Civil War in Georgia (1861-1865)

Civil War in Georgia (1861-1865)

Overview

  • The Civil War occurred from 1861 to 1865.

  • Documented Standard: SS8H5 - Analyze the impact of the Civil War in Georgia.

  • Focus Element: Georgia’s role in the Civil War, including:

    • Union blockade of Georgia's coast

    • The Emancipation Proclamation

    • The Battle of Chickamauga

    • Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign

    • Sherman’s March to the Sea

    • Andersonville Prison

Civil War Map

  • Depiction of the divisions between Confederate States, Union States, and Union Territories in the Civil War:

    • Notable states: Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc.

The Start of the War

  • By February 1861, six states had seceded from the Union, including Georgia.

  • Key Figures:

    • President of the Confederacy: Jefferson Davis

    • Vice President: Alexander Stephens

  • Location of Capitals:

    • Confederacy Capital: Richmond, Virginia

    • Union Capital: Washington, D.C.

    • Distance between capitals: 96 miles.

Georgia's Contribution

  • Georgia's significant manufacturing capacities, particularly:

    • Highest textile manufacturing among Southern states

    • Atlanta as a principal railroad transportation hub

    • Known as "The Heart of the Confederacy" due to its resources and logistical advantages.

Union Strategy

  • North's aim: to preserve the Union.

  • South's aim: independence, reliant on imports due to underdeveloped manufacturing.

  • Blockade Strategy:

    • Union Navy's blockade of Southern ports, notably Savannah, referred to as "The Anaconda Plan."

The Anaconda Plan

  • Proposal by Union General Winfield Scott.

  • Key Strategies:

    • Blockade all Southern Ports (suffocating the Southern economy).

    • Advance down the Mississippi River to sever the Confederacy into two.

  • Initially ridiculed, the nickname "Anaconda Plan" emerged due to the imagery of an anaconda's coils.

Union Blockade

  • Primary objective: Restrict South from exporting cotton to Europe for arms.

  • Challenges: The prevalence of blockade runners; difficulty in controlling these illicit operations.

  • Fort Pulaski's fall (1862) significantly hampered Southern resupply efforts through Savannah.

King Cotton Diplomacy

  • The South's strategy relied on exporting cotton to persuade England and France to support the Confederacy.

  • Outcome: The plan backfired as both countries started sourcing cotton elsewhere, damaging Southern economy and aiding Northern strategy.

Georgia and the War

  • An estimated 120,000 Georgians served in the Confederate Army; some remained for state militias.

  • Recruitment challenges arose after two years of war; volunteer shortages became apparent.

The Draft

  • Enacted by the Confederate States of America (CSA) in April 1862:

    • Initially required white men aged 18-35 to enlist for 3 years.

    • Broadened to include ages 18-50 with various exemptions.

20-Slave Exemption

  • Policy that exempted one white man from the draft for every 20 slaves owned.

  • Commonly benefited the plantation owners and contributed to societal tensions, expressed as "a Rich Man’s war but a poor man’s fight."

Life at Home during the War

  • Severe shortages of supplies; most goods were sent to the front lines.

  • Essential food supplies were overly insufficient: "YOU CAN'T EAT COTTON!"

  • Resulted in food riots spearheaded by women demanding better rations and prices.

Women in Georgia

  • Women took on critical roles, including:

    • Managing farms and plantations

    • Working in factories for clothing production

    • Acting as military spies.

Emancipation Proclamation

  • Issued January 1, 1863; declared freedom for all slaves in Confederate states, excluding those in the Union.

  • Rationale: A military strategy focused only on states in rebellion while purposively preserving slavery in loyal border states and regions under Union control.

  • Emancipation relied on Union military success.

Lincoln's Offer to the South

  • The proclamation included a provision allowing any state to retain their slaves if they rejoined the Union before January 1, 1863; no states did.

Georgia - The Heart of the Confederacy

  • Control of Georgia was deemed essential for victory in the war due to its strategic resources.

Chickamauga: The War Comes to Georgia

  • Until the summer of 1863, Georgia faced minimal conflict, mainly just blockades.

  • Significant Battle: Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863)

    • Occurred 10 miles south of the Tennessee-Georgia border.

    • Marked the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War, following Gettysburg.

    • Resulted in heavy casualties; the Union forces faced defeat and retreated to Chattanooga.

Union Regroups after Chickamauga

  • Ulysses S. Grant took command of Union forces, redefining strategies to engage Confederate troops in Virginia.

  • William T. Sherman was assigned command in Georgia; strategy involved marching from Dalton through Atlanta to Savannah.

Sherman's Campaign to Atlanta

  • 4.5-month engagement to capture Atlanta is crucial for Confederate supplies.

  • Confederate General John Hood's attempts to distract Sherman and buy time for reinforcements were ultimately unsuccessful,

    • Sherman entered Atlanta without opposition.

March to the Sea

  • Sherman's ultimate goal was disruption of Southern supply lines and livelihoods:

    • Execution of a scorched earth policy: destruction of military targets, infrastructural assets, civilian property, and transport systems.

  • Initial cannon fire and subsequent burning of Atlanta marked Sherman's brutal tactics.

Sherman's Impact and Philosophy

  • March from Atlanta to Savannah was conducted without supply lines; troops lived off the land and utilized resources from local farmers.

  • Strategy: Total War – aimed at diminishing Southern morale and hastening the war’s conclusion.

  • Area of destruction: approximately 300 miles long and 60 miles wide.

Andersonville Prison

  • Location: Macon, Georgia (former Camp Sumter).

  • Largest Confederate prison for Union soldiers known for poor conditions and high mortality rates.

  • Original capacity: 10,000 prisoners; ballooned to thrice that number in six months.

Conditions at Andersonville Prison

  • Infamous for inadequate infrastructure leading to health crises:

    • Water sources heavily contaminated.

    • Rapid spread of disease due to unsanitary conditions.

  • Result: Over 13,000 Union soldier deaths attributed to inhospitable climate.

Accountability for Andersonville's Conditions

  • Captain Henry Wirz (Commander of Andersonville) executed for war crimes as the sole CSA official punished.

Assessing the War's Consequences

  • The Civil War birthed a stronger central government with increased roles in citizens' lives (taxes, education, banking).

  • Industrial growth stimulated by wartime demands.

  • Casualties: Total of 620,000 deaths within four years:

    • 360,000 Union Soldiers

    • 260,000 Confederate Soldiers.

End Notes

  • Document segments captured the essence of civil life and military actions within the context of Georgia during the Civil War, providing insight for historical analysis and understanding the broader implications of the conflict.