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MH-7: Total War 1864-1865

MH-7: Total War 1864-1865. The Civil War –Total War (1864-65) Strategic Overview:. By 1864: North attacking all forms of South ’s resistance : Military targets & field Armies prime tactical objective Also target South’s economy & population

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MH-7: Total War 1864-1865

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  1. MH-7: Total War 1864-1865

  2. The Civil War –Total War (1864-65)Strategic Overview: • By 1864: North attacking all forms of South’s resistance: • Military targets & field Armies prime tactical objective • Also target South’s economy & population • Undermine morale & psyche of South’s entire population; • That is: North wages Total War, plan & simple! • Unmatched in Europe – even during Napoleonic wars

  3. Military Perspective • From strictly military perspective – • South was beaten: • Time favored North’s side – (to a point) - why? • Must maintain political will of the people (& the voters) • South’s only chance & hope? • Delay defeat until the Nov 1864 election – Why? • Friendlier Democratic admin to negotiate treaty terms • North was also weary of war: • Lincoln particularly concerned about copperheads • Democratic candidate’s stated platform position • Lincoln's response?

  4. Lincoln's response • Promotes ?____________ to General in Chief • Commands all Union Armies as a three star General • The first LT General since George Washington • Grant takes firm control of Union Army • Pursues multi-front grand strategy: • In stark contrast to all his predecessors – how? • Demonstrated by Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan

  5. Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan • Grant’sGrand Strategic Plan(Map overview): • Grant proposes multi-front grand strategy (as planned out West) • Simultaneous advance on all Southern fronts • Strategy of “Exhaustion” (West) & “Attrition”(East- Lincoln) • Aim: Press South on all fronts & deny Logistics & LOCs • Operationally: Preclude South’s use of its interior LOCs • (How were LOCs used in past campaigns by South?)

  6. Strategic, Operational, & Tactical objectives • Grant to Meade: “Lee’s Army is your Objective.” • Union Army: destroy all of South’s main armed forces: • Strategy of attritionvice taking & holding ground; • (simply put: Kill the enemy & destroy his army); • Also- destroy South’s resources used to support forces: • Armies now too big to completely destroy in battle; • Therefore –must attack & destroy logistics & supply • Plus: destroy South’s means & ability to supply • Accordingly - use all available means & troops to do it: • Include all detachments & garrison troops; • Offensive advance vice garrison defense; • Grant: best defense is aggressive offense

  7. Union’s Strategic Plans • North’s planned Strategic Deployments: • Two major Union Armies advance simultaneously: • Meade’sArmy of Potomac (AOP); • Sherman’sCombined Army of Cumberland, TN, OH

  8. Strategic Deployments- The East • Eastern Theater: Meade’s Army pursues Lee’s • Siegleadvances up Shenandoah (fails by 15 May) • Defeated at Battle of New Market; • Butlerto conduct amphibious assault & press Richmond • Objective: cut off Richmond’s rail supply from Petersburg • Butler soon became stalled, cut-off, & neutralized – soon a liability

  9. Strategic Deployments- The West • Western Theater: Shermanadvances on Johnston • Banksto advance to Mobile,Alabama • Mobile’s port a key military aim • Banks’ army diverted instead to Red River Valley • (Due to political considerations & influence) • Red River Valley of little strategic military significance • (By early April Banks defeated anyway!)

  10. 1864 Campaigns- Strategic Overview • Main Union Armies step off in early May, 1864: • Examine Eastern Theater Operations first

  11. Eastern Theater Operations- 1864-65Strategic Overview Let’s examine Grant’s (Meade’s) final campaign in Virginia

  12. The Virginia Campaign Strategic Overview 1864-1865 Grant & Meade w/119K troops cross Rapidan on 4 May Conduct series of flanking maneuvers& vicious fighting &Bloody battles

  13. Battle of The WildernessCommanders, Troops & Their objectives • Commanders’ strengths & weaknesses: • Grantvs. Lee: Both highly competent & aggressive • Force dispositions: • Grant – 119K; • Lee - w/64K to West of Union Army • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Objectives: • Grant:Turn Lee’s flank & compel retreat • Destroy Lee’s Army & South’s instrument for waging war • Lee: Get there first & keep Union Army outside LOC • Use terrain (thick veg. of Wilderness) to dilute Union numbers

