The Military Stalemate: 1864

1. The Military Stalemate: 1864 Mr. Contipodero American Civil War

2. The Direction • “Whatever happens, there will be no turning back.” • Ulysses S. Grant to Abraham Lincoln, April 1864

3. Morale during the Summer of 1864 • No more reserves • Supplies running low • Southern leaders quarreling over 1863 defeats • Morale remained high on front lines • 3-year infantry enlistments expire • New recruits = decline in fighting quality • More than half of vets reenlisted Confederacy Union

4. Desk General? • 1862 – Lincoln appointed Halleck general in chief of all armies • Wanted a general to coordinate • Grant • Didn’t want to be a desk general • Headquarters with Army of the Potomac

5. Grant’s Belief • Armies of the past 1861-1863 • Acted independently • Not a team…not pulling together for the cause • Allowed Confederates to shift troops to meet pressing danger

6. Grant’s Way • Armies work simultaneously on multiple fronts • Issued orders to five Union armies across 1,000 miles of front • Campaigns ready for the spring of 1864

7. The Wilderness • Army of the Potomac • Suffered more casualties than any other period of the war • Grant forced Lee’s troops out of trenches • Lee hit the Union in the Wilderness • Numerical and artillery superiority meant nothing in the Wilderness

8. Wilderness

9. The Wilderness • Soldiers seldom saw their enemies • Whole brigades got lost in forest • Underbrush fires: many wounded burned to death

10. More Confusion • Confederates pushing Federals back • General Longstreet corps surprised attacked General Hancock exposed flank • Longstreet shot accidently by his own men • Confederates still pushing forward on multiple flanks

11. Similar to Chancellorsville • Grant was no Joe Hooker • Grant stabilized the Union right • Both armies exhausted • 2 days = 17,000 casualties Union / 11,000 CSA • When most Union soldiers thought retreat… • They marched southward the next day • Morale was high!

12. Battles of Spotsylvania • Grant’s troops lost the race to Spotsylvania • Why is this significant? • Spotsylvania provides safe grounds for communications • Union Army would’ve been between Lee and Richmond • Force Lee to fight on open ground

13. Emory Upton • 24-year old Colonel • Achieved temporary break-through of Confederate center line • Organized 12 regiments into 4 compact lines under cover of woods • Ran across “No Man’s Land” • Temporary success

14. More in Spotsylvania • Grant used Upton’s strategy • “Bloody Angle” • Some of the most savage fighting in the war • Hours of fighting in the rain • Trenches lie men 3 deep • 7,000 casualties per side

15. Strategy • How could Grant keep fighting with high casualty rates? • Generals Butler and Sigel disrupt Lee’s supply lines • Rebels would have to come out of trenches and fight or retreat • Sheridan and Union cavalry destroy supply depots • Tore up miles of track, kill CSA generals, broke through Richmond defenses

16. From Spotsylvania to Cold Harbor • Butler and Sigel did not accomplish goals • Lee moved troops behind North Anna River • Grant moved west to turn Lee’s flank • Ordered an all out attack on Lee but troops were not ready • Postponed for 24 hours – gave CSA time to prepare

17. Cold Harbor

18. Cold Harbor Defeat • Name tags on soldiers – death looming • June 3rd attack • One of the most costly failures of the war • “I regret this assault more than any one I have ever ordered.” – Grant • CSA = 1500 casualties / 7,000 Union

19. Grant and Sherman • http://www.history.com/videos/grant-and-sherman-unlikely-leaders