Classic Fond 5/ClassicFond05_nopass.iso/STRATEGI/CIVILWAR.RAR/DBDATA/HIST1861.ENG

Text File | 1995-07-04 | 33KB | 777 lines

~HThe American Civil War
1861 - 1862~

~sTHE ROAD TO WAR~
States' rights, and slavery, fueled the secession movement in the South. Much
of the South believed that its economic and social well-being hinged on
political independence. Northern interests were different, and the rise of the
new Republican Party in the north threatened to exacerbate those differences.
After Abraham @Lincoln@ was elected Republican president of the Union in
November 1860, the cotton and Gulf states of the South claimed the right of
secession.

South Carolina led the way. Declaring itself a sovereign state on December
17th, it claimed possession of the forts commanding Charleston Harbor: Castle
Pinckney, Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter. They were controlled by about a
hundred officers and men of the United States Army, all stationed at Fort
Moultrie. Their commander, Major Anderson, moved them to the more defensible
Fort Sumter. Construing this as an act of war, South Carolina seized Castle
Pinckney and Fort Moultrie, and ranged batteries against Fort Sumter and the
harbor entrance. On January 9th, these opened fire on a Union supply vessel,
which was bringing reinforcements and provisions to Fort Sumter.  The chartered
steamer retired.

Mississippi followed South Carolina on January 9th, Florida on January 10th,
Alabama on January 11th, Georgia on January 19th, Louisiana on January 26th,
and Texas on February 1st.  State militias moved quickly to secure all forts,
arsenals, and United States property which lay within their territories. For
the most part, the undermanned garrisons turned over the keys. The exceptions
were in Florida, where Fort Pickens in Pensacola Harbor, and the forts at Key
West and Tortugas remained to the Union.

The states had left the Union independently.  But they were keen to join
together in order to defend their rights of secession, by force of arms if
necessary. A provisional Congress met in early February, and elected Jefferson
@Davis@, from Mississippi, as President of the Confederate States of America.

@Lincoln@, inaugurated as President of the United States on March 3rd, denied
the right of secession, announced that any acts of violence against United
States' authority would be seen as insurrection. Uncertain of Union support for
coercion against the South, @Lincoln@ made it clear that it would be for the
Confederacy to strike the first blow and embark on a civil war.

The Confederacy did so, on April 12th 1861.

~sApril 12th - 14th 1861~
~bFORT SUMTER, South Carolina~~#
When the Union gave notice that it would shortly make a second
attempt to re-provision Fort Sumter, the Confederacy readied
itself for war. 5,000 troops were already manning the batteries
around the fort. On April 11th their commander, General
Pierre @Beauregard@, demanded Fort Sumter's surrender.
Major Robert Anderson refused. Early the next morning, the
batteries opened fire. In 36 hours 4,000 shells fell on the fort.
Short of ammunition and other provisions, Anderson surrendered
on April 14th.

~sApril - May 1861~
~bFOR OR AGAINST THE UNION?~~#
On 15th April, @Lincoln@ issued a proclamation calling
out 75,000 militia. He also called on the states to honor their
quotas of troops.

Out of the eight `slave states' which were still within the Union, six refused.
The eight states were Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
North Carolina, Missouri, and Arkansas. Only the first two states complied
with @Lincoln@'s order.

Until now, the more northern slave states had held back from joining the
Confederacy, believing that fears of the new Republican administration
and its abolitionist intentions were exaggerated. But @Lincoln@'s
call for the states to arm made it clear that the eight `slave states' would
have to either fight the Confederacy or join it.

In Delaware the issue was clear enough, for slavery had almost died out
there.

