Union Forces Occupy Raleigh, North Carolina

April 13th, 1865

April 13th, 1865

Union Forces Occupy Raleigh, North Carolina
How Long Ago?

159 years, 11 months, 2 days ago

Location

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Category

Military & Warfare

War/Conflict

American Civil War

People
  • William T. Sherman
Links & References
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Union Forces Occupy Raleigh, North Carolina

Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman occupied Raleigh, North Carolina. This event marked a significant advancement in the Union's campaign to secure the South. Following the fall of Richmond and the end of combat operations in Virginia, Sherman's army moved through North Carolina, where they faced minimal resistance. Raleigh was filled with Confederate stragglers and local residents, who experienced the arrival of Union troops with a mixture of fear and hope.

Major General William T. Sherman led the occupation.

Raleigh saw minimal Confederate resistance.

This marked a turning point in Southern control.

The city transitioned to a Union military government.

What Happened?

The occupation of Raleigh, North Carolina, by Union forces was a pivotal moment in the American Civil War, heralding the expanding control of Union troops in the South. Led by Major General William T. Sherman, the Union Army had made a strategic advance through North Carolina following its successful campaigns in Georgia and South Carolina. The capture of Raleigh occurred shortly after the fall of Richmond, the Confederate capital, and in the context of a deteriorating Confederate military situation. As Sherman's forces approached the city, local defenses were either abandoned or ineffective, allowing for a relatively easy takeover.

Arriving in Raleigh, Sherman’s troops encountered a city that was largely stripped of its former defenses. The locals, caught between the devastation of war and the resulting political and social upheaval, displayed a range of reactions from indignation to relief. This occupation signified not only a military success but also represented a hope for the end of hostilities and the restoration of order. The Union army set about establishing a military government, which would administer the city and oversee the transition from Confederate to Union control.

Moreover, the occupation had significant implications for the remaining days of the Civil War. It was a demonstration of the Union's continuing push into the heart of the Confederacy, impacting both the morale of Confederate soldiers and civilians. The symbolic capture of the state capital underscored the crumbling resistance of the Confederacy, foreshadowing the imminent conclusion of the war and the beginning of the Reconstruction Era.

Why Does it Matter?

The occupation of Raleigh is significant as it illustrates the rapid progression of Union forces towards victory in the Civil War. It highlights a turning point where Union troops began asserting control over once-Southern strongholds, leading to further military and political changes in the aftermath of the conflict. This event set the stage for the later reconstruction efforts and the reintegration of Southern states into the Union.

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