THE CIVIL WARPART I: APRIL 1861 – DECEMBER 1862

EUGENIA LANGANMATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLHIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDA

FRQ PROMPT

WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, THE JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICANS ARE USUALLY CHARACTERIZED AS STRICT CONSTRUCTIONISTS WHO WERE OPPOSED TO THE BROAD CONSTRUCTIONISM OF THE FEDERALISTS.

TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THIS CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TWO PARTIES ACCURATE DURING THE PRESIDENCIES OF JEFFERSON AND MADISON?

DBQ PROMPT

IN WHAT WAYS AND TO WHAT EXTENT DID CONSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS BETWEEN 1860 AND 1877 AMOUNT TO A REVOLUTION?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

NARROW (THIS LESSON):

HOW AND WHY DID THE UNION WIN THE CIVIL WAR?

WHAT WERE THE EFFECTS OF THE CIVIL WAR?

BROAD:

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND EFFECT OF U.S. NATIONALISM AND EXCEPTIONALISM?

HOW DID THE U.S. BECOME A “SUPERPOWER”?

BACKGROUND/ REVIEW

CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR (OF SOUTHERN SECESSION):

FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE: STATE SOVEREIGNTY

PLAYED OUT OVER TWO SPECIFIC ISSUES: TARIFFS AND SLAVERY – BOTH WERE CAUSES OF SECESSION

ELECTION OF 1860 - REPUBLICANS GAINED WHITE HOUSE AND 2/3 MAJORITY OF BOTH HOUSED OF CONGRESS SECESSION

ELECTION OF 1860: THE CANDIDATES (LINCOLN, DOUGLAS, BRECKINRIDGE) TEAR THE COUNTRY APART)

BOTH TARIFF AND SLAVERY ISSUES LED TO SECESSION:

TARIFF: ELECTION OF 1860 MADE PASSAGE OF MORILL TARIFF CERTAIN

SLAVERY:

ELECTION AND HOMESTEAD ACT MADE IT POSSIBLE THAT EVENTUALLY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BANNING SLAVERY WOULD EVENTUALLY PASS CONGRESS AND BE RATIFIED BY ¾ OF STATES

ELECTION ALSO MADE IT CERTAIN THAT SOUTH COULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO CUBA AND CENTRAL AMERICA IF IT REMAINED IN THE UNION (SOUTH NEEDED MORE COTTON LAND)

* COTTON QUICKLY WORE OUT LAND

SSECESSION MAP

ANOTHER VIEW OF SECESSION: SHOWS DIVISIONS WITHIN SOUTH OVER SECESSION

THE DIVIDED SOUTH (BE SURE TO READ “THE SOUTH’S INNER CIVIL WAR) – FROM 1860 LETTER OF SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS (WHO WOULD LATER BECOME VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CSA):

“THE SECEDERS INTENDED FROM THE BEGINNING TO RULE OR RUIN; AND WHEN THEY FIND THEY CANNOT RULE, THEY WILL THEN RUIN. THEY HAVE ABOUT ENOUGH POWER FOR THIS PURPOSE; NOT MUCH MORE; AND I DOUBT NOT BUT THEY WILL USE IT. ENVY, HATE, JEALOUSY, SPITE … WILL MAKE DEVILS OF MEN. THE SECESSION MOVEMENT WAS INSTIGATED BY NOTHING BUT BAD PASSIONS.”

N.B. MANY SOUTHERNERS WHO OPPOSED SECESSION, INCLUDING ROBERT E. LEE, NONETHELESS SUPPORTED THE CSA BECAUSE AT THE TIME MANY PEOPLE WERE MORE LOYAL TO STATES THAN TO THE U.S.!

