Why did The Confederates Lose The War in just 2 Battles - The American Civil War (1863)
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Date: 2024-08-14
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Comments and reviews: 20
evanneal4936
As a real historian, i can assure you that the confederacy was VERY close to winning SEVERAL TIMES throughout the war despite the north's industry and manpower advantage because the south had way better generals(every professionally trained general in the us army, especially the experienced ones and ones from the top military schools, resigned to join the south in 1861) and the south made less tactical errors than the north, who thought theyd win so easily they didn't need to even try. even at the end of the war, it was STILL closer than everyone thinks. it took mostly political moves, A LOT of luck, a few but significant tactical errors on the side of the south, and flat out war crimes for the north to actually win. most people don't actually do any research like me and just believe the first thing they're told or see in a history book, which are usually censored from what really happened in exchange for a certain agenda they want to indoctrinate (the winner always writes history and the winner is always right/the good guy, says napoleon bonaparte) 99. 9% of people, especially Americans, don't realize the Civil War wasn't actually fought about a certain S word either. that was ONE cause but NOT the main reason why the war started. it was over states' rights to govern themselves vs. Central government authority over the states, so in the end we all lost to big government because the states would be A LOT more free and independent and have WAY more autonomy than they currently do.
i already know that someone will say, Yeah, states' rights to own s, but that's not true either. They fought for states' rights to govern themselves based DIRECTLY on the constitution of the United States, without federal government oversight as long as the constitution was upheld which at that time, it DIDN'T BAN S. YET.
They fought so that the federal, central government couldn't make laws that contradict or are superior to state laws that are constitutional, They fought because they believed the North didn't have the right to pass taxes and terriffs that benefit the northern states more than the southern ones in a nation thats supposed to be completely equal. They also put taxes and terriffs on goods needed on the south but none on goods for the north, at the 1st secession conference in south Carolina they said the northern states treat the southern ones as an independent nation under its occupation, so we may as well become an independent nation and remove ourselves from occupation (source = the true causes of the civil war and its battles day by day written by Philip Katcher PhD in history)
Abraham Lincoln HIMSELF said, The war is not about s. but to preserve the union in its entirety as it CURRENTLY STANDS. If Lincoln said the war's not about it, it's not about it. sorry people, you were indoctrinated. Go research for yourself and find out.
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As a real historian, i can assure you that the confederacy was VERY close to winning SEVERAL TIMES throughout the war despite the north's industry and manpower advantage because the south had way better generals(every professionally trained general in the us army, especially the experienced ones and ones from the top military schools, resigned to join the south in 1861) and the south made less tactical errors than the north, who thought theyd win so easily they didn't need to even try. even at the end of the war, it was STILL closer than everyone thinks. it took mostly political moves, A LOT of luck, a few but significant tactical errors on the side of the south, and flat out war crimes for the north to actually win. most people don't actually do any research like me and just believe the first thing they're told or see in a history book, which are usually censored from what really happened in exchange for a certain agenda they want to indoctrinate (the winner always writes history and the winner is always right/the good guy, says napoleon bonaparte) 99. 9% of people, especially Americans, don't realize the Civil War wasn't actually fought about a certain S word either. that was ONE cause but NOT the main reason why the war started. it was over states' rights to govern themselves vs. Central government authority over the states, so in the end we all lost to big government because the states would be A LOT more free and independent and have WAY more autonomy than they currently do.
i already know that someone will say, Yeah, states' rights to own s, but that's not true either. They fought for states' rights to govern themselves based DIRECTLY on the constitution of the United States, without federal government oversight as long as the constitution was upheld which at that time, it DIDN'T BAN S. YET.
They fought so that the federal, central government couldn't make laws that contradict or are superior to state laws that are constitutional, They fought because they believed the North didn't have the right to pass taxes and terriffs that benefit the northern states more than the southern ones in a nation thats supposed to be completely equal. They also put taxes and terriffs on goods needed on the south but none on goods for the north, at the 1st secession conference in south Carolina they said the northern states treat the southern ones as an independent nation under its occupation, so we may as well become an independent nation and remove ourselves from occupation (source = the true causes of the civil war and its battles day by day written by Philip Katcher PhD in history)
Abraham Lincoln HIMSELF said, The war is not about s. but to preserve the union in its entirety as it CURRENTLY STANDS. If Lincoln said the war's not about it, it's not about it. sorry people, you were indoctrinated. Go research for yourself and find out.
