Ch.17 The Civil War

1. Ch.17 The Civil War Section 2

2. How did both sides in the war try to gain an advantage over the other? After the First Battle of Bull Run, both the North and the South knew a difficult struggle lay ahead. Both sides searched to find the leaders and the strategies that would ensure victory.

3. New technology made the Civil War deadlier than any previous war. New rifles and cannonswere faster to load, more accurate, and had better range. Thousand of soldiers diedby following orders to cross open fields against these new weapons. Generals on both sides were slow to adapt to the new technologies.

4. Both sides also used warships covered with protective iron plates, called ironclads. Confederates used ironclads against Union blockades, while Union ironclads helped gain control of the Mississippi.

5. After the Union defeat at Bull Run, President Lincoln placed GeneralGeorge McClellan in command. McClellan trained his troops for seven months. Lincoln was frustrated by the delay. McClellan finally moved toward Richmond in March 1862, but he paused again to ask for reinforcements.

6. McClellan’s delay gave the Confederates time to prepare. In May 1862, Confederate troops stopped McClellan’s advance near Richmond. Although Union soldiers had been better trained, they were forced to retreat.

7. Both sides responded to the Confederate victory at Richmond. McClellan discovered Lee’s plan. He also learned that Lee’s army was split into two parts. Lee decided to invade the North. He hoped a victory there would gain him support in Europe.

8. McClellan attacked the larger part of Lee’s army in the Battle of Antietam. Both sides suffered huge casualties. Lee’s troops retreated. Lincoln was upset that McClellan did not pursue Lee.

9. The Battle of Antietamwas the bloodiest day of the Civil War for both Union and Confederate troops.

10. Meanwhile, Union armies in the West went on the attack under the command of Ulysses S. Grant. Grant and McClellan were very different. McClellan was cautiousand wore carefully fitted uniforms. Grant wore rumpled clothes and took chances.

11. Union forces made major advances in western land and naval battles in 1862. They took control of most of the Mississippi River. Grant’s army then marched toward a railroad center at Corinth.

12. Before Grant could reach Corinth, he was attacked by Confederate forces in Shiloh.

13. The Battle of Shilohwas costly yet important for both sides. The Southsuffered nearly 11,000 casualties. The Northlost more than 13,000 soldiers. Union forces gained control of western Tennesseeand part of the Mississippi River.

14. Two weeks later, a Union fleet led by David Farragut captured New Orleans, Louisiana. By the summer of 1862, Union forces had gained control of the entire Mississippi River. The Union hoped that its great progress in the West would be enough to win the war.