The Civil WarPart 3

Generals,Soldiers,

and Civilians

There were hundreds of generals who served on both sides. Here are some of

the most famous:Northern

• Ulysses S. Grant• George B. McClellan• William T. Sherman• George S. Meade• Winfield Scott• Admiral David

Farragut

Southern• Robert E. Lee• Thomas

“Stonewall” Jackson• James Longstreet• Joseph E. Johnston• J. E. B. Stuart• Nathan Bedford

Forrest

Ulysses S. Grant

Considered the victorious general of

the war when Lee surrendered to him.

Sometimes called “The Butcher”,

because he was not afraid to take

casualties. Later served two terms as

president.

Robert E. Lee

Considered by many to be one of America’s

greatest military minds. Abraham Lincoln originally asked him to lead

Union forces. However, when

Virginia seceded, he felt he could not fight

against his home state.

George B. McClellan

Famous for organizing and

training the Northern army. However, he was somewhat overly cautious which

irritated Lincoln. He actually ran as a Democrat against

Lincoln for President in 1864, but lost.

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

Considered by many to be General Lee’s “Right Arm”. He earned his

nickname for his toughness during Bull

Run, the first battle of the war. In 1863, he was

accidentally shot by his own troops who were on

guard at night. He had to have his arm amputated,

but he later died from pneumonia.

William Tecumseh Sherman

Probably most famous for using the concept of

“Total War”, on his march through Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean. He and

his men cut a wide path of destruction, destroying

crops, livestock, and buildings. This helped to psychologically destroy

the South.

James Longstreet

Served well in many of the wars most

famous battles. He famously disagreed

with some of General Lee’s tactics at

Gettysburg, but still followed orders.

George S. Meade

Rose to become commander of the

Army of the Potomac (the

army near D. C.).He is most famous

for defeating General Lee at

Gettysburg.

Joseph E. Johnston

Involved in several major

battles. He could not get along

with President Jefferson Davis.

After Lee surrendered, he still had a large army in North Carolina, but surrendered.

Winfield Scott

Involved in military operations from the War of 1812 through

the Civil War. A native Virginian, he stayed loyal to the United States. He was the author of

the “Anaconda Plan” to choke off the

South.

J. E. B. Stuart

He was considered a master of

reconnaissance and using cavalry (troops on horseback). He

was sometimes referred to as the “eyes and ears” of

Lee’s army.

AdmiralDavid Farragut

Famous naval commander for

the Union. Given credit for uttering

the phrase: “Damn the

torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

One of the less-educated Southern generals. He had accumulated great

wealth by the time of the war. He survived the war to become a major player in the

KKK(Ku Klux Klan).

Civil War Soldiers

As in prior conflicts, when the war began the United States had to initially rely on volunteers. Later, a DRAFT was instituted in both the North

and South, requiring men from ages 18-35 to enlist. In some cities there were draft riots, and charges of ELITISM were launched at people who would pay a substitute to fight for them or their relative. False medical exams could also

excuse a person from serving.

There were problems with untrained soldiers running away, and/or suffering from

psychological damages. In many instances, strong discipline was used.

• Cowardice, desertion, theft, sleeping on guard duty, working with the enemy, spying, murder, and bounty jumping brought the hardest punishments.

• Execution by firing squad or hanging could be applied to all of these, but frequently cowards, thieves, and some deserters were branded (either on the face or the hip) and drummed out of camp in disgrace.

• In the artillery or cavalry, being tied for hours spread-eagled on a gun carriage wheel was common.

• In both the army and navy, flogging had been outlawed several years before the war.

On the Spare WheelSoldiers were left tied for hours to

one of these wheels.

Sometimes the effects of having

this done to you were crippling.

Being Bucked and Gagged

Sometimes, a soldier was tied securely with a stick under his knees and on top of his arms. He was either gagged with a strip of cloth, or a stick, and then left outside in all kinds of conditions for hours.

Being tied by the thumbs, or being forced to complete guard

duty with a large, heavy log, rather than a rifle.

Placed On the Wooden Horse

Sometimes soldiers were

forced to sit for hours on a narrow wooden rail, that was high enough

that their feet could not touch

the ground.

Prisoner of War Camps

Both sides had prison camps for captured

enemy soldiers. One of the most notorious was at Andersonville, Georgia. Nearly 13,000 prisoners

died from starvation, malnutrition, diarrhea, or

other disease. This is a survivor from

May 1865.

Women in both the North and South stepped up work on the farms while the men and boys were away fighting. Some, especially in the North, went to work in factories to help make the necessary supplies. There were some women who disguised themselves as men, and did occasionally fight. Other women acted as spies, and for the first time in large numbers, women began to act as nurses on the battlefield.

Civilian Life During the War

• Children were certainly expected to “pick up the slack” for missing fathers and brothers.

• The South was fearful of allowing Blacks to fight, for fear that they would rebel. However, there were several black regiments of soldiers from the North.

• As immigrants moved to the United States, some of them were also required to join the military.

A Woman

in Disguis

e

Nurses – “Angels of the Battlefield”

Clara Barton

A teacher, nurse, and humanitarian that helped found

the American Red Cross.

Casualties and LossesThe North The South

Killed in Action – 110,000

Killed in Action – 93,000

Other Deaths – 250,000 Other Deaths – 167,000

Wounded – 275,200 Wounded – 137,000

Total Casualties – 635,200

Total Casualties – 397,000

Each second of the following clip represents a single week of the Civil War:

Civil War in 4 Minutes.