In the West - states along the Mississippi - Grant had early successes against the Confederates. At Shiloh, after nearly being pushed into defeat, he rallied the Union and defeated the army of Albert Sidney Johnston, who died from battle wounds. As Johnston was considered the best general officer in the South, this was a serious blow to the Confederacy.
Grant demonstrated at Shiloh, and earlier at Forts Donelson and Henry, that he was effective - a winner that Lincoln would later turn to for leadership. However, in the East, things went from bad to worse for the Union, and Washington was under threat almost constantly.
General McClellan executed a grand strategy to assault Richmond from the southeast with a huge Union force. The enormous logistical operation was achieved by summer, 1862, and McClellan began moving toward Richmond. Union soldiers were so close that they could hear the bells of Richmond's St. John's Church (site of Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death" speech).
Robert E Lee assumed command of the Confederate forces and launched a series of bold attacks that drove the Union forces back to their fortified James River position in less than a week. McClellan was outgeneraled and showed that his caution was a serious liability - and Lincoln removed him from command. Lee, on the other hand, surprised Union and Confederate leaders with his skill and audacity. His manhandling of a much larger Union force was a preview of his illustrious career as a field commander.
Lee followed up with another whipping of a Union force at Manassas in August (so-called "Second Manassas") and it looked like Lee was unbeatable. The next move was an invasion of Maryland in September, setting the stage for a crucial turning point of the war. At Antietam, America experienced the bloodiest day in its history, and in its wake Lincoln would decide to free the slaves.
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