-- Stonewall Jackson
Southern States Secede
Secession
fever hit the South after Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The
South considered Lincoln's Republican party victory in the 1860
presidential election as a sign that the North was now going to end the
"peculiar institution" of slavery. For the South, the time of talk and
compromise had ended. In December, 1860 South Carolina became the first
state to secede from the Union. Secession of the rest of the states that
would make up the Confederate States of America occurred in two waves.
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The Anaconda Plan
General-in-Chief Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan was a strategy to blockade the South by sea, and gain control of the Mississippi River. This would split the South, and eventually deprive it economically.
Winfield Scott  |
On May 3, 1861 General-in-Chief Winfield Scott writes to General George B. McClellan describing his strategy for subduing the rebellion. Later, Scott’s strategy was derisively referred to as The Anaconda Plan: |
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, May 3, 1861.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN,
Commanding Ohio Volunteers, Cincinnati, Ohio:
SIR: I have read and carefully considered your plan for a campaign, and now send you confidentially my own views, supported by certain facts of which you should be advised.
Barnes&Noble: Grant’s Lieutenants: From Chattanooga to Appomattox  Grant’s Lieutenants: From Chattanooga to Appomattox |
First. It is the design of the Government to raise 25,000 additional regular troops, and 60,000 volunteers for three years. It will be inexpedient either to rely on the three-months’ volunteers for extensive operations or to put in their hands the best class of arms we have in store. The term of service would expire by the commencement of a regular campaign, and the arms not lost be returned mostly in a damaged condition. Hence I must strongly urge upon you to confine yourself strictly to the quota of three-months’ men called for by the War Department. |
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Second. We rely greatly on the sure operation of a complete blockade of the Atlantic and Gulf ports soon to commence. In connection with such blockade we propose a powerful movement down the Mississippi to the ocean, with a cordon of posts at proper points, and the capture of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip; the object being to clear out and keep open this great line of communication in connection with the strict blockade of the seaboard, so as to envelop the insurgent States and bring them to terms with less bloodshed than by any other plan. I suppose there will be needed from twelve to twenty steam gun-boats, and a sufficient number of steam transports (say forty) to carry all the personnel (say 60,000 men) and material of the expedition; most of the gunboats to be in advance to open the way, and the remainder to follow and protect the rear of the expedition, &c. This army, in which it is not improbable you may be invited to take an important part, should be composed of our best regulars for the advance and of three-years’ volunteers, all well officered, and with four months and a half of instruction in camps prior to (say) November 10. In the progress down the river all the enemy’s batteries on its banks we of course would turn and capture, leaving a sufficient number of posts with complete garrisons to keep the river open behind the expedition. Finally, it will be necessary that New Orleans should be strongly occupied and securely held until the present difficulties are composed. |
Third. A word now as to the greatest obstacle in the way of this plan–the great danger now pressing upon us–the impatience of our patriotic and loyal Union friends. They will urge instant and vigorous action, regardless, I fear, of consequences–that is, unwilling to wait for the slow instruction of (say) twelve or fifteen camps, for the rise of rivers, and the return of frosts to kill the virus of malignant fevers below Memphis. I fear this; but impress right views, on every proper occasion, upon the brave men who are hastening to the support of their Government. Lose no time, while necessary preparations for the great expedition are in progress, in organizing, drilling, and disciplining your three-months’ men, many of whom, it is hoped, will be ultimately found enrolled under the call for three-years’ volunteers. Should an urgent and immediate occasion arise meantime for their services, they will be the more effective. I commend these views to your consideration, and shall be happy to hear the result.
With great respect, yours, truly,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Source:
Union Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations In Maryland, Eastern North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia (Except Southwestern), And West Virginia, From January 1, 1861, To June 30, 1865.–#3 O.R.–SERIES I–VOLUME LI/1 [S# 107]
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At the beginning of the Civil War, General-in-Chief Winfield Scott was seventy-four-years-old, so overweight he could not mount or ride a horse, and suffered from painful gout. Scott’s best days were behind him. |
The Anaconda Plan  |
Since the War of 1812, Scott had participated in all of America’s military actions. He was a genuine hero. There was no doubt about Scott’s leadership ability, in the War of 1812 he was once captured, and during the Mexican War he led the campaign that captured Mexico City.
His nickname was Old Fuss and Feathers, because of his reputation for strict adherence to regulations, and a propensity for fancy uniforms. Winfield Scott was born a Virginian in 1786, but was loyal to the Union. He did not understand Robert E. Lee’s choice to side with the Confederacy, and had even asked Lee to lead the United States Army.
President Abraham Lincoln sought Scott’s advice, however as the Civil War began, it was evident the aging Winfield Scott was not up to the demands of leading the army. At times, Scott would doze off during meetings. Scott voluntarily retired on November 1, 1861 and was replaced by George B. McClellan as general in chief.
Barnes&Noble: Great Maps of the Civil War  Great Maps of the Civil War: Pivotal Battles and Campaigns Featuring 32 Removable Maps |
Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan was criticized as too slow and gained its “Anaconda” name when the press mockingly compared it to a snake slowly constricting its prey to death. As Scott’s plan was being considered, the clamor in the North was for an invasion that would quickly crush the Confederate army presently found at a railroad junction in northern Virginia named Manassas. Taking Manassas would hurt the Rebels significantly as the railroad lines there were major ones that connected to the Shenandoah Valley, and the thus to the heart of the South. |
Richmond, Virginia had become the Confederate capital, and the southern Congress planned a session there on July 20, 1861. The New York Tribune (published by Horace Greeley) responded with this headline:
FORWARD TO RICHMOND! FORWARD TO RICHMOND!
