When the Civil War began, both the North and the South thought they would win the war quickly. They were mistaken. We will look at how the long war affected two states: one from the North and one from the South.
Virginia, a Confederate State
Virginia was a battleground state. The first big battle of the war was fought at Bull Run. And the last battle of the war was fought at Appomattox. In between, more battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state.
Virginians were not eager to secede, or leave the Union. Twice they voted against it. When they finally did secede, it was a blow to the Union. Virginia had more fighting men than any other southern state. It had more military leaders. It brought its wealth, industry, and railroads to the Southern cause. Virginia made the Confederacy strong.
In 1861, the city of Richmond, Virginia became the capital of the Confederacy. It was also an industrial center. That meant it was important for the Union to take Richmond and to defeat Virginia.
In July of 1861, 30,000 Union troops marched on Virginia. A number of civilians followed the army from Washington, D.C. They wanted to watch their men win. People brought picnic baskets with them.
Some 60,000 men clashed that day. The battle went on for hours. Then the Union troops began a disorganized retreat. The civilians panicked and began running. Everyone was caught up in the wild flight. But the Confederate soldiers did not continue their attack. The soldiers on both sides were untrained and had little experience in battle.
Both sides trained their men for months after that battle. The next spring, a larger and better-trained Union army headed for Virginia again. This time, they approached Richmond from the sea. After landing on Virginia’s coast, 100,000 Union troops began to fight their way to Richmond. After months, their goal was in sight. But then the Confederates pushed them back. Confederate troops forced Union forces back to the coast.
Virginia was the site of many battles. One of the deadliest was the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. There, 130,000 Union troops met 60,000 Confederates. The fighting was terrible. A girl whose home was on the battleground later recalled, "The woods around the house were a sheet of fire—the air was filled with shot and shell—horses were running, rearing, and screaming—the men, a mass of confusion moaning, cursing, and praying…At our last look, our old home was completely enveloped in flames." The outnumbered Confederate forces won. But the victory cost them almost one quarter of their men.
Because of the many battles, Virginia suffered more destruction than any other state. The rich farmland of the Shenandoah Valley was ruined. Factories and farms were burned. Whole communities were destroyed. After the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate army leader General Lee hoped to bring the war to a northern state. He headed towards a small farm town in Pennsylvania, called Gettysburg.
In this small town of 2,400 people, the Union and Confederate forces clashed for 3 long days. Then both armies marched away. The dead and wounded outnumbered the town population 21 to 1. Every home was turned into a hospital. The farmers and shopkeepers were overwhelmed.
On November 19th President Lincoln journeyed to Gettysburg for the opening of a new cemetery. He spoke for only two minutes. He ended by saying, "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." This brief but moving speech is remembered as the Gettysburg Address.
The war dragged on. There were many battles in the South. But this was the last major battle that Confederate forces fought in the North. Nevertheless, northern states were changed by the war, too.
Virginia, a Confederate State
Virginia was a battleground state. The first big battle of the war was fought at Bull Run. And the last battle of the war was fought at Appomattox. In between, more battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state.
Virginians were not eager to secede, or leave the Union. Twice they voted against it. When they finally did secede, it was a blow to the Union. Virginia had more fighting men than any other southern state. It had more military leaders. It brought its wealth, industry, and railroads to the Southern cause. Virginia made the Confederacy strong.
In 1861, the city of Richmond, Virginia became the capital of the Confederacy. It was also an industrial center. That meant it was important for the Union to take Richmond and to defeat Virginia.
In July of 1861, 30,000 Union troops marched on Virginia. A number of civilians followed the army from Washington, D.C. They wanted to watch their men win. People brought picnic baskets with them.
Some 60,000 men clashed that day. The battle went on for hours. Then the Union troops began a disorganized retreat. The civilians panicked and began running. Everyone was caught up in the wild flight. But the Confederate soldiers did not continue their attack. The soldiers on both sides were untrained and had little experience in battle.
Both sides trained their men for months after that battle. The next spring, a larger and better-trained Union army headed for Virginia again. This time, they approached Richmond from the sea. After landing on Virginia’s coast, 100,000 Union troops began to fight their way to Richmond. After months, their goal was in sight. But then the Confederates pushed them back. Confederate troops forced Union forces back to the coast.
Virginia was the site of many battles. One of the deadliest was the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. There, 130,000 Union troops met 60,000 Confederates. The fighting was terrible. A girl whose home was on the battleground later recalled, "The woods around the house were a sheet of fire—the air was filled with shot and shell—horses were running, rearing, and screaming—the men, a mass of confusion moaning, cursing, and praying…At our last look, our old home was completely enveloped in flames." The outnumbered Confederate forces won. But the victory cost them almost one quarter of their men.
Because of the many battles, Virginia suffered more destruction than any other state. The rich farmland of the Shenandoah Valley was ruined. Factories and farms were burned. Whole communities were destroyed. After the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate army leader General Lee hoped to bring the war to a northern state. He headed towards a small farm town in Pennsylvania, called Gettysburg.
In this small town of 2,400 people, the Union and Confederate forces clashed for 3 long days. Then both armies marched away. The dead and wounded outnumbered the town population 21 to 1. Every home was turned into a hospital. The farmers and shopkeepers were overwhelmed.
On November 19th President Lincoln journeyed to Gettysburg for the opening of a new cemetery. He spoke for only two minutes. He ended by saying, "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." This brief but moving speech is remembered as the Gettysburg Address.
The war dragged on. There were many battles in the South. But this was the last major battle that Confederate forces fought in the North. Nevertheless, northern states were changed by the war, too.