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA (EST. FEB. 4, 1861)

PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS

CONSTITUTION: MODELED ON U.S. CONSTITUTION BUT ALLOWED SLAVERY AND EXPANSION TO NEW TERRITORY AND BANNED PROTECTIVE TARIFFS (SEE FOLLOWING SLIDES)

ALL SECEDING STATES EVENTUALLY JOINED CSA: BUT N.B. BORDER SLAVE STATES (MARYLAND, DELAWARE, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI AND NEW STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA DID NOT SECEDE –LINCOLN NEEDED THEM!)

THE CONFEDERATE SEALTHE CONFEDERATE SEAL

MOTTO = “WITH GOD AS OUR VINDICATOR”MOTTO = “WITH GOD AS OUR VINDICATOR”

Lincoln/Davis

• BORN IN KENTUCKY• SELF-EDUCATED

• CONGRESSMEN FROM ILLINOIS

• ABOLITIONIST

• MINORITY PRESIDENT (ONLY OF NORTHERN AND BORDER STATES)

• BORN IN KENTUCKY• SELF-EDUCATED

• CONGRESSMEN FROM ILLINOIS

• ABOLITIONIST

• MINORITY PRESIDENT (ONLY OF NORTHERN AND BORDER STATES)

• BORN IN KENTUCKY

• GRADUATE OF WEST POINT

• MEXICAN WAR VET

• SERVED AS U.S. SECRETARY OF WAR, SECRETARY OF STATE, SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI

• SLAVEOWNER

• PRESIDENT OF CSA

• BORN IN KENTUCKY

• GRADUATE OF WEST POINT

• MEXICAN WAR VET

• SERVED AS U.S. SECRETARY OF WAR, SECRETARY OF STATE, SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI

• SLAVEOWNER

• PRESIDENT OF CSA

LLINCOLN V. DAVIS

WHY THE NORTH (UNION) FOUGHT THE CIVIL WAR:

AT FIRST, ONLY TO KEEP UNION TOGETHER, NOT TO ABOLISH SLAVERY

IN FIRST INAUGURAL, LINCOLN PLEDGED NOT TO SEEK ABOLITION OF SOUTHERN SLAVERY

CRITTENDEN-JOHNSON RESOLUTION (PASSED BY CONGRESS DECEMBER 1861, AFTER FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN): NORTH FIGHTING ONLY TO KEEP UNION TOGETHER, WOULD NOT ABOLISH SLAVERY IN THE SOUTH.

* THAT’S JUST ONE COMPROMISE EFFORT. LINCOLN TRIED HARD TO NEGOTIATE A COMPROMISE TO BRING THE SOUTH BACK INTO THE UNION.

LINCOLN’S AUGUST 1862 LETTER TO HORACE GREELEY:

“IIF I COULD SAVE THE UNION WITHOUT FREEING ANY SLAVE, I WOULD DO IT; AND IF I COULD SAVE IT BY FREEING ALL THE SLAVES, I WOULD DO IT; AND IF I COULD DO IT BY FREEING SOME AND LEAVING OTHERS ALONE, I WOULD ALSO DO THAT.”

WHAT WAS HIS POSITION ON SLAVERY?

NOT AS IMPORTANT AS PRESERVING THE UNION.

CIVIL WAR OVERVIEW EFFECTS:

FEDERAL SOVEREIGNTY (THIS WAS ACCEPTED AFTER WAR BUT CONSTITUTION WAS NOT AMENDED IN ANY WAY RELEVANT TO THIS!)

SLAVERY AND INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE ABOLISHED (BUT NO EQUALITY OR LASTING CIVIL RIGHTS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS)

LEGAL: SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ESTABLISHED THAT EVEN DURING WARTIME PRESIDENT MUST FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION

GENDER RELATIONS: NURSING BECAME ACCEPTABLE PROFESSION FOR WOMEN

RECONSTRUCTION – MILITARY OCCUPATION OF SOUTH UNTIL 1877 LINGERING N/S HOSTILITY

MOST DEADLY WAR IN U.S. HISTORY

WAS IT WORTH IT? YOU DECIDE . . . BUT COULD U.S. HAVE BECOME A SUPERPOWER IF IT WASN’T UNITED?