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knowledgia
Actually, as any true Civil War historian knows, the events of July 1863 were not only about two battles, but rather four of them that all doomed the South's war effort. As everyone knows, Lee's obsession with taking the high ground at Gettysburg no matter the cost resulted in his Army of Northern Virginia suffering nearly 40% casualties, something that he could have ill afford to do. And, because Lee determined upon the path to invade Pennsylvania instead of executing the original plan of Jefferson Davis', which was the sending of reinforcements to help Johnston and Pemberton defend Vicksburg, along with the questionable decisions of both Jonston and Pemberton as to the carrying out of that objective, Grant was able to divide the two western Confederate armies, bottle one of them up in the city's environs, and take that garrison's surrender on July 4th. The thing many people forget was that Rosecrans and Bragg faced off in another decisive campaign in Tennessee called the Tullahoma Campaign (June 24-July 3, 1863. This operation, though did leave Bragg's Army of Tennessee relatively intact and able to fight another day, which they would do at Chickamauga and Chatanooga (ironically requiring Lee to send most of Longstreet's I Corps to help that effort, the very thing he did not do for Mississippi, Rosecrans was able to use lightning maneuvers to turn his opponent's flanks and push him out of the entirety of Western Tennessee and ensured that Burnside's Army of the Ohio was unimpeded in its own advance upon Eastern Tennessee, particularly capturing the key city of Knoxville. Finally, in Arkansas hero of the Hornet's Nest at Shilon Major General Benjamin Prentiss defeated elements of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi Department at Helen. This small riverine town was a key launch pad for the Union Army to raid into Arkansas, capture Little Rock, and to secure the Arkansas River Valley. The second aim would be achieved by the Union in the fall of 1863, giving the South a crippling blow in its political prestige as it lost another state capital, and with the seizure of the Arkansas River Valley this denied a significant locale for foodstuffs, reinforcements, and industry being available to the Confederacy for the rest of the Civil War.
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Actually, as any true Civil War historian knows, the events of July 1863 were not only about two battles, but rather four of them that all doomed the South's war effort. As everyone knows, Lee's obsession with taking the high ground at Gettysburg no matter the cost resulted in his Army of Northern Virginia suffering nearly 40% casualties, something that he could have ill afford to do. And, because Lee determined upon the path to invade Pennsylvania instead of executing the original plan of Jefferson Davis', which was the sending of reinforcements to help Johnston and Pemberton defend Vicksburg, along with the questionable decisions of both Jonston and Pemberton as to the carrying out of that objective, Grant was able to divide the two western Confederate armies, bottle one of them up in the city's environs, and take that garrison's surrender on July 4th. The thing many people forget was that Rosecrans and Bragg faced off in another decisive campaign in Tennessee called the Tullahoma Campaign (June 24-July 3, 1863. This operation, though did leave Bragg's Army of Tennessee relatively intact and able to fight another day, which they would do at Chickamauga and Chatanooga (ironically requiring Lee to send most of Longstreet's I Corps to help that effort, the very thing he did not do for Mississippi, Rosecrans was able to use lightning maneuvers to turn his opponent's flanks and push him out of the entirety of Western Tennessee and ensured that Burnside's Army of the Ohio was unimpeded in its own advance upon Eastern Tennessee, particularly capturing the key city of Knoxville. Finally, in Arkansas hero of the Hornet's Nest at Shilon Major General Benjamin Prentiss defeated elements of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi Department at Helen. This small riverine town was a key launch pad for the Union Army to raid into Arkansas, capture Little Rock, and to secure the Arkansas River Valley. The second aim would be achieved by the Union in the fall of 1863, giving the South a crippling blow in its political prestige as it lost another state capital, and with the seizure of the Arkansas River Valley this denied a significant locale for foodstuffs, reinforcements, and industry being available to the Confederacy for the rest of the Civil War.
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SouthernGentleman
Actually the confederate proclamation you mentioned actually said that all captured slave black soldiers of the Union will be returned to slavery or to authorities of their state. The Union did the same thing, because they had 8 slave states. And many that were not formerly slaves were sent to prisons like white Union soldiers and according to black Union prisoner’s testimonies at Andersonville they were treated no differently than any other Union soldier, except by their fellow Union prisoners.
And this is what Lee thought about black confederate soldiers.
