What was the most decisive turning point in the Civil War and why?

Question

I say it was Lee's decision to make "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysberg. That lost the war.

Answer 1

The war was not won or lost with the eastern campaigns and battles. The only way that the Army of Northern Virginia would have affected the outcome of the war was to either lose Richmond or capture D.C.

The war was decided in the west. And after the battle of Shiloh, the war became a series of Union offensive campaigns and Confederate defensive campaigns.

So I would say that the failure of the Confederate attack at Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, was the decisive turning point of the Civil War.

And, if Shiloh, then that last hour as darkness fell on April 6 and the Confederate failed to capture Pittsburg Landing was the pivotal hour in the war.

Fascinating stuff to think about.

Answer 2

I would agree with you that Gettysberg was the most important but there are also earlier turning points that were just as decisive. My top 3 would be...

1) Battle of Gettysberg

2) Battle of Antienam. It stopped Lee's invasion of the North dead in its track and he never ever recovered from that loss throughout the war.

3) Battle of Bull Run. Although this battle was very early in the war...The North believed that they could win the war in a matter of few weeks but their defeat here told them otherwise and they started buckling down for a longer, and more intense war. On the other hand, this got the Rebels too overconfident, ultimately leading to their loss as the North got a bit more prepared.

Answer 3

The Battle of Antietam in 1862, with the Union army intercepting a copy of General Order 191. If that had not fallen into Union hands, Lee's push into the North might have been successful enough to cause Britain and France to recognise the Confederacy as independent, and given the benefits of a divided United States along with unfettered access to the cash-crops that the South offered, they would most likely have intervened. Perhaps almost as important is that it would have delayed or even prevented Lincoln from issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which changed the nature of the war from one just to hold to Union together into a moral battle for the abolition of slavery.

Harry Turtledove has a whole series of books that chronicle events in an alternate history where General Order 191 did not fall into Union hands.

Answer 4

Fort Sumter was the turning point. Until it was attacked, Lincoln had little choice but to play a waiting game. If he attacked, border states might join against him. The attack on the fort was like Pearl Harbor. When the North saw the flag being fired on, it rallied in support of Lincoln. He was able to call on the states and Congress to raise troops and money.

Lincoln's strategy was the Anaconda plan; overwhelm, blockade and strangle the South. Gettysburg, while important, was the second blow to the surrender of Vicksburg and the loss of the Mississippi. I think the South lost when they chose to fight. The North was just more powerful, and Fort Sumter unleashed it.

Answer 5

Longstreet's Assault was indeed a major blunder by RE Lee, but i think the major turning point was the bullet that struck down T Jackson at the Battle of Chanclorsville (by his own men).

If Jackson was alive at Gettysburg, he would have taken Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill on the 1st day of battle and there wouldn't have been a doomed charge on day 3 of the battle.

Answer 6

The Battle of Gettysburg. By the time Pickett made that disasterous charge, the battle was pretty much decided. It was a last-gasp attempt.

Answer 7

lee was ,i believe extremely ambivalent about the aims and progress of the war by the time gettysburg came about!!1he was the dean at west point military college and taught and was in charge of cirriculum for many northern as well as southern officers...who later became generals and field commanders on both sides of the conflict!!!he had commanded many of these young lieutetnants in the recent war with mexico and he hated the idea of "bleeding this country to death;while there were still tasks to perform in joining both sides of the continent and taming the west!!he saw many able men,self-sufficient and strong become crippled,maimed and shell shocked without "definitive results in many battles"as a gentleman he was repulsed by the war's "indecisive progress" and abhorent effects"!!!!the most impotant part of Gettysburg i believe has yet to recieve the "notice" that it deserves...this is custer's part in the behind the lines battle on the union's extreme left flank...BEHIND THE ROUND TOPS!!!!when confederate cannon and cavalry had gotten behind their lines and were driving to establish cannon positions well behind the unions center blocking any possible retreat....they never fully deployed tough and were destroyed in detailaltough there was "high-ground" and cover in fields there available!!Gettysburg therefore is the turning point;but not for the reasons so many ascribe to!!!!r

Answer 8

Vicksburg was just as important as Gettysburg, Lincoln thought maybe more important. it cut the south in half and gave control of the Mississippi to the union, the tactic that did the most to defeat the south was Sherman's march to the sea.

Answer 9

The Battle of Gettysburg, a major turning point, and probably the most famous.

Answer 10

That, coupled with Jeb Stuart's cavalier attitude, and bad tactics in the rear of the Union position at the same time, yes.