The General of the South
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CIVIL WAR; APRIL 12, 1861
APRIL 9, 1865
The American Civil War started on April 12, 1861 from open fire on Fort Sumter, and took place all across America. This war is often described as "the bloodiest war," and many soldiers fought in the Civil War. There were two sides; North and South. South wanted to keep slavery, but North opposed slavery and thought it was not right. In the Civil War, there were 29 battles and many generals, including Ulysses S. Grant (North) and Robert E. Lee (South). On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, ending the Civil War.
Confederate/ South flag (left side) & Union/ North flag (right side). The South flag was commonly called "Stars and Bars," and the North flag was called "Stars and Stripes." Since the North won, the "Stars and Stripes" stayed the American flag.
"Brother fought brother, fathers fought sons" - Civil War quote. Many people volunteered to be in the war. Even at the age of nine, a boy named John Clem became the Union drummer boy.
WHY DID THE WAR START?
In 1861, slavery was a huge problem. North believed that slavery wasn't just, but South said "if that's the way it has been for a long time, it must be right." The Civil War started for a few reasons; slavery, the cotton gin, disagreement, open fire on Fort Sumter, and the South was angry at Abraham Lincoln's ideas. At the time, Abraham Lincoln (President) wanted to abolish slavery. South hated this idea and fired at Fort Sumter, an important political "building" with many people in it. Fire on Fort Sumter started the Civil War.
The United States of the America separated into North and South during the beginning of the war, starting with South Carolina going to the South side.
After being united for over 100 years, the United States of America slowly became known as the dis-United States of America. Although they were all Americans, they treated each other as if they were natural enemies.
WHAT WERE THE UNIFORMS LIKE?
The Civil War uniforms were two different colors. The South wore grey uniforms made of wool with sleeve chevrons and a haversack strap so they could camouflage better. The North wore blue, machine-made uniforms with brass buttons and a knapsack, holding a blanket, food, and water. Since there were few uniform factories, especially for the South, some times people would wear the wrong color and fire on their own side. North had more items on their uniforms, therefore they had a big advantage.
The North had blue, machine-made uniforms with leather leggings and boots. They carried a knapsack with a blanket roll, and food. Also, they would carry a canvas canteen full of water.
The South wore a grey uniform made of wool with sleeve chevrons and a haversack strap. They would also wear a grey hat made of Kepi, a French type of military hat.
WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE U.S. FORCES?
This picture above shows Lee surrendering to Grant at Appomattox Court House.
During the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant (North) and Robert E. Lee (South) were generals of the U.S. forces for the whole war. There were also many other generals like general George B. McClellen, a Northern general, and general Pierre Beauregard, a Southern general. The leader of the North was Abraham Lincoln, the President. The South also had a leader; his name was Jefferson Davis. There were many generals and colonels in the Civil War.
The South leader was Jefferson Davis. He was a former senator, but agreed to slavery. He lead the South to battle and unfortunately for him, to loss.
The image shown above is of a South general named Thomas J. Jackson. During a battle, a Northern soldier shouted, "There stands Jackson like a stone wall," giving Jackson a nickname of "Stonewall" Jackson.
WHO WERE SOME IMPORTANT PEOPLE?
There were many important people involved with the Civil War. These people included North general Ulysses S. Grant, South general Robert E. Lee, President Abraham Lincoln, Clara Barton, and many more. Also, there were generals George Meade and William Sherman, both from the North. General George Meade lead the North during the battle of Gettysburg. The other general, William Sherman, served as a general for quite a time and lead the "Sherman's march."
This drawing (above) shows Union general George Meade fighting in the Gettysburg address.
Union general William T. Sherman lead the "Sherman's march" from Atlanta, Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean on November 15, 1864.
WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT DURING THE WAR?
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln served as the President and the North's leader. One of the reasons the war started was because the South disagreed with Abraham Lincoln's ideas to get rid of slavery. Many pro-slavery Americans were expecting a president they did not want, but were surprised when they heard the news that the President wanted to abolish slavery. During the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln read the Gettysburg Address, freeing all slaves. The President was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865 at Ford's Theater.
President Abraham Lincoln (above) wrote the Emancipation Proclamation, and read it during the Battle of Gettysburg, making his famous speech known as the Gettysburg Address.
The image shown above is of Mary Todd Lincoln (left), President Lincoln (center), and John Wilkes Booth (far right) in Ford's Theater where the President was shot.
WHAT EQUIPMENT WAS USED TO FIGHT THE BATTLE?
When the Civil War was occurring, the soldiers needed weapons to fight. The South had an outdated musket, but the North had a modern rifle. At the top of each gun was a bayonet. The Union had a sword bayonet and the Confederates had spike bayonets. Each side of the war had many weapons.
The Union would use hand grenades on the Confederates to blow them to pieces.
The Confederates had swords for back-up weapons, just in case they ran out of bullets or muskets.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MAJOR BATTLES?
There were many bloody battles in the Civil War. Some of those battles were the Fall of Fort Sumter, Battle of Bull Run, Fall of Fort Henry, Battle of Gettysburg, and many more. At the beginning of the Civil War, President Lincoln gathered 75,000 army volunteers to fight these battles. The longest battle was the Siege of Vicksburg, lasting for about a month. General Robert E. Lee's last battle was the Fall of Richmond, a Confederate city.
The image shown above is of the Fall of Richmond, Lee's last war.
The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle, Lincoln read the Gettysburg Address during this war, and many people "see ghosts" there in present time.
HOW WERE WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE WAR EFFORT?
In the 1860's, women had a big part in the Civil War. At the time of war, Clara Barton started the American Red Cross, a medical station for the soldiers in the Civil War. Also, some women dressed up like men and joined the war, like Sarah Emma Emonds and Loreta Janeta Velazquez. Women also served as medics or spies on the battlefield. Most women worked as nurses for the Union or Confederates.
During the Civil War, women would sew the American flag for the Union.
Dorothea Dix worked as a nurse during the war. She let volunteers work, but not on the top procedures.
WHEN DID THE WAR END?
On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, ending the Civil War. The North celebrated their accomplishment, but the South was upset about losing. To get revenge on the Union, John Wilkes Booth (South) shot President Lincoln on April 15, 1865 at Ford's Theater. Slavery was gone and so was the President. Although the President was shot, slavery was still abolished and the dis-United States of America became united. The Union had won!
Since the North won, their flag, "The Stars and Stripes," stayed the American flag.
After President Lincoln's death, Vice President Andrew Johnson became President of the USA.
"A rich man's war and a poor man's fight..."