Maryland's administration was pro-Union. But general secessionist
feeling was strong. For the Union, it was vital that Maryland remain
loyal. If it seceded, then the federal capital at Washington would be
squeezed by a hostile Maryland and Virginia.  In Baltimore,
Maryland's capital, pro-Southern riots, and a pro-Southern militia, were
already threatening Washington's road, rail and telegraphic links
to the north. And rural Maryland was alarmingly secessionist.
But the Governor of Maryland held to the Union, and when Union
troops occupied Baltimore on May 13th, open resistance ended.
The more committed secessionists headed south.
.
Kentucky declared itself neutral on May 16th. Neither North nor
South could afford to respect its neutrality, however, and both
sides recruited there from the outset. Four months later,
Kentucky declared for the Union

Virginia seceded on May 17th, quickly seizing the arsenal at
Harper's Ferry and the Norfolk navy yard. But Virginia was
deeply divided. The eastern side, with its plantations, was
pro-South. But the western side, across the Alleghanies, with
its mountain and forest economy, was pro-Union. On June 11th,
backed up by Union arms, the western counties "seceded"
from the Confederacy, later declaring themselves the new State of
Kanawha. Two years later they were formally admitted to the Union
as the state of West Virginia.

North Carolina seceded on May 20th, and Arkansas also seceded
swiftly.

Missouri was secured for the Union by what amounted to
a military coup. The pro-secessionist Governor fled the capital,
Jefferson City, when it was occupied by Union troops from
the St Louis arsenal, on June 15th. The troops were led by a
mere captain, Nathaniel Lyon. He pursued the Governor, and
routed his pro-secessionist militia. A pro-Union provisional
administration was then installed, with St Louis as its base.
However, Missouri remained a recruiting ground for the
South.

~sJune 10th 1861~
~bBIG BETHEL, Virginia~~#
On June 10th, 4,400 Union troops attacked the Confederate
fort of Big Bethel, in eastern Virginia. The attack was repulsed
and the Confederate counter-attack drove the Federal forces
back to Fort Monroe. Casualties were light.  The Confederates
lost 11, and the Union 76.

~sJuly 12 1861~
~bRICH MOUNTAIN, Virginia~~#
But this reverse for the North was not exploited, and the Union
struck back.  On July 12th, at Rich Mountain, a force under the
command of General William @Rosecrans@ cut off and defeated a
Confederate force holding the important area around Beverly, with its
road and river links.~

~sJuly 21 1861~
~bBULL RUN I / MANASSAS I, Virginia~~#
This, the first major battle of the war, was also a major
Confederate victory. General Beauregard's 30,000
Confederates held nine miles of the Bull Run River, which
lay between Centreville and Manassas Junction.

The Union's General @McDowell@, with 40,000 troops, tried
to turn the Confederate flank.  However, the Confederates
went on the offensive and routed the Union force.

The Confederate success was partly due to General Thomas
@Jackson@.  Early Union advances faltered when Jackson's
men held their ground.  The Confederate cry went up,
"Rally behind the Virginians.  See how Jackson stands like
a stone wall!"

1,492 Union troops were killed or wounded and 1,600 taken
prisoner. The Confederates suffered 1,982 casualties.

The following day, the Union Congress passed measures
for the enlistment of half a million men.

~sAugust 27th - 29th~
~bCAPE HATTERAS IS., North Carolina~~#
At the outset of war, @Lincoln@ had declared a blockade
against the South's Atlantic and Gulf coasts.  The aim was
to seal the South in, so that revenue-raising cotton could not
be exported, while military arms and supplies could not be
imported.

The Confederacy was hampered by its lack of sea power.
Simply, the Union commanded the sea.  The Confederate
had few ships or sailors, and no shipbuilding industry.

Blockade-runners, mostly shipping for profit, might
sometimes slip past the Federal fleets. But their cargoes
were not enough to sustain the would-be nation at war.

Joint army and naval operations were to become common, as
the Union sought to recapture the coastal forts seized by the
states shortly after their secessions. The forts were important:
they often commanded larger harbours or bays, around which
might lie a major manufacturing or trading city. From such
a center, road and rail links would radiate deep into the Confederate
heartlands, sometimes spanning the whole territory.  And, more
often than not, a navigable river would also flow into these key
coastal points.

The first amphibious operation took place on August 27-29th, in
the Cape Hatteras Island chain, off North Carolina.

A naval squadron reduced Fort Hatteras and Fort Clark with
a heavy bombardment, and occupying troops under Brigadier
General Benjamin @Butler@ were then landed.