It is however of primary importance that the Africans should know that the service is voluntary on their part. As to the name of the troops, the general thinks you cannot do better than consult the men themselves. His only objection to calling them colored troops was that the enemy had selected that designation for theirs. But this has no weight against the choice of the troops and he recommends that they be called colored or if they prefer, they can be called simply Confederate troops or volunteers. Everything should be done to impress them with the responsibility and character of their position, and while of course due respect and subordination should be exacted, they should be so treated as to feel that their obligations are those of any other soldier and their rights and privileges dependent in law & order as obligations upon others as upon theirselves. Harshness and contemptuous or offensive language or conduct to them must be forbidden and they should be made to forget as soon as possible that they were regarded as menials. You will readily understand however how to conciliate their good will & elevate the tone and character of the men - Robert E Lee to General Ewell on black confederate soldiers
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Actually the confederate proclamation you mentioned actually said that all captured slave black soldiers of the Union will be returned to slavery or to authorities of their state. The Union did the same thing, because they had 8 slave states. And many that were not formerly slaves were sent to prisons like white Union soldiers and according to black Union prisoner’s testimonies at Andersonville they were treated no differently than any other Union soldier, except by their fellow Union prisoners.
And this is what Lee thought about black confederate soldiers.
It is however of primary importance that the Africans should know that the service is voluntary on their part. As to the name of the troops, the general thinks you cannot do better than consult the men themselves. His only objection to calling them colored troops was that the enemy had selected that designation for theirs. But this has no weight against the choice of the troops and he recommends that they be called colored or if they prefer, they can be called simply Confederate troops or volunteers. Everything should be done to impress them with the responsibility and character of their position, and while of course due respect and subordination should be exacted, they should be so treated as to feel that their obligations are those of any other soldier and their rights and privileges dependent in law & order as obligations upon others as upon theirselves. Harshness and contemptuous or offensive language or conduct to them must be forbidden and they should be made to forget as soon as possible that they were regarded as menials. You will readily understand however how to conciliate their good will & elevate the tone and character of the men - Robert E Lee to General Ewell on black confederate soldiers
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knowledgia
I love how
A lot of these comments are saying it’s not about slavery but their way of life. I’m from Vicksburg and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it was. Their way of life and economic development and growth depended on slavery the moment that was taken away it collapsed and just like the federal government did and still does came to there rescue by pumping in US tax dollars. Hell people in Vicksburg still drive around with cotton tags on the front of their cars along with confederate flags let’s not forget the giant Cotten stickers that say Old South on their rear windows. As yourself this if the confederate would have would where would America be where would Black Americans be today. America would not exist as we know it. I’m an Army Veteran and so many people say thank you for your service but fly confederate flags on their vehicles and homes. How can you be patriotic to the United States but be a traitor by flying the confederate flag Beats me with that being said never let anyone tell you it wasn’t about slavery my ancestors were slaves right here in the same city I live in, my grandparents work on a share cropper farm picking cotton, they were also forced to walk on different side walks from white Americans and had to go to different schools and drink from different water fountains never forget. If you don’t believe me visit Vicksburg it’s a great place, it also has the historic National Military Park that goes over the campaign and battles of Vicksburg. One final thing white Americans in Vicksburg did not celebrate the 4th of July for 81 years! But yet a lot of people claim to be proud Americans citizens who just so happen to despise and hate black americans, and also fly the confederate flag. Don’t forget to do your research.
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I love how
A lot of these comments are saying it’s not about slavery but their way of life. I’m from Vicksburg and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it was. Their way of life and economic development and growth depended on slavery the moment that was taken away it collapsed and just like the federal government did and still does came to there rescue by pumping in US tax dollars. Hell people in Vicksburg still drive around with cotton tags on the front of their cars along with confederate flags let’s not forget the giant Cotten stickers that say Old South on their rear windows. As yourself this if the confederate would have would where would America be where would Black Americans be today. America would not exist as we know it. I’m an Army Veteran and so many people say thank you for your service but fly confederate flags on their vehicles and homes. How can you be patriotic to the United States but be a traitor by flying the confederate flag Beats me with that being said never let anyone tell you it wasn’t about slavery my ancestors were slaves right here in the same city I live in, my grandparents work on a share cropper farm picking cotton, they were also forced to walk on different side walks from white Americans and had to go to different schools and drink from different water fountains never forget. If you don’t believe me visit Vicksburg it’s a great place, it also has the historic National Military Park that goes over the campaign and battles of Vicksburg. One final thing white Americans in Vicksburg did not celebrate the 4th of July for 81 years! But yet a lot of people claim to be proud Americans citizens who just so happen to despise and hate black americans, and also fly the confederate flag. Don’t forget to do your research.
