6 Civil War Myths

[billh1963]

Not a usual source for news but lots of facts in this "humorous" article

6 Civil War Myths Everyone Believes (That Are Total B.S.) | Cracked.com



Ever since the election of Barack Obama, some politicians have thrown around talk about secession from the Union -- aka, launching a sequel to the Civil War. But even before that, one got the sense that the war was a wound that never healed -- America has seen endless controversy over groups who still insist on rallying around the Confederate flag, for instance.

We might be going out on a limb here, but we're guessing that most of our readers aren't hardcore Civil War historians. And since VH-1 discontinued their I Love the ... series before they got around to the 1860s, a lot of us are walking around with Civil War misinformation firmly wired in our brains. Now is as good a time as ever to clear up some of those myths. Such as ...

[Taz's Master]

I disagree to some extent to with the last two points.

The Confederacy would have won if Lincoln had lost his re-election bid.

Also, the single biggest loss to the Confederacy was that of Stonewall Jackson. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, and all that, but if Jackson had been at Gettysburg, he would have taken Little Round Top. That would have likely been the difference in the battle, and if Lee wasn't turned away at Gettysburg, who knows how the war ends. So I also believe the brilliance of the generals (especially Jackson) was crucial. I also believe that Grant is one of our nation's least appreciated military minds, and he was central to a Union victory. Call a Union victory inevitable if you like, but the North went through plenty of generals before they found one that could/would win.

[romad]

Grant was central to the union victory because of his campaigns in the west. Myth number 1a- the war was won in the east. Grant was just doing mop up when he went east. Jackson performed competently, but that is no indication of future results and he was to damn crazy. No one general won or lost that war, economics did like all wars. The south had no chance of winning that war, outside of some other power actually joining the fight, so long as the north was committed. Myth number 1b The north was close to given up

[Taz's Master]

romad, if your assesment of Jackson is that he was no more than competent, then you have access to much more information about the Civil War than I. My opinion is significantly different, and I think his performance was enough to justify predictions of future results much in the way that Lincoln used McClellan's performance to predict his future results.

My position on Myth 1b is that you are correct, however the North's commitmnet and attitude towards continuing the fight made a significant shift on July 4 1863.

[monoflo]

The North had the preponderance on manufacturing, control of the seas- the blockade,manpower and resources.
As the first truly modern war -logistics, firepower and resources had the overpowering upper hand.

The South had a punchers chance hence going all in at Gettysburg -and then they would still need aid from the Europeans.

The real issue at Gettysburg was Lee was without his cavalry as they were out raiding and not doing proper recon -hence he could not choose the battlefield (high ground etc)-forced to attack an opponent that outnumbered his forces. Meade failed to press his advantage after the battle -something Grant most likely never would have done,

The issue being decided in the West at Vicksburg probably was every bit as important as Gburg in deciding the fate of the Confederacy

USG was the consumate proto typical modern general -much like the Russians in WW2 he knew to press his material and in some cases qualitative advantages in equipment. After being beaten at Cold Harbor he did not retreat he simply moved his attack to a different part of the front . Other Union leaders such as Sherman and Sheridan mirrored the total war philosopy also.

Mflo

[tabs]

Let me clear up U Boyz misconceptions.

1. In the Presidential Election of 1864 Lincoln was facing McClellan as the Democrat or PEACE candidate. If McClellan had won he would have sued for peace with the CSA.

2. At GB several of Ewell's subordinates pleaded with Lee to get Ewell to attack LRT on the first day of battle. Ewell was the successor commander of Jackson's corp. Other factors were that the ground that the battle was fought on was not of Lee's choosing and did not favor the CSA, in essence the battle occurred by chance meeting of several Brigades of CSA infantry running into a Brigade of Union Cavalry. Jeb Stuart was off gallivanting around with his cavalry and as such was out of touch with Lee, The second day of battle was a slugging match and a draw, Pickett's Charge of 15,000 men was a bad mistake that Longstreet knew was not going to go well. Longstreet wanted to move south around the end of the Union lines. Pickett's Charge was what essentially broke the back of the CSA's offensive capability.

Coddington wrote an excellent book on the subject called the "Gettysburg Campaign"


3. USG, Sherman and Sheridan knew that "war was he11" and one had to visit that fact on the CSA. Grant was appointed to be Commander of ALL UNION forces, Meade was technically the commander of the Army of the Potomac.What USG did differently than any of the previous Union commanders was that after getting his clock cleaned instead of retreating he advanced. Grant understood that the south could not stand a war of attrition.

In the Spring campaign of 1864 Grant moved S, met Lee at the Wilderness (Lee's choosing and favorable ground for him, Grant did get whomped), USG moved S where Lee anticipated him at Spotsylvania Court House and USG got bloodied, moved S again where Lee again anticipated him at Cold Harbor where USG got slaughtered. That was the only regret USG had during the war was the the attack at Cold Harbor where he lost so many men in such a short order. USG then again moved S and instead of going straight towards Richmond where Lee anticipated he would go, USG sidestepped Richmond and went for the James River and Petersburg. Lee was given some time and was able to adjust quickly resulting in the siege of Petersburg.

What is interesting is that USG because of the losses at Cold Harbor changed his tactical strategy of going straight for Richmond as Lee had anticipated. Instead he side stepped to the James River.

[romad]

Right just like Obama was the peace candidate.......McClellan is going to sue for peace after Sherman takes Atlanta in September three months before the elections...just roll it up and go home when the North controls over half the Confederacy and all the Major coastal positions, just sue for peace and bring everyone home.....he would have been dragged out of office and quartered.

Lee wins Gettysburg How?

First day Lee takes Culps Hill ........Union Army does not deplore in position, battle occurs later somewhere else.

Second day Lee move his right flank around the round tops....actual battle is delayed a whole day..........Union army response and redeploys for day three. Lee how fights on a broken exterior line with paper thin supply lines. Even if he routs the Union Lee has to retreat south.

Three day There is nothing Lee could have done to break the union lines. Only option was to retreat may have extended the war another 6 months- 1 year...maybe.

[masraum]

You fellas should listen to Tabs. He was there!

[tabs]

Originally Posted by romad

Right just like Obama was the peace candidate.......McClellan is going to sue for peace after Sherman takes Atlanta in September three months before the elections...just roll it up and go home when the North controls over half the Confederacy and all the Major coastal positions, just sue for peace and bring everyone home.....he would have been dragged out of office and quartered.

Lee wins Gettysburg How?

First day Lee takes Culps Hill ........Union Army does not deplore in position, battle occurs later somewhere else.

Second day Lee move his right flank around the round tops....actual battle is delayed a whole day..........Union army response and redeploys for day three. Lee how fights on a broken exterior line with paper thin supply lines. Even if he routs the Union Lee has to retreat south.

Three day There is nothing Lee could have done to break the union lines. Only option was to retreat may have extended the war another 6 months- 1 year...maybe.

Your right it was Culps Hill that Ewell on Lee's left, that should have been taken on the first day.

As far as McClellan goes the taking of Alanta was an election game changer. However one would still think that Lincoln was going to win no matter what. Allthough Lincoln fully expected to lose the election.

No matter what you say you still can't change the facts that McClellan campaigned on ending the war. Further there were many factions in the North that were opposed to the war.

[Hawktel]

Why didn't they gut the State Rights sillyness?

Ahh well.

[rusnak]

I think the radical elements in the south, including Texas, started the war. There is a lot to be said for being able to compromise.

Back to the original point, I wonder how many states will support a federal bailout of California, and not threaten to seceede?