Chapter 15: Billy Yank's Chickahominy Blues
In mid-1862, Confederate survival was not promising. The fall of the Confederate capital seemed to be only a matter of time.
Lee used Jackson on Shenandoah Valley; he instilled a sense of pride in his men. Soon, he made victories at Front Royal and Winchester. His campaign provided relief of pressure against Richmond, but the Union army was quick to retaliate. Still, Lincoln's diversion of troops to chase after Jackson was wrong and may have killed half of his army. They would have to move quickly to get Richmond.
The Chickahominy river runs north of Richmond. Confederate army commander Johnston commanded the Southern army in the field near Seven Pines, east of Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. When he was shot, Robert E Lee took control. The battle at Seven Pines continued, but cost the Confederates more than 6,000 men. Lee had a new plan; he believed Richmond could not be held against the enormous Union army. The Confederates had only three options: abandon Richmond, fight a defensive battle for Richmond, or attack. Lee urged the Confederacy to attack. He was planning to launch an attack along with Stonewall Jackson, but when Jackson didn't show up, he went alongside the Chickahominy and defeated the Unionist McClellan. Called the Seven Days' War, there were the most number of casualties in it.
The high casualties during the battles was due to the traditional tactics being employed and the modern weapons being used. During the 18th century, Napoleonic warfare was practiced, with formations of soldiers trained to move together; this was used very well in the Mexican War. But the transition from smoothbore had many effects. It increased casualties and strengthened the defensive instead of staying on the offensive as soldiers used to. When generals used close-order assaults, more people were killed since marksmen could kill off the men from far distances. Interestingly enough, more generals and officers were killed because they were on horseback and their uniform was so unique. Soon, they began to disguise themselves as privates.
Attacks changed throughout the war as the new rifle came into soldiers' hands. The strategy used by many generals - the close-front attack - explains why the Civil War was so long and cost so many lives.
Key Terms:
In mid-1862, Confederate survival was not promising. The fall of the Confederate capital seemed to be only a matter of time.
Lee used Jackson on Shenandoah Valley; he instilled a sense of pride in his men. Soon, he made victories at Front Royal and Winchester. His campaign provided relief of pressure against Richmond, but the Union army was quick to retaliate. Still, Lincoln's diversion of troops to chase after Jackson was wrong and may have killed half of his army. They would have to move quickly to get Richmond.
The Chickahominy river runs north of Richmond. Confederate army commander Johnston commanded the Southern army in the field near Seven Pines, east of Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. When he was shot, Robert E Lee took control. The battle at Seven Pines continued, but cost the Confederates more than 6,000 men. Lee had a new plan; he believed Richmond could not be held against the enormous Union army. The Confederates had only three options: abandon Richmond, fight a defensive battle for Richmond, or attack. Lee urged the Confederacy to attack. He was planning to launch an attack along with Stonewall Jackson, but when Jackson didn't show up, he went alongside the Chickahominy and defeated the Unionist McClellan. Called the Seven Days' War, there were the most number of casualties in it.
The high casualties during the battles was due to the traditional tactics being employed and the modern weapons being used. During the 18th century, Napoleonic warfare was practiced, with formations of soldiers trained to move together; this was used very well in the Mexican War. But the transition from smoothbore had many effects. It increased casualties and strengthened the defensive instead of staying on the offensive as soldiers used to. When generals used close-order assaults, more people were killed since marksmen could kill off the men from far distances. Interestingly enough, more generals and officers were killed because they were on horseback and their uniform was so unique. Soon, they began to disguise themselves as privates.Attacks changed throughout the war as the new rifle came into soldiers' hands. The strategy used by many generals - the close-front attack - explains why the Civil War was so long and cost so many lives.
Key Terms:
- Seven Days' War/Battles: Confederate victory in Virginia, during which Lee stopped Union campaign against Richmond and drove the union back toward the sea; was a counterattack to McClellan's Peninsula Campaign
- Chickahominy River: river near Richmond, VA (the Confederate capital); used to sneak up on the Unionists.
- Peninsula Campaign: McClellan's waterborne advancement upon Richmond between the James and York Rivers. He took a month to capture Yorktown, at which point Lincoln diverted reinforcements to pursue Jackson at the Shenandoah Valley.
- Richmond, VA: Unionist McClellan wanted to capture this city since it was the Confederate capital.
Questions:
- Were the new rifles produced in the North or by some foreign country and then imported in?
- How would southerners have received the new rifles if there was a blockade imposed on them?
- When was the shift made in the way soldiers attacked with their new rifles?
Citations:
- McPherson, James M. "15: Billy Yank's Chickahominy Blues." In Battle Cry of Freedom, 454-489. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
- Accessed March 11, 2015. http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/glendale/glendale-history-articles/gaines-mill.jpg.
- Accessed March 11, 2015. http://thomaslegion.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/seven_days_battles_map_civil_war.jpg.
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