Lesson 27: Coordinated Strategy and Hard War, 1864-65 Flashcards
Hard War
Who: Union forces under leaders like William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant.
What: A military strategy targeting both Confederate armies and the economic and civilian infrastructure supporting them.
Why: To break the Confederacy’s will and capacity to wage war.
When: 1864-1865.
How: By conducting campaigns such as Sherman’s March to the Sea, which destroyed railroads, supplies, and morale.
Overland Campaign
Who: Union forces under Grant and Confederate forces under Lee.
What: A series of battles aimed at wearing down Lee’s army and capturing Richmond.
Why: To decisively end the war in the Eastern Theater.
When: May to June 1864.
How: Through relentless offensives, including battles at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor.
William Sherman
Who: Union general known for his bold and destructive strategies.
What: Led campaigns such as the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea.
Why: His actions significantly weakened the Confederacy’s war effort.
When: Active throughout the Civil War, particularly prominent in 1864-1865.
How: By implementing total war tactics, targeting both military and civilian resources.
March to the Sea
Who: Sherman’s Union forces.
What: A campaign from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, aimed at crippling the Confederate war effort.
Why: To disrupt Confederate supply lines and weaken morale.
When: November to December 1864.
How: By destroying infrastructure, seizing supplies, and demoralizing Southern civilians.
Siege of Petersburg (1864-65)
Who: Union forces under Grant and Confederate forces under Lee.
What: A prolonged siege that cut off supplies to Richmond and weakened Confederate defenses.
Why: Paved the way for the Union capture of Richmond and Lee’s surrender.
When: June 1864 to April 1865.
How: Through trench warfare, continuous pressure, and cutting off supply lines.
