AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FOR DUMMIES

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	What Not to Read
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in this Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 The War and Its Causes
	Chapter 1 How Did the War Happen?
		The Big Picture: War and Politics
			What’s a civil war?
			The setting: 1850–1860
		The North and South: Two Different Worlds
		The Opposing Sides
		Playing a Part in the Controversy: The Constitution
		Struggling for Power
			Amassing states: The political stakes involved
			Entering the Union: The politics of compromise, 1850
		California: The Compromise of 1850
			The Fugitive Slave Law
			D.C. is free
			What did the compromise do?
	Chapter 2 The Five Steps to War: 1850–1860
		Setting the Stage: Five Events Leading to War
		Struggling for Kansas
			The Kansas-Nebraska Act
			The violence begins
		Rising from the Collapse: The Republican Party
			Disappearing Whigs and Southern Democrats
			The Free Soilers
			The Know-Nothings
			The Republican Party arrives
		The Republicans and the 1856 Presidential Election
			The Democrats: Choosing a safe candidate
			Millard Fillmore for president
			Politics becomes sectional
			Southern reaction to the Republican Party
		The Dred Scott Decision
			The reaction to the decision
			The results of the Dred Scott decision
		John Brown’s Raid
			Harpers Ferry
			Sending in the Marines
			The results of John Brown’s raid
			John Brown’s end
		The Fighting South, the Angry North
		The Election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860
			A new party emerges
			The Democrats divide
			Lincoln wins by electoral vote
			The South’s view of the election
	Chapter 3 Secession and War: 1860–1861
		The First Secession: South Carolina and the Lower South
		Building a New Nation: The Confederacy
			The growing crisis in Charleston: Fort Sumter
			Walking the tightrope: President Buchanan
			Confederates at Charleston: Waiting for a sign and heavily armed
			Sitting quietly: The outgoing president beats the clock
		Taking Office: Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
			The Sumter crisis renewed
			The decisions that led to war
		Firing the First Shot
			Calling for the 75,000 and another secession: The upper South
			The hardest choice: Robert E. Lee takes his stand
		So, Who Started the War?
Part 2 Making War
	Chapter 4 Civil War Armies: Structure and Organization
		Understanding the Basics of War
			The offensive and the defensive
			Strategy and tactics
		Creating a Strategy: Three Basic Questions
		Uncovering the Principles of War
		Developing Campaigns: The Art of War
			Interior and exterior lines
			Lines of communication and supply
			Supply is critical in war
			Information: Orders and critical intelligence
			The Indirect Approach
			Taking the initiative: Who is on top?
		Putting It All Together: Strategy to Campaigns to Battles
			Fighting battles
			Win the battles — lose the war
			The commander’s choices
			Terrain and the defensive
			Ending a battle
		Looking at the Civil War Army Organization
			Eyes and ears: The cavalry
			Providing firepower: The artillery
			Fleet of foot: The infantry
			Other important branches
		Building a Basic Civil War Army Structure: The Regiment
			Strength and size of units
			Roles of different units in an army
			Cavalry regiments
		Comparing the Science versus the Art of War
	Chapter 5 Union and Confederate Strategy
		Comparing Northern and Southern Resources
			Industrial power
			Agricultural advantages: Food and crops
			Soldiers and laborers: Population
			Financial wealth
			Analyzing the statistics for both sides
		Wartime Strategy: Union and Confederate
			The Union’s strategy
			The Confederacy’s strategy
		Geography and Strategy: Theaters of War
			The Eastern Theater
			The Western Theater
			The Trans-Mississippi Theater
		Civil War Strategy in Retrospect
	Chapter 6 Organizing and Training the Armies
		Making Civilians into Soldiers
			Fighting in the frontier: The regulars
			Responding to the call: The militia
			Joining to fight: Volunteers — then Conscripts
		Qualifications of Union and Confederate Officers
			Military bloopers: The political generals
			Rookies learning a new trade: the blind leading the blind
	Chapter 7 Significant Weapons of the Civil War
		The Weapons You Need to Fight
			Struggling with the smoothbore
			Rifled muskets for the infantry
			Spinning faster: The Minié ball
		The Rifled Musket and Tactics
		The Really Big Guns: Civil War Artillery
			Artillery ammunition
			Using artillery
		Cavalry Weapons
			The carbine
			The revolver
Part 3 Opening Moves, 1861–1862
	Chapter 8 Starting the War: Bull Run (First Manassas), July 1861
		The First Rumblings: “On to Richmond!”