The Rebel Congress Must Not be
Allowed to Meet There on the
20th of July
BY THAT DATE THE PLACE MUST BE HELD
BY THE NATIONAL ARMY
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After this, other newspapers throughout the Union followed suit with the FORWARD TO RICHMOND! thought and the public soon caught on to the fever. In light of this, even though Southern seaports were beginning to be blockaded, Scott’s plan faltered as public and political pressure demanded quick military action. President Lincoln saw merit in attacking the Confederates at Manassas. On July 21, 1861 the Battle of First Bull Run (called First Manassas by the Confederates) took place. It was a Union loss, no Union troops went on to Richmond, and most skedaddled back to Washington. Soon the idea faded away that a quick, strong, and superior military action along with a compromising attitude, might end the Confederate rebellion fast. The Union would have to win the Civil War by destroying the Confederate armies on the field. Much time, many resources, and many, many lives would have to be spent to accomplish the Northern victory. |
Barnes&Noble: Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott  Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott |
Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan was worthy. Blockading the South’s seaports and gaining control of the Mississippi River were major factors in crippling the Rebel economy and military. As the Civil War progressed, the basic strategy of the Anaconda Plan contributed ultimately to the defeat of the Confederacy. Old Winfield Scott lived to see the end of the Civil War. He died in 1866.
Suggested Posts to Learn More...
- Civil War Casualties
- Horace Greeley’s Open Letter
- President Lincoln’s Response to Horace Greeley
- Slavery
- Civil War Army Organization and Order of Rank
- Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy
- Ball's Bluff
2 Responses to “The Anaconda Plan”
Comment from Jonathan Allen
Time September 7, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Thank you Mark, for your nice comment. I’m pleased to hear that you found my LearnCivilWarHistory.com blog helpful. I found your comment very interesting.
I’m beginning to think that if today’s students want to find out what is really happening in the world (and what has happened), then they are going to have to explore and research on their own. I hope more and more young people like yourself make this extra effort. I’m afraid that our schools of today are off the mark with their courses of study. Beware of school teaching you the “politically correct, sanitized version” of anything. Strive to learn the truth, not the filtered version that is popular today in our culture. LEARN TO THINK FOR YOURSELF! This takes effort, being spoon-fed the current cultural fad does not.
Sometimes history is ugly and dirty, sometimes it is not. The Civil War is full of ugly, dirty, beautiful, heroic, cowardly, brave stories of Rebels, Yankees, slaves, freemen, citizens, politicians, men, women and children. The Civil War was the age-old (and continuing) battle of good vs. evil … even though it may be politically incorrect to say that there are such absolutes in today’s gray-shaded world.
Some of the Civil War may have happened nearby where you live, perhaps in your state, county, city, town, or even your own backyard. If not, then go visit Gettysburg, or some other site, and take your time there. Absorb it like it happened only last week and it was you, your friends, and your family who fought. Believe and imagine that the blood spilled has not yet dried, that the dead are being buried now, and the wounded are still recovering, or still lie dying in agony in the dirt. Make it personal, because History is. The Civil War was our fork in the road, and we chose the right fork. We are still choosing which forks to take today.
You have the right to learn what happened, or is happening, without any political correctness or sanitizing … and then decide for yourself and form your own opinions. If your own moral compass is set true, then you’ll know as you read and study Civil War history who the good and bad guys were. HINT: the good and the bad can come in any gender, race, profession, and years of age, they can be lovely or handsome, or ugly. You have to put yourself in their shoes, and in their times, if you want to understand. You can’t judge the past by today’s standards … it was all a different world then, but we can learn from history.
I’ll climb down off my soapbox now. 
LearnCivilWarHistory.com is a lot of work, I wish I had more time to devote to it. I tend to run hot and cold with my posting as other duties in life call. Right now, I’m in a cold period … but I’ll heat up LearnCivilWarHistory.com again soon. I urge you to learn about the Civil War. It is a fascinating time in our American History, full of remarkable stories and characters. My blog is a mere drop in the sea of Civil War information that is available.
Please continue on with your Civil War study, we need some young folks to become the next Civil War authors and historians like Bruce Catton, James McPherson, Shelby Foote, Michael and Jeff Schaara, William C. Davis, and so many others, so that this history is never forgotten.
Maybe you are one of our future Civil War authors or historians!
Wishing You the Best of Luck,
Jonathan R. Allen
LearnCivilWarHistory.com
Write a comment
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Comment from Mark
Time September 7, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Very good site — I can learn a lot.
Im surprised how much of what we hear today — and learn in school today — is politically correct, sanitized version. For example, I saw on your web site how Stephens said slavery was the cornerstone of the confederacy – and read more of his speech. Wow. He not only said slavery was the real issue — he said the Confederacy was just the FIRST nation founded on enslaving the black race — he predicted this “great moral truth” would be adopted by all civilized countries.
Anyway, thanks for a great web site, it must have been a lot of work.