Battle of Hampton Roads Essay

bloody and costly years for both sides we come to the date of July 1,

The importance of this raid lay in the fact that they captured much-needed cannons and gunpowder.

     The Battle of Gettysburg was the most decisive battle for the North, and it lasted for a total of three days. It began on July 1 and ended on July 3, 1863. The Confederacy was going on the offensive and was beginning to venture into Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington D.C. They encountered Union troops as they advanced towards Harrisburg where they planned to cut off Union supply lines and to steal provisions that they needed. The Battle of Gettysburg became the bloodiest multi-day battle ever fought in United States history. At the end of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union claimed victory, and they would use this psychological advantage throughout the rest of the Civil War.

The battle of Yorktown was an accidental battle. George Washington was wanting to attack New York with the French fleet. But he found out that the French fleet was sailing for Chesapeake Bay. Washington set up some large brick bread ovens and a large camp to make the British think that Washington’s army was planning on staying. Then Washington let false plans fall into British hands to make them think that Washington was planning an attack. With French general Rochambeau sailing down the river, the French fleet sailing for Chesapeake Bay and Marquis De Lafayette keeping Cornwallis holed up in Yorktown General Washington planned to meet with Rochambeau and Lafayette hoping that the French fleet would be blockading Cornwallis from escape. Clinton

and consisted of 16,500 IX Corps Union soldiers and approximately 9,500 Confederate soldiers.1 Ambrose E. Burnside lead the IX Corps soldiers but

”At the time of the attack I was in my room shaving. The word was passed "Away Fire and Rescue Party;" just as I was leaving my room the second word was passed for all hands to man their General Quartets Stations closely followed by a shock of a hit. I glanced at my clock as I was leaving my room and noticed the time was a few minutes before 8:00 A.M. I started for my station in Radio Central; as I was passing along the third deck up a port ammunition passageway, I felt two more hits. The lights went out in the passageway except for one battle light and two panel lights in the boat crane machinery space. By the time I reached the compartment abreast the armory the ship had picked up a ten to fifteen list to port; there were a couple of battle lights on in this compartment. Water and oil were bubbling up along the junction of the bulkhead and deck of the electrical work shop, port side”(D.L. Westfall)

The Revolutionary War started in 1775. The American colonies have had enough of the British occupants and set their foot down in pursuit to freedom and independence. Each battle that happened during the Revolutionary War had its own significance and contributions to the independence of the colonies. Many brave men laid their lives in pursuit of the dream of independence from British control. One particular battle paved the way for that independence to become a reality. That battle is known as the Battle of Yorktown. The Battle of Yorktown took place in what we know today as Virginia. It was a decisive battle that turned the table during the Revolutionary War. The battle ultimately led to the liberty of the American Colonies from the

"American Revolution : The Battle of Yorktown." American Revolution : The Battle of Yorktown. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-yorktown.htm>.

Moreover, during an extensive struggle on the Morris island, a lot of numbers of torpedoes were being used by the rebels in defense of Fort Wagner. In one of the huge explosions, a corporal of the 3rd colored troops was thrown about 25 yards. “the dead soldier landed entirely naked, with arm resting on the plunger of another torpedo.”

In 1862, the Maryland Campaign ushered a violent battle upon the Antietam Creek. As the first prominent act of savagery in the American Civil War, this battle produced over twenty thousand casualties (National Park 1). Additionally, it revealed the political significance of the American Civil War. Upon its conclusion, the Confederate Army ceased the invasion of the north and Abraham Lincoln issued the original Emancipation Proclamation. Undoubtedly, the Battle of Antietam “decided the fate of the American Civil War” and rendered the abolition of slavery (Marx 20).

The American Revolutionary War took place from 1775 to 1783. The war made the thirteen colonies of the United States of America independent from Great Britain. One of the first major battles of the American Revolution was The Battle of Long Island. The Battle of Long Island was the first battle that took place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776. The battle took place in August 1776 and proved to both sides that the upcoming war would be long and arduous, not easily won by either side. The British Army was victorious in this battle and forced the Continental Army to retreat leaving the entire state of New York under British control. This paper will provide insight and valuable information into the reason behind the American Revolution, and The Battle of Long Island, specifically details concerning the Continental and British Armies, strategies employed during the battle, and an alternate outcome through addressing failures in the American strategy. An alternate outcome to the battle would have a significant impact on the American Revolutionary War.

The Battle of Fredericksburg falls in a long list of failures of the Army of the Potomac during the first year of the American Civil War. Following the Battle of Antietam the Northern Army had the opportunity to defeat Lee’s army. However, Northerners, were shocked by Lee’s escape following this battle on 17 September 1862, and were further upset by Major General George B. McClellan’s procrastination in pursuing Lee and allowing General J.E.B. Stuarts daring cavalry raid into Pennsylvania around Gettysburg (10-12 October 1862). McClellan’s failure to pursue Lee’s Army is mainly due to his own lack of confidence, believing that he doesn’t have enough men or material in order to defeat the Army of Virginia. President Lincoln had finally

The battle of Chancellorsville took place on April 30th to may 6th 1863. It was fought in Chancellorsville, Virginia.This was was fought to stop General Joseph Hooker’s attempt to flank General Lee’s men. In this battle the Union suffered 14,000 and the Confederates suffered 10,000.The Confederates also lost General Jackson, a major loss which will eventually feel the cost of losing him. Over this 7 day battle some major generals were in battle. Some of these names include General Robert E. Lee, Joseph Hooker, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Robert E. Rodes, William Mahone and George Sykes. To start the war General Sykes and General Mahone meet at the orange turnpike. General Sykes men seem to be forcing the the Confederates back. General Rodes

On March 8-9, 1862 the battle of Hampton Road took place as one of the many battles during the Civil War. It was between the Monitor and the Merrimack. It was apart of the Confederate Union to break down the wall of southern ports. It was located of of Sewells Point off of Hampton Road, Virginia. The reason for the battle was because the Union placed a barrier blocking off ocean access for the confederate side. There was a total of six-hundred people dead. One hundred was the Confederate while five-hundred of the Union died. They fought using Ironclad ships, steam-propelled warships. The two ships were called The USS Merrimack and The USS Monitor. The USS Merrimack had been resting at the bottom of the the Elizabeth River and used to be called

The battle starts at the lower bridge over Antietam creek. This battle was now led by General. Burnside instead of McClellan. General Burnside told his soldiers to go down the hill and they all got shot one by one. About 500 people died before General Burnside realized he had to change his plan. Confederates were greatly outnumbered but had a high advantage of being on top of the hill, The Union soldiers were easily picked off as they tried to cross the bridge . General Burnside came up with a plan to sneak around the back and attack. That plan worked perfectly. At the end of this battle ( eleven hours long) there was around 20,000 casualties. McClellan should have ended it, when he has the chance to do so.