Lincoln's War Strategy and Emancipation

1. Chapter 21 Lincoln called for volunteers and he thought for just 90 days Lincoln wanted a limited war that would not interfere with slavery Quick War Bull Run 30,000 Union forces drilling near DC in summer of 1861-not prepared for battle yet Lincoln ordered action-Bull run & on to Richmond July 21, 1861 battle started off well for Union-Stonewall Jackson’s men held firm and reinforcements came-Panic hit the Union and they fled Victory bad for the South/Good for North

2. McClellan • McClellan put in charge of Army of the Patomac-great organizer and drill master-didn’t like battle • Always thought enemy outnumbered him-poor intelligence-degrading to Lincoln-Finally ordered to act • Peninsular Campaign-Spring of 1862 McClellan inched towards Richmond w/ 100,000 • Lincoln diverted McClellan’s forces to to chase “Stonewall” from DC • Lee launched an attack-7 Day’s Battle-June 26-July 1862-Drove McClellan back to sea-Lee lost 20,000-McClellan 10,000 • McClellan replaced • Lee saved the South & slavery temporarily-War would drag on and the war would eventually be over slavery-Lincoln began to draft Emancipation

3. 6 Part Strategy • Suffocate South, Liberate Slaves to undermine economy of South, Cut Confederacy in half by taking Mississippi, Chop Confederacy into pieces, Decapitate by taking capital, try to engage enemy & grind to submission War at Sea • Blockade started leakily-simplified by concentrating on main ports • Britain warned its shippers & told them to go at their own peril • Did not want to hurt future blockades • Merrimack/Monitor

4. Antietam • Lee moved northward-2nd Bull Run-Aug. 1862-blasted Gen Pope’s troops & thrust into Maryland • Lincoln reinstated McClellan-2 Union soldiers found a copy of Confederate plans-halted Lee at Antietam Sept. 1862 • The Battle of militarily a draw-Bloodiest 1 day battle of the war-McClellan did not pursue Lee and fired again • Decisive battle as England and France were ready to join until Union showed some success at Antietam • Long awaited victory for Lincoln also as he was waiting to make public the Emancipation Proclamation-Official document released Jan. 1, 1863-Changed the scope of the war.

5. Emancipation Proclamation • Slaves in states in rebellion forever free • Border States? • Did the Act free anyone? • Slaves flocked to invading Union-strengthened moral cause of the Union-foreshadowed the doom of slavery-13th Amendment-1865 • No negotiated settlement-fight to the finish • Some opposition in North-desertions increased-Republicans lost seats in the off-year elections • No future European aid for South

6. Blacks Battle Bondage • Lincoln took steps to enlist blacks • Some protests-180,000 served by end of war-most from slave states-10% of total enlistments for Union • Hearts in the war-500 engagements-22 medals of honor-38,000 died-most captured were put to death-not until 1864 did South treat as prisoners of war • Confederacy would not enlist blacks until one month before the war ended-tens of thousands forced into labor battalions • Many slaves fled plantations-especially as Union moved through

7. Gettysburg • Replaced McClellan w/Burnside-frontal attack at Fredericksburg failed-Dec. 1862-over 10,000 Union casualties • Burnside replaced by Hooker-Chancellorsville May 2-4, 1863-Lee divided forces & sent Jackson to Hooker’s flank-Success! Jackson killed • Lee decided to invade the North again-Pennsylvania • George Meade replaces Hooker & takes position on a low ridge near Gettysburg-92,000 Union & 76,000 Confederates • Disaster for the South-began sending peace feelers • Address by Lincoln

8. War in West • The Fighter U.S. Grant • Captured Fts. Henry and Donelson in Tennessee in Feb, 1862-secured Kentucky • Went after main N/S-E/W railway junction at Corinth, Mississippi • Confederate forces stopped him at Shiloh April 6-7, 1862 • Spring 1862 Farragut & North Navy seized N. Orleans • Narrow entrance to Eastern Confederacy-Through Vicksbug, Mississippi came cattle and vital supplies • Grant given command of forces attacking Vicksburg-surrendered July 4, 1863-South severed-1 day after Gettysburg • Helped to shut up Northern peace protesters

9. Sherman and Georgia • Grant transferred to East-by end of 1863 Grant had liberated Tennessee & opened path to Georgia-made General in Chief • W.T. Sherman took over Georgia-captured Atlanta in Sept, 1864 & burned city to the ground • Left supply lines and lived off the land • 60,000 forces cut a 60 mile wide swath of destruction • Wanted to destroy the Confederate supply lines and weaken morale • “Total War”-Lack of discipline at times • After Savannah-headed to S. Carolina & was even more destructive-burned Columbia-ended in N. Carolina when war ended

10. Politics of War • 1864 Election-Lincoln had problems w/in his own party • Radical wing was constantly challenging him-Conduct of War • Salmon P. Chase • Northern Democrats dangerous also-some associated with secessionists • Extremists were “Copperheads”-attacked war and even more after emancipation

11. Election of 1864 • Lincoln needed to keep Republican support-joined with War Democrats and proclaimed the Union Party-Lincoln nominated over Chase • Running mate-Andrew Johnson? • McClellan nominated by “Copperheads”(Dems) • Reelection in doubt-war not going well-atmosphere changed-Atlanta key!! • Lincoln won close election(Popular vote) • When Lincoln won-desertions piled up for Confederacy

12. Grant Outlasts Lee • Lincoln needed a general who would pursue-Grant was the man • Wilderness Campaign-huge casualties-poor decisions? • Confederates sent more peace feelers-Lincoln would accept nothing but Union and Emancipation • End came quickly-Union captured Richmond & cornered Lee • April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, VA- Confederates surrendered

13. Assassination of Lincoln • April 14, 1865-famous in death • Most southerners came to realize his importance in death • Same fate as Johnson-Why not? Aftermath • 600,000 dead, over 1 million killed or seriously wounded • Lost future leaders • Lost $15 billion-total cannot be calculated • Federal govnmnt stronger than ever • Country could endure-Democracy & Liberalism remained • Proved itself-by 1867 Britain became a true democracy • Slavery abolished • Laid the groundwork for equality and freedom to continue to be granted