THE WAR BEGINS Brenna Riley
Antoine Henry Jomini Swiss-born member of Napoleon s staff. Interpreted and wrote about Napoleon's campaigns. Little evidence that Jomini s writing influenced Civil War strategy in a direct way. Premiere strategist Ulysses S. Grant had never read Jomini.
Antoine Henry Jomini Strategy Antoine was a military strategist from the Napoleonic era. All West Point graduates had absorbed Jominian principles from Dennis Hart Mahan. His teachings were mostly common sense ideas: Concentrate the power of your own force against your enemy s fractions. menace the enemy s communication while protecting your own. Attack the enemy s weak point with your own strength
Organization of Civil War Armies Union and Confederate Armies were organized in the same ways. 4-6 regiments 3-4 brigades 2+ Divisions Small armies 1 corp and larger armies had 2+ Made up one infantry Extremely inefficient Northern regiments were larger.
Shaping Civil War Strategy Amateurism and confusion characterized the development of strategies. Mobilization of Armies. Learned on the field to fight, not in a training camp. Trial and error of experience played a large role in shaping strategy. Experiences of the Mexican War governed much of the thinking of officers in 1861 The change from smoothbore muskets to rifled muskets caused problems.
Shaping Civil War Strategy Cont. Generals learned from their mistakes. War aims changed from limited to total war. Political demands and civilian morale fluctuated causing military strategy to evolve and adjust. Civil War was originally a political war, a war of people rather than professional armies. Political opinion weighed heavily in the formation of strategy. People on both sides thought the war would be short.
Shaping Civil War Strategy Cont. Thoughts of strategy seemed superfluous. They did not foresee a total war, requiring total mobilization of men and resources. The purpose was not to conquer the South but to suppress insurrection and win back the loyalty of Southern people. South did not want war.
War Strategies and Goals (Union) Goal: Reconcile the Union and reunite states under the Union where slavery was not tolerated. Strategies: Invade the Confederacy and destroy the will to resist Obtain the loyalty of the important border states (Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, West Virginia)
War Strategies and Goals (Union) Strategies: Construct and maintain the blockade known as the Anaconda Plan Prevent foreign intervention that would help the Confederacy. Lincoln knew if he could define the war as a struggle over slavery Europe s sympathy would not lie with the Confederacy.
Winfield Scott Served in the war of 1812 Commanded the Mexican-American war Initially offered his command of his force to Lee, who declined when Virginia decided to leave the union April 18 th Developed the Anaconda Plan for Abraham Lincoln. Scott's anti-slavery beliefs hurt his support in the South while the party's pro-slavery plank damaged support in the North.
The Anaconda Plan Proposed by the Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott on May 3 rd, 1861 Instead of invading forces directly to the south, the north would wrap up the south by blockading the ports, take control of the Mississippi river, and suffocate the south This would be time extensive and would take an army effectively trained to move in. The political landscape in the north did not want to wait, because they were anticipating a shorter war.
War Strategies and Goals (Confederates) Defended the Confederacy and only went over to the offensive side if the opportunity if presented with the opportunity. offensive-defensive strategy They basically wanted three things and that was: 1. Defend Confederate land. 2. Prevent the North from destroying the Confederate army. 3. Break the Union's will to fight.
Border States Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri were border states. West Virginia seceded in 1861 then was admitted into the Union as a non-slave state in 1863. Maryland: If it had seceded the capital would have been surrounded by Confederate territory
Border states
Border States Some were slaved based. Weakened the argument that the south seceded to save the slavery based economy If these states had seceded Confederacy s manufacturing capabilities would have nearly doubled. Each state was geographically helpful to the Union.
Prelude to the battle of Manassas Two months after Fort Sumter Lincoln ordered Brigadier General Irvin McDowell to mount an offensive that would hit quickly and decisively at the enemy and open the way to Richmond. Trying to quickly end the war
Prelude to the battle of Manassas McDowell was cautious and involved. 35,000 ill prepared volunteer troops. Rebel army was also made of amateurs.
Battle of First Manassas Union struck down on July 21 st shoving the enemy across Bull Run. More troops crossed the river in an attempt to hit the confederates left flank. 2 hours 10,000 federals gradually pushed 4,500 rebels across the Washington turnpike and up Henry House Hill. Union celebrated prematurely but reinforcements from both sides traded attacks and counteracted.
Rebel Yell at Bull Run Reinforcements arrived on the rebel side. Both sides had an equal number of men on the field (approximately 18,000) The Rebel Yell was born. (Cry used by the Confederates) Confederates managed to break the union. McDowell's federals retreated chaotically across Bull Run, running into civilians who had been picnicking. Leaders who fought: Ambrose E. Burnside and William T. Sherman (for the Union) Stuart Wade Hampton and Thomas J Jackson (For the Confederate)
Impact of the Battle of First Manassas Rebel Yell struck fear in the Union soldiers and they said they would always remember it Emboldened the South, but they still did not march into Washington and take it. Thoughts that the war would end in favor of the South. Despite the new enthusiasm from the confederate victory they were still too disorganized to press their advantage and pursue the retreating Yankees who reached Washington by July 22 nd Looking back, it was in the worst interest of the Confederates.
Impact of the War Northerners who had expected a quick, decisive victory were reeling. North realized this would not be easily won, and it would take time to settle. Lincoln removed McDowell from command and replaced him with George B. McClellan who retrained and reorganized union troops. Created a national fervor and more recruits enlisted. Called the army of Potomac.
Primary source document: Female spy Sarah Emma Edmonds traveled to the united states dressed as a boy Enlisted in Michigan to serve as a union soldier It was not my intention, or desire, to seek my own personal ease and comfort while so much sorrow and distress filled the land. But the great question to be decided was, what can I do? What part am I to act in this great drama? I was not able to decide for myself so I carried this question to the Throne of Grace, and found a satisfactory answer there.
Primary Source: Female Spy cont. Origin: 1864 Purpose: Although kind of strange, this document s purpose is to tell people about the Civil War firsthand. Value: Female Spy of the Union Army is a firsts hand account so it gives you a raw description of the war. Limitation: There are 2 limitations to this: This document is only from the Union side of the war, so it s only hearing one side of the story. The other limitation is, it s from the perspective of someone who is secretly a women.
Bibliography "The Anaconda Plan." The Anaconda Plan. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. "First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. New York: Oxford UP, 1988. Print. "Mexican-American War: General Winfield Scott." About.com Military History. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. "Sarah Emma Edmonds A.k.a. Private Franklin Thompson." Sarah Emma Edmonds. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.