The Civil War 1860-1865 - Introduction

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Civil War, 1860–1865 Introduction Taking place between 1861 and 1865, the Civil War is considered to be one of the most significant and defining periods in American history. Deep-seated political, economic, and social difficulties between the Northern and Southern states—mainly about the institution of slavery and the issue of states' rights—were the primary cause of the conflict. The war had already wreaked havoc on the country for three years by May 1864, with great loss and destruction on both sides. The commanding general of the Union troops, General Ulysses S. Grant, ordered the Army of the Potomac, under the leadership of General George Meade, to cross the Rapidan River in Virginia in May 1864. This was a calculated strategic maneuver. Engaging Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and moving into Richmond, the Confederate capital, was Grant's main goal. Grant was aware that taking Richmond would severely impair the Confederacy's will and capacity to carry on the war. But he also understood that Lee would fight valiantly to protect Richmond, taking substantial Confederate resources away from other areas of the conflict. One of the deadliest battles of the Civil War took place during the Battle of the Wilderness, which took place between May 5 and May 7, 1864. The combat, which took place in a heavily wooded location close to the Rapidan River, left both sides with a shocking number of deaths. There were nearly 17,000 Union soldiers and over 10,000 Confederate soldiers injured or killed in the fierce and disorderly battle. Traditional military tactics were difficult to use in the Wilderness due to its heavily forested environment, which resulted in terrible close-quarters battle and high mortality rates. Grant's army pursued southward after the Battle of the Wilderness and met Lee's army in the Battle of Cold Harbor, which took place between May 31 and June 12, 1864. The conflict added fifteen thousand more dead to the horrific toll of the war. It was marked by fierce frontal assaults by Union forces against wellentrenched Confederate fortifications. The enormous number of soldiers that perished in these engagements was one of their sad outcomes. Numerous corpses were left behind in the horrific aftermath of the conflict, with little opportunities for funerals or memorial services. But as the war came to an end a year later, in 1865, efforts were made to remember and pay tribute to the troops who had died. The procedure of rescuing the bodies of dead soldiers for proper burial was made possible by African American laborers, who had played vital roles in assisting the Union war effort by doing diverse duties like digging trenches, erecting fortifications, and providing logistical assistance. These workers, who were sometimes disregarded and ostracized, took on the serious responsibility of gathering the skeleton remains that were dispersed around battlegrounds and burying them with dignity. Memorial Day was created as a result of the horrific sight of abandoned Civil War soldiers' graves and the wish to remember their sacrifice. It was created as a day to visit and adorn the graves of fallen troops with flowers and flags. It was originally called as Decoration Day. Memorial Day became a national holiday throughout the course of time, honoring and remembering all military members who have lost their lives while serving their nation. With its high human cost and significant effects on American culture, the Civil War is nevertheless a potent and enduring representation of the fight for liberty, unity, and the survival of the American people.