The War Drags OnTopic #37

Fredericksburg – Dec 1862• Lincoln replaces

McClellan with General Burnside!

• Launched a surprise attack against Lee outside of Richmond.

• Can’t stay organized – ends up retreating after over 12,600 casualties.

• Confederates only lose about 5,300 soldiers at this battle!

The Emancipation Proclamation• Issued in 1862, takes effect

January 1, 1863.• Frees all slaves living in the

“states in rebellion” (Confederacy).

• Doesn’t free slaves in any Northern states.

• Has little immediate effect because the South didn’t listen at all.

• Many slaves were liberated as Union troops won battles in the south.

Chancellorsville – Apr 1863

• Burnside resigns his post, and General Hooker takes over!

• Hooker attempts to take Fredericksburg, but hesitates a few miles west in Chancellorsville.

• Stonewall Jackson’s and Lee’s men attack and after three days, the Union again retreats!

• Stonewall Jackson accidentally shot by his men and dies a few days later.

Siege of Vicksburg – May-July 1863

• Union surrounds the city, bombards it with cannon fire and blocks off all food and supplies.

• City surrenders to General Grant on July 4, 1863

• Gives the Union full control of the Mississippi.

54th Massachusetts Regiment• All black regiment of

Union soldiers.• Fought bravely at the

Battle of Fort Wagner in South Carolina, July 1863.

• By the end of the war, there had been about 180,000 African Americans that served in the Union Army.

• Usually led by white officers, because they had gone to military academies.

Conscription – The Draft

• By the end of 1863, the Confederacy had lost 40% of its men.

• Both sides had many deserters and needed soldiers.

• Both sides instituted a Draft for military service.

• A replacement could be purchased for $300.

Women help the War Efforts• Performed many farm

chores and daily work that men used to do.

• Served as nurses, spies, factory workers.

• Clara Burton’s collection of medicine and supplies leads to the establishment of the American Red Cross.

Prisoners of War• Both sides had prisoner

of war camps.• Most infamous were:• Andersonville, Georgia• Elmira, New York

• Many died of overcrowding, starvation, disease, poor shelter, etc.

• Over 50,000 men die in the POW camps.

Battle of Gettysburg – Day 1• July 1-3, 1863• Union General Meade

replaces Hooker!• Lee’s Southern Army

Raids the Union camp for supplies.

• Union pushed back, but is able to create solid defensive position.

• Both sides call for reinforcements.

Battle of Gettysburg – Day 2

• Lee ordered a fresh attack to try and take a high hill called Little Round Top.

• After the full day of fighting, the Confederates had to pull back and the Union kept their positions.

Battle of Gettysburg – Day 3• Lee, against advice to NOT

attack, launches another attack.• He heads right into the center

of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge.

• Pickett’s Charge! -- Southern General Pickett’s division thinks the Union is very weak and charges right for them.

• Union attacks constantly against them, forcing a retreat!

• Casualties:• Union – 23,000• Confederate – 28,000

So, what now?!?!• Foreign countries decide to

NOT help the Confederacy.• Lincoln unhappy that General

Meade did not follow Lee’s army when they retreated to finish them off.

• Union feels that they have a chance at winning the war after the Victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg.

• Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address in November 1863.