Civil War Reading and Notes

Battle of Fort Sumter
American Civil War Articles

Article 5 April 12-13, 1861
Beginning when settlers first came to
America, fortifications (forts) were used to
guard coasts and waterways from potential
enemies. Over the course of time, several
forts were built in Charleston, South Carolina.
One was called Fort Moultrie and another,
Fort Sumter.
Fort Sumter was built on a man-made
island, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
In order to come into this very important
harbor, ships had to pass Fort Sumter. When
Abraham Lincoln became president, and the The Bombardment of Fort Sumter
southern states began seceding, Major Robert
Anderson and 85 of his federal soldiers were in Fort Moultrie. Most southern forts were taken over
by Confederate forces, however Anderson was leading Union soldiers. He moved them to Fort
Sumter, hoping to get in a stronger fort that was surrounded by water instead of land.
Jefferson Davis put General P.G.T. Beauregard in charge of the Confederate Army and
Beauregard immediately asked Anderson to surrender the fort. Anderson refused. The
Confederates then made sure that no supplies could get to Fort Sumter. Abraham Lincoln found out
that the fort was running extremely low on ammunition and food, so he sent merchant vessels
guarded by the US Navy towards Fort Sumter.
Knowing that the Confederates would not want ammunition to be replenished, Lincoln
reached out to South Carolina s governor, Francis W. Pickens, to ask if he would allow the ship to
come in and give the soldiers needed food and other supplies- everything except ammunition or
weapons. Pickens refused. Beauregard told Anderson he would not get supplies and asked him to
surrender or he would attack the fort. Anderson refused.
In the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, Beauregard sent yet another warning to
Anderson- that if he didn t surrender in the hour, Beauregard would begin firing on the fort.
Anderson still would not surrender, so about an hour later a fire was shot announcing the beginning
of the bombardment. Fort Sumter took shots from several forts nearby that were occupied by the
Confederate army. Anderson was lacking ammunition, but he also did not want his men to be at risk
of death, so his counterattack was not very strong.
The bombardment went on for about 34 hours before Anderson surrendered. He made this
decision because he realized that he would not ever receive the supplies he needed, and he was
running out of what he had quickly. No one was killed in this battle, however it marked the
beginning of the Civil War. Anderson and his soldiers were allowed to go back to the Union, and
Fort Sumter was taken over by the Confederate Army. *Fun Fact- Beauregard learned how to be an expert at
artillery from his teacher at West Point- Robert Anderson.
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Comprehension Questions
1. Why did they build Fort Sumter on a man-made island in Charleston Harbor?
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2. What caused Major Robert Anderson to move his soldiers from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter?
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3. Why do you think General P.G.T. Beauregard wanted Anderson to surrender?
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4. How did Abraham Lincoln try to compromise with the Confederacy about the supplies?
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5. Why do you think Major Anderson would not initially surrender?
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6. What caused Major Anderson to have to eventually surrender?
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Comprehension Questions-Answer Key
1. Why did they build Fort Sumter on a man-made island in Charleston Harbor?
They built it on an island in the harbor so that during times of war they could control who entered
and left the harbor.
2. What caused Major Robert Anderson to move his soldiers from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter?
He moved them because he felt Fort Sumter was a stronger fort because it could not be reached
by land. He was also running low on supplies.
3. Why do you think General P.G.T. Beauregard wanted Anderson to surrender?
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. Most of the forts in the
Confederacy had been taken over by Confederate armies. Fort Sumter had not and he wanted
them to surrender so there were not federal soldiers near Charleston.
4. How did Abraham Lincoln try to compromise with the Confederacy about the supplies?
Lincoln wanted to get food and other natural supplies to the soldiers and said that if he was
allowed to do that then he would not give them ammunition and weapons.
5. Why do you think Major Anderson would not initially surrender?
Possible answers- He though that he would get the supplies he needed. He didn t want to let
Lincoln down. He didn t want the fort in Confederate hands.
6. What caused Major Anderson to have to eventually surrender?
He ran out of supplies and he did not want his men to be injured.
Confederate Generals
Article 6 1861-1865
Robert Edward Lee
Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford Hall
in Virginia. He was the son of a Revolutionary War hero. When he
was 18, Lee went to West Point Military Academy and graduated in
1829 at the top of his class. He then worked for the Army Corps of
Engineers building forts and bridges for the army. In 1931, Lee
married Mary Custis, the great granddaughter of Martha Washington
(from her first husband, not George), and they had 7 children.
Lee s first experience with war was during the Mexican-
American War from 1846-1848. His commanding officer said that
Lee was one of the best soldiers he d ever seen, so Lee was promoted
to colonel. After the war, he became the superintendent of the
Militar Academ . When John Brown raided Harper s Ferr , Lee was
in charge of the Marines that were sent in to stop the raid.
Lee was against secession, but when he was asked by President Robert Edward Lee 1864
Lincoln to be in charge of the Union Army, he resigned from the
federal army because he was loyal to his state of Virginia. He wanted to give his services to the
Confederate States of America, so he commanded the Army of Northern Virginia. Although the
Confederate Army was almost always outnumbered in battle, Lee led his men to several battle
successes. If he knew the couldn t win, the retreated safel . He also chose talented and smart
officers to lead with him, like Thomas Stonewall Jackson.
Lee became commander of the Northern Virginia Army when Joseph E. Johnston
became injured at the Battle of Seven Pines. The Confederate Army was able to hold Union
commander George McClellan s soldiers back as the tried to take control of the Virginia Peninsula.
McClellan was unsuccessful at taking control but it was said Lee won because of McClellan s timidit .
Lee s first major success was at the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in 1862 against
General James Pope. So, he then tried to move Confederate troops into Maryland, in hopes that he
could secure the border state. Unfortunately, he lost many soldiers at the bloodiest one-day-battle in
the history of the war at Antietam Creek against Union General McClellan, and he was forced back
over the Potomac onto southern soil (Virginia).
On December 13, 1862, Lee defeated the Union Army at Fredericksburg which helped boost
the morale of the Confederate Army. His next success would come May 1-4, 1863 when they
would win the battle of Chancellorsville, dangerously dividing his forces, even though he was
outnumbered. It proved to be a chance that was worth taking, causing this to be Lee s greatest
victory during the war. However, he would lose his right hand man, General Stonewall Jackson, in
friendly fire at the end of the battle. After this victory, Lee once again tried to head into the north.
July 1-3, 1863 was the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lee was outnumbered and was unable to
get the upper hand. He had to retreat back into Virginia. This was considered the turning point in
the war. Lee tried to turn in his resignation after the Battle of Gettysburg, but President Davis
would not accept it.
The war was still being fought, so Lee spent the next several months defending with his
armies in Virginia. They were outnumbered and Ulysses S. Grant, the Union General, methodically
continued to attack the Confederate Army until on April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered at the
Appomattox Court House.
After the war, Lee became the president of Washington University (now known as
Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia. He died October 12, 1870, at the age of
63 of heart disease at his home in Lexington. Although Lee had a great number of losses in
battle, he is one of the most respected generals of all time.
*Fun fact- During the war, Lee s estate was sei ed b the government due to the famil s inabilit to pa taxes and became the burial ground
of many of the Confederate soldiers who died in battle- now known as Arlington Cemetery.
Thomas Stonewall Jackson

