Civil War

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Civil War
War in the East
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Bull Run / Manassas
July 21, 1861
First major battle of the war.
Union army invades Virginia and attempt to
capture Richmond.
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Bull Run / Manassas
Both sides meet at a stream called Bull Run (on
farm of Wilmer McLean).
Army of the Potomac led by Irvin McDowell.
Army of Northern Virginia led by P.T. Beauregard.
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Bull Run / Manassas
Union thought it could invade South and quickly
win the war.
McDowell was initially successful causing a
retreat by the Confederates.
Confederate general Thomas Jackson refused to
retreat and allowed reinforcements to arrive.
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Bull Run / Manassas
Many politicians and wealthy come out to watch
the battle and have a picnic.
They saw a chaotic, bloody battle.
Later battles had few spectators.
The Union army retreated.
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Bull Run / Manassas
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Bull Run / Manassas
Casualties
Union - 460 killed 1124 wounded
Confederacy - 387 killed 1582 wounded
Thomas Jackson becomes known as Stonewall
Jackson.
Lincoln is unhappy with McDowell and replaces him
with George McClellan.
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
September 17, 1862
After their wins at Bull Run, Seven Days, and 2nd
Bull Run, the Confederacy decided to invade the
north.
Confederate general Robert E. Lee planned to
sneak north into Maryland, turn back south, and
invade Washington D.C.
Assigned to protect Washington D.C. was George
McClellan.
McClellan accidentally discovered Lees plans and
attacks.
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
McClellan could have attacked on September 16 and
routed Lees forces. Instead, he spent the day
planning and investigating the terrain.
That whole day the Confederates were reinforcing.
Much of the fighting and dying took place near
Burnsides Bridge and the Sunken Road.
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
Burnsides Bridge
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
Sunken Road Called Bloody Lane
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
One of the largest cannon engagements of the
war. Described as Artillery Hell.
Casualties
Union - 2108 killed 9500 wounded
Confederacy - 1512 killed 7800 wounded
September 17, 1862 - Single bloodiest day in
American history.
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Antietam / Sharpsburg
Lee retreats. McClellan lets Lees forces
escape. This angers Lincoln.
The battle was a draw, but the Union considers it
a win they desperately needed.
Lincoln replaces McClellan with Ambrose Burnside.
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Emancipation Proclamation
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Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln needed a win to issue the Emancipation
Proclamation. Antietam was the win.
5 days after Antietam, Lincoln issues a document
stating that all persons held as slaves in any
state in rebellion against the United States
shall be forever free.
Did not include the border slave states

• Missouri
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Delaware

West Virginia splits from Virginia.
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Fredericksburg
December 13, 1862
Ambrose Burnside did not want to be the leader of
the Union army. Lincoln was convinced that
Burnside would be a great general. Lincoln was
wrong.
Burnside would be remembered for two things the
mistakes at Fredericksburg and his sideburns.
Union troops advanced on the town of
Fredericksburg to attack Robert E. Lees forces.
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Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is situated on the Rappahannock
River.
Union on the east side. Confederates on the west
side in town.
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Fredericksburg
The Union army needed to cross the river to reach
the city.
Burnside Mistake 1 He ordered pontoon bridges.
When they did not arrive on time, he chose to
wait. This gave Lee time to set up an ambush in
town.
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Fredericksburg
After the ambush in town, the Confederates
retreated west of town and up Maryes Heights.
They took up fortifications on the hill behind a
stone wall.
Burnside Mistake 2 He sent the Union army on
suicidal charges up the hill.
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Fredericksburg
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Fredericksburg
The Union was forced to retreat. Luckily, Lees
forces were to beat up to counterattack.
Casualties
Union - 1284 killed 9600 wounded
Confederacy - 608 killed 4116 wounded
Many of the officers at Fredericksburg would meet
again. - Lee, Longstreet, Hill, Early,
Stuart - Hancock, Sickles, Sykes, Chamberlain
It is well that war is terrible, we should grow
to fond of it. - Robert E. Lee
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Fredericksburg
Richard Kirkland - The Angel of Maryes
Heights
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Chancellorsville
May 2, 1863
After Fredericksburg, Burnside was replaced by
Joseph Hooker. Fighting Joe was known as a
ferocious leader. Before the battle, he suddenly
became very cautious.
The Union was camped at Chancellorsville, just
west of Fredericksburg.
As the Confederates (led by Lee) advanced on the
Union camp, Hooker spent the day planning a
double envelopment.
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Chancellorsville
Stonewall Jackson disrupted Hookers plan by
leading a sneak attack on the Unions west flank.
For 2 days, the Union attempted to fend of the
Confederates, but they were forced to retreat by
a force half their size.
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Chancellorsville
May 2
May 3
May 4
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Chancellorsville
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Chancellorsville
Though Hookers caution caused the Union to be
defeated, Lincoln did not replace him. He
remained the leader of the Army of the Potomac
until 2 weeks before Gettysburg.
Despite the victory, the Confederates had their
own loss. As Stonewall Jackson was returning
from a scouting mission, he was mistakenly shot
by his own soldiers. His left arm was amputated
and he died a few days later.
He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my
right. - Robert E. Lee
After Chancellorsville, the Confederates win very
few battles.