An unprecedented number of Soldiers from the North Union Army and South Confederate Army perished in the American Civil war. The number of war dead is estimated to have exceeded 618,000. The Battle of Stones River was known as the six costliest battle of the war due to the fact that only 74,000 Soldiers participated in this pertinent turning point of the war. The Battle of Stones River also known as the Second Battle of Murphysboro was responsible for the highest casualty rate on both sides with no decisive winner once the gun smoke lifted and the cannon fodder was cleared. The battle did put the first dash of doubt in the Confederate commander’s hearts, having them feel as if the control of the South and could be lost. The effect of this …show more content…
This was profound that the great minds of the Civil War and this particular battle looked past elementary obstacles such as food and water for troops. This was the cause of most of Bragg’s troop’s demise, not bullets but starvation. The length of the battle lasting only three days brought its own challenges that the Confederate leaders did not for see such as the logistical support for such a battle. The Union Army had the supply lines and the firepower to fend off the offensive attacks from Braxton and Bragg which left these two war hardened masterminds to muddle in poor decisions such as overruling General Breckenridge’s strong resistance of taking a high point in the Union line that would prove to be a strong point of heavy artillery for the South. This poor decision left the south once again under cannon fire from a numerically superior foe that was the Union Army. The Civil War as noted by many historians as the First Great War was a huge growing pain for our country as a nation and of free people. As all wars are the cost is high and the weight is heavy. The burden of conflict has always rested with the man with the biggest guns and the heart of steel that is the man of the Field
The Battle of Pea Ridge was between the Union and Confederate armies, and they fought for two days straight near a highland which was known as Pea Ridge. The Union was under the control of General Curtis and was successful in regaining their land that they lost to the Confederates. Both forces suffered losses and even general lost their lives in the battle. “Confederates suffered 2,000 casualties, including General McCulloch, Brigadier General James McQueen Mclntosh, and Brigadier General William Slack” (Civil War Timeline).
Julia Ackerman Ackerman 1 Gallon U.S. History 27 May. 2016 From Gettysburg to Florida: The civil war had many battles fought throughout the four years. Many known and some unknown, but it doesn’t make them any less important. All of the battles contributed to what our country is today.
The battle of Stones River is indeed one of the most casualty producing battles. Every single soldier who died was following the leaders in command. The Confederate States were fighting for their own ideology, and so did the soldiers in the Union. One of the leaders in this battle was General W.S Rosecrans, born on September 16, 1819 in Delaware County, Ohio. Rosecrans early years were rough due to the limited financial resources from his parents.
This battle was both a failure and a success for the Confederates. Bragg’s main plan was to cut off Rosecrans’ main line of communication. This plan was not accomplished by any means. Bragg’s attack caused Rosecrans’ front to be centered around his line of communication (Nashville Pike). Rosecrans’ army, the Army of Cumberland, lost many more troops than Bragg.
There was also a very rough terrain on the mountain, also making it hard to battle. This battle was not very close, or much less fair. The Union swept the Confederates in this battle because of the advantages their number. The casualties of this battle were fairly small, being 408 with the Union and 1,251 with the Confederates.
These false reports continued ending in the south losing the battle. Casualties The battle of Stones River was a very violent one. Over 10,000 casualties total for Union.
The disarray and lack of cohesion on the confederate lines was also a contribution to their losses. Buell ordered the divisions at the front line to push even harder and the battle went on for a handful of hours. He was determined to keep a strong
After the recognition of destruction and death struck General Lee, the Confederate Army retreated back to Virginia on September 18th. Reacting as a cautious leader would, McClellan hesitated attacking the vulnerable troops of the Confederate’s as they escaped back into the safety of the South. With both sides wounded and tired, Lee’s bluster to keep the fight going gave the Confederates enough time to gather their wounded and abscond the scene of battle. After Lee took his soldiers back South, McClellan wrote ‘that after a “careful survey of the situation and condition of our army, the strength and position of the enemy, I concluded that the success of an attack on the 18th was not certain”’. McClellan’s hesitation in pursuit was seen as a
The Stones River Battlefield is an extremely important part to both Tennessee’s history, as well as the history of the United States as a whole. There were two main goals for the Union army during the civil war. First, the Union wanted to gain control of the Mississippi River, and the second was to drive a wedge in the Confederate supply lined by capturing key railroads including the railroad in Murfreesboro Tennessee. According to Wiss, Janney, and Elstner Associates, “Control of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad was necessary to supply Union forces in a campaign to take Chattanooga. In addition to practical considerations, the Union was anxious for a military victory to boost morale after the disappointing Maryland and Kentucky campaigns.
While the other part of his army would take on longstreet at marye's heights. the union's army main attack was a success, but the counter attack of Jackson’s lead in the end to have a total of 9,000 either dead missing or wounded. This didn't change anything for their strategy. While that was happening Burnside's taking on the confederate soldiers as they were behind a stone wall, but the confederate soldiers were too strong for the federal soldiers trying to attack but with all their rifle and artillery there was no match to their impenetrable spot. a quote from Edward Porter Alexander’s states that “a chicken could not live on that
The Union, had they been able to acquire the needed supplies on time and execute the attack, would have made a major victory over the South. Much to their dismay, it just did not happen this way. With a resounding defeat, the Union Army was left again without a general, as Major General Burnside was relieved of command shortly after his colossal thrashing by General Lee and his ragtag group of soldiers. The Confederates, on the other hand, were downright giddy with triumph. General Robert E. Lee and his soldiers were on a victory high.
The first major battle that we will look back on is the Battle of Fort Sumter. This battle took place at Fort Sumter, and began on April 12th, 1861. This battle signified the beginning of the war, and was also where the first shots were fired between both sides of the war. During the battle, the Union was being commanded by Robert Anderson, and the Confederates were being commanded by P. G. T. Beauregard. The battle went on for 33 hours and lead the Union army to surrender.
The Civil War is considered to be the bloodiest episodes of warfare in American History. During this war, there were numerous well known battles. One of the most famous battles was called the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought over August 28-30, 1862. Although this battle lasted only 3 days, there were approximately 22,000 casualties during this span.
In the battle there were three main strikes, the morning attacks on the Confederate left flank, the second and most notable being at “Sunken Road”, and the final strike by General Ambrose E. Burnside which was destined to succeed until more Confederate troops came to push them back. During the battle there was a farm lane known as “Sunken Road” where 2,500 Confederate soldiers were defending themselves against 5,500 Union soldiers; at the end 5,000 soldiers lay dead making this only one of the many extreme casualties of the battle. The battle was quick, only lasting twelve hours, but what once stood as a pleasant corn field became the home of around 22,000 dead or wounded people after being shot by cannons and muskets. In the end, Lee’s troops retreated after suffering around 10,000 of the 22,000 casualties,but because of the size of his army this was the heavier
The Civil War The Civil War was the deadliest war in American history with over 600000 American deaths reported. This war was fought to keep the Confederate States from leaving the Union. The Union won because they had a telegraph system and had more resources. The effect of the Union victory has had a large impact on society.