1862 A Union Victory

During our last lesson we learned about the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in July of 1861. This was the first major battle in the Civil War. Before the battle began most Americans thought it would be a quick conflict and not a full on War. The Battle of Manassas would change that. The battle was fought in Virginia just miles away from Washington D.C. Spectators from both sides were ready to watch this battle, they even set up picnics. Before the battle began the Confederates knew an attack was coming from the Union Army. The Union army attacked and pushed the Confederates back until the smaller but more efficient Confederate army received reinforcements. They broke through Union lines and what started off as a retreat by the Union army became an unorganized rout. Some Union soldiers did not stop until they reached camp. This battle made it clear to the Union that it would not be a quick and easy fight for unification. The Confederates gained confidence, and the battle prove their bias that one southerner could take on ten Yankees. The Confederates now thought it was not a question of if but when they would win.

                Some in the Union North like radical abolitionists believed it would be best if the Union just let the Confederates succeed, because it would make it easier to govern those that wanted to be a part of the Union. Those that believed in the Union understood that it was going to be a long dragged out process for unification. Lincoln now had to make new military decisions. He promoted George B. McClellan to General and Chief of the Union army. He had recent victories in western Virginia and was poised to bring that to the Union Army.

                The year of 1862 was seen as an important year for both the Union and Confederate armies. They were both preparing for a battle that most thought would be fought in Virginia. The Union armies were ready to attack the Confederacy, which were also ready to be attacked. New General in Chief McClellan had been organizing and preparing his troops for months and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to advance. Lincoln, who was running out of patience, issued General War Order No.1 instructing the Union armies to move forward by February 22, 1862 (Simpson, pg.50).

                While waiting for McClellan’s army to attack, a Union army under the command of George H. Thomas routed a Confederate force in Kentucky and gained control of the crucial state (Lincoln’s home state). Lincoln hoped it would start an offensive by the Southern unionists. The logistics just were not right and the first major Union success happened in West Tennessee. Military planners believe the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers would provide great invasion areas. They planned on using a riverline navy with a mix of steamer transports, ironclads, and rams to support army operations (Simpson, pg. 50). They also learned that is was easier to move troops through water than by land, and that gunboats were a great asset to support land battles.

                The Confederates realized what the Union was planning and tried to create makeshift forts, Fort Henry and Donelson, which were used to defend the two rivers that neared the Kentucky border. General Ulysses S. Grant and his Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote received approval to attack the forts. On February 6^th Fort Henry was the first to fall. Foote’s gunboats were able to demand the fort’s surrender even before Grant’s ground troops could arrive. Grant then turned to Fort Donelson, which was well put together and defended. Albert Sidney Johnston, the Confederate commander had 17,000 soldiers posted to defend Fort Donelson. Grant’s troops numbered at 15,000 at the beginning of the siege, and increased to 25,000 after reinforcements arrived.  The Confederates fought of the first attack from Foote’s gunboats, and when they believed they could not withstand the siege they  tried to attack Grant’s right flank in hope to make an escape route. On February 15 10,000 rebels launched an attack and it disorganized the Confederates as much as Grant’s men. Grant then ordered counter attacks along that line and by the end of the night the Confederates were pushed back to their original position. On another side the Union broke into Fort Donelson, and the Confederate commanders Floyd and Pillow decided to flee fearing harsh punishment if they were taken prisoner. Grant gave the orders that no terms except unconditional and immediate surrender would be accepted. 15,000 Rebels were now prisoners of war. The Union now had something to celebrate. They took over two Forts in Tennessee and showed they could take on Confederate soldiers.

In class we talked about how important the border slave states were to the Union cause. What impact do you think this first victory did for Union moral? And the overall belief that unification could still happen with a Union win?