As a result, the main Confederate shipping route into Pamlico
Sound and up the rivers to New Bern, Washington N.C., Greenville
and Plymouth was now blocked.

~sNovember 7th 1861~
~bPORT ROYAL, South Carolina~~#
Lying midway between Charleston and Savannah, Port
Royal was taken by Union troops after a naval bombardment.
It was to serve as a supply base and anchorage for the US
South Atlantic Squadron.

~sNovember 7th 1861 BELMONT on the MISSISSIPPI, Missouri~
The campaign to win control of the Mississippi's vast length
would be waged over months and even years. As each side
found, the river could be a giant ally and a giant foe. Its presence
dominated the western theater of the war.  Many actions would
be fought along the Mississippi and its tributaries.

In November, high up the Mississippi River, near Cairo,
Brigadier General Ulysses @Grant@ landed about 3,000
Union troops near Belmont, which lay opposite Columbus, a strong
Confederate river position. Here Grant attacked the 4,000-strong
advanced guard of General @Polk@'s force. They were driven
towards the river, where they came under the protection of their
guns.

Polk then tried to trap Grant but failed. Grant, having lost 607
men to the Confederates' 642, re-embarked his force.

~sTHE YEAR 1862~~#
~sJanuary 19th 1862~
~bMILL SPRINGS, Kentucky~~#
8,000 Confederate troops under Major General George
Crittenden attacked 5,000 Federal troops under Brigadier
George @Thomas@. Initially the Federals were forced back,
but when reinforcements arrived, bringing their forces to
9,000, they repulsed the Confederates, inflicting considerable
losses and capturing twelve guns. The Federals lost only 246
men. It was the first serious defeat suffered by the Confederates~.

~sFebruary 7-8th 1862 ROANOKE ISLAND, North Carolina~
In the Cape Hatteras Chain, Roanoke Island commanded the
entrance to Albermarle Sound.  Blockade-runners could bring
goods into the Sound and then up the Roanoke River to Weldon,
where there was a railway line to Richmond.

The island was held by 3,000 Confederate troops. It was
attacked by three Union brigades under General Ambrose
@Burnside@, assisted by 19 gunboats. The island was
taken, with 91 of the garrison killed and 2,500 captured.
Union losses were 235.

The Union forces then pushed inland.  On March 14th
New Bern, on the Neuse River, was taken.  Like Weldon,
New Bern had a rail link to Richmond, which was now cut.

~Feb. 1862~
~bTENNESSEE & CUMBERLAND RIVERS~~#
Despite its vast river systems in the West, the Confederacy
lacked armed or armored vessels which could ply them
unscathed. Instead, the South concentrated on building strong
river fortifications which could block any invasion of its internal
waterways.

In early 1862, the Union set out to reduce the forts with
dominated the lower reaches of the Tennessee and Cumberland
Rivers, before their juncture with the Ohio River.

~sFebruary 6th 1862~
~bFORT HENRY, Tennessee~~#
Fort Henry was a Confederate-held fort on the Tennessee
River.  Its commander, facing a large force from @Grant@'s
army, evacuated most of his men eastward to Fort Donelson,
on the Cumberland River.

Only a small garrison was left behind at Fort Henry.
It surrendered after some token firing on the Union's
gunboats. There were 176 casualties in all.

~sFebruary 12th 1862~
~bFORT DONELSON, Tennessee~~#
The capture of Fort Henry was forcing a redisposition of the
Confederate forces.

General @Joe Johnston@ sent 12,000 troops to reinforce
Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. @Grant@
surrounded the fort and attacked with 25,000 men, while
the Federal gunboat fleet bombarded it. But the attack failed
however, Fort Donelson was only captured after a siege.

Confederate casualties were 2,000. A huge number of
Confederate troops - about 11,000 - were captured.
Union casualties numbered 2,108.

~sMarch - April 1862~
~bUNION MISSISSIPPI RIVER CAMPAIGN~~#
The Union's advance down the Mississippi began in earnest in
March 1862.

