U.S. History Ordeal by Fire

U.S. History Ordeal by Fire - 1861 to 1862 The eastern theater of the Civil War between 1861 and 1862 contained many of the most famous battles of the Civil War. The first was known as the First Battle of Bull Run or the First Manassas by Southerners. Ball's Bluff, the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia, the Battle of Seven Pines, the Seven Days Battle, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg followed.

The First Battle of Bull Run indicated the strength of the Confederate Army, which many Unionists had underestimated. In this first battle of the war, the Union Army was disorganized, lacked leadership, and committed many tactical errors, such as slow marching, lack of reconnaissance, and other errors. At first, they took the advantage in the battle and pushed Confederates back to Henry House Hill. The Southerners regrouped, and ended up pushing the Union men back as far as Washington D.C.

It was here the Northerners first heard the famous Rebel yell, and General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson received his nickname for holding off the Yankees like a "stone wall." After this rout, the Union passed the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution, which stated the goal of the Union was to preserve the Union, rather than end slavery, but many felt that was just a smokescreen to appease many who did not approve of fighting to end the "peculiar institution" of the South. The Confederate goal was to preserve slavery and defeat the U.S.

government so they could stay separate from the Union and continue their slave-based economy, especially the cotton trade. Both sides had ample opportunities to exploit victories and take the Northern and Southern capitals, but both did not act on these opportunities, showing a lack of cohesiveness in the planning and execution of battles, and in the overall objectives of each army. Ball's Bluff was a small battle that indicated General George McClellan's poor leadership skills, and was another rout for the Southerners.

His lack of strategic leadership continued in the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia. Assuming the Confederates had far more men than they actually did, McClellan dragged the siege on for weeks, allowing the Confederates time to resupply and dig in; he finally began an attack that drove the Confederates back toward the capital of Richmond. Instead of continuing the campaign, where he had an advantage, McClellan demanded reinforcements, and the campaign missed a golden opportunity to take the capital.

McClellan blamed the mishap on the inability of Union troops to join him on the peninsula to aid in the attack, because they were engaged in the Battle of the Shenandoah Valley in the west, but many doubt this, feeling McClellan was simply afraid to attack. In the Battle of Seven Pines, McClellan split his army into two positions on either side of the Chickahominy River.

General Johnston's attack could have wiped out at least half the Union forces on one side of the river, but the attack was complicated and confusing, poorly executed, and the Union forces repelled the Rebels. The battle also brought about the command of Robert E. Lee, who replaced Johnston who was wounded during the battle. This would give the South a strategic advantage, as Lee turned out to be an excellent general. The Seven Days Battles were launched against McClellan's forces still on the Chickahominy,.