The War Comes to an End

Wearing Down of Confederacy

Defeat at Vicksburg and Gettysburg cost Confederate manpower…

Already low on food, shoes, uniforms, guns, and ammunition

Looking to hang on long enough to destroy Northern morale and work towards an armistice

Break down:o Desertions—left because they knew their families were

sufferingo Left to fight for the Uniono Movements for peace by newspapers, legislatures, and

individuals in various states

New Strategy: Total War

General Grant appointed William Tecumseh Sherman as commander in Mississippi

Both men believe in total waro Total War – fight military, government

and CIVILIANS to destroy all ability for enemy to fight

o Reasoning:• Civilians produce the weapons, food,

and transportation; • Their strength keeps the army going

Attack and attack againo Huge losses for Union, but they could

afford it, South could noto Burned towns, killed animals

About three miles from Sparta we struck the 'Burnt Country,' as it is well named by the natives, and then I could better understand the wrath and desperation of these poor people. I almost felt as if I should like to hang a Yankee myself. There was hardly a fence left standing all the way from Sparta to Gordon. The fields were trampled down and the road was lined with carcasses of horses, hogs, and cattle that the invaders, unable either to consume or to carry away with them, had wantonly shot down to starve out the people and prevent them from making their crops. The stench in some places was unbearable; every few hundred yards we had to hold our noses or stop them with the cologne Mrs. Elzey had given us, and it proved a great boon.

Source: Eliza Frances Andrews, The War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl, 1864-1865 (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1908), pp. 32-33.

Sherman’s March Sherman moves south to Atlanta

o Occupies September, 1864 – huge transportation center Confederate army tries to circle around him and cut his

railroad supply lines, but Sherman takes the offensive.o Ex: Being “aggressive” in sports

Abandons his supply lines and marches “to the sea”o Creates a path of destruction; lives off the land as he marcheso Burned most of Atlanta

Reached the ocean and took Savannah.o Left to help Grant “wipe out Lee”o Followed by 25,000 former slaveso Inflicted more damage down through SCo As they got close to the end (NC), stopped burning towns and

handed out food and supplies

Election of 1864 Democrats….How did they feel about Lincoln?

o Joined pro-Southern Copperheadso Upset over length & high casualties of waro Nominate George McClellan (resentful)

Radical Republicans o Nominate John C. Fremont as a 3rd party candidateo Wanted harsher proposal for post-Civil War

Lincoln chose a pro-Union Democrat as VP, but felt he would be badly beaten unless some great change

o Retitled themselves the National Union Partyo Andrew Johnson

Change came… o August 5 – major Southern Port closed at Mobileo September 2 – Atlanta was takeno End of Sept – Fremont withdrew nominationo October 18 – Confederates out of Northern VAo Absentee ballads from soldiers helped Lincoln win

Appomattox Clear Confederacy was

over by March 1865

Grant and Sherman approached Richmond, Confederate Govt. fled and set fire to the city

April 9, 1865 – Lee and Grant met at Appomattox Court House in VA to arrange formal surrendero Very generous terms

(Lincoln’s request)o Within 1 month all

resistance ended