lost, officers loose troops, rains, etc.
- Depressed and defeated union troops go back to Washington
- Went by Confederates plan
- Purpose of Confederate army was to defend Virginia and not defeat union; although they could have; probably were not aware (not in there thinking yet). Additionally not unified; had to vote for officers; vote whether or not to fight north
- Objective was to take Virginia
o Many troops go home because they took back Virginia; go back to farms (farming season), done battle can go home and get crops in shape
o Confederate officers say we lost more Generals in Victory than defeat because they went home
o Strategic army in standard motion is not conservable yet - Bull run is a disaster
- All together there are 5,000 casualties
Lincoln get frustrated with Mc Clellan not doing anything as we waits till the next year to make a move?
- McClellan posted. Sits until the next year; still does nothing
- Lincoln gets frustrated
- Every time Lincoln says attack; McClellan asks for more troops
- Lincoln give more and more troops
- Gives McClellan order to attack (“gets sick”)
- Gets to fort Monroe (Marine landing attempt) with 100,000 troops
- Moves up peninsula to take Confederate capital
Why does Mc Clellan get termed the Virigina Creeper?
- Many less troops than Union; Confederates play games and start to understand McClellan’s mentality; makes troops march in circle to make McClellan to make large count; paint black logs to make it seem like artillery
- Takes him two months to get to Richmond; hears church bells because he gets so close
- When he arrives in Richmond in May, for seven days Stonewall and McClellan tussle it out; McClellan gets scared and books it home afterwards.