Thomas Jackson was born on January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg,
Virginia (now West Virginia). Jackson s famil died when he was young, and
he lived with his uncle on a farm. He taught himself by reading from books.
At 17, he became a county constable (policeman) and got an appointment at
West Point Military Academy, where he graduated from in 1846. He then
joined the army and went to fight in the Mexican-American War. This is
where he met Robert E. Lee. After the war, he retired from the army and
became a professor at the Virginia Military Academy.
When the Civil War started, Jackson joined the Confederate Army
and was in charge of the soldiers at Harper s Ferr . Jackson gained fame Stonewall Jackson
at the First Battle of Bull Run. Throughout the war, the Confederate Army was
outnumbered in battles. Commander Jackson fought with his men and did not back down. Even
when it looked like the Union soldiers were going to push them back at Bull Run, Jackson did not
budge. Another general said, There stands Jackson as a stone wall, and since then he was called
Stonewall Jackson.
In the spring of 1862, Jackson led the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Although he was
outnumbered, he and his troops moved quickly and they were able to save the Confederate Capital
in Richmond Virginia from being taken by the Union Army. This campaign (many battles) made him
one of the first famous war heroes. In June of 1862, Jackson s arm joined with Lee s arm and
they played an important role in the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle
of Fredericksburg. Jackson was known to be aggressive in battle and rarely backed down.
In the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, the Confederate Army was hugely
outnumbered. Even so, Lee and Jackson split their men up and
attacked from several sides. At the end of the battle, as the battle
wound down, Jackson went with a few men to scout to make sure
the Union was retreating. On returning to the troops, a
Confederate soldier mistook them for the enemy and shot them.
Jackson s bone in his left arm was shattered and it was amputated.
Although it seemed he would be on the mend, he died May 10, 1863 *Fun Fact- Jefferson Davis, Robert E Lee
and Stonewall Jackson can be found on
of pneumonia.at the age of 39. the carving on Stone Mountain, Georgia.
1. How did Lee s background (life before the war) help him during the Civil War?
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2. Wh did Lee refuse Lincoln s request to be in command of the Union Arm ?
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3. Why did Lee want to go into battle at the Antietam Creek? What was the outcome?
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4. How did the Battle of Fredericksburg help the Confederates? _____________________
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5. What (or who) did the Battle of Chancellorsville cost Lee? How do you think that affected
Lee?
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6. What was the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg? _______________________
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7. Wh do ou think Jefferson Davis did not accept Lee s resignation after the Battle of
Gettysburg?
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8. How did Thomas get the name Stonewall Jackson? ______________________________
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9. How was the Battle of Chancellorsville dangerous and different from most battles?
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10. Compare and contrast Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. ______________________
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Comprehension Questions- Answer Key
1. How did Lee s background (life before the war) help him during the Civil War?
Lee went to WestPoint Military Academy and then served in the Mexican-American War. He
helped with the raid at Harpers Ferry.
2. Wh did Lee refuse Lincoln s request to be in command of the Union Arm ?
Lee refused Lincoln because he was loyal to his home state of Virginia, who had seceded the
Union.
3. Why did Lee want to go into battle at the Antietam Creek? What was the outcome?
Lee wanted to go into battle there because he hoped to gain control of Maryland, a border state.
4. How did the Battle of Fredericksburg help the Confederates? The battle helped to build the
morale of the Confederate soldiers.
5. What (or who) did the Battle of Chancellorsville cost Lee? How do you think that affected
Lee?
Lee lost Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville.
6. What was the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg? The Union one, it was the turning point
of the war, and Lee felt he should resign.
7. Wh do ou think Jefferson Davis did not accept Lee s resignation after the Battle of
Gettysburg?
Even though Lee did not win the battle, he was still a good general so Davis did not want him to
quit.
8. How did Thomas get the name Stonewall Jackson? At the First Battle of Bull Run, Jackson did
not back down, even though he was severely outnumbered. He stood with his men and did not
budge, causing them to win.
9. How was the Battle of Chancellorsville dangerous and different from most battles?
The Battle of Chancellorsville was dangerous because Lee and Jackson were majorly
outnumbered. Still, they divided their armies and charged the Union troops from different sides.
They won.
10. Compare and contrast Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson had many things in common. They were both born in
Virginia and both of them attended WestPoint Military Academy. Both Lee and Jackson fought in
the Mexican-American War (where they met). They were in battle together at the Second Battle
of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the battle of Fredericksburg, and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Both generals were known for being brave and not giving up even if they were outnumbered.
The difference between the generals is how they were raised. Lee got an education by going
through school but Jackson learned from reading books. Jackson was much younger than Lee
and he died after being shot. Lee died of natural causes.
Battle of Gettysburg
Article 7 July 1-3, 1863
The Battle of Gettysburg took place from July 1-3, 1863 near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
After the excitement of winning the Battle of Chancellorsville, Robert E. Lee decided he wanted to
be on the offense instead of the defense, leading him to march his soldiers north into Union
Territory. He wanted to work his way up through Maryland and Pennsylvania, taking over as many
military posts as possible. He thought this would end the war. On his way up to Camp Curtin,
Penns lvania, the Union s biggest suppl depot, Lee heard that Union General George Meade s
Army of the Potomac were heading his way with 95,000 Union soldiers. Lee marched his 75,000
Confederate soldiers to a town in Pennsylvania where ten roads converge: Gettysburg. Here, he
would meet the Union Army for a battle that would last for three days and be called the bloodiest
battle of the Civil War.
July 1, 1863
Lee heard that a small Union army had stopped in
Gettysburg to get supplies. He heard this from a Confederate
general who had the same idea. Lee decided to head towards
Gettysburg with his entire army. The Union Army was
outnumbered, so Confederate General Richard Ewell attacked the
Union soldiers, forcing them backwards through the town of
Gettysburg and up onto Cemetery Hill. General Lee wanted Ewell
to press his advantage before more Union troops came into town,
but Ewell thought the Union had the advantage being up on a hill
and did not do as Lee asked.
This would turn out to be a big
mistake.
July 2, 1863
Throughout the night of
st
July 1 , the Union had more
and more smaller armies join Day 1 Battle Map
them. By the morning of July
2, they were in full force. They reinforced the soldiers on
Cemeter Hill, fish hooked around to Culp s Hill, and then filled in
all the way across Cemetery Ridge. The Union had the advantage
because they were up on a ridge, looking down into the fields, so
they were able to see on almost all sides where the enemy stood.
The Confederates did not have that advantage. There were many
areas they were not able to see. Even still, against the advice of
General Longstreet, General Lee wanted to attack the Union
Day 2 Battle Map
where they stood. He sent General Longstreet up the left side
and Ewell up Culp s Hill on the right side. Lee gave orders that Longstreet and Ewell should attack
immediately, but Longstreet was unable to get all of his soldiers in place until 4:00 PM. Ewell had
begun much earlier and b the time Longstreet began his charge through Devil s Den and the Peach
Orchard, Ewell s soldiers were tired and having trouble holding Culp s Hill. This resulted in the Union
troops stalling Ewell s Confederates. Longstreet was able to take control of Devil s Den, the field,
and the Peach Orchard. By the end of Day 2, both sides together had around 35,000 casualties-
the most ever in a two day battle.
July 3, 1863
Early on July 3, Union troops were finally able to push
back the Confederate charge and hold strong to Culp s Hill.
General Lee felt that they had been very close to winning the
battle the day before, so he devised a plan against the advice of
General Longstreet. Using only 15,000 troops, Lee decided to
send three divisions across the center of the field to Cemetery
Ridge led by General George Pickett. Pickett and his men would
be marching ¾ of a mile across a wide open field towards their
enem who were safel on the ridge. Later known as Pickett s
Charge, the Confederates moved forward and were attacked by
the Union soldiers behind stone walls. Three other Union regiments
came around and began attacking from the sides and behind
Pickett s men. More than half of the Confederate soldiers were
killed. Those that survived began retreating as Lee and Longstreet
made sure that their defensive lines were strong enough to
Day 3 Battle Map withhold a Union attack that may follow.
Effects and Outcomes

