Turning Points in the American Civil War - Essay Example

? Turning Points in the American Civil War: A Discussion on the Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg Due Introduction When most people think about the American Civil War they recall Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, the North fighting against the South, and the Emancipation Proclamation. Most people perceive the slave owning south as villains and the North were the heroes; for all tense and purposes it is a bit more complex than that. The reality of the Civil War is more than just the handful of facts most people associated with this point in history. In fact, some scholars would estimate that without the Civil War the United States might never have become the country that it became. More so, if it were not for two definitive battles of the Civil War, the Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg, then the United States we built would be very different from the one we have today; if we survived at all as a nation. That said understanding the importance of these battles will help us to comprehend why these battles are so significant and if they were such definitive “turning points” in the war, then why did the war continue on, nearly, another 2 years? By finding the answers to these questions will grant us a greater, broader, picture of how the United States became the country we are today. History . The definitive battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg did not occur until 1863, the Civil War began 2 years earlier. The causes of the Civil War can be summarized in 5 specific contributory elements. In fact, these tensions had been growing since the founding of this country in 1776. 1. The Economic & Social Differences between North and South. By the late 1700s cotton crops were incredibly valuable and profitable. The South developed an agricultural, one crop economy. They were exclusively dependent on the success and sail of their cotton crops and on the inexpensive slave labor that tended them. The North was focused on city life and industrialization. They could already compete with the South’s ability to clean, process, and manufacturer cotton goods. 2. State vs. Federal Rights. Many in America pushed for the supremacy of state’s individual rights and that they should have the right to determine what federal involvement they would accept. While others pushed for greater federal government to unify and force the hand of states. 3. Slave and Non-Slave State Proponents. The argument over whether new states formed would be slave states, free states, or would have the right to choose for themselves was a heated one. This created serious division between supporters and opposers of slavery in the United States. 4. Growth of the Abolition Movement. The Abolitionist movement, further inspired by the publishing of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act, fueled Northern disdain and hatred for Southern slave-owners. 5. The Election of Abraham Lincoln. Although tensions were already high, Lincoln’s election inspired South Carolina to submit its intention to secede from the United States because Lincoln favored northern interests, and was opposed to slavery. Even before Lincoln took the office, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia, also, intended to join South Carolina (Kelly 2013). By 1861 Fort Sumter, in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor, contained the last federal holding within the Southern seceding states. Cut off from supplies and reinforcements, the men of Fort Sumter were suffering. On April 11, 1863 Confederate soldiers led by Jefferson C, Davis, no relation to the Confederate President, ordered the evacuation of Fort Sumter, delivered personally to Union Major Robert Anderson. Although Anderson thanked the envoy for the courteous and respectfully presented request, he declined to obey the order. As the Confederate envoy left the Fort, it would be only a few short hours before, at 4:30 in the morning; the first battle of Civil War would be fought. Confederate General Pierre Gustavo Beauregard ordered his men to open fire on the fort. Ultimately, after nearly 4 days of attacks, Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter to the Confederacy ( Bordewich 2011). Discussion These 2 forces were being lead by 2 famous American figures, Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln, each were strong leaders with very different goals. Davis was trying to establish a separate republic. To accomplish this goal he must prevent Northern invasion and prove the Confederacy’s right to be seem as its own nation. On the other hand, Lincoln, was attempting to preserve the Union that already had existed. To do this he must overwhelm the South; partly to end the war, but, also, to discourage such social outburst from ever happening in this way again (Leidner 1998). The two armies were, also, very different. The Union had better weaponry, relying on artillery over infantry. The