Paul V McNutt
Banned
At Pittsburg Landing, Grant takes seriously the signs of a Confederate attack and orders his troops to prepare. When the Confederates attack the Union troops drive them back. After the Victory at Shiloh, the Union military makes Vicksburg the priority. The siege of Vicksburg begins in late October 1862. Vicksburg surrenders on Christmas Day 1862. On April 23-25, 1863 Grant leads Union troops to victory at Chattanooga. In early June 1863, Lincoln promotes Grant to chief commander of the Union Army. His plans for an invasion of Virginia are interrupted with the news that Lee has crossed the Potomac. When the two armies meet at Gettysburg, Grant overrules Meade and orders a counterattack after Pickett's Charge. Late afternoon July 4th 1863, after another day of bloody fighting, Lee retreats. Grants forces follow Lee army. The Confederates discover that a Union cavalry raid has destroyed their pontoon bridge. Unable to ford the swollen river, they are stuck at Williamsport Maryland. Grants forces attack and destroy the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee surrenders at the end of the Battle of Williamsport. Grant takes Richmond on July 25th 1863. Grants proceeds through the Carolinas. The Confederate government escapes to Montgomery, Alabama. On November 21st 1863, Grant takes Savannah. As Confederate forces from North Georgia are moved south to fight Grant, Sherman is able to take Atlanta on January 18, 1864. By late February 1864, the Union forces have taken control of Georgia and begin their invasion of Alabama. On April 10, 1864 Montgomery falls to Union forces. On April 17, 1864, Jefferson Davis is captured. During the election of 1864 the big issues are reconstruction and the proposed 13th amendment. Democratic candidate George McClellan opposed the amendment and calls for the immediate readmission of the former Confederate states. Lincoln favored the amendment and advocated his 10 % plan. Lincoln, the president who won the war, wins with 60 % of the votes and carries every state but Kentucky. Congress does not count the electoral votes of the ex Confederate states.