5 Generals Of The Civil War Essay

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5 Generals of the Civil War

Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson was a union soldier that led his men through the key southern transportation states of Mississippi and Louisiana. Him and his men totally believed in the scorched earth policy. The policy was to destroy anything that their opponent can use against them or demolish anything that the enemy can use to better their chances of victory. The main battle, that made a name for Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson, was the Battle of Newton Station in 1863. Newton Station was a railroad junction that connected Meridan, Jackson, and Vicksburg. Once he was victorious in that battle, he continued his raid through the South, toward his destination of St. Louis. In attempt to stop him, the Rebels step up a last line of defense at the border. The defense would either make or break the South. As a result of that battle, the North, led by Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson, dominated the Southern transportation system.

Not only did white soldiers defend the Union, black soldiers contributed to the path to victory of the North. Although they were supposed to be equal, the black soldiers we lower classed than the white. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw had a love for the war and the hunger for conquest over the South. As bold and skilled as he was, Shaw took the leadership over one of the famous colored regiments in the Civil War. With his conveyance, him and his infantry won the Battle at James Island in 1863. Through that battle, Shaw made a name for himself and his men gained respect in the war, due to their victory. At the Battle at Fort Wagner, the Union needed a strong first line to trigger the North s attack. Shaw and his company led the way to the fort. During that battle many black soldiers from the 54th Massachusetts, lost their lives. Not only did they lose their lives, they lost their noble colonel.

Should college professors stay in schools and are they good only for one thing, to teach? The answer to that question is wrong. A person that contradicts that statement is Lt. Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. From the classroom to the battlefield Chamberlain uses his mind to obtain victory. At the Defense of Little Round Top on July 2, 1863, Chamberlain and his men of the 20th Maine regiment hold off the South from winning that War. The North denied all the Southern charges up the hill, but were getting weak due to lack of supply. Finally, Chamberlain organizes a swinging type motion with his army to chase of the South. This plan works and it wards off the South. This engagement saved the extreme left of the Union line on Day 2. After the Civil War, Chamberlain was given the congressional medal of honor.

On the date of July 3, 1863 Pickett s Charge goes into effect. The charge was yet another attempt for the South to win the Civil War. In the Rebel army, emerges one of the best general in the history of war, General Lewis Armistead. Armistead was not fond of the idea of attacking the North. Even though he did not approve he went through the attack. Lewis Armistead lead his men over the fence and toward the forest. The forest was the point of victory in Armistead s eyes. He places his hat on the end of his sword and ordered the attack. As him and his army charge against the North, Armistead feels defeat, but yet never gives up hope. He is shot down and dies about one-hundred feet away from his best friend General Winfield Hancock.

General Winfield Hancock was the leader of the opposing side of the Civil War, the North. Even though him and his best friend, General Lewis Armistead, were fighting against each other he did not back down. Hancock was shot down in Pickett s Charge, and fell about one-hunderd feet away from Arminstead. Even with their general down the North still prevail in Pickett s Charge. Thanks to General Hancock s army and his tactics skills the North manages to stop the South once again. This victory was the turning point of the Civil War.