strategy (ACW)

• Name of strategy suggested by Winfield Scott at the outset of the ACW?

  Anaconda plan
• Original ecomomic strategy?


  General Scotts original Anaconda plan involved a naval blockade of Southern ports and coastline to prevent cotton exports and food imports in hopes o hit their economy by starving them of their main source of income while also limiting food stocks. It also planned to have naval assaults to secure the Mississippi which would divide the South, constrict their resources and lead to victory without any excessive casualties
• Offensive strategy?


  The original Anaconda plan was rejected as they didn’t think this would bring a quick, decisive victory like Napoleons strategy so they pursued a more Napoleonic tactical solution of marching into the South, forcing the Confederates into battle led by General McClellan.
• Synthesis between the NW and ACW strategy?

  He was very influential with his quick decisive victories which they favoured at first
• New strategy?


  In 1863 the plan reemerged under Grant after multiple issues like the offensive strategy failing on its own and having high casualties. The two strategies combined to make a hybrid strategy of both offensive and economic based which did affect the outcome and helped them win unlike on its own. The plan featured heavy attritional style attacks to wear down the South and a direct assault on the Southern homelands whilst also damaging the economy to break their morale.
• Affect on nature and outcome?

  Napoleons influence affected the nature as it increased casualties and they were blinded by it before realising it would have to be altered for this war. The hybrid strategy won the won but their Napoleonic style offensive strategy was not enough. In an essay an argument can be drawn that quick decisive victories were important and ACW can be used against
• Grant's effective strategy at the siege of Vicksburg? Affect on outcome?

  His strategy to cooperate with naval forces helped him take the key fortress in 1863 despite previous failures to do so. The Union forces could then dominate the Mississippi and effectively split the Confederate forces in two. Grant knew he had to use both land and naval forces to starve the South of resources. This effectively won the war