AND IT WAS, OFTEN LITERALLY, BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER.

CIVIL WAR – RELATIVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE SIDES

RELATIVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES – NORTH AND SOUTH: SOUTH WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST NATIONS IN THE WORLD, AND HAD HOPES OF EXPANDING INTO CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA

BUT MILITARILY, SOUTH HAD MANY DISADVANTAGES, INCLUDING LACK OF RAILROADS, WHITE MEN, AND FOOD CROPS, AS THE FOLLOWING CHARTS SHOW

IT WASN’T A CAKEWALK FOR THE NORTH, THOUGH!

NORTH V. SOUTH, 1861

NORTH V. SOUTH, RAILROAD LINES 1861

N.B. THAT SOUTHERN RAILROADS LACKED STANDARD GAUGE – COULD NOT CONNECT

CRITICAL DISADVANTAGE – CIVIL WAR WAS FIRST “INDUSTRIAL” WAR – MASS MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS BY RAIL, ALSO MOVEMENT OF LARGE ARTILLERY, MATERIEL, ETC.

NORTH V. SOUTH, 1861

RESOURCES, NORTH V. SOUTH, 1861 – 65 (WITH FEW FACTORIES, SOUTH COULD NOT MAKE MUNITIONS, UNIFORMS, ETC., HAD TO RELY ON IMPORTS )

MEN PRESENT FOR DUTY, 1862 –1865

SO WHY DID THE SOUTH THINK IT COULD WIN?

SOUTH ONLY HAD TO DEFEND ITS TERRITORY (THOUGH IT TRIED TO TAKE D.C. TO WIN WAR) BUT NORTH HAD TO CONQUER THE SOUTH

BETTER GENERALS? MAYBE! THE SOUTH HAD ROBERT E. LEE!

IT HOPED BRITAIN (AND FRANCE) WOULD ENTER THE WAR ON ITS SIDE – NOT A CRAZY IDEA!

RECALL MOST SOUTHERN COTTON WENT TO BRITAIN

RECALL BRITAIN HAD SUPPORTED REPUBLIC OF TEXAS – LIKED IDEA OF TARIFF-FREE COTTON-PRODUCING COUNTRY

1862 – SOUTH DESTROYED TONS OF COTTON TO INDUCE “COTTON FAMINE” IN BRITAIN (CLOSURE OF TEXTILE MILLS, UNEMPLOYMENT) TO COERCE BRITISH SUPPORT

NORTHERN RESPONSE = CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR UNEMPLOYED BRITISH WORKERS

BRITAIN UNWILLING TO GET INVOLVED UNLESS SOUTH WON MAJOR BATTLE INDICATING LIKELY VICTORY, FRANCE UNWILLING TO GET INVOLVED UNLESS BRITAIN DID

SOUTH NEVER WON THAT MAJOR BATTLE (NONETHELESS IT TOOK FOUR YEARS FOR UNION TO DEFEAT SOUTH)

BUT BRITAIN ALLOW BRITISH SHIPYARFS TO SUPPLY SOUTH WITH “COMMERCE RAIDERS” AND “LAIRD RAMS” (BATTLESHIPS)

UNION GENERALS-IN-CHIEF – LINCOLN KEPT FIRING THEM!UNION GENERALS-IN-CHIEF – LINCOLN KEPT FIRING THEM!