Union has the means for a long-term campaign, which may be large contributor to their ultimate, overall, victory. The Confederates had stronger troops than their northern opponents. Most men had backgrounds in farming and hunting. Far more beneficial in a short lived warfare. In fact, for the better part of the first 2 years of the war the South was standing its ground, succeeding is offensives, and finding victory over the Union in many occasions (Hickman 2013). Throughout 1862 from the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, as well as, Ulysses S. Grant’s Union failure in his first attempt to take Vicksburg and General Sherman’s repulse in December of 1862. All of these disappointing defeats made the likelihood of the South winning the war a very real possibility (Holden Reid 2013). By 1863 union morale was low and Confederate victories were high, but that was all about to change. The Battle of Vicksburg At the end of April 1863 General Ulysses S. Grant intended a new campaign to take Vicksburg, Mississippi. He managed a surprise landing outside of Vicksburg and was able to push back the threat of Joseph E, Johnston, leader of the forces in Jackson, and forced the remaining Confederate forces outside Vicksburg to retreat inward and use the cities defenses. Within a few weeks of General Grant’s arrival the Confederate soldiers, as well as, civilians were starving; some reports claim that many people resorted to eating vermin (Waggoner July 5, 2009). The fighting continued throughout May and June. Grant, ultimately, opted to take the city in hopes of avoiding further bloodshed and death. In totality the battle of Vicksburg lasted a total of 47 days before Confederate General Pemberton was forced to surrender (Holden Reid 2013). The Union has managed to, essentially, cut the Confederate army in half from the rests of its troops. This gave the Union a firm hold on the Mississippi River. Nearly, 30,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered that day; making it the largest surrender of United States forces in all of American history ( Reilly July 2, 2013). The Battle of Gettysburg After his astounding victory at Chancellorsville, Virginia, against Union forces, Robert E, Lee led his second invasion into Northern territories. He wanted to take the fight out of Virginia and into Pennsylvania. He had three goals threaten the northern cities, win a major battle on enemy soil, and hope that the north would lose its taste for war when it is raging nearer to their homes. Ordered by President Lincoln himself, Union General, Joseph Hooker, move his army into pursuit of Confederate forces, however, he was removed from his post and replaced by George Gordon Meade. Meade would continue moving northward, keeping his army between Washington D.C. and the Confederate soldiers. Lee focused his armies around Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg lasted, nearly, 4 days. The first day of battle brought Union losses. On July 2nd Lee ordered a heavy assault on the Union flanks. The battles would rage on at multiple locations, Devils’ Den, Wheatfield, Cemetery Ridge, Peach Orchard, Culp’s Hill, and Little Round Top. Throughout the battle the Confederates were gaining ground, but the Union was still holding its lines. With the third day of fighting, a bold infantry assault, at Cemetery Ridge-Pickett’s Charge, employed 12,000 Confederate soldiers against the Union lines. The Union repelled the attack with rifles and artillery fire (Holden Reid 2013). By the following day Lee’s army had little choice but to retreat back to Virginia. More than 50,000 lives, from both sides, were lost at Gettysburg. It remains the largest and bloodiest battle in American history, as well as, greatest number of American casualties ( Reilly July 2, 2013). Although fought in the same war, the same year, same dates, and resulted in the same results, these two battles are quite differently strategically (Mitchell July 4, 2013). Vicksburg was a needed and valuable location. One that Lincoln had equated to the “lynch pin” in securing a Union victory. Vicksburg was a well-planned and cunning, unseen, and surprise invasion. Once the Confederate troops had retreated to the city, Grant had to be fairly certain that it was only a matter of time before these soldiers would surrender. Hence he did not give up and took the city. He allowed the, nearly, 30,000 Confederate soldiers to return to their homes; taking so many prisoners was, simply, unrealistic. In comparison Gettysburg was more of an accidental meeting. It is likely that neither side believed that they would engage in any hostilities (Waggoner July 5, 2009). While Vicksburg was a rather dogged attempt to gain a specific goal, Gettysburg presents the short, vicious nature of short brutal warfare. Again, the two could not be more different, yet they both granted the Union the victories necessary to secure a Union win in the Civil War. Many scholars agree that the combination of attaining Vicksburg, which