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knowledgia
Lee's refusal to contribute troops to aid Vicksburg as well as the delusional focus on risky offensives into Union territory without any realistic chance of strategic gains led to the fall of Vicksburg and later, Lee's myopic obsession with his home state would lead to the collapse of other fronts. Lee's ridiculous attempts to utilize his army in sweeping Napoleonic maneuver battles bled the Army of Northern Virginia white while Joseph E. Johnston's much more viable concept of strategic retreat, opportunistic battle and trading space for time were ignored to the detriment of the entire Confederacy.
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Lee's refusal to contribute troops to aid Vicksburg as well as the delusional focus on risky offensives into Union territory without any realistic chance of strategic gains led to the fall of Vicksburg and later, Lee's myopic obsession with his home state would lead to the collapse of other fronts. Lee's ridiculous attempts to utilize his army in sweeping Napoleonic maneuver battles bled the Army of Northern Virginia white while Joseph E. Johnston's much more viable concept of strategic retreat, opportunistic battle and trading space for time were ignored to the detriment of the entire Confederacy.
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ants7279
Mostly it was because they had limited numbers and there strength came from more experienced leadership wall the North wa s'more technological advanced and had more troops and resources wich is why the South made the first move, now without there experienced leadership to even the odds the rest of the South knew the war was as good as over, besides the blockade the North made by sea and the North finally getting more competent generals and getting there act together the South really had no other way to win the war the only thing some Southern troops could do was possibly hold out if not for long.
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Mostly it was because they had limited numbers and there strength came from more experienced leadership wall the North wa s'more technological advanced and had more troops and resources wich is why the South made the first move, now without there experienced leadership to even the odds the rest of the South knew the war was as good as over, besides the blockade the North made by sea and the North finally getting more competent generals and getting there act together the South really had no other way to win the war the only thing some Southern troops could do was possibly hold out if not for long.
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phillipnagle9651
At the onset of the war, the overall Union commander, Gen. Winfield Scott laid out the Anaconda Plan. That plan was to impose a naval blockade hold fast in northern Virginia and put the emphasis on the west, taking the Mississippi River (including New Orleans, then advancing through Georgia and back up to Virginia, in effect squeezing the Confederates like a giant anaconda. Basically this plan worked very well, the Confederate victories in northern Virginia were meaningless. The two most important Union victories of the war may well have been the capture of New Orleans and Shiloh.
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At the onset of the war, the overall Union commander, Gen. Winfield Scott laid out the Anaconda Plan. That plan was to impose a naval blockade hold fast in northern Virginia and put the emphasis on the west, taking the Mississippi River (including New Orleans, then advancing through Georgia and back up to Virginia, in effect squeezing the Confederates like a giant anaconda. Basically this plan worked very well, the Confederate victories in northern Virginia were meaningless. The two most important Union victories of the war may well have been the capture of New Orleans and Shiloh.
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SouthernGentleman
The Union had 8 slave states in 1864 and over 70% of southerners were not slave owners. Also many native Americans and Latinos fought for the confederacy.
We, the people of the Confederate States, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America. - Confederate constitution
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The Union had 8 slave states in 1864 and over 70% of southerners were not slave owners. Also many native Americans and Latinos fought for the confederacy.
We, the people of the Confederate States, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America. - Confederate constitution
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knowledgia
They weren’t fighting to keep chattel slavery. First and foremost. Not only was it around a decade and a half, some would say 2 decades of political disagreement in the union as a build up to succession. You must study what happened before the outbreak of war to really understand what it was about.
Of course, if you look hard enough, the entirety of the war, the Union was still importing chattel slaves whilst blockading the Confederacy.
It was absolutely NOT about chattel slaves, not even the slightest.
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They weren’t fighting to keep chattel slavery. First and foremost. Not only was it around a decade and a half, some would say 2 decades of political disagreement in the union as a build up to succession. You must study what happened before the outbreak of war to really understand what it was about.
Of course, if you look hard enough, the entirety of the war, the Union was still importing chattel slaves whilst blockading the Confederacy.
It was absolutely NOT about chattel slaves, not even the slightest.
