American Civil War: Western Theater

Overview

• The Western Theater: Everything east of the Mississippi, excluding Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland
• Key States: Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, the Carolinas
• Continuous Union victories compared to the Trans-Mississippi and Eastern theaters

Major Battles and Campaigns

Fort Henry and Fort Donelson

• Located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border
• Taken by Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant
• Significance: Early success in 1862 for the struggling Union
• Result: Federal control of Kentucky and Nashville

Battle of Shiloh (Battle of Pittsburgh Landing)

• Date: April 1862, in Tennessee
• Union Commander: Ulysses S. Grant
• Confederate Commander: Albert Sidney Johnston (died, replaced by P.G.T. Beauregard)
• Initially favored the Confederates, Union won the next day
• Bloodiest US battle to that point

Siege of Corinth

• Location: Mississippi
• Union Commander: Henry Halleck with notable input from Grant
• Confederate Commander: Beauregard (relieved of command shortly after)
• Result: Union victory, significant Confederate losses due to disease

Battle of Stones River

• Date: Late Dec 1862 - early 1863
• Location: Tennessee
• Union Commander: Rosecrans
• Confederate Commander: Braxton Bragg
• Significant for the Union maintaining control of Kentucky and Middle Tennessee

Siege of Vicksburg

• Date: July 1863
• Location: Mississippi
• Commander: Ulysses S. Grant
• Result: Union control of Mississippi River, cutting the Confederacy in two
• Turning point alongside Gettysburg

Battle of Chickamauga

• Date: September 1863
• Location: Georgia
• Union Commander: Rosecrans
• Confederate Commander: Bragg (helped by James Longstreet)
• Result: Confederate victory, bloodiest battle in Western Theater, second bloodiest overall

Chattanooga Campaign

• Date: November 1863
• Location: Tennessee
• Union Commander: Grant
• Confederate Commander: Bragg
• Result: Union victory, control of Tennessee, promotion of Grant to commander-in-chief (General-in-Chief)

Key Figures

Ulysses S. Grant

• Background: Career officer, served in Mexican-American War, struggled with alcoholism
• Achievements: Significant victories in Western Theater, risen from brigadier general to General-in-Chief

William T. Sherman

• Replaced Grant in the Western Theater
• Famous for Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea
• Known for total war and scorched earth tactics

Later Campaigns

Atlanta Campaign

• Date: May to September 1864
• Commander: Sherman
• Opposed by: Joseph E. Johnston, then John Bell Hood
• Result: Union victory, burning of Atlanta

March to the Sea (Savannah Campaign)

• Date: November to December 1864
• Strategy: Total war, scorched earth policy
• Result: Union control of Savannah, aiding Lincoln's re-election

Carolinas Campaign

• Date: Late April 1865
• Union Commander: Sherman
• Confederate Commander: Joseph E. Johnston
• Result: Union victory and unconditional surrender of Confederate forces in the Western Theater

Miscellaneous

Election of 1864

• Lincoln vs. McClellan
• McClellan’s platform: Negotiated peace, end the war
• Lincoln’s platform: Unconditional surrender
• Sherman’s success instrumental in Lincoln’s re-election

End of Confederate Government

• Jefferson Davis: Evacuation of Richmond, capture, and dissolution of Confederate government
• Final capture: Irwinville, Georgia, on May 10, 1865

Summary

• Western Theater marked by continuous Union victories, notably under Generals Grant and Sherman
• Key campaigns and battles significantly influenced the outcome of the Civil War and national politics