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Eastern Theatre 1862. 1862 Valley Campaign. Jackson on independent command Infantry nicknamed ‘foot cavalry’ Uses shield of mountains to surprise Federals Defeats 3 armies – Fremont, Banks, Shields. George B. McClellan.
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1862 Valley Campaign • Jackson on independent command • Infantry nicknamed ‘foot cavalry’ • Uses shield of mountains to surprise Federals • Defeats 3 armies – Fremont, Banks, Shields
George B. McClellan • Takes command of Federal Armies after successes in western Virginia • Called “Little Mac” & “Young Napoleon” • Effective organizer • Loved by his troops • Refuses to move until fully prepared
Peninsula Campaign • McClellan floats entire army to James River (400 ships) • Slowly marches toward Richmond • April 1862
Up the Peninsula • Federal army moves slowly • “Prince John” Magruder disguises thin Confederate lines with theatrics • Confederates slowly give ground after small fights at Yorktown and Williamsburg • Federals inch toward Richmond • Confederate government alarmed
Fair Oaks/Seven Pines • Confederates make stand east of Richmond on May 31 • Johnston wounded • McClellan stops to reorganize
Command Change • Lee takes field command: June 1, 1862 • Begins reorganization of Confederate Army • Federals close enough to hear church bells
Robert E. Lee Attacks • Lee launches offensive – The Seven Days Battles • Lee catches half of Federal Army north of swollen Chickahominy River
Stuart’s Ride • Lee authorizes JEB Stuart to take cavalry completely around Army of the Potomac • June 12-15, 1862 • Stuart gains valuable info for Lee’s attack • Stuart would perform the same feat several more times
Peninsula Campaign • Oak Grove 6/25 • Mechanicsville 6/26 • Gaines Mill 6/27 • Savage’s Station 6/29 • Frayser’s Farm & White Oak Swamp 6/30 • Malvern Hill 7/1
Peninsula Campaign • McClellan seeks shelter of James River gunboats & to change base of operations • Lee pursues federals to cut off retreat Malvern Hill Battlefield
Lincoln’s Reorganization • Splits McClellan’s Army of the Potomac • New Army of Virginia under John Pope • Pope bragged that his “headquarters are in the saddle”
Confederate Offensive • Lee immediately moves north to counter Pope’s Army • Engages at Cedar Mountain 8/9 • Second Manassas 8/28-30 • Evaluates invasion
Southern Offensive • Provides new food sources for ANV • Reduces dependence on Virginia farms • Liberates Maryland • Terror creates demand for peace • Southern victory on Northern soil attractive to Britain and/or France
Southern Unionism • Pockets of unionism for those who did not want to secede • Some go north to fight • Some stay home and subvert Confederacy • “Heroes of America” in Eastern Tennessee and Western NC • “Free State of Jones” in Northern Alabama
Battle of Chantilly/Ox Hill • Jackson pursues Pope after 2nd Bull Run • Both sides tired from earlier confrontation • Confederates repelled but two Union generals killed: Phil Kearny & Isaac Stevens • Federals continue retreat toward Washington, DC
Leaves and Desertion • Leave – Soldier reward for good conduct or good excuse • Desertion - AWOL • Recruitment • Keeping up farm • Supporting family • Loneliness
Photography • First American war photographed • Matthew Brady took pictures of most prominent individuals in studio • Alexander Gardner photographed army in the field
The Media • News of war & sketches carried by national papers like Harper’s Weekly and Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News as well as local papers • Artists and reporters sought news around both camps • Sherman regarded reporters as spies Alfred Waud