MH-7: Total War 1864-1865The Civil War –Total War (1864-65) Strategic Overview:Military PerspectiveLincoln's responseGrant’s Grand Strategic PlanStrategic, Operational, & Tactical objectivesUnion’s Strategic PlansStrategic Deployments- The EastStrategic Deployments- The West1864 Campaigns- Strategic OverviewEastern Theater Operations- 1864-65 Strategic OverviewThe Virginia Campaign Strategic Overview 1864-1865Battle of The Wilderness Commanders, Troops & Their objectivesBattle of The Wilderness - TerrainBattle of The Wilderness- executionBattle of The Wilderness- resultsBattle of Spotsylvania Court HouseBattle of SpotsylvaniaBattle of Spotsylvania- New TacticBattle of Spotsylvania - counterattackBattle of Spotsylvania - resultsBattle of North Anna RiverBattle of Cold HarborBattle of Cold Harbor- Strategy & Tactics & ExecutionBattle of Cold Harbor- resultsPetersburg Siege- AdvancePetersburg Siege- Strategy & TacticsPetersburg Siege- execution & resultsWestern Theater – Atlanta CampaignAtlanta Campaign- Strategy & TacticsAtlanta Campaign- executionAtlanta Campaign- engagementsAtlanta Campaign- Kennesaw Mtn resultsBattle for Atlanta- preludeBattle for Atlanta- Strategy & TacticsSiege of AtlantaBattle for Atlanta- Campaign ResultsSherman’s March to Sea (15 Nov – 24 Dec 1964)Sherman’s March- Strategic ImpactHood’s Tennessee Campaign (Oct - Nov 1864)Hood’s Tennessee Campaign- Strategy & TacticsBattle of Nashville (15-16 Dec 1864)Collapse of Confederacy –(1865)Road to AppomattoxBattle of Five ForksFall of Petersburg & RichmondBattle of Five Forks resultsPursuit to AppomattoxSurrender at Appomattox“Flight into Oblivion”Assessment - Civil War’s LegacyAssessment - 2Assessment – 3 Strategic & Operational CapabilitiesAssessment – 4 Tactical Lessons LearnedBack-up SlidesGrant’s LeadershipBattle of Franklin (30 Nov 1864)Battle of Nashville (16 Dec 1864)Naval Warfare (1862-65) Strategic Role of NavyNavy’s Strategic, Operational, & Tactical RolesNavy’s Strategic, Operational, & Tactical Roles- 3Battle for Atlanta – 2 engagements-37Battle for Atlanta – 3rd engagement-38Sheridan in Shenandoah Valley (Fall 1864)1MH-7: Total War 1864-18652The Civil War –Total War (1864-65)Strategic Overview:•By 1864: North attacking all forms of South’s resistance:–Military targets & field Armies prime tactical objective–Also target South’s economy & population•Undermine morale & psyche of South’s entire population;•That is: North wages Total War, plan & simple!–Unmatched in Europe – even during Napoleonic wars3Military Perspective•From strictly military perspective – –South was beaten:–Time favored North’s side – (to a point) - why?•Must maintain political will of the people (& the voters)•South’s only chance & hope?–Delay defeat until the Nov 1864 election – Why?–Friendlier Democratic admin to negotiate treaty terms•North was also weary of war:–Lincoln particularly concerned about copperheads•Democratic candidate’s stated platform position•Lincoln's response?4Lincoln's response•Promotes ?____________ to General in Chief–Commands all Union Armies as a three star General–The first LT General since George Washington•Grant takes firm control of Union Army•Pursues multi-front grand strategy: –In stark contrast to all his predecessors – how?•Demonstrated by Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan5Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan•Grant’s Grand Strategic Plan (Map overview):–Grant proposes multi-front grand strategy (as planned out West)–Simultaneous advance on all Southern fronts–Strategy of “Exhaustion” (West) & “Attrition” (East- Lincoln)•Aim: Press South on all fronts & deny Logistics & LOCs–Operationally: Preclude South’s use of its interior LOCs–(How were LOCs used in past campaigns by South?)6Strategic, Operational, & Tactical objectives •Grant to Meade: “Lee’s Army is your Objective.”•Union Army: destroy all of South’s main armed forces:–Strategy of attrition vice taking & holding ground;–(simply put: Kill the enemy & destroy his army);•Also- destroy South’s resources used to support forces:–Armies now too big to completely destroy in battle;–Therefore –must attack & destroy logistics & supply–Plus: destroy South’s means & ability to supply•Accordingly - use all available means & troops to do it:–Include all detachments & garrison troops;–Offensive advance vice garrison defense; –Grant: best defense is aggressive offense7Union’s Strategic Plans•North’s planned Strategic Deployments:–Two major Union Armies advance simultaneously:•Meade’s Army of Potomac (AOP);•Sherman’s Combined Army of Cumberland, TN, OH8Strategic Deployments- The East•Eastern Theater: Meade’s Army pursues Lee’s•Siegle advances up Shenandoah (fails by 15 May)–Defeated at Battle of New Market;•Butler to conduct amphibious assault & press Richmond–Objective: cut off Richmond’s rail supply from Petersburg•Butler soon became stalled, cut-off, & neutralized – soon a liability9Strategic Deployments- The West•Western Theater: Sherman advances on Johnston•Banks to advance to Mobile, Alabama–Mobile’s port a key military aim•Banks’ army diverted instead to Red River Valley–(Due to political considerations & influence)–Red River Valley of little strategic military significance–(By early April Banks defeated anyway!)1864 Campaigns- Strategic Overview•Main Union Armies step off in early May, 1864:–Examine Eastern Theater Operations first 1011Eastern Theater Operations- 1864-65Strategic OverviewLet’s examine Grant’s (Meade’s) final campaign in Virginia12The Virginia Campaign Strategic Overview 1864-1865 Conduct series of flanking maneuvers & vicious fighting & Bloody battles Grant & Meade w/119K troops cross Rapidan on 4 May13Battle of The Wilderness Commanders, Troops & Their objectives•Commanders’ strengths & weaknesses:–Grant vs. Lee: Both highly competent & aggressive•Force dispositions:–Grant – 119K;–Lee - w/64K to West of Union Army•Tactical, Operational, & Strategic Objectives:–Grant: Turn Lee’s flank & compel retreat•Destroy Lee’s Army & South’s instrument for waging war–Lee: Get there first & keep Union Army outside LOC•Use terrain (thick veg. of Wilderness) to dilute Union numbers14Battle of The Wilderness - Terrain•Lee effectively uses dense vegetation of Wilderness to dilute