Soon after the attack on Fort Jefferson, the states mobilized their militias. The union strategy was at first to defend the national capital and invade western Virginia via Ohia, where most of the volunteers of the war came from. The Confederate strategy was more aggressive; their first movie was to invade Tennessee
The war went well for the Union at first, the Union advanced rapidly through western Virginia, as the regions population was supportive of the war effort – this was the same reason the Confederate advance in Tennessee was slow. In July, at Wheeling, Virginia, a rival government to that of Richmond was set up by Unionists, deeming themselves the rightful government of all Virginia. This new government, which controlled most of the western counties that had opposed secession and had little no slaves, abolished slavery.
View attachment 533264
Virginia divided amongst American and Confederate lines
American Virginia was not the only slave state to abolish slavery during the course of the war, Delaware, which also has a very low slave population did by legislative decree. In Missouri, and without President Douglas approval, General Freemont issued an executive order abolishing it during his campaign to secure the state. Similar efforts failed in Maryland and Kentucky.
Turning into 1862 the war began to stalemate. The Union had repealed successfully repelled two Confederate attempts to invade the national capital, but at a very high cost. General McClellan’s Virginia campaign had slowed down to a crawl, and General Grant’s defense of eastern Kentucky saw some major defeats before turning around in early 1863. The only front that saw rapid movement was General Sherman’s capture of east Tennessee. Despite orders form the President to remain in place, he advanced towards Georgia in an attempt to capture Atlanta. He would ultimately fail but remain camped out in the outskirts of the city for the rest of the war.
These setbacks eroded confidence in President Douglas, however the war effort still remained popular. It is believed by historians that, had the President had not been assassinated, the war could have been won.