Transcript Exploring_Minnesota_ch._8_ppt

Exploring Minnesota
Chapter 8: The Civil War
Introduction
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On July 4th, 1858 the 32nd star was added to the blue
field of the U.S. Flag – MN
By 1858, many Americans had come to think of their
nation as two separate parts – the North and the South.
Many similarities between the two, but also many
differences.
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North more urban with large factories, South was opposite –
Southern economy depended on the plantation and cash
crops – sugar, tobacco, cotton
Major difference, though, was Slavery.
Land of the Free?
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Division began over 60 years earlier. Prior to
that, both Northerners and Southerners owned
slaves. But as people in the North began to see
slavery as morally wrong, northern states began
to abolish slavery.
Land of the Free?
In the south, farmers depended on slavery for
cheap labor.
Cotton led to a resurgence in slavery. What
invention led to this? Who invented it? -- Extra
Credit!!!!
Southern plantation owners now depended more
on slaves than ever before to pick and process
the cotton.
Land of the Free?
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Many Northerners DID support slavery in the in the sense that
they did not think that the south should have to abolish it and
that runaway slaves should be returned to their “rightful”
owners.
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Most Northerners did agree that they did not want slavery to be
spread into the west as new states were formed. White
southerners did.
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Most Minnesotan’s had mixed feelings as well, until 1860 that is.
Freedom for Eliza Winston
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Eliza Winston was a slave who arrived in St. Paul in the
summer of 1860 with the Richard Christmas family.
Her duties were to care for the family baby and for
sickly Mrs. Mary Christmas.
She knew she was in a free state and could walk away
from her master. But…
Changed when she met Emily and Ralph Grey. Free
African American friends of abolitionist Frederick
Douglass.
Freedom for Eliza Wilson
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The Greys wanted to help Eliza become free. A judge
agreed to hear the case and sent officials to take Eliza
into custody.
Abolitionists were excited as they felt the law was being
enforced.
Some, however, thought that Eliza had been illegally
kidnapped and were afraid that publicity could drive
away Southern visitors who spent good money in the
north (tourists?).
See page 109.
See Dred and Harriet Scott on page
110
Home of the Brave
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By the fall of 1860, many Minnesotans were
turning their attention to politics in joining with
other voters in other Northern states to help
elect Abraham Lincoln as President of the
United States.
Southerners thought Lincoln’s election marked
the end of the Southern way of life and
responded by seceding and forming the
Confederate States of America.
Home of the Brave
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Lincoln responded by saying that he way not allow the
United States to be split in two.
By the spring of 1861, the North and the South (Union
and Confederacy) were at war.
Both sides immediately began to put together armies
with each state expected to contribute soldiers.
MN’s first contribution was a volunteer regiment of
1,009 men. They trained at Fort Snelling and were
known as the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
Regiment.
Charlie Goddard Goes to War
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Charlie Goddard from Winona was 15 years old
when the call came out for volunteers. He
enlisted – lied about his age, had to be 18.
Went to Fort Snelling and trained. On June 22,
1861, the First Minnesota Regiment left Fort
Snelling and headed for Washington D.C.
Goddard has just turned 16.
Charlie Goddard Goes to War
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Wrote to his mother as soon as he reached
Washington.
Regiment went to the first major battle, the first
Battle of Bull Run. Charley had to stay behind.
Minnesota regiment sufffered more losses than
any other Union regiment.
Charlie Goddard Goes to War
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The next fall, Charley was 17.
The Confederate Army invaded the North. The
two sides met near Antietam Creek in Maryland
on September 17, 1862. The bloodiest day in
American history with 26,000 men killed or
wounded. Charley survived but many of his
friends did not.
Charley Goddard Goes to War
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Charley again witnessed the horrors of war at
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during July 1-3 of
1863.
The First Minnesota Regiment played a crucial
role in this battle. See page 113.
160 Minnesotans were killed or wounded on the
2nd day, another 50 on the 3rd.
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The First Minnesota
by Don Troiani
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania -- July 2, 1863
Among the many militia regiments that responded to President Lincoln's call for troops in April 1861 was the
First Minnesota Infantry. As the First Union regiment to volunteer for three years of service, the First
Minnesota fought at the battles of Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. It was, however, during the Battle
of Gettysburg that the First Minnesota played a significant role in American military history. On the morning
of July 2, 1863, the First Minnesota, along with the other units of the II Corps, took its position in the center
of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Late in the day, the Union III Corps, under heavy attack by the
Confederate I Corps, collapsed creating a dangerous gap in the Union line. The advancing Confederate
brigades were in position to breakthrough and then envelope the Union forces. At that critical moment, the
First Minnesota was ordered to attack. Advancing at double time, the Minnesotans charged into the leading
Confederate brigade with unbounded fury. Fighting against overwhelming odds, the heroic Minnesotans gained
the time necessary for the Union line to reform. But the cost was great. Of the 262 members of the regiment
present for duty that morning, only 47 answered the roll that evening. The regiment incurred the highest
casualty rate of any unit in the Civil War. The gallant heritage of the First Minnesota is carried on by the 1st
and 2nd Battalions, 135th Infantry, Minnesota Army National Guard.
Download a high-resolution copy of this print here: [11mb JPG]*
* Use or reproduction of this print by entities other than the U.S. Government is reserved by the artist. Please contact Don
Troiani at HistoricalArtPrints.com.
Charley Goddard Goes to War
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Charley recovered from his wounds and returned to his
company to fight more battles.
Returned to Winona, Minnesota in February 1864
where he died four years later after illness at age 23.
The First Minnesota Regiment was one of 22 MN units
that served during the four years of the Civil War. In
all about 25,000 men of all backgrounds. More than
600 hundred were killed in battle. More than 1800 died
in crowded army and prison camps due to disease.
Land of the Free
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To most Minnesotans the war was a fight to
preserve the Union. However, many began to
see until reason for the conflict – slavery.
Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln on
January 1, 1863 declared that, if the North won,
all slaves would be free.
See page 114
Journey to Freedom
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See Robert Hickman on page 114
In May of 1863, two steamboats arrived in St.
Paul carrying about 300 African Americans.
People reacted differently to this, see page 115.
Journey to Freedom
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The North finally defeated the South in 1865.
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During the war Minnesota saw many positives
but all was not well. See page 115.