			Taking command of Union forces: McDowell
			Waiting: Beauregard and the Confederates
		Marching into Battle (Sort Of)
		Organizing the Armies: Disposition of Forces on the Battlefield
		Opening Moves: Key Decisions and Events
		Advancing to Victory: The Outcome
		Analyzing the Battle
			Immediate and long-term results
			Naming schemes of the Union and Confederacy
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 9 Trouble West of the Mississippi and the Road to Shiloh, August 1861–April 1862
		Focusing on the Early Battlegrounds of Missouri and Arkansas
			The Union offensive into Arkansas
			A new commander arrives
			The Battle of Pea Ridge
		Dictating a Strategy in the Western Theater
		Struggling with Rank: Union Command
		The Importance of Kentucky
		Attacking the Forts: Grant Teams with the Navy
			Military misfits at Fort Donelson
			Grant’s terms: “Unconditional surrender”
		The Shiloh Campaign
			Taking the initiative: Johnston’s plan
			The plan’s weaknesses and advantages
		The Fighting Begins: The Battle of Shiloh
			Key decisions and events
			Johnston’s last battle
			Critical action at the Hornet’s Nest
			The second day of Shiloh
		Aftermath of the Battle
			Immediate effects
			Long-term effects: The war becomes real
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 10 Union Navy Victories and Union Army Defeats, March–July 1862
		Bringing in a New Commander: George B. McClellan
		Taking a Gamble: The Blockade
		Patrolling the Coast: Union Naval Victories
		Discovering the Political Price of Failure and Inaction
		The Peninsula: A New Campaign
		Writing a New Chapter in Naval Warfare: The Ironclad
			Washington panics!
			The Virginia goes hunting
			The Monitor versus the Virginia
		Getting Fooled at Yorktown
			The other Johnston
			Johnston advances
		Battle of Wills: The Presidents versus the Generals
		McClellan Makes a Mistake before Richmond
	Chapter 11 Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign, March–June 1862
		Creating a Hero: Stonewall Jackson
		Stonewall’s Valley: The Shenandoah
			The Valley’s strategic importance
			Looking for Jackson: Banks enters the Valley
			Jackson disappears and reappears
			Using the defeat: Lee’s strategic vision
			Jackson disappears and reappears — again
			Jackson strikes again
			Lincoln sets a trap for Jackson
			The campaign ends
		The Valley Campaign: An Appreciation
	Chapter 12 The Seven Days of Robert E. Lee, June–July 1862
		The Confederacy in Crisis: Seven Pines
		Results of the Battle: McClellan Falters
		Taking Command: The “King of Spades”
			Jeb Stuart’s ride around McClellan
			The Seven Days begin: Lee at Mechanicsville (Beaver Dam Creek)
			McClellan calls it quits
			The end of the Seven Days: Lee’s final push at Malvern Hill
		The Significance of the Campaign
			Lee takes the offensive to win
			The Seven Days: The bottom line
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 13 Second Bull Run (Manassas), August 1862
		Reshuffling the Union Command Structure
		Giving Lee an Opportunity: “Old Brains” Miscalculates
			Jackson appears, disappears, and reappears
			Looking for Jackson: Pope advances
		The Aftermath of the Battle
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 14 The Bloodiest Day: Antietam (Sharpsburg), September 1862
		Winning the War Now: The Confederate Strategic Situation
		Waiting for a Victory: The Union Strategic Situation
		The Antietam Campaign
		Jackson’s Coup at Harpers Ferry
		Starting the Battle: McClellan Creeps In
			The sunken road
			Burnside’s bridge
		Aftermath of the Battle
		Assessing the Battle and Its Significance
		The Emancipation Proclamation
			Lincoln’s proclamation: The fine print
			Southern reaction
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 15 Lost Opportunities for the Confederacy in the West: September–October 1862
		The Western Theater: A Lesson in Geography
		Confederate Cavalry Dominates Tennessee
		Bragg Takes Command
			Bragg’s invasion plan
			Bragg in Kentucky
			Lincoln loses patience
		Starting the Fight: The Battle of Perryville
		Enduring Another Confederate Disaster: Iuka and Corinth
		Assessing the Aftermath of the Campaign: Results and Recriminations
		Significance of the Battles
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 16 War So Terrible: Fredericksburg and Murfreesboro, December 1862
		Making a New Start in the East
		Hurry Up and Wait at the Rappahannock
			My kingdom for a pontoon
			Lee awaits
		The Battle of Fredericksburg
