The Civil War: 1861

1. The Civil War: 1861 • The first major battle of the Civil War was in Manassas, Virginia. The battle was called The 1st Battle of Bull Run. • The first major battle of the Western Campaign was at Shiloh, Tennessee. • The Confederate commander of the region was General Albert Sydney Johnston.

2. Theaters of War: The West The Western Theater consisted of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. There was some fighting in the other territories and Texas, but nothing of much consequence.

3. Theaters of War: The East The Eastern Theater consisted of Virginia. There was some fighting in the northern states of Maryland, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

4. Albert Sydney Johnston • Jefferson Davis thought he was the best general in the war. • He led the surprise attack against the Union troops. He was wounded behind his right knee. He did not think it was serious, but his boot was filling with blood. • He later died of massive blood loss. This is the tomb of General Johnston. He is seen atop his horse, Fire Eater.

5. North Mississippi • After the Battle of Shiloh, Confederate forces retreated back to Corinth, MS. • Henry Halleck took command of the Union armies and planned to attack Corinth. • Beauregard left Corinth for Tupelo before the Union could attack.

6. River issues • When Beauregard retreated, Memphis fell to Union General U.S. Grant. • New Orleans fell to Admiral David G. Farragut. • This cut the Mississippi River off for Confederate travel of people and goods.

7. Vicksburg is the key! At  the time of the Civil War, the Mississippi River was the single most important economic feature of the continent; the very lifeblood of America. Confederate forces closed the river to navigation. “…and as valuable as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so.” said Lincoln. If the Union could take control of the Mississippi River, no more cattle nor soldiers could come over from Texas.

8. Porter's Fleet Passes the Vicksburg Batteries • On April 16, part of the Union fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David Porter prepared to run by the Vicksburg batteries. • As the boats rounded De Soto Point, above Vicksburg, they were spotted by Confederate lookouts who spread the alarm. • Bales of cotton soaked in turpentine and barrels of tar which lined the shore were set on fire by the Confederates to illuminate the river. • Porter's fleet successfully fought its way past the Confederate batteries.

9. Sterling Price • In September 1861, he led Confederate troops into Iuka, MS and chased Union troops back to Corinth.

10. Union General William T. Sherman • He was the president of LSU before the war. • He fought for Ohio. • He led the assault on Vicksburg (1863) and Meridian (1864). • He was Grant’s top general.

11. The American Civil War Titan Blaster #3: Lincoln said the key to victory was taking Vicksburg. What value was Vicksburg to the Confederacy? Why was the Mississippi River so important to both sides?

12. How Grant won at Vicksburg Grant attacked and won the city of Jackson. His troops moved westward. The Union troops surrounded Vicksburg and laid a siege. Lt. Gen John Pemberton surrendered.

13. The Turning Points • There were three main turning points that led to the South losing the war. • At Chancellorsville, General Stonewall Jackson was mistakenly shot and killed by his own troops. • Shortly thereafter, General Lee lost at Gettysburg, PA. • Vicksburg fell to the Union siege.

14. General Robert E. Lee • Named supreme commander of all Confederate forces. • Only fought in the Eastern Theater. • Is regarded as one of the best generals in world history. • Never fought with more men than his enemy. • Survived the war.

15. General Thomas Jackson • Stonewall. • Instructor at VMI before the war. • Fought for Virginia. • Strong Christian. • Shot by his own men and died a few days later.

16. Sherman marches to Meridian • William T. Sherman left Vicksburg and marched to Meridian where he destroyed the railroad center there.

17. General Earl Van Dorn • Assigned to protect Corinth, Mississippi. • This failed. • He retreated and attacked Grant’s supply lines in Holly Springs. • On May 7, 1863, he was shot at his headquarters in Spring Hill, TN, by Dr. George Peters, who claimed that Van Dorn had carried on an affair with his wife. • Peters was later arrested by Confederate authorities, but was never tried for the killing. He was born in Port Gibson, MS

18. Nathan Bedford Forrest • Cavalry commander from Franklin, Tennessee. • Most feared confederate general • Millionaire before the war • Cut Grant’s supply lines in TN while he was in Vicksburg. • He had no formal training. • After the war he was broke. • He helped establish the Ku Klux Klan to help keep Southern Society from changing. • He worked for the railroad until he died in 1877.

19. The Home Front • Specie was in short supply in The South. • Paper money was printed, but when the Confederacy lost, it was worthless. • Criminal trials were usually brief and ended with a hanging. • Farmers began to grow more corn and wheat instead of cotton. • Fear broke out about slave revolts. • Civilian life became much more difficult. • Bands of outlaws preyed on citizens.

20. Medicine in the 1860’s • More people died due to disease than from fighting. • Doctors had no idea about how bacteria could cause infections. • Infections in arms and legs meant amputation. • Malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid were the biggest killers.

21. End of the War • Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. • It freed all slaves currently being held in the Southern states in rebellion. • The 13th Amendment to the Constitution freed all slaves after the war. • On April 14, 1865 just days after the war ended, President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

22. Black Troops