On the Mississippi River, between Cairo and Memphis, the
Confederates held strong positions at Columbus, Island No. 10,
New Madrid and Fort Pillow.

On March 2nd, Columbus was evacuated, most of its guns and
garrison being re-located downriver at Island No. 10 and New
Madrid. The aim was to prevent further advances by the Union
fleet.

Supported by a gunboat squadron, and with 23,000 Union troops,
General John @Pope@ attacked New Madrid on March 13th,
driving the garrison out. Over the next few weeks his men cut
a twelve-mile channel, in order to take Island No. 10. The Island
fell on April 8th, and 7,000 Confederates were taken prisoner.

Pope's next objective was Fort Pillow, eighty miles downriver.
With Fort Pillow reduced, the whole stretch of the Mississippi
from Cairo to just above Memphis would be clear of Confederate
guns.  However, before Pope could move against Fort Pillow,
he would be ordered to rejoin General Henry @Halleck@ in
his campaign against Corinth.


~sApr. 6-7th 1862~
~bSHILOH / PITTSBURG LANDING, Tennessee~~#
After the surrender of Fort Donelson, @Grant@ had pushed
south down the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing.

Pittsburg Landing was 23 miles from the pivotal railway junction
at Corinth, which was held in force by the Confederates.

In Corinth, General Albert @Johnston@ planned a surprise attack
against Grant, which he hoped would turn the Union's left on the
river, and destroy Grant's Army of the Tennessee.

On the morning of April 6th Johnston's 40,000
Confederates struck @Grant@'s unprepared 42,000-
strong force, driving it back in confusion. However,
Confederate momentum was lost when hungry troops
began looting the Federal camps.

There were pockets of strong Union resistance, such as
the "hornet's nest" where Johnston was mortally wounded.
But by nightfall Grant was facing defeat.

However, the Confederates did not exploit the opportunity,
and overnight, Grant was reinforced by 20,000 troops from
the Army of Ohio. The next day he counter-attacked. After
heavy fighting the new Confederate commander,
@Beauregard@, had to order a retreat.

The Union suffered 13,087 casualties, 1,754 being killed. The
Confederates incurred 10,697 casualties, with 1,723 killed.

~sApril - May 1862~
~bCORINTH, Mississippi~~#
The Union Commander-in-Chief, General Henry @Halleck@,
joined the western campaign on April 11th, and assumed
command. Halleck waited for @Pope@ to arrive with his
21,000 men, swelling the Union forces to 100,000. He then
moved slowly towards Corinth.

Before the Union army reached Corinth, @Beauregard@'s
50,000-strong force unexpectedly evacuated its defenses,
on May 29th and 30th. The Confederates reached Tupelo,
50 miles to the south, unscathed.

The Union army now commanded the junction of the
Memphis-Charleston railroad, and of the Mobile-Ohio
railroad.  It was a grave blow to the Confederacy.

~sJune 3rd - 6th 1862~
~bFORT PILLOW and MEMPHIS, Miss.~#
@Beauregard@'s withdrawal had also left a vacuum around
Fort Pillow and Memphis, on the Mississippi River. Fort
Pillow was abandoned on June 3rd.

The Union fleet continued on to Memphis, where it
encountered a hostile Confederate flotilla, which it
largely destroyed.  Memphis was occupied by the Union.

The capture of Memphis opened a long stretch of the
Mississippi River below it.  The river was now clear to
Vicksburg.

In the south, on the Gulf, the lower reaches of the Mississippi
were being broached as well. The great river flowed into the
Gulf at New Orleans. Here, a huge naval operation, lasting
a fortnight, had been undertaken in April. For nine days,
a 50-strong Union fleet under Commodore David @Farragut@
had shelled Fort Jackson and Fort Mary, which defended the
approaches to New Orleans. @Farragut@ then ran his squadrons
past the forts and anchored off New Orleans. The city
had surrendered on April 28th.

~sMarch - July 1862~
~bTHE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN~~#
In the East, 138,000 Union troops had been under arms at
their base near Washington since November 1861.
@Lincoln@ urged McClellan, who had succeeded to
McDowell's command after the defeat at 1st Bull Run,
to mount a major campaign.

