Transcript Napoleonic Tactics Napoleonic Tacticsx

Do Now– 05/07
Observe the picture on your desk and draw as
many conclusions as you can about:
How men (and a very few women) fought during
the Civil War? And
What it was like to be there?
DON’T FORGET YOUR HOMEWORK!!! DUE MON.
Today we are going to discuss how the
ways militaries fought changed during
the Civil War due to better technology
and evolving tactics.
POINT 1: WEAPONS
Muskets– before the Civil War
Similar to a rifle
One bullet per reload
Muzzle loading (load from the front of the gun
barrel)
300 ft. range
BAYONET
Cavalry
If you have cavalry, bayonets, and guns with
poor range and limited accuracy– what will the
fighting look like?
Napoleonic Tactics
Using Napoleonic Tactics (considered the best
tactics at the time) meant if you wanted to
take another army’s position, you charged at
them out in the open, colliding with them and
using the momentum of your charge to
overtake them and their position.
Fighting from behind barriers was seen as
cowardly, unmanly and unsportsmanlike.
New technology for Muskets during
Civil War
Repeating rifles– multiple bullets!
900 foot range
Artillery
The new technology meant longer range and
more shots.
When an army charges, the receiving army
gets 5-6 shots off before the approaching army
can get close to them.
The artillery can shot farther, and cuts into any
charging army.
How do you think this technology will change
the use of Napoleonic Tactics?
POINT 2: POSITION
Go back to page 2, what is the casualty
count for the Union vs. the Confederacy
at the Battle of Fredericksburg?
Why is there a huge difference?
What advantage did the CSA have in this
battle?
Who wins? Why?
RETURN TO CIVIL WAR:
1863
Robert E. Lee– Southern Commadner
• Getting very confident.
• Wants to encourage the peace
movement in the North.
• Wants to give war-torn Virginia a
break.
• Where does he go?
The Battle of Gettysburg
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
• JULY 1-3rd 1863
• Just outside of town of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania.
• CSA Leaders Present: Lee, Longstreet, Davis,
Pickett.
• USA Leaders Present: New commander: Meade.
• First two days are inconsequential.
• Takes us to July 3rd!
The North is firmly placed on Cemetery Hill.
Lee wants to take the offensive, it has worked time
after time, he believes his men can do it.
Longstreet (a general under Lee) argues, tells Lee its
not smart, he shouldn’t do, the casualty count will
be too high.
Lee orders Pickett to send his men, under Davis’
command, forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbTY-ryeBpo
Do Now– 05/08
1) What was Pickett’s Charge?
2) How does the failure show how old
school tactics don’t work with new
technologies?
During Pickett’s charge the Confederates
suffered thousands of casualties. The Union had
about 400.
Had Pickett’s charge been successful– how
different could the war have been?
After the battle
South– forced back to VA. Lost 1/3rd of
forces, will never be in North again.
North– the rest of the Civil War will be fought
in the South. The North will not have to deal
with the destruction again.
Meade– didn’t pursue Lee’s forces.
Dismissed… not clear that he could have, but
Lincoln is tired of ineffective generals….
Battle of Gettysburg
Union
Confederate
Total
killed
3,150
4,400
7,550
wounded
14,500
12,950
27,450
missing
5,165
5,350
10,515
total
22,815
22,700
45,515
GETTYSBURG RESULTS
USA– of 88,000 troops there, 23,000 casualties.
26.1 % of their forces.
CSA– of 75,000 troops there, 28,000 casualties.
37.3 % of their forces
RESULTS CONTINUED…
51,000 casualties– 7,500 dead United States citizens.
The population of the USA was 31 million at the time.
In percentage terms– it is the equivalent of 74 million
casualties today (315 million people).