		The Aftermath of the Battle
			Both the Union and Confederacy fail in Mississippi
			Rosecrans takes charge in Tennessee
		The Battle of Murfreesboro
		The Results of the Battle
			Securing Tennessee: Union gains
			Confederate losses
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
Part 4 War to the Hilt, 1863–1865
	Chapter 17 The Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1863
		Beginning a New Campaign in the Eastern Theater
			Another new commander for the Union army
			Hooker’s plans
			Lee’s situation
			Fighting Joe Hooker won’t fight
			Jackson disappears and reappears
			Hooker fails to act
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 18 The Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, July 1863
		The Gettysburg Campaign
			Moving the armies
			Hooker waits (again) and is finished
		The Battle of Gettysburg: Day One
			Gettysburg favors the defender
			Ewell says no
		The Battle of Gettysburg: Day Two
			Longstreet opens the battle
			Longstreet attacks
		The Battle of Gettysburg: Day Three
			Meade calls a meeting
			The Confederate attacks
		The Final Moves
		The Battle’s Significance
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
		1863: The Western Theater
		The Vicksburg Campaign
			The advantages of geography
			Grant’s gamble
			Grant closes the vise
		The Siege and Fall of Vicksburg
		Success at Port Hudson
		Grant’s Accomplishment
		Heroes
		Goats
	Chapter 19 The Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, August–November 1863
		Rosecrans: Approaching and Taking Chattanooga
		The Chickamauga Campaign
		The Battle of Chickamauga: Day One
		The Battle of Chickamauga: Day Two
		The Battle Ends
		Chickamauga: The Results
			The Union: Mixed results
			The Confederacy: Frustration
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
		Turned Tables at Chattanooga
			Now Rosecrans is out
			Handling the problem: Davis arrives
			Grant takes charge
			The soldiers take charge and win
		The Battle’s Aftermath
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 20 Lee and Grant: Operations in Virginia, May–October 1864
		Generals Get Their Orders from Grant
		Day One in the Wilderness: “Bushwhacking on a Grand Scale”
		Day Two in the Wilderness: Grant Doesn’t Quit
			Lee attempts a decisive counterstrike
			The battle for the Mule Shoe
			Bad news for Grant
			Bad news for Lee: Stuart’s death
		Lee Loses the Initiative at North Anna
		Grant’s Disaster at Cold Harbor
		The Jug-Handle Movement to Petersburg
			The strategic importance of Petersburg
			Grant’s plan
			General Beauregard’s greatest moment at Petersburg
		The Second Valley Campaign
			Old Jube in the Valley
			Early distracts everyone
			Early meets Sheridan
			Reversal at Cedar Creek
		The Siege at Petersburg: July–October 1864
			Breaking the stalemate
			Burnside blunders
			The Battle of the Crater
			The siege continues
	Chapter 21 The Atlanta Campaign and a Guarantee of Union Victory, May–December 1864
		Taking Command: Johnston and the Army of Tennessee
		Preparing to Move: Sherman in the Western Theater
		The Campaign for Atlanta Begins
			The Sherman sidestep
			The Johnston backtrack
		The Battle for Atlanta
			Sherman’s supply line
			Hoodwinking Hood
		Looking at the Navy’s Contributions in 1864
		Checking on Presidential Politics of 1864
			The Democrats nominate McClellan
			Atlanta and the soldier vote
			The election results
		Sherman’s March to the Sea
			Beginning the march: Soldiers take all
			A Christmas present
		Assessing Sherman’s Impact
	Chapter 22 The Destruction of Hood’s Army in Tennessee, October 1864–January 1865
		Hood Moves North
			Running quietly: Schofield on the lam
			Calculating the magnitude of Hood’s disaster
		Triumphing at Nashville: Thomas’s Brilliant Plan
		The Battle of Nashville
		The Aftermath
		Heroes and Goats
			Heroes
			Goats
	Chapter 23 A Matter of Time: Petersburg to Appomattox, January–April 1865
		The Strategic Situation in 1865
			Sherman on the move in South Carolina
			The Confederate strategy
			Johnston takes a stand
			The results in Carolina
		Lee’s Fateful Dilemma: Petersburg
			Breaking out: Lee makes his move
			A Crossroads: Five Forks
			Falling in flames: Richmond
		The Last Retreat
			Grant proposes surrender
			The meeting at Appomattox
		Symbolic Formalities: The Last Act
		Closing Events: The War Ends, a President Dies
			The politicians react
			Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured
			The last surrenders