In the new year, @McClellan@ planned a direct assault on the
southern capital, Richmond.  He would take the bulk of the
Union army by sea to Fort Monroe, at the tip of the peninsula
between the York and James Rivers. From there he would
march on Richmond.

~sMarch 17th - April 1st 1862~
On March 17th, @McClellan@'s Union Army of the Potomac was
transported by sea to Fort Monroe at the base of the Yorktown
Peninsula.

~sApril 4th - May 3rd 1862~
~bYORKTOWN, Virginia~~#
Advancing up the Peninsula towards Richmond, with about
100,000 men, @McClellan@'s path was blocked by a small
Confederate force of 12,000 under Major General John
Magruder.  They were dug in around Yorktown.

Unaware of the weakness of the defense McClellan took time
to organize a regular siege. His heavy artillery opened fire on
May 1st, and on the 3rd Magruder withdrew, having tied up
the Federal army for a month. This had allowed the defenses
around Richmond to be strengthened, and additional troops to
be moved there.

~sMay 5th 1862~
~bWILLIAMSBURG, Virginia~~#
After the evacuation of Yorktown, Federal forces were
moving up the Peninsula.  At Williamsburg on May 5th,
32,000 Confederates fought a delaying action under General
James @Longstreet@.

Having inflicted 2,239 casualties, at much less cost to
himself, Longstreet pulled back that night.

~sMay 31- June 1st 1862~
~bSEVEN PINES / FAIR OAKS STATION, Virginia~~#
Two corps from @McClellan@'s army, advancing on Richmond,
were attacked by @Joe Johnston@ and driven back two miles.
Union reinforcements halted the Confederate advance. The
Confederate commander was seriously wounded during the
fighting.

Freshly arrived Union troops from @McClellan@'s large army
recovered the lost ground the next day, June 1st.

The Union had lost 7,000 men to the Confederates' 4,500.

General Robert @Lee@ took over from his wounded commander
on June 1st. Unmolested by @McClellan@, he began to dig
earthworks across the roads which led back to Richmond. However,
on realizing that a defensive siege would benefit @McClellan@ more
than himself, @Lee@ revised his plans.

Combining his own and @Joe Johnston@'s forces, and re-naming
them the Army of Northern Virginia. @Lee@ went on the offensive.

~sJune 26th - July 1st 1862~
~bDEFENDING RICHMOND, Virginia~~#
During the course of a week, @Lee@ sought to take pressure
off Richmond by mounting a series of actions against
@McClellan@'s army.

~sJune 26th 1862~
~bMECHANICSVILLE, Virginia~~#
At Mechanicsville on July 26th, about 16,500 Confederates
led by General Ambrose @Hill@ were repulsed with heavy
losses, while trying to cross Beaver Dam Creek.  This was
held by a Union corps under Brigadier General Porter.
However, "Stonewall" @Jackson@'s corps arrived that night
from the Shenandoah, and at dawn Porter retired east towards
Cold Harbor.

~sJune 27th 1862~
~bGAINES' MILL / COLD HARBOUR, Virginia~~#
Here @Lee@, with 57,000 Confederate troops, attacked Porter's
36,700 and beat them.

@McClellan@s army retired south towards Savage's Station.

~sJune 29th 1862~
~bSAVAGE'S STATION, Virginia~~#
@Lee@ now attacked @McClellan@'s whole army on the 29th.
The attempt failed. But @McClellan@, believing he was
heavily outnumbered, switched his base to the James River and
began to dig in. From now on he was constantly looking over his
shoulder.

~sJune 30th 1862~
~bFRAYSER'S FARM / WHITE OAK SWAMP, Virginia~~#
@Lee@ struck again, and an attack by @Longstreet@ and @Hill@
swamped McCall's Federal Division. @McClellan@ however
managed to move his army out of danger and fell back to a
strong position on Malvern Hill.

