Union Soldiers in Andersonville Prison |
The Antebellum Period through the Civil War
Monday, February 3, 2014
Andersonville
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and March to Sea
Atlanta Campaign
Sherman ordered the civilian evacuation of Atlanta, and aimed to capture the city for its sentimental value to the South, and to ensure the re-election of Lincoln. Additionally, Atlanta was a major supply hub for the Confederacy. When Sherman took Atlanta, he ordered to burn down the buildings related to military, but much of his army was intoxicated, so private property and homes were also burnt to ash. Around 30-40% of Atlanta was burned. Sherman's men also destroyed the Atlanta's rail lines beyond repair. "Atlanta is ours, and fairly won," William T. Sherman to Abraham Lincoln.Sherman's men destroying Atlanta railroads. Link: www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk |
Remains of Atlanta Depot Link: americanhistory.unomaha.edu |
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman Source: www.wired.com |
March to Sea
Sherman riskily marched to take Savannah, lacking communications, food, and supplies from the North. Instead, Sherman brilliantly took resources from the fields of the South, thus starving the Confederacy and stuffing his troops. He freed all the slaves his army came across with open arms, however, due to the lack of supplies, former slaves who followed his army had to feed themselves. Through Sherman's "Total War" policy, his army aimed to strike fear in the hearts of the Confederate civilians by destroying property, which would help to quicken the end of the war.
Sherman's Total War Policy Source; www.valdosta.edu |
Map of Sherman's March to Sea Source: www.austincc.edu |
These campaigns were successful in demoralizing the Confederate army, destroying Confederate supply lines, inciting dissension throughout the Confederate army, and ensuring Lincoln's reelection. They cost Georgia's economy today's equivalent of $1 Billion.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Battles of Chattanooga and Chickamauga
Major General William Starke Rosecrans Link: www.arlingtoncemetery.net |
marched south into Georgia where they were met by Confederate forces at Chickamauga. The Union retreated in formation back to Chattanooga. From there, General-in-Cheif Ulysses S. Grant established a supply line to resource the upcoming Atlanta Campaign to be led by William T. Sherman.
It's important to note around this time, the Anaconda Plan (blockade of Southern ports) was begin inning to take a major toll on the Confederate forces. The Rebels were technologically set back, because they lacked the knowledge and resources to manufacture the repeater rifles that were now being mass produced in the Union. Some of these repeater rifles could hold up to 16 rounds per magazine, so the Confederacy was essentially fighting against early machine guns with muskets.
Map of the Battle of Chattanooga Link: http://www.posix.com/CWmaps/ |
Hooker at Lookout Mountain (Chattanooga) James Walker Link: americancivilwar.com |
54th Regiment Massachusetts Link: literacyhistoryblog.wordpress.com |
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)
For the second time in the war, General Robert E. Lee marched into Northern territory, this time into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Lee had hopes to surprise the Union army, win the battle, and start peace negotiations or at least receive foreign aid. Lee did surprise the Union army with a bombardment, however, he did not win the battle. What took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the bloodiest battle of the war, amounting to over 50,000 casualties.
Peter Rothermel: Charge of the Pennsylvania Reserves at Plum Run, Battle of Gettysburg Found at: http://19thcenturyusapaint.blogspot.com/2012/09/civil-war.html |
Prior to the battle, the Confederates surrendered Vicksburg. In effect, the Union controlled the Mississippi River and the western theater of the war. Soon after Vicksburg, the Battle of Gettysburg took place, and delivered a major blow to the Army of Northern Virginia (Lee's Army). Now the Confederacy was in a corner, weak, and vulnerable, which is why Gettysburg is considered to be the turning point of the civil war. The result of the battle excited the North, but put the South in dispair.
Interesting Fact: Lincoln did not honorably bury Confederate dead, he only dedicated the cemetery at Gettysburg to the dead of the Union.
Map of the Battle of Gettysburg Found at: www.civilwar.org |
Friday, January 17, 2014
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation. The Strobridge Lith. Co., Cincinnati, c1888. |
addressed slavery by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on January1,1963. The Emancipation freed all slaves in the South, allowed them to join the military, and gave them the right to act in self defense. When the Union troops invaded Southern lands, they freed the slaves and asked the able-bodied slaves join the military (many did join making the proclamation strategically and militarily logical). It's important to note that the Proclamation did not give African descendants the right to vote, nor did it free slaves in the border states (Maryland, Missouri, Deleware, West Virginia,and Kentucky). Those slaves were not free until the 13 amendment. Still, the Emancipation Proclamation was a major stepping stone to completely abolishing slavery.
Left: Recruitment Poster for Black Soldiers Right: Lincoln's Last Warning !0-11-1862 Source: www.archives.gov Source:www.civilwarliterature.com |
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Antietam (September 17,1862)
Battle of Antiedam Source: www.history.army.mil |
Map of the Battle of Antiedam Source: www.civilwaralbum.com |
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12,1961) and the Battle of Bull Run/Manassas (July 21,1861)
Battle of Forth Sumter Source: www.loc.gov |
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first military engagement between the Union and Confederacy. The fort itself is located in the Charleston Harbor, so whoever controlled the fort controlled the flow of imports to South Carolina. Naturally, when South Carolina seceded, they tried to capture the Union forts in their territory. Even though the Rebels captured the fort, this battle united Northerners, and it wa
s the beginning of the Civil War.
The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas was one of the first major engagements in the Civil War. This battle was significant, because it changed the Northern mindset from a glorified, romanticized, overconfident view on war to a brutal, challenging conquest. The Norths sent 30,000 troops with the objective of cutting off Southern railroad lines to Richmond, the Confederate capital. The Rebels cut off the Union with 22,000 troops at Bull Run Creek (hence the name). Northerners even came to have picnics while watching the battle from afar, and were shocked to see the Union losing to what they thought was an easy opponent. In the end, the Union suffered about 3,000 casualties (460 killed) and retreated. The confederates managed to stand their ground until their reinforcements arrived. The Rebels suffered 2,000 casualties (387 dead). The union loss was largely attributed to the lack of experienced, qualified officers. On the other hand, the Confederates had educated officers and a stubborn, fearless commanding general, Stonewall Jackson.
Fort Sumpter Source: news.nationalgeographic.com |
Map of the Battle of Fort Sumter Source: www.civilwar.org |
Battle of Bull Run Found at: www.civalwarcostumes.com |
The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas was one of the first major engagements in the Civil War. This battle was significant, because it changed the Northern mindset from a glorified, romanticized, overconfident view on war to a brutal, challenging conquest. The Norths sent 30,000 troops with the objective of cutting off Southern railroad lines to Richmond, the Confederate capital. The Rebels cut off the Union with 22,000 troops at Bull Run Creek (hence the name). Northerners even came to have picnics while watching the battle from afar, and were shocked to see the Union losing to what they thought was an easy opponent. In the end, the Union suffered about 3,000 casualties (460 killed) and retreated. The confederates managed to stand their ground until their reinforcements arrived. The Rebels suffered 2,000 casualties (387 dead). The union loss was largely attributed to the lack of experienced, qualified officers. On the other hand, the Confederates had educated officers and a stubborn, fearless commanding general, Stonewall Jackson.
Painting of Stonewall Jackson at Bull Run by David Bendann |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)