WINFIELD SCOTTTOO OLD

WINFIELD SCOTTTOO OLD

GEORGE MCCLELLANTWICE! FIRED, THEN REHIRED. DIDN’T GET ALONG WITH LINCOLN, NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR LINCOLN

GEORGE MCCLELLANTWICE! FIRED, THEN REHIRED. DIDN’T GET ALONG WITH LINCOLN, NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR LINCOLN

AMBROSE BURNSIDEDIDN’T WANT THE JOB,

DIDN’T WIN

AMBROSE BURNSIDEDIDN’T WANT THE JOB,

DIDN’T WIN

JOSEPH HOOKERDIDN’T WANT THE JOB,

DIDN’T WIN

JOSEPH HOOKERDIDN’T WANT THE JOB,

DIDN’T WIN

GEORGE MEADEWON AT GETTYSBURG BUT NOT AGGRESSIVE

ENOUGH FOR LINCOLN

GEORGE MEADEWON AT GETTYSBURG BUT NOT AGGRESSIVE

ENOUGH FOR LINCOLN

Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant

1

1ST

2ND

3RD

4TH

5TH

6TH

ULYSSES S. GRANT ALCOHOLIC BUT WON BIG IN WEST, WON WAR!

CONFEDERATE GENERALSROBERT E. LEE, COMMANDING GENERAL FROM 1862 TO THE END

SON OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR GENERAL “LIGHT HORSE” HARRY LEE

WEST POINT GRADUATE, SECOND IN CLASS (GRANT WAS AT BOTTOM OF CLASS)

CAREER OFFICER IN U..S ARMY – MEXICAN WAR, DEFEATED JOHN BROWN’S MILITIA AT HARPER’S FERRY

LINCOLN’S FIRST CHOICE AS UNION GENERAL-IN-CHIEF -- BUT LEE FELT MORE LOYALTY TO VIRGINIA (THOUGH HE HAD OPPOSED SECESSION)

GENERALS SERVING UNDER LEE

THOMAS “STONEWALL” JACKSON, P.G.T. BEAUREGARD, GEORGE PICKETT,JAMES LONGSTREET, NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST, AND JEB STUART

JACKSON, LEE’S FAVORITE, WAS KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE, 1863

1861 - 1862

INITIAL STRATEGIES

NORTH: SCOTT’S ANACONDA PLAN – ATLANTIC BLOCKADE + TAKE CONTROL OF MISSISSIPPI – CUT SOUTH OFF FROM TRADE AND FORCE SURRENDER (PLAN WORKED, EXCEPT SOUTH WOULDN’T SURRENDER!)

SOUTH: “OFFENSIVE DEFENSE” -- ENCIRCLE D.C. TO DIVERT UNION FORCES, FORCE UNION TO GIVE UP AND LEAVE SOUTH ALONE

MAP SHOWS INITIAL STRATEGIES

N.B. LINCOLN ORDERED THE BLOCKADE AND CALLED UP THE ARMY WITHOUT PRIOR CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION) BUT CONGRESS LATER APPROVED

WESTERN THEATER EASTERN THEATER

Notes 2

SUMMARY:

USA DEFEATING CSA BECAUSE OF GENERAL GRANT

SUMMARY:CSA DEFEATING USA BECAUSE OF GENERAL LEE (DEFEAT IN SENSE THAT NORTH WAS MAINLY ON DEFENSIVE)

MAJOR BATTLES, 1861 - 1862 -- SUMMARY

CAPITOLS OF BOTH U.S.A. (D.C.) AND C.S.A. (RICHMOND) WERE IN EAST SO VICTORY THERE WAS ESSENTIAL

MAJOR BATTLES, EASTERN THEATER, 1861 -62:

FORT SUMTER, APRIL 12, 1861 – SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA DROVE FEDERAL TROOPS OUT OF FT. SUMTER, CHARLESTON

SIGNIFICANCE: NOT REALLY A MAJOR BATTLE, BUT SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT LED TO SECESSION OF UPPER (“OLD SOUTH”) STATES (BUT NOT BORDER STATES)

WHY? LINCOLN CALLED ON ALL STATES TO PROVIDE TROOPS – OLD SOUTH STATES NOT EAGER TO SECEDE, BUT UNWILLING TO SEND TROOPS TO FIGHT OTHER SOUTHERNERS

FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN (MANASSAS), JULY 21, 1861

UNION TROOPS UNDER ATTACK MANASSAS (RR TERMINAL) – DEFEATED BY CONFEDERATE TROOPS

SIGNIFICANCE = FIRST REAL BATTLE, CONFEDERATE VICTORY – BUT STILL UNION HOPED TO AVOID WAR: CRITTENDEN-JOHNSON RESOLUTION PASSED DECEMBER 1861. APRIL 1862, ALSO LAW PROMISING TO COMPENSATE SLAVEOWNERS WHO FREED SLAVES

MCCLELLAN’S PENINSULA CAMPAIGN, MARCH 17 – JULY 1, 1862

PLAN – AMPHIBIOUS LANDING ON YORKTOWN PENINSULA, CONQUER RICHMOND (CSA CAPITOL), QUICK END TO WAR

BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES, MAY 31, 1862 – BOTH SIDES CLAIMED VICTORY – ROUGHLY EQUAL CASUALTIES (UNION 5031 = 790 KILLED, 3,594 WOUNDED, 647 CAPTURED OR MISSING; CONFEDERATE 6,134 = 980 KILLED, 4,749 WOUNDED, 405 CAPTURED OR MISSING) – BUT MCCLELLAN PULLED BACK

SEVEN DAYS’ BATTLE, JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 1862 – CONFEDERATE COUNTERATTACK (UNDER LEE)

SIGNIFICANCE

• NOW CLEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE A REAL WAR – SOUTH WOULD FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE = “TOTAL WAR” NECESSARY

• AND NOW SOUTH SEIZED INITIATIVE AND LAUNCHED “OFFENSIVE DEFENSE” – ATTACK ON NORTH

MAP SHOWS PROGRESS OF LEE’S NORTHERN VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN UP TO SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN – NOTE CSA PROGRESS TOWARD D.C.!

SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN, AUGUST 28 – 30, 1862

CULMINATION OF LEE’S NORTHERN VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN - SUCCESSFUL CONFEDERATE ATTACK AGAINST UNION RAIL DEPOT AT MANASSAS – UNION FORCES UNDER GENERAL JOHN POPE FORCED TO RETREAT TO CENTERVILLE, VA. (SEE MAP PREDECING PAGE)

CONFEDERATE ARMY WITHIN 35 MILES OF D.C. USA CSA

TOTAL TROOPS 62,000 50,000

CASUALTIES (DEAD AND WOUNDED)

10,000 8,300

CASUALTY RATE 16.1% 16.6%

NOTE THAT SOUTH HAD SLIGHTLY HIGHER CASUALTY RATE – AND SOUTH COULD NOT AFFORD AS WELL AS NORTH (FEWER WHITE MEN IN SOUTH)

PROPAGANDA: 1862 CURRIER AND IVES PRINT CELEBRATING UNION “VICTORY” AT SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN

ANTIETAM (SHARPSBURG, MD., SEPTEMBER 17, 1862

BLOODIEST BATTLE IN U.S. – 23,000 CASUALTIES AND LOSSES

FIRST MAJOR BATTLE IN NORTH

MORE OF LEE’S OFFENSIVE DEFENSE – HE CROSSED INTO MARYLAND

MCCLELLAN DROVE LEE’S FORCES BACK INTO VIRGINIA – BUT DID NOT PURSUE AND DESTROY (SO LINCOLN FIRED HIM)

IT WAS REALLY A DRAW, BECAUSE LEE WAS FREE TO ATTACK NORTH AGAIN, BUT LINCOLN REGARDED IT AS ENOUGH OF A VICTORY TO ISSUE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

ANTIETAM BATTLE MAP

ANTIETAM

ANTIETAM

USA CSATOTAL TROOPS 75,500 38,000KILLED 2,108

1,546

WOUNDED 9,540 7,752TOTAL CASUALTIES 11,648 9,298MIA/ CAPTURED 753 1,018TOTAL CAS./LOSS RATE

16.4% 27.1%

CASUALTIES AND LOSSES AT ANTIETAM

NOTE AGAIN SOUTH’S HIGHER CASUALTY/ LOSS RATE (DESPITE LOWER TOTAL) – SOUTH LESS ABLE TO AFFORD TROOP LOSSES!

