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American Civil War Part I 1861-1865

American Civil War Part I 1861-1865. It is well that war is so terrible – we would grow to fond of it. General Lee There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but boys, it is all hell. General Sherman. Reading Assignment.

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American Civil War Part I 1861-1865

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  1. American Civil WarPart I1861-1865 It is well that war is so terrible – we would grow to fond of it. General Lee There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but boys, it is all hell. General Sherman

  2. Reading Assignment • Jones, The Art of War in the Western World, pp. 409 - 418

  3. Learning Objectives • Know the professional development of military officers prior to the war. • Understand the significance of how the organizational makeup of both sides affect their military styles of leadership. • Know the different strategies used by the North and South. • Know the tactical and technological advances that increased combat effectiveness throughout the war. • Be able to identify the major strengths and weaknesses of Grant and Lee’s strategies.

  4. PRIOR TO THE WAR • Professional development of officers. • 1802 West Point is formed • In 55 of 60 largest battles, both sides were commanded by West Pointers. • Artillery and Infantry schools opened. • Professional staff begins in earnest • Greater independence for military leaders. • Politicians focus on strategy and are less involved in operational and tactical decisions. • Mexican War • Many leaders on both sides gain valuable experience. • First great post-Industrial Revolution war.

  5. Roots of Conflict • Slavery ? • States Rights? • Multiple reasons for the war

  6. Beginnings of the Civil War • First great conflict of the Steam Age • The aim of the North was unconditional surrender - total victory • The aim of the South was independence through persistence? • It was a crusade that put to test the military development of the industrial revolution • Therefore, it opened a radically new chapter in the history of war

  7. NORTH 23,000,000 population Industrial economy 109 manufacturing plants 22,000 miles of railroad 90% of industrial power SOUTH 9,000,000 includes 3.5 M slaves Agricultural economy Exports, not food. 31,000 manufacturing plants 9,000 miles of railroad mostly export crops (cotton, tobacco) so food was scarce Coordinated and balanced economy vs. distorted, agriculture-based economy

  8. Military Leadership & Generals • 1,080 officers active • 286 went South (184 from West Point) • 900 West Pointers in civilian sector • 99 joined South • 55 of 60 largest battles were led by West Point graduates • Three most qualified Union generals joined South (Lee and two Johnstons) • Masters of Napoleonic Warfare • Interior lines and turning movements for both offensive and defensive • Problem was that both sides used them and they were able to predict each other’s moves • Emphasis on Engineering as taught at USMA • Generals from both sides trained and had fought together

  9. Union Strategy • Aggressive offensive to crush the rebellion. • Attrition • Gen Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan • Links economics and combat • Blockade and seizure of ports • Implemented piecemeal and half-heartedly • Take Richmond • Thought to be CSA center of gravity. • Ironworks • Urgency (3 month enlistments) • Don’t allow Confederacy to rest. • Napoleonic tactics.

  10. Confederate Strategy • Defend and delay until Union gives up. • Need support/intervention from Europe. • Emancipation Proclamation made foreign support politically unviable. • Used as a strategic “weapon” by Union? • Threaten Washington, and keep the war distanced from Richmond. • Sought decisive battle that would convince the Union it wasn’t worth it (Gettysburg?). • Lee favored tactical defense. • Dug in regiment can tie down a division, allowing the remainder of forces to maneuver and attack.

  11. Inventions/ Innovations • Telegraph • Davis uses to gather forces for Shiloh. • Fredericksburg sees first extensive use on the battlefield. • Railway • Greatly changes logistics and strategic maneuver. • North had good system; South had acceptable quantity, but no standardized track width.

