Chapter 16.5 - The Tide of War Turns

A. Fredericksburg

  1. Lincoln replaced General McClellan with General Burnside as leader of the Army of the Potomac

  2. In November 1862, Burnside set out for Richmond by way of Fredericksburg with 120,000 troops

  3. The Union army had trouble crossing the Rappahannock River so Lee’s divided army had time to regroup and entrench themselves around Fredericksburg

  4. The Union launched a series of attacks but failed to break the Confederate line

  5. Casualties – Union 12,600 Confederates 5,300

Chancellorsville

  1. Burnside was replaced by General Hooker

  2. His army of 138,000 launched an attack on Fredericksburg

  3. Then Hooker ordered about 115,000 men to split off and attack the flank

  4. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was injured during this battle and died soon after.

C. The battle of Gettysburg (in Pennsylvania) was the deadliest battle of the Civil War, with more than 51,000 casualties, including 7,863 dead

* The Union was considered the winner of the three-day battle

* It is one of the key battles that firmly turned the tide against the Confederacy

* It marked the first time that northerners believed that they could win the war

Day One (July 1, 1863)

  1. The large Confederate army pushed back Union troops but neglected to take Culp’s Hill 

  2. Union troops dug in atop Cemetery Ridge and Culp’s Hill which provided strong defensive positions

    Day Two (July 2, 1863)

    1. Lee ordered an attack on the left side of the Union line – which was not supported by some of the commanders under him including Gen. James Longstreet

    2. Union and Confederate forces fought viciously for control of Little Round Top – the Union held it under the command of Colonel Chamberlain (Maine)

      Day Three (July 3, 1863)

      1. Lee planned to rush the center of the Union line with 3 divisions

      2. Massive Confederate artillery fire had little effect on the Union soldiers on Cemetery Hill

      3. Pickett’s Charge – a failed Confederate attack up Cemetery Ridge – fewer than half reached the top

  3. Aftermath of Gettysburg

    1. Gettysburg - turning point in the war – northerners began to believe that the war could be won

    2. The Confederate retreat took place on the same day as Grant’s capture of Vicksburg – July 4, 1863

    3. Many casualties on both sides

  1. The Gettysburg Address (November 19, 1863)

    1. Lincoln gave a speech at the dedicating ceremony of the Gettysburg battlefield cemetery praising the bravery of the Union soldiers

    2. It was short – 272 words - it took him just over 2 minutes to deliver

    3. He referenced the Declaration of Independence and its ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy

    4. His main purpose was to remind Americans of the reasons that the Civil War was being fought


    B. Union Campaigns Cripple the Confederacy

  2. Lincoln named Grant Commander of the Union army

  3. Union troops launched The Wilderness Campaign – a series of battles designed to capture Richmond

  4. This campaign took a huge toll on both armies

  5. Grant was winning but was unable to take Richmond

C. Sherman Strikes the South

  1. William Tecumseh Sherman carried out the Union plan to destroy southern railroads and industries when he set out and captured Atlanta

  2. During his March to the Sea, he practiced total war – destroying civilian and economic resources – which led to anger that would last for generations

D. The South Surrenders

  1. Grant surrounded Lee’s army near Richmond and demanded surrender

  2. Lee’s troops were tired and hungry and lacked weapons and supplies

  3. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered in the town of Appomattox Courthouse ending the war – the terms revealed Grant’s fairness and civility as well as his respect for Lee & his soldiers

E. The Civil War lasted from 1861-1865 and resulted in the deaths of more than 620,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.