LINCOLN VISITS MCCLELLAN (R) AT ANTIETAM AFTER THE BATTLE – BUT HE WAS ANGRY THAT MCCLELLAN HADN’T PURSUED LEE, SOON FIRED HIM

MCCLELLAN PRIVATELY REFERRED TO LINCOLN AS “A BABOON,” ETC.

BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA. (DECEMBER 11- 15, 1862) – BURNSIDE V. LEE – BATTLE REMARKABLE MOSTLY FOR BURNSIDE’S STUPIDITY

DECISIVE CONFEDERATE VICTORY – LEE REPELLED BURNSIDE’S EFFORT TO INVADE NORTHWESTERN VA. (EVADING LEE’S TROOPS, HE THOUGHT) AND GET TO RICHMOND (SEE MAP ON NEXT SLIDE)

LEE AND LONGSTREET STOPPED BURNSIDE AT FREDERICKSBURG

AT FREDERICKSBURG, BURNSIDE SENT THOUSANDS OF UNION TROOPS AGAINST CONFEDERATE TROOPS ENTRENCHED IN SUNKEN ROAD BEHIND STONE WALL, BACKED BY ARTILLERY ON MARYE’S HEIGHTS BLOODBATH

THE STONE WALL AND SUNKEN ROAD, MARYE’S HEIGHTS, FREDERICKSBURG

“MY GOD, GENERAL REYNOLDS, DID THEY THINK ONE DIVISION COULD WHIP LEE'S WHOLE ARMY?” MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE MEADE TO MAJOR GENERAL JOHN REYNOLDS, AFTERNOON OF DECEMBER 13, 1861

“IT IS WELL THAT WAR IS SO TERRIBLE, OR WE SHOULD GROW TOO FOND OF IT.” GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, OBSERVING THE CARNAGE AT FREDERICKSBURG

SUMMARY OF EASTERN THEATER AT END OF 1862:

AT THE TIME IT LOOKED AS IF SOUTH WAS WINNING

LEE HAD BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF MARYLAND, BUT WAS STILL WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF D.C.

UNION ARMY, IN CONTRAST, HAD BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS TOWARD CONQUEST OF SOUTH (AND TO KEEP UNION TOGETHER, NORTH HAD TO CONQUER THE SOUTH)

THE WESTERN THEATER, 1861 – 62. OBJECTIVE = TAKE CONTROL OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER (ANACONDA)

STEADY UNION PROGRESS UNDER GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT, BACKED BY GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN

GRANT SHERMAN

BATTLE OF SHILOH (AKA BATTLE OF PITTSFIELD LANDING), APRIL 6-7, 1862

GRANT AND SHERMAN GAINED ACCESS TO TENNESSEE RIVER CONFEDERATE FORCES WOULD BE UNABLE TO BLOCK UNION ACCESS TO MISSISSIPPI (SEE MAP BELOW)

“IN THE STRUGGLE TOMORROW WE SHALL BE FIGHTING MEN OF OUR OWN BLOOD, WESTERN MEN, WHO UNDERSTAND THE USE OF FIREARMS. THE STRUGGLE WILL BE A DESPERATE ONE.” CSA GENERAL P.G.T. BEAUREGARD ON EVE OF BATTLE OF SHILOH

SHILOH CASUALTIES AND LOSSESUSA CSA

TOTAL TROOPS 66,812 44,699

KILLED 1,754 1,728

WOUNDED 8,408 8,012

MIA/CAPTURED 2,885 959

TOTAL CASUALTIES AND LOSSES

13,047 10,699

CAS./LOSS RATE 19.5% 23.9%

THE NAVAL WAR: SOUTH WAS NEVER ABLE TO BLOCK UNION BLOCKADE!