On July 4, Lee and his men waited to see if there would be a counterattack from the Union,
but it remained silent. That night, in the pouring rain, Lee and his men retreated back toward the
Confederate Territory of Virginia. Many say that if Ewell had done as Lee asked on July 1, and
finished the initial attack, then Gettysburg would have been quickly won by the Confederates. Many
also say, that if Lee had listened to Longstreet on July 3, there would not have been as many
causalities and the Confederates may have still had a chance. Either way, after the Battle of
Gettysburg, General Lee, feeling horrible, offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis, but Davis
declined it. The three day battle ended with over 46,000 casualties, 9,000 of those being deaths.
General Meade s Union soldiers were exhausted after the battle on Jul 3. Instead of
following after General Lee, Meade let his men rest while trying to handle the many dead and
wounded. Almost every home and church in Gettysburg became a hospital to help with all of the
casualties, and Gettysburg had to bury many just outside of town. Abraham Lincoln was
disappointed that Meade did not follow Lee and finish the battle, thinking it would surely end the war
altogether and there could finally be peace. However, Meade felt he needed to stay and tend to his
soldiers.
General Lee would still go on to win battles, however this, along with Union General Ulysses
S. Grant s victor over Vicksburg on Jul 4, was said to be the turning point of the war.
1. Why did Robert E. Lee want to head towards Pennsylvania? ______________________
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2. Why did Lee want Ewell to finish the battle? What was the outcome? _______________
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3. Do you think Ewell should have continued fighting the Union soldiers? Why or why not?
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4. How did the geography help the Union? How did the geography hurt the Confederates?
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5. What were at least 2 difficulties the Confederates had during this battle?
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6. Why do you think the Confederates lost the Battle of Gettysburg? __________________
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7. What were some of the effects of the Battle of Gettysburg? Explain at least 3 and why they
are important.
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1. Why did Robert E. Lee want to head towards Pennsylvania? Robert E. Lee went towards
Pennsylvania because he wanted to secure the military posts in Maryland and Pennsylvania so
that the war could be over.
2. Why did Lee want Ewell to finish the battle? What was the outcome? Lee wanted Ewell to
finish the battle before more troops arrived to help the Union. Ewell did not feel sure about
it so he did not continue the attack. The next morning there were many more troops there
to help the Union. Lee was angry.
3. Do you think Ewell should have continued fighting the Union soldiers? Why or why not?
Any answer backed up by evidence but most likely- Yes, I think he should have kept fighting
before reinforcements arrived. Maybe they would have won.
4. How did the geography help the Union? How did the geography hurt the Confederates?
The geography helped the Union because they were on hills and ridges so they were able to see
in many different directions and build walls into the hills and ridges for protection. The geography
hurt the Confederates because they were below the Union and were more easily seen. They
weren t able to see all of the Union divisions and at one point the were out in the complete
openness of a field.
5. What were at least 2 difficulties the Confederates had during this battle?
Possible difficulties of the Confederates:
They were outnumbered.
The didn t have the geographical advantage.
Ewell did not listen to Lee and do what he asked.
They fought out in the open.
6. Why do you think the Confederates lost the Battle of Gettysburg