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

  15. Battle of The Wilderness- execution • Lee attacks 2 Union corps with intensity • Marched through narrow lanes of Wilderness & attacks • Ferocity of fighting takes Grant momentarily taken aback • Grant gets unwelcome advice • Instructs his commanders to take more initiative • Continues flanking movement to South around Lee’s RF • Lee forced to react on inside track

  16. 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: • Grant orders Army of Potomac to continue drive • Instead to withdrawing to regroup & refit • Army ordered to keep pressure on & flank Lee • Union morale & confidence improve

  17. Battle of Spotsylvania Court House • Grant continues flanking move 10 miles SE (Map)=> • Tactical & Operational objectives: • Union: Take key crossroads; • Interpose AOPbetween Lee & Richmond • South: advance element beats Union to this tactical objective: • Hold until reinforced by Lee

  18. Battle of Spotsylvania • Engagements & Execution Overview: • Lee fights from strong entrenched position; • 12 days of bitter, inconclusive fighting; • Grant struggles to penetrate Lee’s lines

  19. Battle of Spotsylvania- New Tactic • Emory Upton’s tactical innovation? • Division charge in ?______________ formation: • Muskets uncapped (except for front rank); • Achieve temporary penetration achieved in Rebel line • But Upton is unsupported & forced to withdraw • Grant is impressed – employs same tactic w/entire corps: • Muleshoe salient broken – 4K POWscaptured

  20. Battle of Spotsylvania -counterattack • Lee counterattacks to plug hole left by Muleshoe: • Fierce firefights & hand to hand fighting ensues • Lee restores new entrenchment line across baseline • Standoff develops & Lee is reinforced by 8500

  21. Battle of Spotsylvania - results • Grant attacks Lee’s left center but is repulsed • Tactical stalemate ensues • Nevertheless,Grant maintains initiative over Lee • Possesses both capacity & will to win • (In stark contrast to his predecessors) • Grant decides to move again while Lee follows: • (Exact reverse of original Unionoperationalobjective) • Troop morale of Army of Potomac remains good • Next move: south to North Anna River

  22. Battle of North Anna River • Grant continues south to North Anna River • Lee’s advance forces arrive first & quickly set up defense • Establish strong defensive position at Oxford ford • After fruitless skirmish Grant moves back across river • Slides southeast once again around Lee’s right flank

  23. Battle of Cold Harbor • Background: Series of small actions ensue: • Grant attempts to flankLee’s right once again • Lee anticipates & moves quicker than Grant • Six week’s of continuous engagements occur • (This series breaks previous Civil War battle patterns): • Pattern: high casualties & no clear victory: • Union: 55,000 KIA,WIA, & MIA • South: 20,000+ • Troops dig in at every opportunity • Tactical defense becomes the most favored tactic of the troops

  24. Battle of Cold Harbor-Strategy & Tactics & Execution • Tactical & Operational objectives: • Exploit perceived weak point in Lee’s line; • DestroyLee’s army; • Op. Deployment: • Grant deploys to within 7 miles of Richmond • Execution Overview: • Grant makes series of early am frontal assaults on Lee; • Lee strongly entrenched and repulses all Grant’s attempts

  25. Battle of Cold Harbor- results • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Results: • Total waste of troops for no positive gain • Union forced to abort continued assaults • Grant’s casualties: 7000 (3500 during main attack) • Lee’s casualties: 1500 • Greater appreciation on both sides gained for tactical defense • Grant would later come to regret making the assault • Determined to find another way to Richmond without higher casualties

  26. Petersburg Siege- Advance • Grant concludes Richmond breakthrough too hard • Redeploys army to attack Petersburg – why? • How is Richmond re-supplied? • Force dispositions (Map):

  27. Petersburg Siege- Strategy & Tactics • Strategic, Operational, & Tactical Objectives: • Cut off Richmond from supply distribution source • Pressure Lee to prevent his sending help to Johnston • ForceLee to attackorabandon Richmond • Problem with siege? • presidential electionpolitics • Strategic & tactical Deployment (Map): • Grant crosses James river initially undetected

  28. Petersburg Siege-execution & results • Engagements & Execution Overview (Map): • Missed opportunity: Meade’s Lts botch job • Lee able to reinforce Richmond just in time • Long siege follows • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Results: • Tactical: 10 month siege (stalemate) ensues • Operational:Lee unable to reinforce Johnston • Strategic: Sherman drives toward Atlanta unmolested

