Why did The Confederates Lose The War in just 2 Battles? – The American Civil War (1863)

**Sanitized Transcript:**

January 1, 1863, marked a significant shift in the meaning of the Civil War, although not in the way many people today believe. The Emancipation Proclamation did not actually free all slaves; it was intended to free slaves in Rebel states, but not all of them. Southern states that had already been occupied by the North were exempt from the proclamation, as were all border states. Additionally, states that had joined the Confederacy were unlikely to release the slaves they had been fighting to keep. This meant that Northern military enforcement would be necessary for the proclamation to have any real effect. Nevertheless, the act itself held great significance for many.

It also officially allowed Black men to join the Union Army and Navy, opening the doors for hundreds of thousands of men seeking freedom to participate in the war effort. By the end of the conflict, approximately 200,000 Black soldiers had risked their lives to protect their fellow countrymen. At the same time, the North enacted a draft for its citizens. The Confederacy had implemented a draft a year earlier, but for the Union, this was a sign of the times. The war was not progressing as President Lincoln had hoped. As conscription went into effect in the North, both sides prepared for battle once more.

The Union had two primary goals: to defeat General Lee and capture Richmond, and to take Vicksburg to gain full control of the Mississippi River. The latter objective was particularly concerning for the South, which had been struggling to maintain its Tennessee border due to the challenging geography created by the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers. General Grant had already seized control of these rivers with the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Union Admiral David Farragut had also taken New Orleans, cutting the Confederates off from the Gulf of Mexico, while the capture of Memphis had nearly wrested control of the Mississippi from the South. However, without Vicksburg, these gains could not be fully realized.

Grant was determined to take the city and the river. In the summer of 1862, he made his first attempt alongside General William T. Sherman, but the early effort ended in a decisive defeat at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou. Nevertheless, the Northerners were ready to try again by the following spring. Up until this point, Grant and his men had struggled to gain access to Vicksburg due to the surrounding swamps and difficult terrain. Feeling innovative and determined, Grant put his men to work to change this. For weeks, they drained bayous, built bridges, and created roads that could be used to reach the city. Trekking along their newly constructed path through Louisiana and across the river, Grant and his army marched into battle.

Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter led a naval force along the river to support the land troops. Despite heavy fire from Confederate defenses, Porter and his men successfully navigated the challenges, losing only one ship in the process and providing necessary support to Grant. By April 29, 1863, everyone was in position and ready to launch the attack.

Grant’s plan involved several coordinated actions: Sherman would feign an attack at Snyder’s Bluff, Colonel Benjamin Garrison would lead a raid further inland to draw Confederate forces away from Vicksburg, Porter would continue to provide reinforcement to the land troops, and Major General John A. McClernand and his 13th Army Corps would aim for another landing on the east bank of Grand Gulf. This bank was heavily fortified with Confederate defenders, but Grant was confident in his strategy.

The attack began with Porter and his gunboats opening fire around 8 AM, targeting Fort Wade and then Fort Cobun. The Confederates responded with their own artillery fire, triggering a battle that lasted for hours. The Union Navy eventually overpowered Fort Wade but struggled against the more fortified Fort Cobun. After assessing the situation, Porter and Grant decided to pull back, recognizing the second line of defense as impenetrable. The Battle of Grand Gulf ended, and Grant faced another setback. However, he remained determined to capture Vicksburg.

While Grant focused on Vicksburg, Union General Joseph Hooker was tasked with addressing the challenge posed by General Lee. Hooker aimed to seize the Confederate capital but first needed to deal with Lee’s forces. Hooker and his army of 115,000 prepared to attack Lee’s diminished force of 60,000. The Union commander split his troops into three groups, sending two-thirds to Fredericksburg to feign an assault while he took the remainder to confront Lee.

Lee, aware of Hooker’s plans, made a strategic gamble. He divided 10,000 of his 60,000 men to defend Fredericksburg while taking the remaining 50,000 to face Hooker’s Army of the Potomac. In a forest west of Chancellorsville, battle erupted. Despite having a numerical advantage, Hooker unexpectedly ordered his men to fall back into defensive positions, giving Lee an opportunity. Lee then split his troops again, sending General Stonewall Jackson around the Union’s left flank. Jackson’s forces engaged the Union XI Corps, while Lee faced an approaching Union force to the east.