		Victory and Uncertainty: The Reunited States
			The last parade
			“Strike the tent”
			A final thought
		Winners and Losers: The Debate Lives On
			Why the Union won
			Why the Confederacy lost
Part 5 Behind the Lines
	Chapter 24 The Confederacy: Creating a Nation at War
		Examining Jefferson Davis as President and War Leader
		Creating the New Confederate Government
			Handling political troubles: No political parties
			Unionist sentiment in the Confederacy
			States’ rights and the governors
		Financing the War
			Confederate creative finance I: Bonds and taxes
			Confederate creative finance II: Paper money
			The bottom line
		Supplying Manpower for the War
		Supplying Material for the War
			Josiah Gorgas and his miracle
			Getting food to the soldiers
		Detailing the Confederate Naval War
			Struggling to build a navy
			Blockade running
		Struggling with Diplomacy: European Recognition
			The blockade
			The decisive year for recognition: 1862
			Diplomatic highlights with Britain, France, and Russia
			Assessing Confederate diplomacy
		Creating a Nation: Confederate Nationalism
	Chapter 25 The Union at War: Creating a New Republican Future for America
		Looking at Abraham Lincoln as President and War Leader
		Financing the War
			Borrowing money: Loans and bonds
			Taking money: Taxation
			Making money: Greenbacks
		Running the War: Congress and the President
			Non-Wartime legislation
			Opposing and disloyal: The peace democrats
		Fighting the War
			Drafting soldiers
			Resisting the draft
			Building a navy
		Building an Economy: Northern Industrial Production
	Chapter 26 Wartime in America: Its Effect on the People
		Meeting the Common Soldier: Everyman
			Eating what the army gave you
			Living the life of a soldier
			Wearing the blue or the gray
			Fighting illness in the ranks
			Caring for the wounded
			Taking in prisoners of war
		Changing Women’s Roles in the Civil War
			An essential workforce
			The cost of war: Refugees and starvation
			Spying for the North and South
		Taking Note of the African American Contribution
			Union: The U.S. Colored Troops
			African Americans in the Confederacy
		Discovering the American Indians
Part 6 The Civil War Tourist
	Chapter 27 Getting Ready to Travel
		Planning Your Trip
		Using Your Time Wisely
		Taking Three Methods on a Battlefield
			Mounted
			Mounted/dismounted
			Terrain walk
	Chapter 28 Visiting a Civil War Battlefield
		Fine-Tuning Your Trip
			Getting an enthusiast
			Checking the Internet
			Bringing the right stuff
		Getting Oriented: The Visitor Center
			Asking the right questions
			Finding the best monuments and markers
		Appreciating the Terrain
		Studying, Stories, and Reflection
Part 7 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 29 The Ten Worst Generals of the Civil War
		Braxton Bragg (1817–1876)
		Nathaniel P. Banks (1816–1894)
		Ambrose E. Burnside (1824–1881)
		John B. Hood (1831–1879)
		John B. Floyd (1806–1863)
		Benjamin F. Butler (1818–1893)
		Leonidas (Bishop) Polk (1806–1864)
		Joseph Hooker (1814–1879)
		John Pope (1822–1892)
		P.G.T. Beauregard (1818–1893)
		George B. McClellan (1826–1885): Honorable Mention
	Chapter 30 The Ten Biggest “Firsts” of the Civil War
		The Growing Dominance of the Defense
		Minesweeping: Naval Mines
		Starting Undersea Warfare: The Submarine
		Changing Tactics and Moving Quickly: The Railroad
		Battling without Bullets: Psychological Warfare
		Using Air-to-Ground Communication
		Dominating the Seas: The Ironclad Warship
		Talking over Wires: The Telegraph
		Increasing Firepower: The Repeating Rifle
		Born in the Civil War: The Machine Gun
	Chapter 31 The Ten Biggest “What Ifs” of the Civil War
		What If the Confederates Had Pursued After Manassas (Bull Run)?
		What If Grant Had Been Killed at Shiloh?
		What If Fort Sumter Had Not Been Fired On?
		What If McClellan Had Not Found Lee’s Lost Orders?
		What If McClellan Had Won Decisively at Antietam?
		What If Johnston Had Not Been Wounded at Seven Pines?
		What If Davis Had Adopted a Different Strategy in the West?
		What If Lee Had Won at Gettysburg?
		What If Davis Had Relieved Bragg Earlier in the War?
		What If Jackson Had Not Been Lost to Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia?
	Chapter 32 The Ten+ Best Battlefields of the Civil War and How to Visit Them
		Best Battlefields by the Mounted Method
		Best Battlefields by the Mounted/Dismounted Method
		Best Battlefields by the Terrain Walk Method
Index
EULA