Their opinion backed up by evidence- possible answers- Ewell didn t finish the fight when he was
supposed to. Or, Lee didn t listen to his generals on Jul 3. Or, the Union had the advantage due
to geography/location.
7. What were some of the effects of the Battle of Gettysburg? Explain at least 3 and why they
are important.
Possible effects- Confederates lost; Lee tried to resign; It was the turning point; Meade was
supposed to finish the war (chase Lee) but he didn t; There were man casualties; Gett sburg
became a graveyard and a hospital.
Ulysses S. Grant
Article 8 1861-18-65
Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822 in Point

Pleasant, Ohio. He grew up on a farm and his father was a
tanner (someone who tanned animal hides for profit). Grant did
not want to be a tanner, so he spent his time horseback riding on
the farm. His father suggested that he attend WestPoint Military
Academy, and although Grant did not want to be in the army, he
knew it would give him the chance for a free college education.
After graduating from WestPoint in
1843, Grant knew he did not want to *Fun Fact- When he arrived at
WestPoint, Hiram Ulysses Grant
stay in the army past the four years he was written on the roster as
owed for his education. However, in Ulysses S. Grant. Embarrassed
and afraid to say anything, he
1844, Grant was sent to fight in the immediately changed his name
Mexican-American War under General and this is when he became
Ulysses S. Grant. Ulysses S. Grant 1865
Zachary Taylor. Here he carefully
observed and learned military tactics, but
also realized he felt the war was wrong because they wanted to increase their territory for the
spread of slavery.
After the Mexican-American War, Grant was sent to the west where he was stationed all
along the west coast, from California to what is now Washington State. Grant became very
depressed because he missed his wife and children. He failed at several business ventures and
began to make a bad reputation for himself. Eventually he quit and moved back to St. Louis in
1854, with his family and tried to run a farm. He failed at this and eventually worked with his
father and brothers in the tannery shop in 1860.
On April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina was attacked and Grant s
sense of patriotism motivated him to join the military again, on the Union side. He was not readily
accepted into a command position but did become the commander of a volunteer regiment of
Illinois. Using what he had learned in the Mexican-American War, Grant prepared his men for war.
Kentucky was a border state, and Grant came down and took the town of Paducah, at the mouth
of the Tennessee River. In 1862, he went down into Tennessee and took control of Fort Henry and
Fort Donelson. These were considered the first two major victories for the Union. This is how he
earned the nickname Unconditional Surrender Grant (U.S. Grant).
Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing)