~sJuly 1st 1862~
~bMALVERN HILL, Virginia~~#
@Lee@ attacked, but the Union held a very strong defensive
position, with clear fields of fire. The Union artillery swept
Lee's forces and the attack crumbled with heavy losses.

However, @McClellan@ continued to retreat. On July 2nd
he withdrew to Harrison's Landing on the James River. There
he waited securely behind his fortifications, receiving regular
supplies which traveled up the James.

Although  @Lee@'s attacks had mostly lacked coordination,
and had failed with considerable losses, they did deter
 @McClellan@, and so saved Richmond.

@Lincoln@, exasperated by @McClellan@'s cautious use of
the Army of the Potomac, sacked him in August. He was replaced
by Major General John @Pope@. Major General Henry
@Halleck@ became General-in-Chief.

~sMar. 23rd - June 17 1862~
~bSHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN~~#
The fertile valley of the Shenandoah River, dubbed "The
Breadbasket of Virginia", was about 100 miles long and 80
wide.

In early 1862 it was held by "Stonewall" @Jackson@,
with about 16,000 Confederate troops.

~sMarch 23rd 1862~
~bKERNSTOWN, Virginia~~#
@Jackson@ believed that the town was lightly held, and
attacked it with just 4,200 men. But it was garrisoned by
9,000 men under Brigadier James Shields. The attack failed,
and the Confederates suffered 700 casualties.

~sMay 23rd 1862~
~bFRONT ROYAL, Virginia~~#
With 16,000 men, @Jackson@ struck at Front Royal, with
its road and rail links west to Strasburg and north-west to
Winchester. Jackson's force men swept through the post, killing
wounding, or capturing 904 of the 1,063-strong garrison. His own
casualties were less than 50.

~sMay 26th 1862~
~bWINCHESTER I, Virginia~~#
Winchester was an important road and rail junction in the
Shenandoah Valley. A road and rail link led eastwards to
Harper's Ferry, and six other roads converged there.

It was held by General Nathaniel @Banks@, with 17,000 Union
troops. @Jackson@ launched a deft three-pronged operation against
the town, driving the federals from Winchester. He chased the
retreating Banks out of the Valley altogether, as far as Harper's
Ferry on the Potomac.

The victory cost Jackson only 300 men. The defeat cost the Union
2,000.

@Lincoln@ was becoming uneasy at Jackson's Valley exploits.
Up to 30,000 troops were diverted to the Valley, instead of joining
@McClellan@.

Jackson determined to keep them busy.

~sJune 8 - 9th 1862~
~bCROSS KEYS and PORT REPUBLIC, Viginia~#
When two separate Union forces tried to trap @Jackson@
between them, he withdrew swiftly down the valley. Pursuit
led to disaster. Jackson had turned and was waiting for them.
In two sharp battles, two Union forces of 12,000 each were
roundly defeated and sent packing.  The Federal forces now
withdrew from the Valley completely.

@Jackson@'s diversion had been wildly successful.

~sAugust 9th 1862~
~bCEDAR MOUNTAIN, Virginia~~#
General @Pope@, with 20,000 Federal troops, repeatedly
attacked a strong Confederate position held by @Jackson@.
All attacks were repulsed and that night @Pope@ withdrew,
having lost 2,800 casualties to the Confederates' 900.

In the meantime @Lee@, seeing that @McClellan@ was still
pinned in his earthworks, sent @Jackson@ north after @Pope@.
A Federal division found @Jackson@ near Groveton and so
@Pope@ ordered his army to concentrate there.

~sAugust 28th - 29th 1862~
~bGROVETON, Virginia~~#
@Jackson@ attacked one of @Pope@'s divisions on the old Bull
Run battlefield. As @Pope@'s fresh troops arrived he sent
them piecemeal against @Jackson@'s forces who consequently
fought them off easily.

~sAugust 30th 1862~
~b2ND MANASSAS / 2ND BULL RUN, Virginia~~#
General @Longstreet@'s corps now reached the battlefield.
@Pope@, not knowing of @Longstreet@'s arrival, ordered
General Porter to attack what he thought was @Jackson@'s
flank. But Porter refused to attack what was actually
@Longstreet@'s corps.

