abraham lincoln s plan to defeat the south and win re-election depends on ulysses s. grant s two-pronged assault. retreat! retreat! but, in georgia, william tecumseh sherman struggles to take atlanta, and, in virginia, grant s overland campaign ends in a bloodbath at cold harbor, encouraging anti-war democrats in their fight against lincoln s proposed amendment to abolish slavery. have they voted? the house voted against the bill. the democrats voted against it? all but four. nothing we have done in the past three years is as important as this amendment. if we cannot abolish slavery, then what does it matter if we win the war?
union army down on his opponents, in a more coordinated attack, by opening up multiple fronts. in georgia, general sherman will press towards atlanta and then on to the sea, whereas, in virginia, grant will begin an offensive against lee s forces, what becomes known as the overland campaign. you sure about this, general? i m sure. grant s plan depends on the army of the potomac, weary after years of devastating and unrelenting war. there was a real diminishing morale in the union army in the beginning of the overland campaign in virginia. union soldiers who had gone through second manassas, antietam, fredericksburg, chancellorsville, gettysburg they were no longer under any impression that this was an adventure. and, up to this point, the union army doesn t have a general who could inspire soldiers to fight like robert e. lee. not yet.
atlanta is ours and fairly won. yes, sir. a much-needed victory, mr. president. congratulations. thank you, secretary stanton. the success of the atlanta campaign, deep into the south this is a military victory that makes it very difficult for mcclellan to criticize the military prowess of the union army. and this is really what changes it for lincoln. but there is still a lot of work to do. with atlanta captured, abraham lincoln is poised to win re-election. but while the masters of war in the south look to counter him, he has one more card to play. you may go, mary. yes, sir. how do you win at business?
by this point, with the victories at atlanta and with this notion that it s abraham lincoln who s going to end this war properly, it really changes the dynamic, particularly in the army. lincoln wins in a landslide, earning over 70% of the soldiers s vote. with the election, the people of the union reaffirm the conviction that slavery must end and that lincoln is the man to do it. down with the traitors up with the stars while we rally round the flag, boys we rally once again shouting the battle cry of freedom i give thanks to the almighty for this people s resolution to stand by free government
a telegram to the president. atlanta is ours and fairly won. yes, sir. a much-needed victory, mr. president. congratulations. thank you, secretary stanton. the success of the atlanta campaign, deep into the south this is a military victory that makes it very difficult for mcclellan to criticize the military prowess of the union army. and this is really what changes it for lincoln. but there is still a lot of work to do. with atlanta captured, abraham lincoln is poised to win re-election. but while the masters of war in the south look to counter him, he has one more card to play. you may go, mary. yes, sir. this is bill s yard. and bill has a no-weeds, not in my yard policy.