Tim Cooke - Decisive Battles

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cooke, Tim.

Decisive battles / Tim Cooke.

p. cm. (The American Civil War: the right answer)

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-4339-7540-0 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-4339-7541-7 (6-pack)

ISBN 978-1-4339-7539-4 (library binding)

1. United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns. I. Title.

E470.1.C75 2012

973.7'3dc23

2012004972

Published in 2013 by

Gareth Stevens Publishing

111 East 14th Street, Suite 349

New York, NY 10003

2013 Brown Bear Books Ltd.

For Brown Bear Books Ltd:

Editorial Director: Lindsey Lowe

Managing Editor: Tim Cooke

Childrens Publisher: Anne ODaly

Art Director: Jeni Child

Designer: Karen Perry

Picture Manager: Sophie Mortimer

Production Director: Alastair Gourlay

Picture Credits:

Front Cover: Library of Congress

Interior all Library of Congress except, National Archives: 35; Robert Hunt Library: 29.

All Artworks Brown Bear Books Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Manufactured in the United States of America

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T he Civil War that began in 1861 saw a whole generation of young men called into military service. Both the North and the South began the conflict with great enthusiasm. Volunteers flocked to enlist. It soon became apparent that the war would be long and bloody, however. Casualties were far higher than anyone had expected. Ultimately, both sides turned to conscription to make sure that they always had enough men available to fight.

The generals who commanded the fighting were of varied quality. Many had been trained together before the war. Former colleagues and friends from the United States Army now found themselves facing one another in battle.

As the war went on, a new generation of generals came to prominence. They included some of the greatest military commanders in American history: men such as Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman for the Union, and Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson for the Confederacy.

This book describes the main battles that shaped the course of the war. The articles are arranged in chronological order to make it easier to see how each battle was related to those that came before and after it. Boxes in the margins help you get more out of your reading. Comment boxes highlight specific information and explain its importance. Ask Yourself boxes suggest questions for you to consider. There are no right or wrong answers; the questions are meant to help you think about the subject. Other boxes explain difficult words or ideas. The book finishes with a glossary and a list of resources for further information. There is also an index that you can use to find facts fast.

Confederates face a Union attack at Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, Tennessee, in November 1863.

T he war had only begun a couple of months earlier. Both sides thought they were stronger than the other. And both thought the war would be over very quickly. The First Battle of Bull Run showed that they were both wrong.

In the North, President Abraham Lincoln had gathered a large army of volunteers. By early summer, the population wanted him to send troops to attack the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia. General Irvin McDowell led the main Union force of 35,000 men. He protested that they were not ready to fight. But Lincoln ordered McDowell to leave for Richmond.

A Zouave in a fez leads a Confederate charge against the Union lines.

In McDowells way was another inexperienced force. The main Confederate army of 20,000 men was led by Pierre G. T. Beauregard. They were located north of Manassas Junction, only 30 miles (48 km) from Washington, D.C. Manassas was a Confederate supply depot. Beauregard was reinforced by 12,000 troops commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston. They were moved rapidly to the battlefield by railroad.

McDowells first chance to attack came on July 16. Just as he had warned, his troops were not well enough trained. The enemy troops escaped. On July 18, there was another skirmish that lasted most of the afternoon. Again, the Confederates repelled the Union forces.

Both armies spent the next days regrouping and carrying out reconnaisance. Both leaders chose the same battle plan for July 21: they both planned to attack the enemys left flank.

On the 21st, McDowell struck first. An alert Confederate signal officer spotted the movement. Using signal flags for the first time in the war, he gave the Confederates time to form their defenses. The troops clashed on Matthews Hill in a bloody struggle. For many of the troops, it was their first, terrifying experience of conflict.

Union troops of the Sixty-Ninth New York Regiment charge enemy artillery positions.

This map shows the different movements of the two armies over the course of the four-day battle.