Year of decision: 1864
INTRODUCTION:
By 1864 the American Civil War had been going on for three bloody years. No one could have predicted that the war would last as long as it did, let alone what course it would take. The old reasons of state’s rights and preserving the union had been swept away by new ones (at least that was the case of the north who sought to free the slaves whereas the south on the other hand, still clung to state’s rights and independence). The political scene had changed too. Early on when it looked as if the south might gain its independence, foreign recognition coming from countries like Great Britain and France seemed assured. Now in the wake of the summer and fall campaigns of 1863 and the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation, that was not likely to happen.
The situation in the south was vastly different than it had been the year before. Manpower was always in short supply, although the army that escaped capture before the fall of Vicksburg seemed to help a little, it paled in comparison to what the north could do to replace fallen soilders. There were three main Confederate armies in the field: The Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee, The Army of Tennessee under the command of Braxton Bragg and the Army of Mississippi under the command of Joesph E. Jonhston. Lee’s army was concentrated around Culpeper, Virginia awaiting the coming blow from federal forces there. Bragg’s army was stationed around Dalton, GA, ready to block any federal attempt to strike toward Atlanta. Finally, Johnston’s army was stationed around Meridian, MS preparing itself for the coming fight.
The north on the other hand, was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, although the tunnel seems exceptionaly long. It had replaced the casualties it had endured during the summer and fall of 1863 and now vastly outnumbered the rebels in the south (which is that they had always outnumbered the rebels since 1862). Many people were now seeing that the reasons for the faluires in the past was because of inept generals who couldn’t compare to their opposite numbers on the other side. However, now that ineptude and bungling generals were replaced by generals who knew what needed to be done to get the job done.
Case in point was the three main Union armies in the field. The first, the Army of the Potomac who had suffered more defeats than any other federal armies anywhere else was commanded by Major General John F. Reynolds and was stationed around the capital and surrounding areas (the exception was the Second Corps of that army which was currently stationed in and around Harper’s Ferry under the command of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock and was operating indepenat from the main army). Next was the Army of the Cumberland, stationed in and around Chattanooga, TN under the command of Major General George Thomas (although latter on, General Grant would take command right before the campaign would begin). Finally, there was the Army of the Tennessee, stationed around Jackson, MS under the command of Major General U. S. Grant (again, this would be until April when Grant goes to Chattanooga and Major General William T. Sherman would take command).