would allow greater control of the Mississippi River and the scathing and bloody Confederate defeat at Gettysburg turned the tide of the war and more or less implied an impending Union victory. The South, as mentioned, was less suited to a long term military campaigns, if Union victories continued they would not stand a chance. Yet, the Civil War continued for, nearly, another 2 more years after these definitive battles. Unfortunately, there is no significant, singular reason as to why it continued. However, the following appears to be the most succinct. The Southern forces were further spread out, more familiar with the Southern territories, and were not willing to give up; they were, after all, fighting to defend their way of life, their rights as they saw them, and their economy. Not to mention that several Confederate Generals believed that if they continued to fight they might still have some impact on the nature and terms of any Southern surrender (Davis et al. 1999).Therefore the war continued on, essentially with the Union chasing the Confederate forces, east and west. Grant’s forces were specifically focused east to Lee’s forces, starting in March of 1864. They skirmished repeatedly and suffered heavy casualties. Both forces, ultimately, attempt to take control of Petersburg, Virginia. Both sides fought hard and long. However, by the earliest part of April of 1865, Lee had no choice but to evacuate the city and go into retreat, which allowed Grant to, also, secure Richmond. General Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1965 at Appomattox Courthouse. General Sherman would, also, secure victories. He moved Union forces south taking control of, both, Atlanta and Savannah Georgia. As he pushed the Confederates to the sea and then further north, the Confederate General Joseph Johnston surrendered in Durham, North Carolina, also, in April of 1865 (Hickman 2013). Conclusion The American Civil War is testament to the strength and commitment that Americans will give to defend their rights, homes, way of life, and all that they believe in; regardless of what side they served. The Civil war effectively eliminated the institution of slavery, prevented the separation of states from the Union, and proved that this young country could solve its own issues without foreign interventions. Reviewing the facts it becomes quite clear that the war was favoring the South; until the Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg it seemed unlikely that the Union would ever defeat the South. However, these truly definitive battles ensured the Union victory, eventual fall of Southern forces, and that this United States became the country that it became, the one we enjoy today. Understanding these brief moments in history it proves how significant history can be to the future that forms in its wake. Bibliography Bordewich, Fergus M. "Fort Sumter: The Civil War Begins." Smithsonian Magazine, April 2011. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Fort-Sumter-The-Civil-War-Begins.html?c=y&story=fullstory (accessed September 28, 2013). Davis, William C., Robert Krick, Noah Andre TRUDEAU, James M. MCPHERSON, Gary GALLAGHER, Mark Grimsley, Howard HATTAWAY, and Edwin C. Bearss. "Why the South Lost the Civil War." American History, April 1999:1. September 28, 2013. http://www.historynet.com/why-the-south-lost-the-civil-war-cover-page-february-99-american-history-feature.htm. Hickman, Kennedy. American Civil War 101: An Overview, "Military History." Last modified 2013. Accessed September 28, 2013. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars1800s/p/AmCivilWar.htm. Holden Reid, Brian. "1863: Military Turning Points, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Tullahoma." Organization of American Historians: Magazine of History. no. 2 (2013): 23-27. Kelly, Martin. Top Five Causes of the Civil War: Leading up to Secession and the Civil War, "American History." Last modified 2013. Accessed September 28, 2013. http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarmenu/a/cause_civil_war.htm. Leidner , Gordon. "Lincoln’s Leadership." Columbiad: A Quarterly Review of the War Between the States . no. Spring (1998): 1. http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/leadership.htm (accessed September 28, 2013). Mitchell, Charlie. Pittsburgh Post Gazette, "Vicksburg, Gettysburg battles similar yet different." Last modified July 4, 2013. Accessed September 28, 2013. http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/vicksburg-gettysburg-battles-similar-yet-different-694287/. Reilly, M.B. University of Cinncinati, "Top Ten Civil War History Highlights from Gettysburg and Vicksburg, July 4 Battles of 150 Years Ago." Last modified July 2, 2013. Accessed September 28, 2013. http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=17932. Waggoner, Ashley. Suite 101, "Vicksburg and Gettysburg." Last modified July 5, 2009. Accessed September 28, 2013. http://suite101.com/a/vicksburg-and-gettysburg-a129472. Read More