Civil War in Tennessee: Battles and Leaders Essay Example
Civil War in Tennessee: Battles and Leaders Essay Example

Civil War in Tennessee: Battles and Leaders Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (474 words)
  • Published: October 21, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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The book, Civil War Tennessee: Battles and Leaders, provides an overview of the battle tactics employed and battles fought in Tennessee during the Civil War, emphasizing their significance. The Union and Confederacy both encountered challenges during the war, discussed in the book. Connelly introduces the major regions in Tennessee and highlights their importance. For instance, Upper East Tennessee produced a large quantity of wheat for the Confederacy and was home to a key railway line connecting Bristol to Chattanooga. Additionally, East Tennessee had abundant copper resource, rich saltpeter and lead deposits, and an important transport hub in Chattanooga where four critical railway lines converged.

Middle Tennessee was a significant producer of livestock and crops, including corn, hogs, cattle, mules, and horses during the Confederacy. Additionally, Nashville was a substantial city tha

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t served as the primary center for war production in the West. The Western Highland area boasted an abundance of navigable waterways and earned the title of the "Great Western Iron Belt," which made Tennessee an enticing target for the Union to seize. The successful capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson offered Middle Tennessee to the Federals while bringing them closer to Nashville. Ultimately, the Union invaded and took over Nashville, leading to the loss of Middle Tennessee and the Great Western Iron Belt for the Confederates.

The Confederates retreated to Corinth after losing control of Nashville and began building their army, which grew to almost 40,000 troops. They planned a surprise attack on Grant at Pittsburg Landing, but disputes arose among the officers about whether to retreat or press forward. Despite the delays, the Confederate troops launched an attack and the ensuing Battle at

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Shiloh was one of the deadliest of the war. Johnston, commander of the Army of Tennessee, was fatally shot and bled to death. The battle's toll included 24,000 casualties, with 11,000 suffered by the Confederates.

After being abandoned, Corinth fell under the control of the Federals in the West. The Union subsequently shifted its focus to Chattanooga in the East. However, Confederate forces disrupted Buell's attack through a series of raids that demolished supply and communication lines, as well as burned railroads. The recapture of Murfreesboro by General Nathan Bedford Forrest also contributed to this devastation.

Despite driving Buell into Kentucky, the Confederates decided to concentrate on Chattanooga. Nevertheless, they had to retreat from their Kentucky invasion after a fierce confrontation at Perryville. The Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta corridor was fiercely contested in some of the most brutal battles of the Civil War, such as Murfreesboro and Chickamauga. Meanwhile, Grant initiated an assault on Vicksburg. After capturing Chattanooga, Sherman led a march towards Atlanta while Grant pursued General Lee's army.

After assuming command of the Army of Tennessee, John Bell Hood launched an offensive to recapture Nashville. However, his attempt failed in Franklin, and on April 26, 1865, the Army of Tennessee surrendered.

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