  29. Western Theater – Atlanta Campaign • Sherman heads south (Map) • Commanders’ strengths & weaknesses: • Sherman vs. Johnston: both about even in generalship • Force dispositions: • Sherman: 3 part combined Army of 100K: • Thomas – Cumberland; • McPherson – Tennessee; • Schofield (corps) – Ohio • Johnston: 50K plus up to 60K

  30. Atlanta Campaign- Strategy & Tactics • Strategic, Operational, & Tactical Objectives: • Johnston: On Defense - delay Sherman & buy time • Sherman: outflank Johnston & destroy his army if possible • Take Atlanta & destroy Rebel material resources • Strategic & tactical Deployment • Union right flankJohnston’s left • Union center & leftfixSouth’s position to facilitate flankingLF

  31. Atlanta Campaign- execution • Sherman presses Johnston in several actions; • Johnston maintains effective defensive retreat • Destroysrr as he withdraws to cut Union LOC • Shermanworries Rebel Cavalry will cut his LOC • Sends troops to raid Mississippi as diversion • Successfully diverts Bedford Forrest from attacking Union LOC • Johnston eventually runs out of room to maneuver in further retreat • NTL he is able to occupy well fortified positions throughout

  32. Atlanta Campaign- engagements • Several engagements ensue: • Resaca, Cassville, Pickett’s Mill, & Kennesaw Mountain • Kennesaw Mountainis first major battle of Atlanta Campaign: • Sherman attempts break through at weak point in line • Sherman’sTactical objective: • Convince Johnston that his entire line remains at risk (not just his left flank) • Also wants to restore offensive spirit in his forces (whose default reaction is to entrench on defense when in doubt)

  33. Atlanta Campaign- KennesawMtn results • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Results: • Kennesaw Mountain: 2000 casualties & no ground gained • Sherman reverts back to flanking movements once again • Out of room, Johnston forced to withdraw to Atlanta: • Defend Atlanta behind its outer fortifications

  34. Battle for Atlanta- prelude • Davis becomes more & more frustrated with Johnston’s “Fabian” tactics • Ultimately replaces him with Johnston’s more aggressive subordinate- who? ?______________ • Lee had advised against this change of command (would be proved right in the end) • Commanders’ strengths & weaknesses: • Sherman: determined commander & sound tactician • Hood: brave but impetuous- was good division commander • Not as good an Army commander • Force dispositions: • Hood: 40K • Sherman: 100K

  35. Battle for Atlanta- Strategy & Tactics • Strategic, Operational, & Tactical Objectives: • Hood: protect Atlanta from Union • Destroy parts of Sherman’s army in detail • Sherman: Destroy Hood & take Atlanta • Plans & preparation: • Hood: takes aggressive tactical offensive • (With 40K against 100K he has to be careful) • Strategic & tactical Deployment: • Union: tactical flanking maneuvers for position; • Hood: position to strike targets of opportunity in detail • Hood launched 3 separate engagements against Sherman • Sharply repulsed at the end of each attack • Hood is ultimately forced to withdraw behind Atlanta defenses • He has lost more than 13K men in 9 days & nothing to show for it

  36. Siege of Atlanta • Sherman conducts quasi siege – bombards Atlanta • Initiates turning movement to cut Atlanta’s LOC • Union corps demonstrates to hold Hood still • Hood recognized Sherman’s intent too late: • His belated attempt to break hold by attack at Jonesborofails • Forced to abandon city which falls Sept 2, 1864 • Hood then withdraws into Northern Alabama: • Conducts attacks on Sherman’s LOCs to the North

  37. Battle for Atlanta- Campaign Results • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Results: • Hood lost 15K of 40K that South can’t afford • Atlanta’s fall has major strategic & political impact: • Lincoln’s re-election very likely • Last chance for a political settlement evaporates • In the meantime Grant sent ?______________to Shenandoah Valley to halt MGEarly’s successful series of attacks in the Valley & eliminate his potential threat to Washington • From Aug-Oct 1864 Sheridanwould defeat Early & become one of the Union’s best generals- Competent, aggressive, and bold

  38. Sherman’s March to Sea(15 Nov – 24 Dec 1964) • Sherman detached Thomas w/35K to defend TN against Hood • Sherman finally gains Grant’s approval to abandon Atlanta • Begins his historic march to Savannah with 60K • Sherman’s army would destroy everything in its 60 mile wide path • Sherman would replicate this march through Carolinas- Jan-April 1865

