Chapter 17 The Civil War (1861-1865)

Lesson 4 The Strain of War

Battle of Fredericksburg

• After Antietam, Lee retreated to Virginia
• General Burnside, marched his troops toward the Confederate capital at Richmond
• Lee intercepted the troops at Fredericksburg
• Lee moved to a hill and then had trenches built so they could fire down on the enemy
• The army would be protected
• December 13, 1862- Lee’s entrenched forces easily drove back the Union troops
• Burnside resigned and was replaced by General Joseph Hooker

After Fredericksburg

• May 1863- Lee split his men in response to Hooker doing the same thing
• Even though Hooker had twice as many men
• Some Confederate troops stayed to defend Fredericksburg, and some confronted the main Union forces at Chancellorsville
• A third group, under Stonewall Jackson, caught the Union by surprise
• Stonewall Jackson marched around the side of Hooker’s position

Battle of Chancellorsville

• Suddenly, Jackson’s army attacked the Union forces at the rear
• At the same time, Lee struck from the front
• The Union was sandwiched between the two Confederate forces
• Hooker withdrew his men
• One of the Confederate companies fired on Stonewall Jackson’s company by mistake
• Jackson was wounded in the left arm
• Jackson’s arm had to be amputated, and he died a week later

Weak Union Generals

• The Union had 3 different Generals in less than a year
• McClellan was reluctant to engage the enemy
• Lincoln said “If McClellan doesn’t want to use the army, I’d like to borrow it for a while”
• McClellan didn’t follow the retreating Confederate troops (Antietam) into Virginia
• After McClellan was Burnside (Loss at Fredericksburg)
• Then Lincoln appointed Joseph Hooker (Loss at Chancellorsville)
• Hooker resigned within 2 months
• Major General George Meade took command

African Americans in the War

• At first, neither side allowed African Americans to fight
• The North soon relaxed its rules
• African Americans made up 30% of the South’s population
• Confederate leaders feared African Americans would attack their fellow troops
• Or begin a revolt

In the North

• The North needed more soldiers, so Lincoln allowed African Americans to serve
• Congress allowed the formation of all-African American regiments
• Southern troops hated the African American troops and focused their fiercest gunfire on African American regiments
• By the end of the war, they comprised about 10% of the Union army
• These men fought hard and effectively

The 54^th Massachusetts

• Best known African American regiment
• 1863- Took part in the siege of Fort Wagner in South Carolina
• On the front lines
• Had nearly 300 casualties in this regiment alone
• Nevertheless, the soldiers bravely fought on
• The Union could not capture the fort
• The 54^th became famous for the courage and sacrifice of its members

Going to the North

• Spring 1863- The South had the upper hand
• Union loss at Chancellorsville ruined their plan for taking Richmond
• Robert E. Lee decided to take the war to the North to impress Britain and France
• The South recalled the Revolutionary War- Getting help from the French
• France and Britain missed the goods the South provided (Mainly cotton)
• If the South could win here, these nations might help

Battle of Gettysburg

• Confederates entered Gettysburg, Pennsylvania looking for supplies
• General Lee hoped to avoid fighting in an unfamiliar area
• But the two sides encountered one another
• After 4 days of fighting, the Confederates had 25,000 casualties and the Union had 23,000
• The battle started at 5:30 A.M. on July 1

Battle of Gettysburg Continued

• The Union troops were outnumbered and retreated to Cemetery Ridge
• Reinforcements for both sides arrived
• On the second day of fighting, Southern generals tried to remove Union forces from hills called Round Top and Little Round Top
• Union Troops under General Meade held their positions
• That night Meade made the decision not to retreat
• The next day Lee order an attack designed to “create a panic and virtually destroy the [Union] army”

Results of Gettysburg

• The Confederates started by firing nearly 140 cannons at Union lines
• The under General George Pickett, 1000s of Confederates attacked the Union’s center position
• They advanced across open land
• At first, it seemed Pickett’s Charge might work- the Confederates broke the Union’s first line
• In the end 75% of those that charged were dead or wounded
• Gettysburg put an end to hopes that Britain and France would help

The Vicksburg Siege

• July 4^th, 1863- Lee retreated from Gettysburg
• Also on the same day the important river city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, fell to the Union under Grant
• In May, Grant began the siege with 30,000
• Blockading it to prevent food and supplies from entering
• Then the Union gunships on the river supported Grants 77,000 troops by firing 1000s of mortar shells into the city

Battle of Vicksburg

• 47 days- Both sides had many casualties
• 9,000 Confederate/10,000 Union deaths
• Fewer than 20 civilians were killed in the siege
• A few days later, the South lost Port Hudson in Louisiana- The last stronghold on the Mississippi
• The Anaconda Plan had worked
• Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas were now cut off
• July 1863 was a major turning point

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

• November 19, 1863- Soldiers’ National Cemetery was dedicated at Gettysburg
• Former Mass. Governor Edward Everett delivered a two-hour speech
• Then it was Lincoln’s turn
• Lincoln spoke for about 2 minute (272 words)
• Lincoln was able to honor the soldiers and the cause, as well as state his vision for the country
• “These dead shall not have died in vain”
• Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”

Chapter 17 Lesson 4 Quiz

General Stonewall Jackson was killed at Chancellorsville by a fall from his horse.

1. True
2. False

Lincoln replaced McClellan with General Ambrose Burnside.

1. True
2. False

The Union army was comprised of mostly African American soldiers.

1. True
2. False

The Gettysburg Address was given at a ceremony to dedicate a cemetery.

1. True
2. False

The 54th Massachusetts was an all female regiment.

1. True
2. False

Which of the following did not lead the Union forces?

1. George McClellan
2. Ambrose Burnside
3. Joseph Hooker
4. Robert E. Lee

General Lee hoped that a win in the North might impress

1. France and Spain.
2. Spain and Britain.
3. Britain and France.
4. Spain and Germany.

General Grant led a 47-day siege against

1. Port Hudson, Louisiana
2. Vicksburg, Mississippi
3. Atlanta, Georgia
4. Mobile, Alabama

By the end of the war, African American volunteers made up nearly what percentage of the Union army?

1. 20 percent
2. 10 percent
3. 100 percent
4. 50 percent

President Lincoln’s address at what battlefield helped war-weary Americans focus on their shared ideals?

1. Vicksburg
2. Chancellorsville
3. Shiloh
4. Gettysburg