The Civil War 1864-1865

1. The Civil War 1864-1865 “Total War” Mr. Wagner

2. Total War

3. Total War - Strategic Overview • By 1864: North attacking all forms of South’s resistance • North targets South’s economy and population • Undermine morale and psyche of South’s entire population • That means: North wages TOTAL WAR on the South, - plain and simple!!! • “Father Time” is slowly beginning to favor the North • Why?

4. South’s Only Chance/Hope • Delay defeat until Nov. 1864 Election • Why? • Friendlier Democratic administration to negotiate treaty terms that may benefit the South or “let them off the hook.” • Lincoln fears the Copperheads • What is a Copperhead? • Members of the Union who opposed the Civil War. Mainly Democrats who wanted a peaceful resolve with the South to end the war • Why does Lincoln fear them during the election? • Because of the Democratic Party’s stated platform position on the war and the way Lincoln has handled his first four years in office

5. Election of 1864 • Lincoln runs for re-election under the National Union Party ticket • Andrew Johnson is his VP candidate • What are the two main political parties we have today in the U.S.? • Republican and Democrat • A very famous man runs for the Democratic Party ticket with a famous Copperhead as his VP candidate • Who is this man? • George B. McClellan and VP Candidate George Pendleton • War Democrats and Peace Democrats • Balance the ticket

6. Democratic National Ticket

7. N.U.P. Propaganda

8. Election of 1864 (cont.) • Lincoln feels he has very little chance of being re-elected to lead the Union • Why? • The war has been dragging on for over four years up until this point with the death toll rising rapidly. The idea of “peace” with the South seems like it could catch fire with the public that the Copperheads have created • “Don’t change horses in the middle of a stream” • Emphasized by Lincoln/Republicans and War Democrats • The fall of Atlanta to Sherman in early Sept. also supplants Lincoln’s re-election over McClellan

9. Election of 1864 Results • Lincoln re-elected • Only 25 states of the Union participate in the election since 11 Southern states had seceeded • Lincoln received 212 Electoral College Votes • Only needed 117 to win • McClellan only received 21 • However, the Popular Vote was closer than one might think • Lincoln received 55% of the populous vote • McClellan received 45% of the populous vote • Over 4,031,000 people voted

10. Populous Vote 1864 by County

11. 1864 – Old Face, New Position • Lincoln’s response to the Copperheads? • Promotes Ulysses S. Grant to General in Chief of the Union Armies on March 10, 1864 • Grant is now a 3-Star General and is the first Lt. Gen. to lead all Armies of the U.S. since George Washington • Grant pursues the Confederate Army on what he deems his multi-front Grand Strategic Plan • How is this different from Grant’s predecessors? • Grant is aggressive like Lee and will openly pursue Lee and not retreat after Lee initially may grab the upper-hand in a battle

12. Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan • Proposes multi-front “grand” strategy (as planned out West) – What exactly is this plan? Any guesses? • Simultaneous Advance on all Southern fronts • Strategy of Exhaustion (West) & Attrition (East)

13. Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan (Cont.) • What is a War of Attrition? • Both sides have similar/equal strength, and each side attempts to force their opponent to surrender by wearing the other down over an extended period of time • Grant to Meade: “Lee’s army is your objective!” • Strategic Deployments of the Plan: • Eastern Theater – Meade’s AOTP pursues Lee’s ANV • Objective: Cut off Richmond’s rail supply from Petersburg • Western Theater – Sherman’s Army advance on Gen. JosephJohnston’s army in the heartland of the South • Objective: Destroy South’s resources used to support Confederate forces – attack logistics and supply lines

14. The Virginia Campaign Strategic Overview 1864-1865 Grant and Meade with 119K troops cross Rapidan on May 4th Conduct series of Flankingmaneuvers and vicious fighting and bloody battles

15. Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864) • Commanders, Troops, and Objectives • Commanders – Grant and Lee • Strengths and Weaknesses • Both highly competent and aggressive • Troops – Union holds nearly a 2:1 advantage in men • Grant – 119,000 • Lee – 64,000 • Objectives – Tactical, Operational, & Strategic • Grant – Turn Lee’s flank & force him to retreat • Destroy Lee’s army & the South’s main instrument to wage war • Lee - Use terrain (thick veg. of Wilderness) to dilute Union’s 2:1 advantage in man power

16. Battle of the Wilderness - Terrain • Lee effectively uses dense vegetation of Wilderness to dilute Grant’s 2:1 advantage in troops • Union Army unable to set skirmish line with troop & artillery batteries

17. Battle of the Wilderness - Results • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Results: • Brief tactical setback for Grant- loss: 17K casualties • Lee takes advantage of thick woods: 10K casualties • No significant operational or strategic change • Possible exception- what happens after: • Grantorders Army of Potomacto continue drive • Instead to withdrawing to regroup & refit • Why? • Army ordered to keep pressure on & flank Lee • Union morale & confidence improve