“BATTLE OF THE IRONCLADS” AKA THE BATTLE OF HAMPTON ROADS, VA. - C.S.S. VIRGINIA (FORMERLY U.S.S. MERRIMACK) V. U.S.S. MONITOR, MARCH 8 -9, 1862 - FIRST BATTLE EVER BETWEEN IRONCLAD BATTLESHIPS. MAIN SIGNIFICANCE OF BATTLE = MORE IRONCLADS BUILT

MARCH 8: THE VIRGINIA ATTACKED U.S. NORTH ATLANTIC NAVAL BLOCKADING SQUADRON AT HAMPTON ROADS (NEAR PORT OF NORFOLK), DESTROYED TWO WOODEN U.S. BATTLESHIPS (U.S.S CUMBERLAND AND U.S.S. CONGRESS – ONE OF THE ORIGINAL THREE U.S. BATTLESHIPS)

MARCH 9 – U.S.S. MONITOR ARRIVED SEVERAL HOURS OF BATTLE WITH VIRGINIA – NEITHER COULD SINK THE OTHER (THE IRON ARMOR WORKED)

1 1877 DEPICTION OF THE BATTLE

IN THE END, BOTH SHIPS WITHDREW AND BOTH CLAIMED VICTORY (BUT THE BLOCKADE WAS NOT DEFEATED!)

THE MONITOR – PHOTO TAKEN AFTER THE BATTLE. PHOTO ON RIGHT SHOWS DAMAGE TO DECK

LATER IN 1862, THE MONITOR SANK IN A STORM, AND THE COMMANDER OF THE VIRGINIA HAD HER BURNED RATHER THAN ALLOW HER EVENTUAL CAPTURE BY UNION

CONFEDERATE “COMMERCE-RAIDERS”

IN 1862, BRITAIN ALLOWED JOHN S. LAIRD & SONS SHIPYARD TO BUILD SEVERAL “COMMERCE RAIDERS” FOR THE CONFEDERACY

THESE WERE BATTLESHIPS, BUT WITH NO GUNS (SO BRITAIN COULD MAINTAIN OFFICIAL NEUTRALITY) – BUT THEN THEY’D PROCEED TO THE AZORES AND BE ARMED WITH BRITISH-MADE GUNS

EXAMPLE: THE C.S.S. ALABAMA SUNK 64 U.S. SHIPS, MOSTLY MERCHANT SHIPS, OFF COASTS OF U..S,. AND EUROPE

BUT THE SOUTH NEVER BROKE THE BLOCKADE

THIS PAINTING BY EDOURD MANET DEPICTS THE 1864 SINKING OF THE C.S.S ALABAMA BY THE U.S.S. KEARSAGE OFF THE COAST OF CHERBOURG, FRANCE

SUMMARY: ALTHOUGH IN RETROSPECT WE CAN SEE THE WEAKNESSES OF THE SOUTH, BY THE END OF 1862 IT LOOKED AS IF THE SOUTH WAS WINNING

RECALL, TO WIN SOUTH JUST HAD TO DEFEND ITSELF, WHILE NORTH HAD TO CONQUER THE SOUTH

UNION HAD ALMOST ACCOMPLISHED THE ANACONDA PLAN – SOUTH’S ATLANTIC COAST WAS BLOCKADED AND BATTLE OF SHILOH MADE UNION CONQUEST OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER ALMOST INEVITABLE – BUT SOUTH DID NOT SURRENDER

ON EASTERN FRONT, UNION MADE ABSOLUTELY NO PROGRESS TOWARD CONQUERING RICHMOND – WHILE LEE WAS POISED TO ATTACK AGAIN TO ENCIRCLE D.C.