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The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was made by Abraham Lincoln on January 1st. It freed all Confederate slaves, and had followed from the statements he made after 1862's Battle of Antietam. He was not able to declare from within the boundaries of Confederate states, but from the battle lines of the conflicting armies as the commander-in-chief. It allowed the Union to recruit black soldiers (and succeeded in over 180,000 of them joining). Nyla -
Jackson Flank Attack
The May 2, 1863 flank attack the Union XI corps and threatened Hooker’s position, but the victorious Confederate attack ended with the wounding of Stonewall Jackson. On May 3, 1863, the Confederates resumed their offensive and drove Hooker’s larger army back to a new defensive line nearer the fords. Who is Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, Nyla -
The Vicksburg Campaign
Union General Grant won several victories around Vicksburg, Mississippi, the fortified city considered essential to the Union's plans to regain control of the Mississippi River. On May 22, Grant began a siege of the city. After six weeks, Confederate General John Pemberton surrendered, giving up the city and 30,000 men. The capture of Port Hudson, Louisiana, shortly thereafter placed the entire Mississippi River in Union hands. The Confederacy was split in two.
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The Battle of Chancellorsville
On April 27, Union General Hooker crossed the Rappahannock River to attack General Lee's forces. Lee split his army, attacking a surprised Union army in three places and almost completely defeating them. Hooker withdrew across the Rappahannock River, giving the South a victory, but it was the Confederates' most costly victory in terms of casualties
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The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was an important battle in the war, with Lee's invasion of a northern state (from Maryland to Pennsylvania). 23,000 Union soldiers and over 20,000 Confederate soldiers were killed by the end of the third day. This was where Lincoln made his Gettysburg Address (on November 19th). Nyla -
The Battle of Chickamauga
On September 19, Union and Confederate forces met on the Tennessee-Georgia border, near Chickamauga Creek. After the battle, Union forces retreated to Chattanooga, and the Confederacy maintained control of the battlefield. Nani -
The Siege of Knoxville
The difficult strategic situation of the federal armies after Chickamauga enabled Bragg to detach a force under Longstreet to drive Burnside out of eastern Tennessee. Burnside sought refuge in Knoxville, which he successfully defended from Confederate assaults. These views, taken after Longstreet's withdrawal on December 3, include one of Strawberry Plains, on his line of retreat.
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Assault on Fort Sanders
It was a poorly planned battle in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was described as “cruel and gruesome” considered that it lasted 20 minutes and took place in the 19th century. The Union won this battle by a longslide. About 800 Confederate soldiers were killed, wounded, and captured. Meanwhile, less than 20 soldiers of the Union were injured.
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The First Conscription Act
Because of recruiting difficulties, an act was passed making all men between the ages of 20 and 45 liable to be called for military service. Service could be avoided by paying a fee or finding a substitute. The act was seen as unfair to the poor, and riots in working-class sections of New York City broke out in protest. A similar conscription act in the South provoked a similar reaction.
Aaron