  39. Sherman’s March- Strategic Impact • Strategic Impact of Sherman’s March: • DestroyedSouth’s infrastructure & most of it crops: • All food, rail transport, & any potential war making resources • Dispelled any Confederate hope of winning: • Ruined South’s morale & encouraged desertions • Demonstrated to world (especially potential Confederate allies) that the North was unstoppable • North able to march through South without opposition • And therefore likely to win (only a matter of time)

  40. Hood’s Tennessee Campaign (Oct - Nov 1864) • At start of OctoberHood conducted raids into TN: • One of the last & riskier Confederate campaigns of war:

  41. Hood’s Tennessee Campaign- Strategy & Tactics • Hood’s highly unrealistic Op. &strategic purpose: • Operational: recover middle Tennessee • Cut off Sherman’sLOC from the North • (No longer a real concern of Sherman- why?) • What is Sherman going to do anyway? • Strategic: exploit potential to link up with Lee • Attack Grant with the two Armies’ combined forces • Bolster sagging Southern morale (political objective) • Tactical: concentrate on portions of Union army • Defeat in detail • Hood failed to achieve these objectives at very high cost • After losing 9K during pointless frontal assaults against well entrenched Union positions at Franklin, he proceeds to Nashville

  42. Battle of Nashville (15-16 Dec 1864) • Hood continues on with 30K to Nashville: • Even more extensively fortified • 70K Federals under Thomasfullyready • Hood realizes unable to attack realistically • Conducts show of siege instead • Following ice storm, Thomas attacks: • Demonstrates to fix Hood’s attention: • Then hits Hood’s leftflank • Hood soon forced to retreat • South’s casualties: 7K to Union: 3K • His Army ruined & no longer a credible threat to the North

  43. Collapse of Confederacy –(1865) • Army of Potomac continued to besiege Petersburg • Grant continued to extend his line to the West • Added forces as they become available • Sheridan & his cavalry were redeployed from successful operations in the Shenandoah Valley • Grant tasked Sheridan to break Lee’s right flank: • Tactical aim: capture South Side rail junctionand stop it from supplying Petersburg

  44. Road to Appomattox • Lee realized his only hope was to break free of Grant: • Join Johnston 30K in Carolinas with Lee’s 50K • Also anticipated Grant’s intention to cut off his LOC • Sends Pickettwith 5 Brigades to meet Union threat • Able to checkSheridan’s first attack, but not the second*

  45. Battle of Five Forks • April 1: Sheridan moved to attack Pickett at Five Forks: • Lee has charged Pickett with holding Five Forks “at all hazards” • Warren’s V Corps then deployed to attack Pickett’s center • Confederate defenses were over extended • Sheridan personally inspired Warren’s corps for assault • Sought to find weak spot in Rebel line • Custer made hisfamous cavalry charge on Pickett’s Right Flank • By 4:30 on 1 April 1865, Pickett’s line crumbled

  46. Fall of Petersburg&Richmond • Grant then attacked Lee all along Petersburg line: • Forced Lee to abandon city & march to join with Johnston • Meanwhile Johnston attempted to slow Sheridan

  47. Battle of Five Forks results • Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Results: • South: 5000 out of 10K total effectives lost • North: 2500 casualties out of 25K total effectives • Resounding Tactical victory for North • Significant Operational & Strategic impact • Lee now on the run to the West & extremely vulnerable • North closes in for kill

  48. Pursuit to Appomattox • Grantpursued Lee aggressively: • Sent Sheridan to cut off any avenue to South • 6 April: Union Army destroyed Early at Syler’s Creek • Eliminated Lee’s rear guard & captures 6000 Rebel prisoners • Grant then sent surrender summons to Lee who declined

  49. Surrender at Appomattox • April 8 (eve): Sheridan positioned Army to block retreat: • Lee was completely cut-off from escape • Made one last attempt to escape & is easily repulsed • Lee finallyrequested conference with Grant • Surrendered 9 April 1865 at Appomattox Court House

  50. “Flight into Oblivion” • Davis still under illusion that South can still win: • Talked about “new stage” for conflict (GW?): • Fled Richmond for Danville, Virginia • 10 April news reached him of Lee’s surrender: • Started his “flight into oblivion”for Greensboro, NC • Davis refused to accept reality until he read Lee’s dispatch • Johnston & Beauregard advised Davis to surrender • Davisreluctantly agreed • Davis then tried to evade capture • 10 May: Davis captured by Federal Horsemen • Imprisoned at Fort Monroe • 26 May: Kirby Smith surrender last Rebel force • Marking the end of the Civil War

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