Union military strategies Flashcards
Who proposed the ‘Anaconda Plan’? When?
General Scott, 1861
What was the ‘Anaconda Plan’? How effective was it?
Naval blockade of Southern ports
Control of Mississippi river to economically weaken Confederacy
By 1865, Southern imports reduced by 80% and exports by 95%
What were the three main theatres of operations in Union military strategy?
Eastern Theatre (Virginia - Pennsylvania)
Western Theatre (Appalachians - Mississippi)
Trans-Mississippi Theatre (west of Mississippi)
How did Union strategy evolve from 1861-65?
1861: Limited war focused on restoring Union, casualties avoided at all costs
1862-63: Harder war against Southern resources, Emancipation Proclamation
1864-65: ‘Total war’ under Grant/Sherman targeting infrastructure and morale, individual battles integrated into bigger campaign
What was the significance of Grant’s appointment in 1864 as General-in-Chief?
Implemented simultaneous offensives across all theatres
Focused on destroying Confederate armies
War of attrition
Accepted casualties (55,000 Union casualties Wilderness Campaign)
What evolving strategies are seen in Sherman’s ‘March to the Sea’?
Targeted infrastructure- destroyed $100 million in property
Aimed to break Southern morale
Destroyed 13,000 cattle, 90,000 cotton bales
How was McClellan’s approach different to Grant’s?
McClellan- Prioritised planning and preparation, focused on capturing Richmond, minimised casualties, lack of pursuit
Grant- accepted heavy casualties, focused on destroying Lee’s army, relentless offensive operations
How did the Union’s river strategy contribute to victory?
Controlled 4,500 miles navigable rivers
Vicksburg campaign used Mississippi River to split the confederacy
Combined Army and Navy operations
Moved 25,000 tons of supplies monthly
How was rail transport used by the Union?
Created the Military Railroad
Moved 120,000 troops from Virginia to Tennessee in 11 days
Enabled rapid concentration of forces
How did Union commanders use manoeuvre strategically?
Early war- limited capabilities
Middle war- river based manoeuvre (e.g. Vicksburg)
Late war- Sherman’s ‘sliding base’ during Atlanta Campaign, rail and river transport enabled rapid concentration
How did the Union use combined Army-Navy operations?
Captured key ports: New Orleans (1862), Fort Fisher (1865)
Taking of Vicksburg split Confederacy
Leveraged industrial power of the Union
How did Union intelligence shape their strategy?
1500+ paid spies by 1863
Coded communications
15,000 miles military telegraph
Allowed coordination of widely separated forces
What impact did technological innovation have on Union strategy?
Spencer/Henry repeating rifles
Railroad innovations
Telegraph communication
Ironclad warships
