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Americans face the difficult decision of choosing which side to fight for. President Lincoln calls for volunteers to put down the rebellion. False hopes of a quick war give way to the harsh reality of battle, as the First Battle of Bull Run proves to be a turning point. Meanwhile, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia clash in the Eastern Theater, while the Union finds success in the Western Theater under Ulysses S. Grant's leadership. The New Confederate Strategy brings the war to the North.
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Call to Arms • Americans had to decide which side to fight for. Many times pitting Brother against Brother and Father against son.
Call to Arms • President Lincoln ask for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. • Southern men are asked to join and defend the South.
False Hopes • Both sides expect the war to only last a few months. • North and South believes one big victory will force the other to surrender.
First Battle of Bull Run • On July 21, 1861 the first major battle takes place. 35,000 Union 32,500 Southern • Only about 30 miles south of Washington D.C. the North and South finally meet.
First Battle of Bull Run • Spectators from Washington come out to watch the battle with picnic baskets and dressed in their best clothing.
First Battle of Bull Run • Both armies are inexperienced and unprepared. • Soldiers for north and south are wearing blue uniforms causing mass confusion during the battle.
First Battle of Bull Run • Early in the battle the Union forces push the Rebels back. • The Rebels rally behind General Thomas Jackson who earns the nickname “Stonewall” during the battle.
First Battle of Bull Run • The Confederates rally and win the battle forcing the Union soldiers into a full retreat to Washington.
First Battle of Bull RunOUTCOME • Southern Victory • Although casualties seemed horrifying at the time. They were extremely small compared to later battles. • The North was shocked and realized this would be a long war. • The South gained optimism believing they could win.
The Army of the Potomac • The primary army of the Union • Over 100,000 Soldiers
The Army of the Potomac • The commander of the Union forces was George B. McClellan, called “Little Mac” by his men.
The Army of the Potomac • Throughout 1861, McClellan’s goal was to capture Richmond in what was known as the “Peninsula Campaign”. • McClellan’s constant fear to attack and outstanding leadership of Confederate commanders made the campaign a failure.
Army of Northern Virginia • Primary fighting force of the Confederacy • Came under the command of Robert E. Lee in early 1862.
The Western Theater • While the Union was suffering set backs in the east, in the West they were having success.
The Western Theater • February 1862-Ulysses S. Grant led Union armies to victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee on the Cumberland River, a tributary of the Mississippi River.
Battle of Shiloh • Grant now set his sites on the capturing the Confederate railroad center of Corinth, Mississippi. • March of 1862 Grant began to move his army towards Corinth.
Battle of Shiloh • In early April 1862, Grant and his army of 40,000 camped on the banks of the Tennessee River north of Corinth near a small church called Shiloh.
Battle of Shiloh • Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston decided to launch a surprise attack on the Union camp.
Battle of Shiloh • April 6-7, 1862 • Confederates 40,000, Union 51,000
Battle of Shiloh • On the first day of battle the Union is caught off guard and is forced to retreat to the banks of the Tennessee River.
Battle of Shiloh • The worst fighting occurs at the “Hornets’ Nest” where Iowa and Illinois soldiers hold off the Rebels long enough for others to retreat.
Battle of Shiloh • General Johnston tried to rally his troops at the Hornet’s Nest • He gets shot in the leg and bled to death. • He is the highest ranking commander killed in battle on either side during the war.
Battle of Shiloh • On the night of April 6th, Union reinforcements arrive on the Tennessee River. • Grant reorganizes and launches a counterattack the next day.
Battle of Shiloh • The Union wins the battle. • The battle results in over 23,000 casualties, soldiers killed or wounded. • More casualties than all other American conflicts combined up until that point.
Battle of Shiloh • Union forces are able to eventually capture Corinth. • The Confederacy lost an important leader and a key transportation point
The Eastern Theatre • After assuming command of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee leads the Confederate army to victory after victory in early 1862.
The Eastern Theater • Meanwhile, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, kept three Union armies occupied with his small Confederate army of only 17,000
New Confederate Strategy • With mid-term election approaching in November of 1862, Robert E. Lee, riding a string of victories, saw an opportunity to win the war.
New Confederate Strategy • Lee planned to invade the North for two reasons: • Northern farmers were about to harvest crops which he could take to feed his army • He felt one big victory in the North would convince northerners to vote in new representatives that would no longer support the war.
