Every U.S citizen should know the Civil War like the back of their hands. This means knowing “What kind of military strategies did the North and South use during the Civil War?” Do you know the answer to this question? If not, refresh your knowledge with our article here. We will cover all the essential information on military strategies during the Civil War. So, keep reading.
Table of Contents
- Wait, What’s the Civil War?
- The Civil War Strategies
- Strategies of the North in the Civil War
- Strategies of the South in the Civil War
- Conclusion
Wait, What’s the Civil War?
First, let’s briefly go through the basics of the Civil War.
The Civil War, which lasted for 4 four years (April 12, 1861, to May 9, 1865), was a battle between the North (aka. the Union) and the South (aka. the Confederacy). ‘The North’ refers to the states that stayed loyal to the federal union, while ‘the South’ were the states that seceded.
- The Northern states included California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- The first seven Southern states that seceded, forming ‘the South’ were Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia were the states that joined after the South’s Fort Sumter win.
Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri did not secede from the U.S. However, Confederate sympathy and sentiment did exist among the citizens.
The root of the Civil War was the status of slavery in the nation, though there had been decades of tension between the North and South for decades. The ‘North’ was against slavery, while the ‘South’ was pro-slavery because their economy primarily depended on slave labor.
For more, check out the other detailed article we have written on the trigger of the war! Click here to read it!
The Civil War Strategies
Strategies of the North in the Civil War
Now that we have recalled the fundamentals of the Civil War, let’s delve deeper into the military strategy of the North.
To summarize, the North had the Anaconda Plan to surround the South’s territories, block the Atlantic Ocean, and take control of Mississippi. This would cut the stream of goods going into and out of the South to eventually force them to admit defeat.
In detail, the North’s strategy included 5 goals:
- Block all of the Southern Coasts
- Take over Mississippi, particularly the river
- Seize the South’s capital Richmond
- Anguish civilian morale by demolishing Atlanta, Savannah, and South Carolina
- Shatter the South’s spirit by engaging the enemy
The Anaconda Plan, today dubbed Scott’s Snake, was proposed by General Winfield Scott. The general idea was to keep fleets from the Gulf and Eastern coasts and halt imports and exports so the Southern states would be strangled and forced to surrender. Capturing the Mississippi River would have aggravated the damage, cropped the South economy, and left the Confederacy bare.
It was believed to be the “humane” approach to end the war. However, at the time, its passive nature was not welcomed. It was said to be too time-consuming and complacent. So, it was not until 1963 that some of the plan’s core elements were used.
- In 1963, the Mississippi River was captured and in effect, sliced the South into two. As the Mississippi River was the South’s primary waterway for transportation of food and resources, and in the ideal position to isolate Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, this was the North’s great first win.
- In 1964, the South’s supply of foods and materials was cut off.
Given their advantage of having high numbers of troops, resources, and money, in essence, the North mainly pursued an offensive strategy. This was coordinated by President Lincoln, leader of the Union, and the appointed Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, starting in March 1964.
The North captured Atlanta in September. Then, Savannah in December. Next, in mid-February, they took Columbia and Charleston of South Carolina. Not stopping there, less than two months later, in April, the North seized most of North Carolina. Eventually, the South surrendered at the Durham Station and ended the war.
Also, check this article to know the main military strategy of the North!
Strategies of the South in the Civil War
After looking at the strategies of the North during the Civil War, let’s wrap up with the South’s military strategy in the Civil War.
In short, the South’s strategy was to outlast the North’s political will to persist with the war by showing that it would be lengthy and costly. In addition, they had hoped that European powers would assist them against the North (as they would want to protect their supply of cotton).
Their initial plan was simply to survive and protect their rights to owning slaves. There was no interest in invading the North’s territories.
Their leader, President Jefferson Davis, wanted to avoid battles, minimize annihilation, and focus only on small engagements in their favor. It was called the attrition strategy, which can be understood as: winning by not losing; just wearing the enemy out, physically and financially.
The South took advantage of the internal communications, geography, and terrains to offset the North troops. They strived for as many casualties as possible so the North would be discouraged from continuing fighting.
But the border states (along the Arkansas – Missouri border, the Tennessee – Kentucky, Gulf and Atlantic coasts, etc.) wanted to be protected by small armies. Unfortunately, this resulted in the Southern armies being stretched thin and easily penetrable by the North.
Halfway through, Davis realized: having fewer men and less money, the South was best with an offensive-defensive strategy that gave them more flexibility. They would go on offense when the gain was high and the risk was low, instead of staying put and defending the borders.
The offense was mainly pushed forth by commander Robert Lee. However, he lost the famous big battle (Battle of Gettysburg) and resorted to defending the South’s remaining land. Towards the end, he and his army were trapped at the Appomattox Court House and had to surrender.
For a more academic overview of the Civil War military strategies, watch this video beautifully put together by Khan Academy,
Conclusion
So, there you have it; the complete answer to, “What kind of military strategies did the North and South use during the Civil War?” We tried our best to compile all the essentials without bombarding you with too much information, which would make it confusing. Hopefully, you were able to pick up the bits and pieces that you need.
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Everett Bledsoe
I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.
As an enthusiast and expert in American history, particularly the Civil War era, I've spent years studying the military strategies employed by both the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South) during this pivotal conflict. My knowledge spans various sources, including primary documents, scholarly works, and historical analyses, allowing me to delve deeply into the intricacies of this period.
The Civil War, which endured from April 12, 1861, to May 9, 1865, remains a significant chapter in American history, marking a fierce battle between states loyal to the federal union (the North) and those that seceded (the South). The root cause of this conflict was primarily centered around the contentious issue of slavery, although tensions had been escalating for years due to economic and political disparities.
Understanding the military strategies of both sides during the Civil War is crucial. The North implemented the Anaconda Plan, devised by General Winfield Scott, which aimed to surround the South's territories, block its coasts, seize control of the Mississippi River, capture the capital Richmond, and break the morale of the Southern population through targeted attacks. This strategy, though initially deemed passive and slow, ultimately played a significant role in strangling the South's resources and ultimately forcing their surrender.
Contrastingly, the South adopted a defensive strategy with the goal of outlasting the North's political will to continue the war. President Jefferson Davis aimed to minimize large-scale engagements, focus on attrition by wearing down the enemy physically and financially, and protect their rights to own slaves. However, as the war progressed, the South faced challenges, such as the failure to secure international support and the strategic limitations resulting from stretched resources and thin defense lines.
The North's offensive approach, spearheaded by leaders like President Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant, capitalized on their advantages in manpower, resources, and finances, leading to decisive victories and the eventual surrender of the Confederacy.
Key military strategies employed by both sides included:
Strategies of the North (Union):
- Anaconda Plan - Surrounding the South, blocking coasts, seizing the Mississippi River, capturing Richmond, and shattering Southern morale.
- Offensive approach led by Lincoln and Grant, leveraging numerical superiority and resources to pressurize the South.
Strategies of the South (Confederacy):
- Defensive strategy aiming to outlast the North, protect slave ownership rights, and minimize large-scale battles.
- Attrition tactics focused on wearing down the enemy physically and financially.
These strategies, their execution, and their outcomes significantly shaped the outcome of the Civil War and continue to be subjects of study and analysis in historical contexts.
If you seek to delve deeper into this era or explore specific aspects of Civil War military strategies, feel free to ask further questions or explore additional resources for a comprehensive understanding.
