The American Civil War: 1862

The Civil War: 1862

• The United States was in the early stages of the Civil War in 1862, following the secession of several Southern states due to President Abraham Lincoln's anti-slavery platform.
• The Southern states declared a new nation, the Confederate States of America, with Jefferson Davis as President.

The Anaconda Plan

• General Winfield Scott devised the Anaconda Plan, aiming to surround and squeeze the Confederacy into submission with a minimal loss of life.
• The plan had two main components:
  • A naval blockade of Confederate ports along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Controlling the Mississippi River to divide the Confederate States in half and prevent them from helping each other.

General George B. McClellan

• McClellan was able to raise and train a strong army, achieving a few early victories.
• However, he did not respect President Lincoln's orders, often ignoring them, and was not aggressive enough in pursuing Confederate troops.

Civil War Battles in Virginia

• Virginia saw a great deal of fighting during the Civil War, with over 120 battles fought in the state.
• The Confederate capital, Richmond, was heavily fortified, and both sides attempted to capture the other capital city.
• Key battles include:
  • The Peninsula Campaign: McClellan's troops sailed south to Fort Monroe and marched north towards Richmond.
  • The Valley Campaign: General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson clashed with Union troops in the Shenandoah Valley.
  • The Battle of Hampton Roads: The USS Monitor and CSS Virginia engaged in the first battle between ironclad warships.
  • The Second Battle of Bull Run: Confederate General Robert E. Lee crushed Union forces and advanced across the Potomac River into Northern territory.
  • The Battle of Fredericksburg: Union Major General Ambrose E. Burnside moved quickly to get in between General Lee and Richmond, but ended with a Confederate victory.
  • The Battle of Antietam: The deadliest one-day battle of the Civil War, with General Lee's forces meeting McClellan's troops and fighting to a stalemate.

Civil War Battles in Missouri

• Missouri was a border state, with both sides claiming it and establishing governments there.
• The Confederate forces, led by General Sterling Price, used guerilla warfare, while Union troops, led by Major General Henry W. Halleck, protected the public.
• Key battles include:
  • The Battle of Shiloh: Union General Ulysses S. Grant fought against Confederate forces.
  • The Battle of Kirksville: Union Colonel John McNeil defeated Confederate Colonel Joseph C. Porter, establishing northeastern Missouri under Union control.
  • The Battle of Compton's Ferry and Yellow Creek: Union Colonel Odon Guitar defeated Confederate Colonel John A. Poindexter, capturing a large amount of ammunition and supplies.

The Trans-Mississippi Theater

• Control of Missouri meant control of the vital Mississippi River, crucial for troop movements, communications, and supplies.
• President Lincoln aimed to cut the Confederacy in half by controlling the river, limiting aid and supplies to Richmond.
• Control of the river would eventually lead to capturing the major port city of New Orleans.