When reading about the US Civil War it is easy to be confused, a single battle was often given a different name by each side. There is often uncertainty when you find that the 'Army of the Tennessee' is fighting against the 'Army of Tennessee.' The different names that are also commonly used for the forces of each side can also confuse the reader who is not fully informed on the subject.

A very basic time-line of the start and end of the war;

• 
  6 November. 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. The election was certified by Congress on 11 December.
  
• 
  The legislature of South Carolina voted for secession on 20 December, 1860
  
• 
  12 April, 1861 Ft Sumter was fired on by the Confederate forces in Charleston. This is usually considered the opening shot of the the war.
  
• Four very long and bloody years of combat followed.
  
• 
  9 April 1865 Lee surrendered At Appomattox.
  
• 
  15 April, 1865 President Lincoln died from an assassin's bullet.
  
• 
  18 April, 1865 Joe Johnston surrendered to Sherman.
  
• 
  13 May, 1865 battle of Palmito Ranch, Texas is often cited as the last battle of the war.
  
• 
  2 August, 1865 Confederate Ship Shenandoah learned of the surrender, she surrendered at Liverpool¹ in November.
  
• 
  6 December, 1865 13th Amendment was ratified, and slavery was forever banned in the United States.
  

The Blue and the Grey

In the early part of the war there were no official uniform colours, at the opening battles troops wore whatever they were given. Many Confederate veterans simply wore their old uniforms, even though they were now on the other side. To avoid confusion the Confederates adopted a grey uniform. As the blockade was established many imported supplies became unavailable, this included grey cloth and fabric dye. Most of the troops substituted 'butter-nut', a brown colour that could be easily produced from local products. The north adopted a dark blue coat, although they continued wearing sky blue trousers. The dark blue was a cheaper dye. Some units continued to choose their own colours including the bright red trousers worn by 'Zouave' troops from both New York and Louisiana.

It is interesting that the cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point still wear a grey uniform and are often called 'The Long Grey Line'.

The Confederacy

The Confederacy consisted of eleven States who had voted to secede from the United States. They are often referred to as 'The Confederate States of America' or simply 'CSA', also 'The South', 'Rebels', Secessionists' which is sometimes reduced to simply 'secesh'. They were the part of the country that relied heavily on slave labour.

Most Southerners would say they were fighting tor their state's right to free trade and home rule, It involved such other issues as forcing the South to trade with Northern US mills rather than shipping their cotton overseas to English mills. Another issue was the treatment of free African Americans in the South. South Carolina passed the 'Nullification Act' that stated no state could be forced to enforce a Federal law the state government disagreed with. To say that the 'Institution of Slavery' was not a major factor would require ignoring all of the efforts to keep the number of free and slave states in the Union equal. Until an actual action against the practice was proposed, it was only a potential threat.

The Union

The Union was the traditional government of the United States. They are often called "The
North', 'Federals', 'Yankees' or 'US Troops'. The Union was fighting to keep the country intact. It was not until 1863 that the 'Emaciation Proclamation' brought the institution of slavery to the forefront.

While the grievances of South can be explained, many are equally confused by why the Federal Government did not just let them leave. The Northern slogan during the war was that they were fighting to 'Preserve the Union.' The country had started from a collection of colonies, none of which had the power or resources to challenge the Mother Country. By uniting their resources they had won independence. In the eighty-plus years before the conflict there had been a strong movement to give more power to the Federal government, including the ratification of the US Constitution. If any state, or group of states could simply quit the Union, they felt the entire country might well fall again under European rule. The occupation of Federal forts and buildings by the seceding states also demanded some reply.

The Organization of the Armies

The basic fighting unit for both sides was the Regiment, Commanded by a Colonel. At the start of the war each infantry regiment had a thousand men. It was not unusual to find several with only a few hundred men left near the end of the war.

Many of the units were State volunteer Militias, and the men preferred electing their own officers, and were reluctant to be assigned to an existing unit.

