Transcript civil war battles

Key Battles of the Civil
War
Grade 8 Social Studies
Southern Victories
Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia seemed
unbeatable during the winter of 1862 – 1863.
He was a superior strategists, seemingly unmatched by
Union generals.
The South defeated the North at the Battle of
Fredericksburg.
Lee defeated Union General Ambrose Burnside.
Fredericksburg
Burnside had more men in his army, but the
Southerners were entrenched.
What does entrenched mean?
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg
So ashamed from the loss, Ambrose Burnside resigned
his position. General Joseph Hooker took the
command of Burnside’s army.
As Hooker looked to rebuild the army and defeat Lee
down the road, Lee looked to mount an attack on
Hooker.
Chancellorsville
In Virginia (as was Fredericksburg), and just a few miles
from Fredericksburg.
Lee tactic was to divide his army. This is truly
unorthodox. There is a phrase often used in battle,
divide and conquer.
Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville
Early in 1863, Lincoln again changed generals, placing the Army
of the Potomac's military machine under Joseph Hooker. Hooker
believed he could trap Lee by attacking him simultaneously from
several directions. Facing a Union force double his size at a
crossroads called Chancellorsville, west of Fredericksburg, Lee
again precariously divided his army. Over the course of the
fighting, which lasted from May 1 until May 6 and included
another Union charge up Marye's Heights, Lee was able to squeeze
the Union forces from two directions and then reunite his troops.
The Confederates captured the most favorable artillery positions,
launched a devastating barrage, then pressed the attack until
Hooker had to pull back. Through surprise and daring, Lee had
turned a vulnerable defensive position into a brilliant tactical
offense. – NYT, click here for link
Chancellorsville
Even the Union prisoners cheered when Lee rode in
front of his troops in this moment of triumph. Yet in
many ways it was an empty victory. More than 20
percent of his soldiers lay on the gory fields, or were
maimed or missing. Stonewall Jackson, wounded
accidentally by his own men, died on May 10. Lee
himself complained that "our loss was severe, and again
we had gained not an inch of ground and the enemy
could not be pursued.” NYT – see link from previous
page
Chancellorsville
Turning Point of the War
Despite heavy loses and the loss of perhaps his best
general, Stonewall Jackson, Lee decided to invade the
North.
The hope was if the South could win a couple battles
in the North, it might be enough to get help from
Britain and France, something they desperately
needed.
Gettysburg
Lee began moving North with 75,000 troops.
Hooker wanted to advance on Richmond, but Lincoln
told him to double-back and chase down Lee. Hooker,
not happy with the decision, was replaced by General
George Meade.
What Lee knew about Meade.
Meade’s mission was to find, fight and destroy Lee’s
army.
Gettysburg
Meeting in Gettysburg was by accident. The battle
began on July 1st, 1863.
3-day battle of Gettysburg began with a surprise cavalry
attack which surprised Rebel infantry, raiding the town
for shoes.
The North fought desperately to hold town, but were
pushed to Cemetery Hill, which was a line of hills
south of Gettysburg.
Gettysburg
Gettysburg Address
Gettyburg Address, by Johnny Cash
What was Lincoln’s message?
Vicksburg
May 18 – July 4, 1863
Vicksburg, MS, stood on a high bluff above the
Mississippi River.
Control of the Mississippi was at stake here.
Gaining control of the Miss. River was a major goal of
the Union.
The Union General in charge, Ulysses S. Grant
Vicksburg
Gettysburg and Vicksburg
Winning these battles on consecutive days was truly
the turning point of the war.
With a partner, discuss why this was the turning point?
Despite the great loses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg,
the South and her people would muster up enough
courage to fight for two more bloody years.
Sherman
The metaphor Sherman through Atlanta is similar to
knife through melted butter.
Sherman ransacking Atlanta and really deflating the
moral of the South.
His attack in Georgia was all part of a larger plan
designed by Grant to attack the Confederates on all
fronts.
The Army of the Potomac would advance to crush Lee
and the Army of Virginia
Sherman in Atlanta
Sherman burning Atlanta