The Civil War Begins Bull Run to Antietam

Union Troops Move Towards Battle o Union troops moved south from Washington in mid-July 1861 n n o The men were inexperienced; green Led by Irvin Mc. Dowell 35, 000 Union soldiers were to cut the rail lines at Manassas, VA and then march towards Richmond.

Confederate Troops Mobilize o Confederate General P. T Beauregard received news of the Union’s movement from a spy in Washington D. C and positioned his forces along Bull Run Creek. n His troops, too, were inexperienced.

The 1 st Battle of the Civil War : Bull Run/ Manassas o o o On July 21, 1861, the two forces ran into each other. People from the area gathered along the edges of the field, picnicking, ready to be entertained by battle. Mc. Dowell sent his forces across the creek and as they marched the Yankees sang “We’ll hang Jeff Davis from a sour apple tree!”

Early in the Battle o o The Yankees smashed into the Confederate positions on the left, driving the Rebels back. But the center of the Southern line did not panic and remained strong. n Led by Thomas J. Jackson who would not move; “standing like a stone wall”

Confederate Victory o o o In the late afternoon, Beauregard counterattacked, bolstered with reinforcements, ordered his men to charge, yelling like “furies” at the Union line. Terrified, the Union army fell to pieces. Afraid the picnicking spectators and panicked soldiers ran from the bloody field—the scene was chaos.

1 st Battle of Bull Run: Results o o o Confederate Victory Union casualties: 2, 896 men Confederate causalities: 1, 982 men Impact: n n In the North: this battle showed the reality of this war (that this was going to be a long, bloody, hard fight) and that the North was unprepared. In the South: they grew complacent & relaxed; felt that the war was over.

The War in the West o o War in the west was focused on control of the Mississippi River. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant led the Union army in the West. n Began gaining military forts in TN & headed to cut off the C. S. A’s only east-west railroad link in the lower South.

The Battle of Shiloh o o April 6 & 7, 1862 On the Tennessee River n Shiloh was a church in the region of the battle.

THE UNION Grant & Buell THE C. S. A Johnston & Beauregard

Confederate Surprise Attack o o Confederate commander Albert Sidney Johnston knew he was outnumbered and decided to attack Grant’s force before reinforcements arrived. As the Yankees were boiling coffee and frying bacon for breakfast near a peach orchard, the Confederate infantry rolled into their camps.

Battle of Shiloh: April 6 th o o Some Union troops ran away in the chaos, some stayed to fight. By afternoon, however, the Union’s backs were pressed against the river and couldn’t retreat. n o The Rebels continued to hit the Union lines. Through the night, the terror continued until finally the Confederates, exhausted (Johnston was shot & killed), decided to wait until morning to finish off Grant’s army.

Battle of Shiloh: April 7 th o In the morning, however, Union commander Don Carlos Buell arrived with reinforcements. n o o The Union counterattacked. Outnumbered, the Rebels tried to strike back, but were sent back retreating over the ground they had taken the previous day. The wounded and dead lay everywhere.

Shiloh: Results o o o Union victory Union casualties: 13, 000 Confederate causalities: 12, 000 Impact: n n Union success in the West was a moral boost and opened up opportunities for Grant to capitalize on (New Orleans taken later that spring. ) Shiloh’s violence shocked North and South and brought a shocking realization to both sides that this war would not end quickly.

Meanwhile in the East o o After Bull Run, Lincoln replaced Mc. Dowell with George Mc. Clellan. Lincoln encouraged Mc. Clellan to move towards Richmond not by a direct frontal assault but instead by moving up the peninsula between the James and York Rivers.

The Seven Day’s Battle o o June 25 -July 1, 1862 Outside of Richmond, Virginia Lee vs. Mc. Clellan The Union had been successful at pushing up the peninsula towards Richmond, however, on June 26 th, Lee launched a surprise attack on the Union’s right flank. n Heavy casualties

Gaines Mill at the Seven Day’s Battle o o o Worried, Mc. Clellan pulled his men back to Gaines Mill. The Rebels attacked at Gaines Mill, but could not budge the Union line. However, Stonewall Jackson’s reinforcements appeared and gave the Rebels the power to break through the Union line. n Costly for both sides, but especially the Confederacy (8, 000/4, 000).

Malvern Hill at the Seven Day’s Battle o o Rattled, Mc. Clellan abandoned the advance on Richmond, retreating to a base on the James River. Lee pursued the retreating Union Army. Mc. Clellan pulled his troops to the top of Malvern Hill. The Union waited and the Rebel troops pressed up the hill. n The Union guns & cannons opened fire and the result was a slaughter of the Rebel troops.

Seven Day’s Battle: Results o Mc. Clellan & the Union were safe, however so was Richmond thanks to Lee. n o o Seen as a Confederate victory Eventually, Lincoln ordered Mc. Clellan to withdraw off the peninsula. Union casualties: over 16, 000 Confederate causalities: over 20, 000 (1/4 of his military force)

Impact of Seven Day’s Battle o Impact: n Northern morale decreased because of Mc. Clellan’s retreat. o n Mc. Clellan eventually removed as commander and replaced by John Pope. Despite heavy casualties, southern morale skyrocketed.

2 nd Battle of Bull Run o o o August 28 -30, 1862 Union General John Pope (force of 75, 000) vs. the combined forces of Confederate leaders: Lee, Jackson, and Longstreet (55, 000). Met once again on the open fields outside of Manassas, Virginia.

Union Errors o o o The Rebels had better position and leadership. Pope and the Union underestimated the Confederate strength. The battle was an absolute massacre for the Union. n o One Union soldier described it like being “swept by a hurricane of death, and each minute seemed twenty hours long. ” Pope & surviving Union troops retreated to Washington.

2 nd Battle of Bull Run Results o o Confederate victory Union casualties: 16, 000 (including 4, 000 taken prisoner) o Confederate causalities: 9, 000 Impact: n n Pope relieved of his command Mc. Clellan given control of the Army of the Potomac again. Lee, confident now, decided to carry the war into the North (no longer fighting a defensive war).

The Rebels Push North…. o In early September 1862, Lee invaded the North. n n o 50, 000 Confederate troops vs. 90, 000 Union troops under command of Mc. Clellan. Lee wanted to encourage foreign aide on behalf of the South with a big victory in the North. The two forces met outside of Sharpsburg, Maryland (on the border of North & South) on Antietam Creek.

The Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) o Mc. Clellan was not eager for battle, but had the advantage. n n o o Confederate soldiers had left behind a copy of Lee’s orders at an abandoned campsite; a Union corporal discovered them. Lee, realized the was in trouble, but couldn’t retreat. On September 17, 1862 the two forces collided. Constant attacks and counterattacks by both sides.

Antietam Results: A Bloody Day o o Union victory (at high cost) The 22, 726 casualties from both sides make the Battle of Antietam (Sept. 17, 1862) America’s bloodiest single day battle in history. n Union casualties: 12, 000+ Confederate causalities: 10, 000+ o Lee waited for a Union attack, but Mc. Clellan never pursued the defeated Confederate troops.

Aftermath of Antietam o o o Disappointed that Mc. Clellan didn’t pursue Lee, Lincoln removed Mc. Clellan in November (2 nd time) and replaced him with Ambrose Burnside. Lee pushed back into the South. Significance: called “One of the most decisive battles in world history” n n n The South was never again so close to victory. Foreign powers decided not to intervene in support of the South. Lincoln/North received a much needed victory.