Civil War Phase II (1863-1865)

Study Notes

Leadership Changes: Following the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln replaced General McClellan with Ambrose Burnside.

Fredericksburg (Dec 1862): A significant Confederate victory. Opposing forces were 122,000 USA vs. 78,500 CSA. Union losses were 12,500, Confederate losses were 5,300. Burnside was replaced after this battle.
Chancellorsville (May 1-4, 1863): Another Confederate victory. Union losses were high, including the death of General Stonewall Jackson due to friendly fire.
Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): A key Union victory. Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, aimed to force Lincoln to negotiate a peace treaty, was stopped at Gettysburg and resulted in significant losses. Pickett's Charge was a part of this battle with a high casualty rate for the CSA (confederate states of America). Union losses - 50,000 total casualties, CSA lost 17 generals and 1/3rd of its army.
Vicksburg (July 4, 1863): Union victory. Confederate troops surrendered to the Union, led by General Ulysses S. Grant. This victory completed the Union's control of the Mississippi River.

Grant Appointed Lieutenant General (March 1864): Grant was appointed Lieutenant General and put in charge of all Union armies.

Grant's Strategy: Grant used numerical superiority to weaken Lee's army, continuing advance despite significant losses. Key battles of the Overland Campaign included The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse and Cold Harbor.

Strategic Importance (June 1864 - April 1865): Petersburg was a critical rail line connecting Richmond to the South. A 9-month trench warfare between Grant and Lee occurred.

Grant's Plan: Sherman aimed to disrupt Southern supplies and break Southern morale by striking deep into Southern territory to weaken the Confederacy.
Key Events: Fall of Atlanta and Sherman's March to the Sea, resulting in the destruction of infrastructure, burning cities such as Atlanta and burning railroad lines with "Sherman Neckties". Fall of Savannah. The intention was to break down Southern morale as part of the war strategy.

Lincoln's Re-election: Lincoln won re-election secured by Sherman's victory at Atlanta.

Lee Surrenders: General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant, marking the end of the war.

(April 14, 1865): John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre.

Casualties: 620,000 killed (more from disease than bullets).
Amendments: 13th Amendment (abolished slavery), 14th Amendment (granted citizenship and due process of law), and 15th Amendment (expanded suffrage).