What was the decisive factor in the North's success in the final years of the war?
2 Answers
Battle of Vicksburg, Gettysburg, General Grant
Explanation:
General Ulysses Grant lay sieged to Vicksburg that eventually led to Vicksburg's surrender, since the inhabitants were eating rats and digging holes to escape the Union cannons' barrages. Vicksburg was in a strategic position on the Mississippi River and was an important place to maintain the Confederates' supplies. With Vicksburg in Union hands, the Confederate army could not survive the war.
The battle of Gettysburg started at a time where the Confederate and Union army was feeling around for each other. They met at a town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg.
The Union dug up defensive positions and General Lee decided if the Union army was strong at its sides, it was weak at the center. He ordered a charge led by Pickett, which is why the charge is called Pickett's Charge.
They were slaughtered and General Lee was forced to retreat. He would never set foot on Union soil again.
General Grant was a fearless general who's battle philosophy was basically get to the enemy, and hit 'em as hard as you can.
During the closing months of the war, Grant relentlessly chased Robert Lee's army until they surrendered at the Appomattox Court house in 1865.
Arguably the decisive factor late in the Civil War was General Grant.
Explanation:
In Grant, Lincoln finally found a General who would fight and fight to win. Grant focused on destroying the Army of Northern Virginia led by General Lee. In this objective Grant was successful at great cost.