When @Pope@ saw the Confederates shortening their lines he
ordered his army to pursue what he believed was a retreating
enemy. He was badly mistaken, and the Confederate counter-attack
drove the Federal army off the battlefield and back to
Washington, losing 7,000 prisoners.

~sSeptember 1st 1862~
~bCHANTILLY, Virginia~~#
This was the last action of 2nd Bull Run. @Jackson@ encountered
the Federal rearguard and was held up as he drove it back
to the shelter of Washington's defenses.

~sAugust 30th 1862~
~bRICHMOND Kentucky~~#
At Richmond, 8,000 Federal troops under Manson were
decisively defeated by 6,000 Confederates commanded by General
@Kirby Smith@. In the rout, Manson suffered 1,046
casualties, with 5,000 men, 9 guns and 10,000 rifles
captured. Kirby Smith's losses were 460.

General @McClellan@ was restored to command of the Union
Army of the Potomac, the Peninsula Campaign was abandoned
and the troops sailed back to Washington.

~bSeptember 5th 1862~
Following his success at 2nd Bull Run, @Lee@ took the war into
the North. He invaded Maryland, hoping that this slave state,
although formally within the Union, would provide recruits
and supplies for his army.

~sSeptember 14th - 15th 1862~
~bSOUTH MOUNTAIN, Maryland~~#
Maneuvers around South Mountain were the prelude to the Battle of
@Antietam@. The Federal right, forcing its way through Turner's Gap,
was confronted at South Mountain by 15,000 Confederates under
Major General D.H. @Hill@. He delayed the Federal advance long
enough for the Confederates to take Harper's Ferry.

~sSeptember 16th 1862~
~bHARPER'S FERRY,Virginia~~#
Harper's Ferry was one of the two main Union arms manufacturing
arsenals, the other being at Springfield, Ohio. Its 11,000-strong
Federal garrison was surrounded by three divisions, led by
"Stonewall" @Jackson@, and forced to surrender.

@View Antietam Map@

~sSept. 17th 1862~
~bANTIETAM / SHARPSBURG, Maryland~~#
On this, the "bloodiest day of the war", @McClellan@ hurled
75,000 Federal troops against @Lee@'s 37,000, who were dug
in around the town of Sharpsburg.  But the attacks were
launched separately, and so spent themselves fruitlessly.
First General Joseph @Hooker@ attacked from the north,
then General Joseph Mansfield in the center and finally General
Ambrose @Burnside@ from across the @Antietam@ Creek.

@Lee@, by turning his men to meet first one attack, then another,
was able to hold on until Major General Ambrose @Hill@
arrived. Lee then attempted an offensive, but the following
day a stalemate developed and the battle ground to a halt.

Antietam might be called a Confederate victory, since @Lee@
had held his own against such great odds, and apparently suffered
slightly fewer casualties. Out of about 38,000 troops, the Confederates
suffered about 13,700 casualties, of whom 2,700 were killed,
9,000 wounded and 2,000 missing. Of 75,300 Union troops, about
12,400 became casualties: 2,100 were killed, 9,550 wounded, and
750 missing. September 17th 1862 had been the single most bloody
day of the war.

Strategically, the battle amounted to a defeat for the Confederates.
On the night of September 18th, Lee withdrew south across the
Potomac River, to Virginia, abandoning his Maryland campaign.

@Lincoln@ judged this the right moment to issue the Emancipation
Proclamation, declaring that slavery was ended throughout the
United States of America. The Proclamation would, it was hoped,
rally the North, destabilize the South, and discourage Europe
from any thoughts of recognizing the Confederacy.

~sSeptember 19th - 20th~
~bCHICKASAW BLUFFS, Mississippi~~#
At Chickasaw Bluffs, on the Mississippi just above Vicksburg,
the Federals suffered a setback in their attempts to take the key
fortress city. Under heavy fire from Confederate forces on the Bluffs,
Major General William @Sherman@'s 32,000-strong force
could make no headway. He lost 1,776 men to the Confederates'
207.