On April 6, 1862, Grant moved into Confederate Territory farther down in Tennessee.
Confederate General Johnston and General Beauregard heard that they were coming and devised
a sneak attack. They began firing on the Union soldiers in the early morning, around 7:00 AM.
Throughout the morning, the Confederates attacked and the Union soldiers were pushed back
towards Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh. Two more Union regiments were on their way, but they did
not make it as quickly as Grant hoped. By the evening, General Johnston had died from a bullet to
his leg and the exhausted Confederates stopped for the night. The two Union regiments that had
been marching towards them finall arrived. The next morning Grant s arm was read b 6:30
AM, and with half of his army fresh from not having fought the day before, Grant attacked the
Confederates. The Confederates were pushed back throughout the day and eventually retreated to
a nearby base in Corinth, Tennessee. Although this was considered a win for the Union, Grant was
criticized for the battle because of the large amount of casualties. The Battle of Shiloh had almost
24,000 casualties, more than the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Mexican-American War
combined. This was the first battle up until this time to have had that many casualties. Many wanted
Grant fired, however Abraham Lincoln would not, sa ing, I need him. He fights.
Vicksburg Campaign
By 1862, the Union Navy had
blockaded all of the Atlantic Coast, as
well as the majority of the Mississippi
River, except one small strip between
Port Hudson, Louisiana and Vicksburg,
Mississippi, both found on the Mississippi
River. This small opening allowed the
Confederate states on the west of the
Mississippi River to trade with the
Confederate states to the east of the
Mississippi. Lincoln knew that capturing
Vicksburg would be the key to winning
the war, closing off the two sides of the
Map of the Vicksburg Campaign
Confederacy from one another.
Vicksburg was a main port, and capturing it would cripple the South. From January – March of
1863, Grant tried every tactic he could to take Vicksburg. Nothing worked. Beginning in May of
1863, Grant would fight 5 major battles in his campaign to control Vicksburg. One of the battles
secured the capital of Mississippi, Jackson, for the Union. Grant burned the city, the railroad, and
tore down the telegraph lines on his way to Vicksburg. Eventually, the Confederates retreated to
Vicksburg which had been fortified all the way around. Grant began fighting at sections along the
fortress that he believed he could win, but the Confederates weren t easil fought. He reali ed he
needed to lay siege on the city, and so they dug mines and began blowing up sections of the
fortress. Lacking food and supplies for the army and the citizens of Vicksburg, Confederate
General Pemberton was forced to surrender the city to Grant on July 3, 1863. On July 4, Grant
gave his terms of surrender- he would let the Confederate soldiers go home, instead of taking them
as prisoners of war. *Fun Fact- Vicksburg would not celebrate July 4th again until 81 years later.
The used Grant s war tactics in the Gulf War, more than 100 ears later!
Although this was a major win for the Union, it was overshadowed b the Union s win at the
Battle of Gettysburg the day before. Five days after Vicksburg was seized, the Union also won
Port Hudson on the Mississippi River. This meant the Union controlled all of the Mississippi River,
dividing the Confederacy in half. There was no way for each side to trade with one another so
everyday items like salt became scarce.
Battles of Chattanooga
By October 1863, Grant moved east
and took command at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
After a Union failure at the Battle of
Chickamauga in September, Grant came to
reinforce the Union army and fully secure
Chattanooga. He arrived just in time.
Confederate soldiers were in a strong line
along Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain,
cutting off the supply line to the Union soldiers.
Horses and soldiers were starving. Grant was
able to open up a new suppl line at Brown s
Ferry so that supplies could get through. He
fired General Rosecrans immediately on
Map of the Battles of Chattanooga November 22-25
arrival and replaced him with General Thomas.
The Battles of Chattanooga lasted three days, consisting of the Battle of Orchard Knob, the Battle
of Lookout Mountain, and the Battle of Missionary Ridge. The Union won, forcing the Confederate
soldiers into Georgia. This paved the wa for General Sherman s Atlanta Campaign in 1864.
Union Success
From March 1864 – April 1865, Grant gave chase to Robert E. Lee and his men. Unlike most
generals before him, Grant did not focus on winning battles to take over territory. Grant felt like to
win the war, it would be necessary to take down as many of the Confederate armies as he could.
He hunted Lee and attacked repeatedly, causing great numbers of casualties. Already being
outnumbered, as Lee started to lose more and more men, he knew that it was only a matter of time
before he did not have enough men to continue the fight. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to
Grant. The generals met at the Appomattox Court House and signed a peace agreement. Grant
once again did not take any prisoners of war, letting the Confederate men even keep their horses
and go home. Even though Lee surrendered, Jefferson Davis wanted to continue fighting but there
was no energy left for the fight. The Union had won the Civil War.
Presidency
In 1868, Grant was elected as the 18th president of the United States. He served for two
terms. Although there were troubles during his presidency, Grant was still able to make some
beneficial changes for the country. Grant set up the National Park Service and created the first
National Park- Yellowstone. He passed the 15th Amendment, the right for all men to vote regardless
of their race, color, or if they were former slaves. He also signed a bill that allowed African
Americans to become U.S. citizens. He created the Department of Justice and signed a peace
treaty with Great Britain called the Treaty of Washington. Grant believed in equality and fair
treatment of African Americans and Native Americans and worked to rebuild his country.
Ulysses S. Grant died on July 23, 1885 of throat cancer, just as his published memoirs were
being released with the help of his friend Mark Twain. Although Grant had many struggles
throughout his life, he will be remembered for what he accomplished as a general and a president.
Ulysses S. Grant
1. Why did Ulysses S. Grant go to WestPoint Military Academy? ______________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Why was Grant criticized for the Battle of Shiloh? _____________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Describe the importance of Grant capturing Vicksburg in detail. ___________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. What were the effects of capturing Vicksburg? _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. Why was it important that Grant help take control of Chattanooga?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. How did the Union win the war? _________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. How did Grant s opinion on how to win the war differ from other generals? ____________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. Do you think it was more important for the Union to win territory or to hurt the Confederate
Army? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
9. What is your opinion about Grant releasing the Confederate soldiers to go home? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. What were at least 2 accomplishments of Grant as a President? Explain why they were
important.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
11. Do you think Grant was a good general? Make a claim and provide 2 pieces
of evidence to back your claim up.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Ulysses S. Grant
1. Why did Ulysses S. Grant go to WestPoint Military Academy? Grant went to WestPoint so
that he could get a free education.
2. Why was Grant criticized for the Battle of Shiloh? He was criticized because he lost more
casualties than any battle up until that point.
3. Describe the importance of Grant capturing Vicksburg in detail. It was important for Grant
to capture Vicksburg because it was a major port between the east and the west on the
Mississippi River. By capturing it, it would isolate the east from the west and cause trade to
be difficult. The Union Navy would have complete control of the Mississippi River.
4. What were the effects of capturing Vicksburg? The effects were that the east and west
were divided and the Union controlled the Mississippi River. Items became scarce, making
the Confederates uncomfortable.
5. Why was it important that Grant help take control of Chattanooga? It was important
because the soldiers were not getting any supplies and they were starving. It also set it up
so that Sherman would be able to march into Georgia.
6. How did the Union win the war? The Union won the war b Grant wearing down Lee s
army and leaving him with few soldiers to fight with.
7. How did Grant s opinion on how to win the war differ from other generals? Grant believed
that gaining control of territory was not the way to win. The way to win was to fight and
get the most casualties on Lee s side as he could. (Basicall kill as man of Lee s men as he
could)
8. Do you think it was more important for the Union to win territory or to hurt the
Confederate Army? Why? The re opinion with evidence to back it up.
9. What is your opinion about Grant releasing the Confederate soldiers to go home? Why?
They can say they think it was a good idea or bad idea. The majority will probably say that it
was nice of him to let them go without taking any prisoners.
10. What were at least 2 accomplishments of Grant as a President? Explain why they were
important. Any 2 of these- 15th Amendment, bill that allows African Americans to become
citizens, began the National Park Service, Treaty of Washington
11. Do you think Grant was a good general? Make a claim and provide 2 pieces
of evidence to back your claim up. Grant was/was not a good general- and then 2 facts to back
it up.
The Atlanta Campaign
Article 9 1864
After the Battles of Chattanooga, Ulysses S.
Grant went after Robert E. Lee and his army (Army of
Northern Virginia) and sent William T. Sherman south to
try to capture the Army of Tennessee and to shut down
the factories and supply line to Atlanta. Sherman had
over 100,000 soldiers, while Joseph Johnston s
Confederate army had only half of the soldiers
Sherman did. In May, 1864, Sherman divided his soldiers
into three field armies (groups) and attacked Johnston s
army. Repeatedly, Sherman had two armies attack and
the third arm , James McPherson s, would come around
the side or back and would cause Johnston s soldiers to
retreat from the battle.
May 12-13, Sherman attacked near Dalton,
Georgia. This was the first time that Johnston would
retreat backwards, and Sherman chased after him. On
May 14-15 they met again for some quick smaller
Battles in the Atlanta Campaign
battles at Resaca, but again, Johnston retreated back.
Johnston tried, and failed, to attack Sherman in Dallas. On June 27, Johnston repelled Sherman at
the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, making this a Confederate victory. However it did not stop
Sherman from coming for Atlanta. The Southern army began retreating toward Atlanta July 9-10.
Upon hearing that Johnston was struggling, Jefferson Davis relieved Johnston of his duty as
general, replacing him with John Hood, his second in command, on July 18. Sherman was only five
miles away.
Hood ordered an attack on the Union on July 20. He tried a move as risky as Stonewall
Jackson tried at Chancellorsville. However, the Union army was able to defend itself and the
Confederates retreated back into Atlanta. Sherman began his bombardment of Atlanta, sending
cannon balls flying into the city. The bombardment lasted about a month and then Sherman pulled
out, leaving only a small force.
Sherman began to focus on cutting the supply line, Macon & Western, the only link Atlanta
and Hood s arm had left. Sherman knew that cutting the line would also mean he would not be
able to get supplies either, but he knew Hood would have to surrender Atlanta. On August 25,
Sherman was heading towards Jonesboro to cut the line and Hood was right behind him. Union
troops reached it on August 31 and effectively cut the line. The Battle of Jonesboro followed the
line being cut and lasted for two da s, until September 1, when Hood s arm fled, leaving Atlanta
abandoned. Sherman and his army took over.
Because of the Atlanta Campaign, Abraham Lincoln was elected for another term as
president and it also led to Sherman s March to the Sea. It was a great loss for the Confederacy.
1. What was one disadvantage that Joseph Johnston had when William T. Sherman came to
Atlanta?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Why did U.S. Grant send Sherman to capture Atlanta? __________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. What strategy did Sherman use that worked well for the Union army? _______________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Why did Jefferson Davis replace Johnston as general? _________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. What caused Hood to finally surrender Atlanta to Sherman? ______________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. How do you think the Atlanta Campaign affected the Confederates? _________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
1. What was one disadvantage that Joseph Johnston had when William T. Sherman came to
Atlanta?
One disadvantage Johnston had was that he was really outnumbered.
2. Why did U.S. Grant send Sherman to capture Atlanta? Grant wanted Sherman to capture
Atlanta because it was a manufacturing and railroad hub and he knew if they could capture
it, the Union would most likely win the war.
3. What strategy did Sherman use that worked well for the Union army? He had two armies
attack from the front and then one army came around on the side or behind them and
forced them to retreat.
4. Why did Jefferson Davis replace Johnston as general? Davis replaced him because knew
Johnston was losing ground to Sherman (because he kept retreating towards Atlanta) and he
wanted to make sure Atlanta wasn t taken without a fight.
5. What caused Hood to finally surrender Atlanta to Sherman? The supply line was cut and
there had been many casualties.
6. How do you think the Atlanta Campaign affected the Confederates? I think the Atlanta
Campaign probably made the Confederates upset and feel somewhat hopeless that they would
win the war now.
William T. Sherman
Article 10 1864
William Tecumseh Sherman
William T. Sherman was born on February 8, 1820 in
Lancaster, Ohio. He had 10 brothers and sisters. Sherman s
father died in 1829, and because there were so many kids,
friends of the family helped raise him. When he was 16, he got
an appointment at West Point through his guardian, Thomas Ewing.
He graduated in 1840, and then Sherman served in the Seminole
Wars, where he spent a good deal of time in the south and got to
know the terrain and landmarks of Georgia and South Carolina.
He didn't serve in the Mexican-American War. In 1850, Sherman
married Ewing s daughter Eleanor, and in 1853, he resigned from
the military. He worked in banking in California, but when he was
unsuccessful, he moved to Louisiana. He was the superintendent
of Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy,
which would become Louisiana State University. He moved to St. William T. Sherman
Louis when Louisiana seceded from the Union because he did not
agree with secession. He warned everyone that secession would lead to a bloody war and the
North would win.
When the Civil War broke out, he wanted to join the military again and was made colonel of
th
the 13 United States Infantr on Ma 14, 1861. Sherman s first battle was the First Battle of Bull
Run (now known as Manassas), and although the Union did not win, Lincoln was impressed with
Sherman and gave him a promotion. He was sent to help keep Kentucky from seceding from the
Union. In the midst of this, Sherman complained a lot to his superiors about the war, and he was
put on leave to go back home because he suffered a nervous break down. During this time, his
friend Ulysses S. Grant visited him and encouraged him to come back to the military when he was
ready.
Sherman returned in mid-December 1861, and helped Grant capture Fort Donelson in
Kentucky in February 1862. He was then sent to help Grant again, this time at the Battle of Shiloh in
Tennessee, where he would be put to the test as commander. Grant and Sherman worked together
to win the Battle of Shiloh and were lifelong friends after that. Sherman stayed in the West to help
Grant with his campaign against Vicksburg, eventually capturing the city. Leaving Vicksburg,
Sherman set off to destroy the railroad in Meridian, Mississippi, a major hub for Mississippi and
Alabama. He destroyed railways, bridges, and train equipment along the way.
Ma of 1864 started the Atlanta Campaign, the Union s opportunit to capture Atlanta. He
captured Atlanta and took over on September 2, 1864. He then burned what was left of the city.
Sherman s March to the Sea

