Overview
This lecture covers the decisive final years of the Civil War, major battles, shifts in Union leadership, the campaigns that broke the Confederacy, Lincoln's assassination, and the immediate aftermath. It sets up the stage for the following Reconstruction period.
Union Command and Major Battles (1862–1863)
- General Burnside led the Union to defeat at Fredericksburg in December 1862, losing over 12,000 men.
- Joseph Hooker replaced Burnside, rebuilt morale, but lost at Chancellorsville after poor decisions; Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded there.
- Lee invaded the North, leading to the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.
- Gettysburg was a three-day battle; Union held key high ground and repelled Pickett’s Charge on the final day.
- The Union victory at Gettysburg marked the turning point, ending Confederate hopes of invading the North.
Shifts in Union Strategy and Leadership
- Lincoln was frustrated by the lack of decisive leadership until Ulysses S. Grant took command in 1864.
- Grant pursued relentless flanking maneuvers against Lee, refusing to retreat even after heavy losses.
- Major engagements included the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor.
War in the Western and Southern Theaters
- General Sherman led a campaign through Georgia, capturing Atlanta in September 1864.
- Sherman's "March to the Sea" devastated southern resources, leading to the surrender of cities like Savannah and Charleston.
- The Confederate economy and infrastructure were systematically destroyed.
The 1864 Election and War’s End
- War weariness spiked in the North, but Union victories revived Lincoln's reelection prospects.
- Lincoln won decisively, including the overwhelming soldier vote.
- Grant’s forces besieged Petersburg and Richmond; Lee surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
Lincoln’s Assassination and Aftermath
- Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth; national mourning followed.
- Andrew Johnson became president.
- Confederate armies surrendered through May; Jefferson Davis was captured.
- No mass reprisals followed, and the army quickly demobilized.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Flanking maneuver — military tactic of attacking the side of an enemy's formation.
- Siege — a prolonged military blockade and assault on a city or fortified place.
- Pickett’s Charge — Confederate infantry assault on the last day at Gettysburg, ending in failure.
- March to the Sea — Sherman’s destructive campaign from Atlanta to Savannah.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Study the major battles and leadership changes for exam preparation.
- Review the effects of Sherman’s campaigns on the Confederacy.
- Prepare for the next lecture on Reconstruction (1865–1877).