Summary of the Civil War:
Fought 1861-1865, the American Civil War was the result of decades of sectional tensions between the North and South. Focused on slavery and states rights, these issues came to a head following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Over the next several months eleven southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. During the first two years of the war, Southern troops won numerous victories but saw their fortunes turn after losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in 1863. From then on, Northern forces worked to conqueror the South, forcing them to surrender in April 1865.
Causes & Secession:
The roots of the Civil War can be traced to increasing differences between North and South and
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Lee began to move north into Maryland. McClellan was sent to intercept and met Lee at Antietam.
Despite having a larger force and knowledge of Lee 's positions, McClellan was overcautious and failed to achieve a decisive victory. The win at Antietam permitted Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the South and altered the Union 's war aims. Union engaged Lee near Chancellorsville. Though outnumbered 2-to-1, Lee outmaneuvered them and forced them to retreat.
War in the West, 1861-1863:
In February 1862, forces under Gen. Grant captured Forts Henry & Donelson. Two months later he defeated a Confederate army at Shiloh. Union naval forces captured New Orleans. To the east, Confederate attempted to invade Kentucky, but was repelled at Perryville. He was beaten again at Stones River. Grant now focused his attention on capturing Vicksburg and opening the Mississippi River. After a false start, his troops swept through Mississippi and laid siege to the town in1863.
Turning Points - Gettysburg & Vicksburg:
1863, Lee began to move north towards Pennsylvania with Union troops in pursuit. Following the defeat at Chancellorsville, Lincoln turned to Gen. George Meade to take over the Army of the Potomac. Elements of the two armies clashed at Gettysburg. After three days of heavy fighting, Lee was defeated and forced to retreat. Grant successfully concluded the siege of Vicksburg, opening the Mississippi to shipping and cutting
General Ulysses S. Grant's brilliant siege of Vicksburg had a significant impact on the surrender of the Confederacy. This Vicksburg campaign was significant due to the fact that it basically gave the Union total control of the Mississippi River. This meant the isolation of the West and basically a clear waterway for supplies to reach the Deep South. Once this waterway was open arms, food, and soldiers could be provided for the Union soldiers in the South and open a devastating wound in the heart of the Confederacy. Once Vicksburg had been taken the West would basically be isolated and under the Unions control; in addition Grant could focus on the heart of the South. Once Vicksburg was captured, and Grant advanced
Grant began to make plans for a campaign against Vicksburg. The campaign in the American Civil War culminating in the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863. General Ulysses S. Grant with the largest force, about 67, 000 men. I was to guard rail communications and occupy towns in the Union. It held territory in the west, but he would concentrate on taking Vicksburg. Vicksburg is the last principal confederate bastion on the
On July 1, 1863, the biggest battle of the Civil War started. This most famous and most important Civil War Battle occurred over three hot summer days, July 1 to July 3, 1863, around the small market town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Before the battle, Union general Ulysses S. Grant started a siege of Vicksburg which would shut down the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, major cities in the North such as Philadelphia, Baltimore and even Washington were under threat of attack from General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia which had crossed the Potomac River and marched into Pennsylvania. The Union and Confederate army both had around 75,000 soldiers. With both armies on a collision course, the days leading up to the war were
However the Confederate forces did not fall for the diversion and launched an attack on Grant. During the winter of 1862-1863, Grant conducted the Bayou Expeditions, or amphibious operations, all to try to reduce Vicksburg. Needless to say-they all failed. After months of frustration and failure, Grant had reached a crossroads in his military career. There was a lot of taking in the northern press to remove him from command. Even members of the U.S. cabinet urged President Lincoln to replace Grant as commander of the western army. The President could not spare this man because he fought. He decided to try him a little longer.
The 22nd and 28th Iowa Regiments left Hamburg in June of 1865. Their war was over.
The Confederate army surrendered at the battle of Vicksburg on July 4th 1863. They were sad and ashamed after prolonged violent attacks. This was the end of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. The sad loss of Pemberton's army and the stronghold in Vicksburg on the mighty Mississippi River was very effective in splitting the Confederacy in half.
It can be debated where exactly the Union was able to claim its victory during the War Between the States. Most people could narrow the turning point in the war to Gettysburg and Vicksburg. The battle of Gettysburg was a very tragic loss for the South, but the battle at Vicksburg was the largest victory for the North. In this lone battle, the Union created an economic problem for the South. The Union Army’s troops, helped by gunboats and river ironclads took control over the Mississippi River. This action virtually split the Confederate territory in two while also seizing control over the South 's main artery of transport. When Vicksburg fell to Union troops on July 4, 1863, the Confederacy lost its last chance to control the Mississippi River.
On September third of 1862, General Robert E. Lee commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to enter the state of Maryland. Lee’s army was emboldened with pride,
After suffering a major loss at the battle of Shiloh, general Ulysses S. Grant of the Union army led his army south to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Vicksburg was a major Confederate stronghold that held a large supply of supplies essential to war efforts. The Union controlled a small strip of land beside the Mississippi river, right between Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Taking the stronghold would be vital for the Union to claim control over the Mississippi river, which would be a massive strategic advantage.
Vicksburg was important to our Army(confederates)and well protected.Ulysses went to attack Vicksburg but on the first day our army held strong ,Ulysses did not stop there so that was bad news for us.Ulysses did a six week siege and did not let any supplies in and out and slowly pushed forward. Grant's army crossed the mississippi at port gibson. if the union gets it it's the second part of the anaconda plan.Grant wanted to overwhelm the confederates so he sent troops under Sherman's command. But only a few men were to advance so the grenades were flying back and
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
Grant continued his success in 1863. Ulysses S. Grant and his army captured a Confederate stronghold. The stronghold was located in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As Ulysses S. Grant continued to show his determination and ability to produce results he was promoted. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln decided to have Ulysses S. Grant to be the Lieutenant General of all the United States armies. With this new appointment, Ulysses S. Grant was able to more effectively combat the Confederates. Slowly he was able to successfully wear down the Confederate armies. With hard work and many bloody battles, the Confederate surrender neared. On April 9, 1865, Robert Lee, the general in charge of the Confederate forces surrendered to the Union. This was made official at the Appomattox Court House, which ended the brutal civil
Lee propelled another intrusion of the North toward the beginning of June, assaulting Union powers instructed by General George Meade on July 1 close Gettysburg, in southern Pennsylvania. More than three days of savage battling, the Confederates were not able push through the Union focus, and endured setbacks of near 60 percent. Meade neglected to counterattack, be that as it may, and Lee's outstanding strengths could escape into Virginia, finishing the last Confederate intrusion of the North. Additionally in July 1863, Union powers under Ulysses took Vicksburg (Mississippi), a triumph that would end up being the defining moment of the war in the western theater. After a Confederate triumph at Chickamauga Brook, Georgia, only south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in September, Lincoln extended Concede's summon, and he drove a strengthened Government armed force (counting two corps from the Armed force of
The South outnumbered the North and the North retreated thought Gettysburg. Lee told his men to still attack to finish off the Union troops aka the North. But his men did not so that gave the Union time to dig and get their defence ready.
After bloody grinding battles at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg, Grant finally brought Lee to bay at in April 1865. In the meantime, Union armies and river fleets in the war comprised the slave states that were west of the Appalachian Mountain chain that won a long series of victories over strong factions within the Confederate armies. These factions were commanded by insignificant and unlucky Confederate generals.