After controlling Atlanta, Sherman made a decision that he hoped would help win the war.
Knowing that the supply lines were very
important for the Georgians, he decided
to cut any existing supply lines and march
towards Savannah, securing that sea port.
Sherman would not be able to get supplies
for his troops, so he decided he would live
off the land and what the farmers could
provide for them. But in the meantime,
they would wreak havoc on the towns
they came through, putting fear in the
minds of the civilians. Sherman s Sherman s March to the Sea through Georgia and the Carolinas
reasoning for this strateg , called total
war, was that he wanted to crush the South s spirit and resistance. By marching through Georgia
and terrifying everyone, he hoped it would end their support for the war. This was a new tactic,
considered modern warfare. Soldiers were to onl strike fear in the hearts of the Confederates
through destruction of property, not by killing or injuring the civilians.
Breaking his arm up into several forces, Sherman s men made a 60 mile wide path across
and began marching from Atlanta to Savannah on November 15, 1864. On their way to
Savannah, they burned cotton gins, lumber mills, and anything else in their path that helped the
Confederate economy. They burned military targets, businesses, and homes as they went.
Sherman s goal was to make the Confederates so uncomfortable that the asked for the South to
surrender. Many Confederates heard that Sherman was coming and fled ahead of him in fear.
On December 21, 1864, three weeks after leaving Atlanta, Sherman and his troops entered into
Savannah to find that the 10,000 Confederate soldiers that should have been guarding the city had
already fled. Sherman presented Savannah as a Christmas gift to Abraham Lincoln.
In early 1865, Sherman and his troops left Savannah and continued their march of
destruction through South Carolina. With South Carolina being the first state to secede from the
Union, Sherman s troops were especiall brutal, completel burning down Columbia, South Carolina
on their way to North Carolina. In April 1865, all of the armies of Georgia, Florida, and the
Carolinas surrendered to Sherman, the largest surrender of Confederate troops in the history of
the Civil War.
After the March

