18641864

Jessica KellyJessica Kelly

Grant’s Wilderness Campaign + Grant’s Wilderness Campaign + The Battle of SpotsylvaniaThe Battle of Spotsylvania

May- General Grant, promoted to May- General Grant, promoted to commander of the Union armies, commander of the Union armies, planned to engage Lee's forces in planned to engage Lee's forces in Virginia until they were destroyed. Virginia until they were destroyed. North and South met and fought in North and South met and fought in an inconclusive three-day battle in an inconclusive three-day battle in the Wilderness. Lee inflicted more the Wilderness. Lee inflicted more casualties on the Union forces than casualties on the Union forces than his own army incurred, but unlike his own army incurred, but unlike Grant, he had no replacements. Grant, he had no replacements.

General Grant continued to attack General Grant continued to attack Lee. At Spotsylvania Court House, Lee. At Spotsylvania Court House, he fought for five days, vowing to he fought for five days, vowing to fight all summer if necessary.fight all summer if necessary. Some soldiers camping out at Spotsylvania.

The Battle of Cold Harbor The Battle of Cold Harbor June-Grant again June-Grant again

attacked Confederate attacked Confederate forces at Cold Harbor, forces at Cold Harbor, losing over 7,000 men in losing over 7,000 men in twenty minutes. twenty minutes. Although Lee suffered Although Lee suffered fewer casualties, his fewer casualties, his army never recovered army never recovered from Grant's continual from Grant's continual attacks. This was Lee's attacks. This was Lee's last clear victory of the last clear victory of the war.war.A view of the battlefield.

The Siege of Petersburg. The Siege of Petersburg.

June-Grant hoped to take June-Grant hoped to take Petersburg, below Petersburg, below Richmond, and then Richmond, and then approach the Confederate approach the Confederate capital from the south. capital from the south. The attempt failed, The attempt failed, resulting in a ten month resulting in a ten month siege and the loss of siege and the loss of thousands of lives on both thousands of lives on both sides. Grant then won by sides. Grant then won by steadily extending his steadily extending his lines westward.lines westward. A federal line near Fort Morton.

General William T. Sherman's General William T. Sherman's Atlanta CampaignAtlanta Campaign

August- Union General August- Union General Sherman departed Sherman departed Chattanooga, and was soon Chattanooga, and was soon met by Confederate General met by Confederate General Joseph Johnston. Skillful Joseph Johnston. Skillful strategy enabled Johnston to strategy enabled Johnston to hold off Sherman's force -- hold off Sherman's force -- almost twice the size of almost twice the size of Johnston's. However, Johnston's. However, Johnston's tactics caused his Johnston's tactics caused his superiors to replace him with superiors to replace him with General John Bell Hood, who General John Bell Hood, who was soon defeated. Hood was soon defeated. Hood surrendered Atlanta, Georgia, surrendered Atlanta, Georgia, on September 1; Sherman on September 1; Sherman occupied the city the next day. occupied the city the next day. The fall of Atlanta greatly The fall of Atlanta greatly boosted Northern morale.boosted Northern morale.A map of the Atlanta Campaign.

General William T. Sherman's General William T. Sherman's March to the SeaMarch to the Sea

November- General Sherman November- General Sherman continued his march through continued his march through Georgia to the sea. In the course of Georgia to the sea. In the course of the march, he cut himself off from the march, he cut himself off from his source of supplies, planning for his source of supplies, planning for his troops to live off the land. His his troops to live off the land. His men cut a path 300 miles in length men cut a path 300 miles in length and 60 miles wide as they passed and 60 miles wide as they passed through Georgia, destroying through Georgia, destroying factories, bridges, railroads, and factories, bridges, railroads, and public buildings. After three and a public buildings. After three and a half months of incessant half months of incessant maneuvering and much hard maneuvering and much hard fighting, Sherman forced Hood to fighting, Sherman forced Hood to abandon Atlanta, the munitions abandon Atlanta, the munitions center of the Confederacy. center of the Confederacy. Sherman remained there, resting Sherman remained there, resting his war-worn men and his war-worn men and accumulating supplies, for nearly accumulating supplies, for nearly two-and-a-half months. two-and-a-half months.

A map of Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Abraham Lincoln Is Re-ElectedAbraham Lincoln Is Re-Elected November- The November- The

Republican party Republican party nominated President nominated President Abraham Lincoln as its Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate, presidential candidate, and Andrew Johnson for and Andrew Johnson for vice-president. The vice-president. The Democratic party chose Democratic party chose General George B. General George B. McClellan for president, McClellan for president, and George Pendleton for and George Pendleton for vice-president. Sherman's vice-president. Sherman's victory in Atlanta boosted victory in Atlanta boosted Lincoln's popularity and Lincoln's popularity and helped him win re-election helped him win re-election by a wide margin.by a wide margin.

Sherman At SeaSherman At Sea After marching through After marching through

Georgia for a month, Georgia for a month, Sherman stormed Fort Sherman stormed Fort McAllister on December McAllister on December 13, 1864, and captured 13, 1864, and captured Savannah itself eight days Savannah itself eight days later. This operation was later. This operation was ordered on December 24, ordered on December 24, and General William B. and General William B. Hazen [2d Division, 15th Hazen [2d Division, 15th Corps] and Major Thomas Corps] and Major Thomas W. Osborn, chief of W. Osborn, chief of artillery, completed the artillery, completed the task by December 29, task by December 29, storing the guns at Fort storing the guns at Fort Pulaski. Pulaski.

Confederate soldiers removing ammunition at Fort McAllister.

Hood at NashvilleHood at Nashville Continuing his policy Continuing his policy

of taking the offensive of taking the offensive at any cost, General at any cost, General John B. Hood brought John B. Hood brought his reduced army his reduced army before the defenses before the defenses of Nashville, where it of Nashville, where it was repulsed by was repulsed by General George H. General George H. Thomas on Thomas on December 15-16, in December 15-16, in the most complete the most complete victory of the war.victory of the war.The federal outer line at Nashville.

Civil War Civil War

18651865

February, 1865February, 1865

Sherman Marches Sherman Marches through South and through South and North CarolinaNorth Carolina Union General Union General

Sherman moved from Sherman moved from Georgia through Georgia through South Carolina, South Carolina, destroying almost destroying almost everything in his everything in his path. path.

April, 1865April, 1865 On March 25, General On March 25, General

Lee attacked General Lee attacked General Grant's forces near Grant's forces near Petersburg, but was Petersburg, but was defeated -- attacking defeated -- attacking and losing again on April and losing again on April 1. On April 2, Lee 1. On April 2, Lee evacuated Richmond, evacuated Richmond, the Confederate capital, the Confederate capital, and headed west to join and headed west to join with other forces. with other forces.

April 9, 1865April 9, 1865 Surrender at Surrender at

Appomattox Appomattox Courthouse Courthouse General Lee's troops General Lee's troops

were soon surrounded, were soon surrounded, and on April 7, Grant and on April 7, Grant called upon Lee to called upon Lee to surrender. On April 9, surrender. On April 9, the two commanders the two commanders met at Appomattox met at Appomattox Courthouse, and agreed Courthouse, and agreed on the terms of on the terms of surrender. Lee's men surrender. Lee's men were sent home on were sent home on parole -- soldiers with parole -- soldiers with their horses, and officers their horses, and officers with their side arms. All with their side arms. All other equipment was other equipment was surrendered. surrendered.