  12. WEAPONS • Rifle (muzzle loader) greatly changes tactics, although most leaders are slow to grasp its impact. • Cold Harbor • 2k dead in twenty minutes, another 5k wounded. • Calvary is not used to charge/exploit, but to scout/skirmish. • reconnaissance

  13. Tactics and Cavalry • Tactics • Few breech loaded or magazine rifles • Almost exclusive use of muzzle loaded rifles • Offensive and defensive entrenchments (Roman like) • Tactical defense was most powerful • Did not agree with European view that heavy cavalry had a role on the battlefield • Cavalry should not charge rifle-armed infantry • Both sides had extensive cavalry units, South had more • Dismounted to fight infantry • Carried Rifles, pistols and sabers • Rifle gave them a dismounted defensive power

  14. Tactics and Cavalry • Cavalry and Strategy • Light Cavalry • Reconnaissance • Raids on railroads and communications • Confederacy halted two major Union advances by raiding their rail communications • Shock Action as a last resort • Calvary on Calvary

  15. The Soldiers • North (semi-regular) • Marched Heavy (60 lbs) • Military rigidity and form of discipline • Maintaining line in open fields • Stay in our range but out of theirs • South (semi-guerrilla) • Marched Light (30-40 lbs) • Independent action on the battlefield • Move forward, back then rush without precision or order sweeping everything in front of them • Stay close to enemy, within our range

  16. JAN - Secession begins in earnest. (SC first state to secede in Dec 1860). FEB - Davis elected and inaugurated MAR- Lincoln inaugurated; Constitution of CSA passed. APR - Ft Sumter seized (12-14 April) MAY- CSA declaration of war passed. JUL - First Bull Run/Manassas (21st) JAN- McClellan fired MAR- Monitor and Merrimac APR- Shiloh; Lee assumes command APR-AUG- Peninsular Campaign SEPT- Antietam; Emancipation Proclamation passed (takes effect Jan ’63). DEC- Fredericksburg 1861 1862

  17. MAY- Chancellorsville/Siege of Vicksburg begins JUN-JUL- Vicksburg falls; Gettysburg SEPT- Chickamauga NOV- Chattanooga FEB- Grant assumes command MAY - Wilderness Campaign JUN - Cold Harbor NOV - Sherman’s March to the Sea; Lincoln re-elected. 1863 1864

  18. 1865 • APR Lee surrenders at Appomattox (9 April); Lincoln assassinated

  19. Grant • West Point – Class of 1843 • Mexican War • Spends first three years in West • Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga • 1864 – Command of all Union forces. • Clausewitzian (even though On War had not been published) • Aggressively seek out and defeat the enemy by finding and destroying his centers of gravity. • Understood and applied “Total War” concept • Economics and combat.

  20. Lee • West Point, Class of 1829 • 2d in class w/ no demerits • Chief of Engineers during Mexican War. • “Very best soldier I ever saw in the field.” Scott • Superintendent of West Point in early 50’s. • Led Marines at Harper’s Ferry. • Offered command of Union forces, but first loyalty was to his state (Virginia). • “I could take no part in an invasion of the Southern states.” • Started war as advisor to President Davis.

  21. Lee • Placed in command in June 1862. • Secrets to success • Inspired incredible loyalty in his troops. • Student of military affairs with extensive practical experience. • Knew his opponents. • Weaknesses • Apathy about the “Big Picture” (politics, Western Campaign). • Lack of clear guidance to subordinates and reluctance to give “course corrections” once battle started.

  22. Impact on Future Conflicts • Expanding battlefield due to new technology. • Defense is favored. • fortification. • Beginnings of trend toward dispersal and increased “individual” combat. • Shift to Total War • Whole government had to be removed for success. • Civil and military “targets”. • Sherman’s March to the Sea. • Emancipation Proclamation.

  23. Summary 1. The professional development of military officers prior to the war.(West Point, Artillery and Infantry schools, & greater independence for military leaders) 2. The significance of how the organizational makeup of both sides affect their military styles of leadership.(Large manufacturing economy vs. Smaller agricultural economy) 3. The different strategies used by the North and South. (North: aggressive attrition style to crush Confederate center of gravity vs. South: Defend and delay strategy until a hopefully decisive victory could be used as leverage on North) 4. The tactical and technological advances that increased combat effectiveness throughout the war.(Rifle, telegraph, and railway) 5. The major strengths and weaknesses of Grant and Lee’s strategies. (Grant:aggressive total war tactics. Lee: experienced, but apathetic about big pic. And unable to modify orders once fight was under way)

  24. Questions?

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