William T. Sherman became well known for his war tactics in the Civil War. Many respected
him for what he was willing to do to end the war. Many years after his death, the people of the
South began thinking that he was a horrible person for what he d done. This was decades after
the war. While Sherman was alive, he was considered one of the most revolutionary generals in
history. When Ulysses S. Grant became President, Sherman became Commander of the United
States Army. Sherman retired in 1883 from the military and moved to New York City where he
enjoyed watching shows and learned to paint. He died in New York City in 1891. He is buried in St.
Louis, Missouri.
There are many monuments and statues dedicated to William T. Sherman and he has his own
entrance to Central Park in New York City.
William T. Sherman
1. How did the Seminole Wars help prepare William T. Sherman for the Civil War?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Why did Sherman leave Louisiana? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think Sherman was right when he warned everyone that secession would lead to a
bloody war? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Why did Sherman target railways, bridges, and train equipment in Meridian, Mississippi?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. Sherman s method was called total war. Wh did he use this method?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. How did a lot of the Confederate citizens react as Sherman was marching to Savannah?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. Why were Sherman and his soldiers so upset with South Carolina? __________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. After learning about William T. Sherman, some people respect his methods while others think
he was a horrible man. What is your opinion about Sherman? Back it up with information from
the text.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
William T. Sherman
1. How did the Seminole Wars help prepare William T. Sherman for the Civil War? He got
familiar with the land in Georgia and South Carolina which helped him during the Atlanta
Campaign and his march to the sea.
2. Why did Sherman leave Louisiana? He did not believe in secession and Louisiana seceded the
Union.
3. Do you think Sherman was right when he warned everyone that secession would lead to a
bloody war? Why or why not?
He was right. It was a very bloody war and the North won.
4. Why did Sherman target railways, bridges, and train equipment in Meridian, Mississippi?
He knew that the railroads were the main supply line for the people and he knew that if they
could not get supplies it would make them uncomfortable and angry at the war.
5. Sherman s method was called total war. Wh did he use this method?
He knew that the destruction of property and taking food from the farms he passed would hurt
the Southern economy and would scare the Confederates who lived there. He wanted them to
be so upset that they would want the war ended.
6. How did a lot of the Confederate citizens react as Sherman was marching to Savannah?
Many were afraid and fled before he got there.
7. Why were Sherman and his soldiers so upset with South Carolina? South Carolina was the
first state to secede the Union so Sherman felt like they deserved whatever destruction was
given to them.
8. After learning about William T. Sherman, some people respect his methods while other think
he was a horrible man. What is your opinion about Sherman? Back it up with information
from the text. A reasonable answer with evidence from the text.