Each infantry Regiment would have ten companies of 100 men, each company was under the command of a Captain. Each company was further divided into two platoons, with a lieutenant in command. Smaller squads would be commanded by a sergeant, or even a corporal.

Other regiments, such as light artillery, heavy artillery, dragoons and cavalry had their own organizations.

Several Regiments would form a Brigade, In the North the Brigades were usually numbered, while the South often used the commanding general's name. Brigades would be joined to form a division, or a corps, they were usually assigned a number in Roman numerals. Several divisions would become an army. The Union forces named their Armies after rivers, and in the South they were named for the states, or part of a State.

• The Army of the Potomac
• The Army of the Tennessee
• The Army of the Mississippi

• The Army of Northern Virginia
• The Army of Tennessee
• The Army of Mississippi

The Naming of the Battles of the Civil War

Each side had their own rules for naming battles as well. The Union usually named them for the nearest body of water, while the South used the nearest city, town, or other named features. In a few cases both sides did use the same name. You can generally learn which side someone favours by the names they use for the battles.

There were two battles fought in Northern Virginia, near the creek named Bull Run, in the North they are called 1st & 2nd Battles of Bull Run – in the South they are known as 1st & 2nd Manassas.


The Southern 'Battle of Shiloh' in known in the North as the 'Battle of Pittsburg Landing'.


The Northern 'Battle of Antitiem' is known in the South as the 'Battle of Sharpsburg'.

The list can get quite long.

The Generals

We will only peek at the two most prominent generals at the end of the war. Any more would require a major work. It is hoped that this will at least offer a glimpse of these famous men

General Robert E Lee

Robert E Lee was born on 19 January, 1807. He graduated 2nd in his class at the West Point Military Academy in 1829. His most notable pre-war enterprise was the capture of John Brown after Brown had captured the US arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. He had earned respect in the US Army throughout his career. As much as Lee loved his position, and the United States, when Virginia voted for secession he felt his loyalty was owed to his State and he resigned his commission in the US Army and offered his services to the Confederacy. After General Joseph Eggleston Johnston was wounded in the 1st Battle of Manassas Lee assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee remained in command of the forces protecting the capital at Richmond for the rest of the war. Lee's home at Arlington Virginia was seized during the war, for back taxes, and turned into the national cemetery. The sitting president attends several ceremonies there every year.

General Ulysses S Grant

Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on 27 April, 1822. It has been reported that Grant dropped his proper first name when he entered West Point Academy in 1839. Grant graduated 21st of 39 cadets. After observing the Mexican War Grant became disillusioned with his country, he felt that the US had an unfair advantage over the poor Mexicans. His appointment to several posts on the west coast led to the resignation of his army commission in 1854. After the call for troops was issued at the opening movements of the Civil War he rejoined the Federal Army and quickly rose in rank. In March 1864 the President appointed him to overall command of all the US forces. He was Elected President in 1868. His administration was rumoured to be corrupt. He died almost bankrupt in 1885, just a few weeks after his auto-biography was published.

Reconstruction

After the war was over the people in the North wished to re-establish Federal rule in the South.

Much of the southern land had been destroyed by the conflict, and the Confederate money was worthless. Everyone who had supported the Confederate government was stripped of their right to vote until they could convince their conquerors that they were now loyal to the Union by signing an 'Oath of Loyalty'. The State governments were also forced to ratify the 13th Amendment (outlawing slavery) before they could resume their legislative duties.

Southerners who supported the Federal troops became known as 'scallywags', while Northern opportunists who travelled south to take advantage of the situation were called 'Carpet Baggers²'.

The void left by the war also produced a large population of former slaves who had been given freedom, but nothing else. The plantation owners could not grow their crops without them, but they could not afford to pay them a wage. The result was the 'Share Cropper', a family was allowed to live on the plantation and farm a certain part of the land. As rent they had to give a portion, or 'share' of their crop to the land owner. Many white southerners had also lost everything in the war and were forced to work for a 'share' of the crop. The system usually kept the workers in poverty.