Welcome to Pablo Di Benedetto's Civil War Exhibit. Here you will indulge in some rich history of the United States Civil War from 1861-1865. Photos of battles, people, and other significant events will be portrayed in both North and South perspectives.
The Northerners perspective towards the war evolved as they endured their many battles against the South. The first shots of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumnter on April 12, 1861 when Union aid workers were mistaken for military reinforcements. The bombarding lasted 34 hours until the fort finally surrendered. In this first Battle of Bull Run in Manassas the Union forces were initially winning until General Stonewall Jackson of the South pushed back the North. This defeat was strangely enough, a positive result for the North. They originally believed that the war would be a one punch knock out war but through this defeat the people of the North buckled down and prepared themselves for a longer and more intense war then originally expected. The Peninsula Campaign was the next attack launched by the Union and it was headed by General George McClellan who commanded throughout the Civil War for the North and was loved by the soldiers under him as they believed that through his leadership they could win the war. He led 100,000 men towards the capitol of the south and captured Yorktown within the first month of the campaign. General Robert E. Lee arrived before McClellan could progress and he drove the Union forces back to the sea. The battle was significant to the North as it was the point at which Lincoln began to draft his Emancipation Proclamation. It also completely changed the north’s mentality to one of total war where everyone would be used to be the most efficient and successful in the war. Antietam could be considered the turning point in the Civil War. This pivotal battle pitted George McClellan against Robert E. Lee once again. Military the battle was a draw but provided enough of a victory for President Lincoln to launch his Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. It also changed the perspective of foreign countries towards the war as the French and British decided against intervening for either side. General Robert E. Lee was the most important southern leader during the Civil War and won numerous battles. The northerners perspective of him was one of hate and understandably so as Lee was against the ideas of the north and refused to be head of the Union Army. The Emancipation Proclamation was a key document which changed northern perspective. On a positive note it attracted slaves to join Union armies thus increasing its size while also diminishing the southern workforce which hurt their economy. However; this proclamation did change the perspectives of a group of people. Some northerns now saw the Civil War as an “abolitionists” war and that they did not approve of as they were fighting only to conserve the Union and not free slaves. Another key figure for the Union was Ulysses S. Grant. He was in charge of the Siege of Vicksburg where he essentially starved the city. His positive leadership and control of the Mississippi for the North gave a moral boost to the people and kept their perspective on winning the war. Finally at Appomattox Court House, Va in April 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant giving the victory to the persistent North who’s perspective evolved from confident, to pessimistic, to final confident once again.
Similar to their enemies in the north, the South experience some perspective changes during the war. They fired the first shots at Fort Sumnter in 1861 and the war was inaugurated. During the Battle of Bull Run they originally were on the losing foot until Stonewall Jackson arrived and pushed out the North. Despite tis first battle resulting in a victory for the South it came with a negative effect. By having such an early victory the South maintained an overconfident perspective. Enlistment numbers plummeted and desertions increased as they expected with one more early victory they would succeed with the knockout punch and defeat the North. The south’s two most important leaders were Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Both were generals whom the southerners praised as war heroes and believed that with them leading the Confederate army, a victory would be easy to concede. Both of these men combined for one brilliant battle at Battle of Chancellorsville. General Hooker of the Union attempted to bait Lee’s army and destroy him easily. Lee did not take the bait and instead told Stonewall Jackson to bring his men around Hooker’s flank and then they would both attack. The plan followed through resulting in what is considered Lee’s greatest tactical victory. This battle proved an excellent morale booster for the southerns and the southern troops. Unfortunately Jackson was fatally wounded and later died, leaving a hole of leadership in the Confederate army. Following the victory at Chancellorsville, Lee attempted to sway the popular demand of a border northern state and try to convince either France or Britain to join them through one more Confederate victory. This did not happen as the next battle was the Battle of Gettysburg. The infamous Pickett’s charge led to the deaths of thousands of soldiers and officers leaving a morally depleted southern army force. The perspective of the south now changed to one of survival, not overconfidence or victory. After this loss the fortunes of the South continued downhill. In 1864 in places such as Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia the mention of William Sherman is frightening. He and his men would destroy each Confederate town they passed through and would burn it to the ground. He scared the people because of his total war tactic of harming innocent civilians and burning their houses down. At this point in the war, Sherman’s tactics were for the sole purpose to completely deplete the morale of the southerners. Evolving from overconfident, optimistic warriors, the southerners ended up defeated and with no morale.