The battle resulted in a surprising Confederate victory, but it came at a heavy cost: the death of Stonewall Jackson. During a nighttime return to camp, Jackson was mistakenly shot by his own men and later died from pneumonia complications. General Lee expressed the profound impact of this loss, stating, “I have lost my right arm… I’m bleeding at the heart.”

After the victory at Chancellorsville, the Confederates sought to capitalize on their success. In response to the Emancipation Proclamation, Jefferson Davis enacted the Retaliatory Act, which allowed for the execution of Northern Black soldiers and their White officers. This political move was followed by further armed clashes. The Battle of Raymond saw a Union triumph in Mississippi, while the Battle of Jackson was more indecisive. Meanwhile, Grant was making progress toward his ultimate target, telling William T. Sherman, “The road to Vicksburg is open.” The Confederate leadership was embroiled in disputes over their next move, allowing the Union to take advantage.

This led to the significant Battle of Champion Hill, resulting in a monumental Union victory and a crucial step forward for Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign. Another success followed at the Battle of the Big Black River Bridge, increasing pressure on Vicksburg as the Union prepared to besiege the city. The Siege of Vicksburg began on May 18, trapping the Confederate forces and civilians within the city. After 47 days of bombardment and dwindling supplies, General Pemberton surrendered on July 4, 1863. Grant had achieved his goal of capturing Vicksburg and controlling the Mississippi River.

However, significant events unfolded elsewhere during this time. The Battle of Brandy Station in Virginia marked the largest cavalry clash of the war, while the Battle of Second Winchester cleared Union forces from the Shenandoah Valley. The Union celebrated West Virginia’s admission as a new state, but just days later, the tragic Battle of Gettysburg would take place.

General Robert E. Lee sought to move the conflict into the North, leading his 75,000-strong army into Pennsylvania, pursued by Union General George Gordon Meade and his 95,000 men. The two forces converged on Gettysburg, where Lee began preparations for an attack. The battle commenced unexpectedly when Confederate Major General Henry Heth’s forces encountered Union Brigadier General John Buford’s troops.

The Confederates initially pushed the Union forces back, but Union reinforcements arrived. Despite their efforts, the Union line began to collapse, forcing the remaining defenders to regroup on Cemetery Hill. Union General Dan Sickles attempted to take his III Corps to Emmitsburg Road, but his plan backfired, requiring additional support from General Meade.

As the battle progressed, the Union forces faced overwhelming Confederate attacks. Despite heavy casualties, the Union managed to hold their ground. The second day of fighting saw the bloodiest clashes of the Civil War, with both sides suffering significant losses.

On the third day, General Lee ordered a full-scale attack on the Union left, leading to the largest artillery barrage in the Western Hemisphere. However, the Union forces held strong, and the Confederate assault ultimately failed. Lee’s forces were forced to retreat, marking a decisive Union victory at Gettysburg.

In the aftermath, Lee accepted responsibility for the defeat and offered his resignation to President Jefferson Davis. The battle resulted in over 50,000 casualties, and the town of Gettysburg was transformed into a national cemetery for fallen Union soldiers.

The Union victory at Gettysburg was overshadowed by the tragedy of the battle and the ongoing war. The excitement surrounding the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry, the first African American volunteer regiment to see combat, was marred by the Draft Riots that followed. In Lawrence, Kansas, Rebel guerillas led by William Clarke Quantrill conducted a raid that resulted in a massacre, further illustrating the desperation felt by many in the South.

As the war continued, the Union captured Chattanooga, Tennessee, while the Confederates found some hope with a victory at the Battle of Chickamauga. President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery, while Lee aimed to manipulate Northern morale in the upcoming election. However, the siege of Chattanooga ultimately failed, and the South struggled to maintain its war efforts.

Both sides desired an end to the conflict, but neither was willing to concede. Lincoln offered forgiveness to any Confederate willing to swear an oath to the United States, indicating a potential path toward reconciliation.