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VI. Confederate High Tide 1862


A. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign


1. Lincoln orders a "general movement" by Feb. 22

2. McClellan begins transport of 121,500 Mar. 17
-"overwhelm" strategy

3. Siege of Yorktown until May 4 - Quaker guns deceive McClellan, despite reports from Thad Lowe's balloons

4. J. Johnston retreats - Williamsburg May 5 - happens by accident

5. Norfolk captured - Lincoln visits Fort Monroe May 6

6. McClellan puts part of army across swollen Chickahominy, attack by Johnston at Battle of Seven Pines May 31


B. The Valley Campaign


1. Jackson's "foot cavalry" at Staunton May 6

2. reverses direction after fight May 8 crosses mt. at Luray

3. surprises Banks at Front Royal May 23 and routs "Commissary Banks" at Winchester May 25

4. Lincoln brings Fremont from west and Shields from the east - now, 3 armies pursue Jackson, but too slow

5. Jackson wins "race for Strasburg" June 1

6. wins at Cross Keys, but not Port Republic June 9

C. Lee's Peninsula Campaign


1. Lee takes command after Seven Pines May 31, a battle that had "profound impact" on McClellan who preferred siege - pulls back sout of river

2. Stuart rides around McClellan June 12-15 and discovers Union right flank under Fitz-John Porter "in the air" north of river

3. "Audacity" replaces the "King of Spades" as Lee attacks Fitz-John Porter at Mechanicsville June 26

4. Lee loses 8715 at Gaine's Mill June 27- Jackson slow

5. McClellan retreats - Savage Station June 29, Frayser Farm June 30

6. Malvern Hill's artillery stops Lee's frontal assault July 1 - "it was murder"

7. CSA casualties were higher - 20,000 (Union 16,000) - Lee would average 20%

D. Jackson's 2nd Valley Campaign


1. Lee's plan to attack John Pope's new Army of Virginia before link with Army of the Potomac

2. Cedar Mountain Aug. 9 - Pope withdraws north of Rappahannock and is reinforced Aug. 22 by Porter - but McClellan remains at Aquia

3. Lee's "bold but dangerous maneuver" - divides army and sends Jackson on one of the war's "great marches" around Pope's right flank

4. Jackson destroys Manassas supply base Aug. 27

5. Longstreet attacks through Thoroughfare Gap Aug. 28

6. Porter blamed for loss at 2nd Bull Run Aug. 29-30

7. Jackson continues flanking but stopped at Chantilly Sept. 1

E. Invasion of Maryland


1. Lee again divides his unbeaten army - wants to go on offense and win decisive victory - not Davis strategy of dispersed defense

2. crossed Potomac Sept. 5 and would move north behind screen of South Mt.

3. "lost orders" found Sept. 13 gives McClellan chance to "whip Bobbie Lee" but delays 16 hours

4. battle begins at South Mountain Sept. 14

5. Jackson captures Harper's Ferry Sept. 15

6. Lee changes his mind - unites his army on high ground behind Antietam Creek Sept. 16 - had only 19,000 to face 60,000 Union but McClellan delayed

7. Sept. 17 - Lee now had 45,000 facing Union 75,000 - but McClellan did not use frontal assault with his superior force, instead attacked flanks, starting on left but Mansfield held back, Sumner's 3 divisions not united. Shaken by losses on the left, McClellan held back Franklin from the center attack. Burnside failed to coordinate a concentrated attack against Longstreet on the right. Burnside almost broke through but stopped by A.P. Hill's "Light" Division from Harpers Ferry in blue uniforms. McClellan refused to give Burnside reinforcements. Battle was bloodiest day of the war with 23,000 casualties.

8. Alex. Gardner makes 95 photos Sept. 19

F. Invasion of Kentucky


1. Bragg's "war of liberation" - 15,000 extra rifles

2. Kirby Smith occupies Frankfort Sept. 3

3. Buell and Sheridan win at Perryville Oct. 8

G. Invasion of West Tennessee


1. Rosecrans defeats Price at Iuka Sept. 19

2. Rosecrans defeats Van Dorn at Corinth Oct. 3

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revised 3/1/02 | Civil War