The Battle Of The Civil War

The American Civil War has become a point of controversy and argument when discussing key events in shaping America. The arguments that arise when discussing the war tend to focus on whether the Confederate was constitutionally justified in seceding, or whether the North had the right to prevent the secession. However, when discussing the America Civil War and the idea of separation, it is important to be mindful that separation did not simply end at the state level. Letters written by Jesse Rolston, Jr. and Jedediah Hotchkiss portray two significantly different attitudes toward the war, despite the fact that the writers both fought for the Confederate States and give accounts of the same battle, one of which ended in the Confederate’s favor. When examining the documents, both writers express different viewpoints on life on and off the battlefield. This significant difference represents a division amongst the Confederate army.

Two forts on the Outer Banks (Fort Clark and Fort Hatteras) had been built by the Confederates, to protect their commerce-raiding activity. But these were lightly-defended, and their artillery could not engage the bombarding fleet under Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham, commandant of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which had been ordered to keep moving, to avoid presenting a static target. Although held up by bad weather, the fleet was able to land troops under General Ben Butler, who took the surrender of Flag

Soon after the Confederates retreat and the battle comes to an end, the Union with the

On Sunday, April 17, 1864 Confederate forces, led by Brigadier General Robert F. Hoke, attacked the Union Garrison at Plymouth. Plymouth was a port held by Union troops which was critical in holding the Roanoke River. In the Civil War era, one of the most effective modes of transmission for supplies was boat. Therefore, the Union’s hold on the Roanoke River and surrounding waterways proved to be a detriment to the Confederate supply lines. Not only was

He desperately realized that there was no possibility to win or gain any type of victory and he was forced to withdraw. The confederate forces started to move disorderly toward the Huntsville Road. The Union Army started attacking in all directions. Sometime about noon, Sigel’s men met Davis’ forces at Elkhorn Tavern.

Grant hesitates to give command on troops marching across the Appomattox River on a cannon barrage that would kill hundreds. Instead of killing the Confederates, he wants to capture them. Lee’s men reach their destination on April 4th at the Amelia Court House after two consecutive days. While General Grant and his men are on the move to cut off Lee, Lincoln is headed for Richmond to finally conquer what he always dreamed of, raising the American flag high over Richmond.

Some of the reasons include the fact that all the cannons at this fort were antiquated, or outdated. In addition to that, the gunpowder that they had was of poor quality. What is more is the fact that the twelve-boat squadron’s captains were very independent and never listened direct orders from Brig. Gen. Johnson K. Duncan. All in all, just like the north was ready to take down the forts and capture the city, the South was soon prepared for any threat to their city.

The union troops exhausted withdrew from the battle. Many battles were fought in the year 1861 and the

There were four Federal vessels in the harbor, the steamer Harriet Lane, which was at the wharf; the brig Westfield, the gun boat Owassee, and the transport Clifton. On the night of December 31 the movement was begun. Magruder and the land forces proceeded from Virginia Point to the island and took a position in the town, in preparation for an early morning attack next day. Before daybreak on New Year’s day, 1863, Magruder opened fire on the Federals and drove them to the extreme northern end of the island. The cottonclads, in the meantime, arrived in the harbor and attacked the Harriet Lane. The Confederate boat Neptune was sunk in shallow water, but the Bayou City approached the Harriet Lane so close that she became entangled in the latter’s rigging. The Confederates leaped on board the Federal vessel and a hand-to-hand struggle ensued. After a stubborn resistance, during which the principal officers of the Harriet Lane were killed, the Federals surrendered. The Westfield, in attempting to leave the harbor, ran aground and, in order to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Confederates a train was laid to blow up the vessel and the crew abandoned her. There was some delay in the explosion and fifteen Federals were sent back on board to investigate and remedy the defect. They had no sooner reached the Westfield than the explosion occurred, and all of the party were killed.

When you hear about the civil war and what caused the feud between the North and the South many people believe it was due to slavery. Too some individuals however, this claim is considered a misconception. James Rhodes was amongst those people who didn’t believe slavery had been the main cause, instead he believed in the Impending Crisis, which was the belief that the cause of the civil war was due to aspects other than slavery such as the difference in views economically, socially, and politically between the colonies. Rhodes stated in his seven-volume History of the United States the Compromise of 1850 that “the moral conflict over slavery, had suggested as well that the struggle also reflected fundamental differences between the Northern and Southern economic systems” (380). The North compared to the South was extremely advanced economically, due to entering the industrial revolution. Northern sectionalists had about two times as much man power as the south, and were open to the idea of advancement in technology such as, railroads and factories. The South was contempt with the life they had been living due to agricultural incomes from products like tobacco and cotton. Money was being made for the South without people having to do anything because slaves had done all the work to make the citizens of the South revenue. This comfort of living is what did not prompt the South to enter the industrial revolution, they rather just stick to the basics

The Civil war was one of the biggest turning points in United States history. The nation’s failure to compromise on the subject of slavery led to an outbreak of war. Battles such as Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Shiloh led to what we know of today as a free nation. Great technological advancements in weaponry led to mass casualties among both north and south, often making death inevitable. Those who bravely served and those who were forced to serve lived a life of fear, starvation, and commitment to battle. Brethren killed each other for the sake of southern slaves. Not only did the soldiers have it rough, but the civilian population suffered hardships as well. Lack of everyday goods made it nearly impossible just to carry on with life. This turning point, the American Civil War, tore apart and further solidified us to the point of where we are today.

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was alive in a very tense time for American History. The Southern States were in a full scale rebellion from the Union now calling themselves The Confederate States of America. The previously unified nation was split into two opposing sides going head to head in a battle to the death, with no end in sight. Starting his career in the US military, Jackson continued on to become one of the most famous generals in the American Civil War. Many historians consider him not only a strong leader, but also one of the greatest tactical commanders in American History (Robertson 11). Gaining his nickname “Stonewall” during the First Bull Run for holding a solid line, and continuing to gain many Confederate victories in the course of the war. Jackson was shot during the Battle of Chancellorsville which required his arm to be amputated and he died several days later to complications with pneumonia. After this his very name became a rallying cry and heroic symbol for the very pride and history of the south.

The Civil War was a war that was thought to would have lasted no longer than ninety days. After all was said and done, the war lasted more than four years and claimed tens of thousands of lives of both The Union and The Confederate States. There were several battles fought on Northern and Southern soil, battles that forced bloody mortal combat between brothers in the fight for equality amongst all men. It tested the strength of the foundation that the United States was built upon. The Civil War was the first war that was documented both by the writings of the men and women involved in the war, and by photographers who were able to capture the true, raw emotion of life on the battlefront. The best way to learn about the Civil war is by exploring and learning about the brave people who sacrificed so much for their respective causes whether it be to liberate slaves from their masters and strengthen the Union, or to defend a newly founded Confederate states who fought to preserve their way of life in South.

The Civil war may have been destined to occur and not avoided, as it was the deadliest war in American History. Even the great President Abraham Lincoln tried to avoid the war, but failed ultimately. An analysis of the events that led to the secession of the southern states and the start of the civil war revealed the differences between the North and South. The outcome of the states seceding is a pivotal moment in American History that showed the true divide and is one of the most important historical moments in the 19th century, as the war was a fight over the way of how American life would be.

Although the Civil War is nearly 150 years the effects are continuously evident. For many the Civil War is still very prevalent in their everyday lives. That being said the effects are different now for different groups of people. For some the war has become a simple part of the past, for others their ties to the war have been warped by time, and still others feel the sting of the war as if it happened yesterday.