~sSeptember 19th 1862~
~bIUKA, Mississippi~~#
Near Iuka in Mississippi, General @Rosecrans@' 9,000 Union
troops was trying to cut off an expected retreat by van Dorn,
when the Confederates suddenly attacked. After a fierce two
hours the attack was beaten off with 782 Union casualties and
1,156 Confederate.

~sOctober 3rd - 4th 1862~
~bCORINTH, Tennessee~~#
Van Dorn attacked @Rosecrans@ again, this time at Corinth.
The Federals were firmly entrenched but were at first pushed
back into their inner lines. However, a renewed attack the following
day was repulsed more easily, and when Rosecrans counterattacked
he routed van Dorn's forces.

The Confederates had 6,432 casualties and 2,248 taken
prisoner. Federal casualties were 2,359.

The following day van Dorn's rearguard was attacked and
beaten at the Big Hatchie River.

~sOctober 8th 1862~
~bPERRYVILLE, Kentucky~~#
The Confederates under General Braxton @Bragg@ returned
to the advance in Kentucky. There, the southern invaders met the
Union's 45,000-strong Army of the Ohio, led by Major General
Don Carlos Buell, in an unplanned, confused and bloody battle.

Although the Confederates attacked and drove the Federals back,
no decisive result was reached. The Union suffered 4,000
casualties, and the Confederates 2,500. During the night,
@Bragg@'s forces withdrew, taking the captured Union artillery
train . Bragg, judging the opposition too strong, retreated
from Kentucky.

~November 1862~
~bTHE RICHMOND OBJECTIVE, Virginia~~#
In the wake of September's Battle of Antietam, @McClellan@
decided not to harry @Lee@'s retreat south, but to pause and
recover. As the Army of the Potomac finally set off southwards,
McClellan found himself replaced in early November by Major
General Ambrose @Burnside@. President @Lincoln@ judged
Burnside to be a more battle-ready general, better suited for
carrying the struggle to the gates of the southern capital.

Burnside proposed a move overland against Richmond,
and planned for bridging pontoons train to move ahead
of the army, to enable swift river crossings before @Lee@
could block the advance.

~sDecember 13th 1862~
~bBATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, Virginia~~#
On November 19th @Burnside@'s army arrived on the
Rappahanock, but the pontoons were missing. The delay
gave @Lee@ a vital breathing space.  Troops were sent
to @Fredericksburg@, fortifying the heights there.

When the pontoons finally did arrive, on December 11th,
@Burnside@ pressed forward. On December 13th his
force crossed the river under heavy fire and attacked the
Fredericksburg heights. Severe fighting halted the assault.

However, @Lee@ judged his army too weak to push his
victory home, and Burnside quietly withdrew across the river.

Union casualties amounted to 10,884 killed and wounded,
with 1,769 missing. Confederate losses were 4,656 killed
and wounded, and 653 missing.

~sDec.31st 1862 - Jan. 2nd 1863~
~bMURFREESBORO, Tennessee~~#
After the battle around Perryville, Kentucky, in October,
the Confederacy's General @Bragg@ retired to @Murfreesboro@,
on the Stone's River in Tennessee. The Union's @Rosecrans@
followed him.

Bragg, with 35,000 Confederate troops, attacked Rosecrans'
40,000. The attack drove the Federal right flank back, but its
center and left held, preventing the defeat from becoming a
rout.  Casualties were even, at about 13,000 each.  However,
the Confederates captured numerous prisoners and guns.

On New Year's Day 1863 both sides rested and reorganized.

On January 2nd @Rosecrans@ counter-attacked, seeking to
regain lost ground, just as @Bragg@ launched another assault.
Bragg's attack was stopped largely by the use of massed
artillery. By nightfall, the exhausted armies had fought
to a standstill. Each ended the day more or less in its original
position.

Casualties were high: each side had about 12,000 killed,
wounded or missing. This was about a quarter of the forces
involved.

The following day, the battered armies watched each other
warily, hoping for a quiet time. That night Bragg marched his
Confederate troops to Tullahoma, 35 miles away.@@@