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Battle of Fort Sumter

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3. Why do you think General P.G.T. Beauregard wanted Anderson to surrender?

5. Why do you think Major Anderson would not initially surrender?

6. What caused Major Anderson to have to eventually surrender?

3. Why do you think General P.G.T. Beauregard wanted Anderson to surrender?

5. Why do you think Major Anderson would not initially surrender?

6. What caused Major Anderson to have to eventually surrender?

Thomas Stonewall Jackson

2. Wh did Lee refuse Lincoln s request to be in command of the Union Arm ?

4. How did the Battle of Fredericksburg help the Confederates? _____________________

6. What was the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg? _______________________

8. How did Thomas get the name Stonewall Jackson? ______________________________

2. Wh did Lee refuse Lincoln s request to be in command of the Union Arm ?

Lee lost Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville.

10. Compare and contrast Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

Effects and Outcomes

6. Why do you think the Confederates lost the Battle of Gettysburg

Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822 in Point

Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing)

2. Why was Grant criticized for the Battle of Shiloh? _____________________________

3. Describe the importance of Grant capturing Vicksburg in detail. ___________________

4. What were the effects of capturing Vicksburg? _______________________________

5. Why was it important that Grant help take control of Chattanooga?

6. How did the Union win the war? _________________________________

2. Why did U.S. Grant send Sherman to capture Atlanta? __________________________

4. Why did Jefferson Davis replace Johnston as general? _________________________

5. What caused Hood to finally surrender Atlanta to Sherman? ______________________

One disadvantage Johnston had was that he was really outnumbered.

Sherman s March to the Sea

After the March

2. Why did Sherman leave Louisiana? ________________________________________

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