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kennethtyree4770
Vicksburg was a key engagement, a siege where the South lost control of the Mississippi. Gettysburg was an immoral, flawed and poorly planned invasion of the North. Lee's idea or did Davis authorize it Both sides were naive with poor leadership. As Shelby Foote remarked, the North fought that war with one arm tied behind it's back. The South never had a chance at independence. Slavery would have ended with or without war. The cost in terms of humanity and prosperity were enormous. Greed and fear rules.
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Vicksburg was a key engagement, a siege where the South lost control of the Mississippi. Gettysburg was an immoral, flawed and poorly planned invasion of the North. Lee's idea or did Davis authorize it Both sides were naive with poor leadership. As Shelby Foote remarked, the North fought that war with one arm tied behind it's back. The South never had a chance at independence. Slavery would have ended with or without war. The cost in terms of humanity and prosperity were enormous. Greed and fear rules.
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joshdavis3743
The funny thing is those two battles didn't actually lose the war for the Confederacy. In mid 1864 with Grant besieging Lee in Petersburg/Richmond, and Sherman making slow progress towards Atlanta; Lincoln actually said he was going to lose reelection if something didn't change. Thankfully Sherman captured Atlanta in September. If Lincoln losses, the new government almost certainly makes peace with the Confederacy, and they win their independence.
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The funny thing is those two battles didn't actually lose the war for the Confederacy. In mid 1864 with Grant besieging Lee in Petersburg/Richmond, and Sherman making slow progress towards Atlanta; Lincoln actually said he was going to lose reelection if something didn't change. Thankfully Sherman captured Atlanta in September. If Lincoln losses, the new government almost certainly makes peace with the Confederacy, and they win their independence.
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jacob4920
Gettysburgh was such a disaster for the Confederacy that the Army of Northern Virginia never even DREAMED of going north ever again, after that. And Washington DC, as a result, was never again threatened. From July 3rd, 1863 onward. The Confederate war effort was essentially doomed to defeat. If they could not threaten the capital of the Union, then the Union Army would only wear the South down, as time went on.
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Gettysburgh was such a disaster for the Confederacy that the Army of Northern Virginia never even DREAMED of going north ever again, after that. And Washington DC, as a result, was never again threatened. From July 3rd, 1863 onward. The Confederate war effort was essentially doomed to defeat. If they could not threaten the capital of the Union, then the Union Army would only wear the South down, as time went on.
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bobstadelmayer8402
Gettysburg was lost due to poor intelligence, bad decision making, and lack of communication. The Union had the high ground and had time to fortify it.
Lee would have been wise to listen to Longstreet and skirt the enemy, thereby threatening Washington DC. This would have forced the Union off the high ground and given the Confederates a level playing field for the battle.
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Gettysburg was lost due to poor intelligence, bad decision making, and lack of communication. The Union had the high ground and had time to fortify it.
Lee would have been wise to listen to Longstreet and skirt the enemy, thereby threatening Washington DC. This would have forced the Union off the high ground and given the Confederates a level playing field for the battle.
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theawesomeman9821
A teacher of mine had an iconic photograph of Vicksburg taken by Matthew Brady after the city fell, displayed on his wall.
It showed ruins with craters everywhere and many dead and dying civilians.
The Photograph made my stomach turn when I first looked at it. I can only imagine how people during the Civil War felt.
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A teacher of mine had an iconic photograph of Vicksburg taken by Matthew Brady after the city fell, displayed on his wall.
It showed ruins with craters everywhere and many dead and dying civilians.
The Photograph made my stomach turn when I first looked at it. I can only imagine how people during the Civil War felt.
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knowledgia
dont get it twisted, the civil war was not fought over slavery, it was fought over money. Northern mills couldnt match the price that the slave-labor afforded southern manufacturers. Its easy to think of this conflict in terms of civil rights because of our modern perspective. This simply isnt the case.
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dont get it twisted, the civil war was not fought over slavery, it was fought over money. Northern mills couldnt match the price that the slave-labor afforded southern manufacturers. Its easy to think of this conflict in terms of civil rights because of our modern perspective. This simply isnt the case.
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blockmasterscott
The CSA was like the Japanese military of WW2 in that they could not make up losses in man or material, where if the Union lost a battle, they could come back and fight another day.
For example, Gettysburg was the Confederate version of the Battle of Midway in terms of irreplaceable losses.
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The CSA was like the Japanese military of WW2 in that they could not make up losses in man or material, where if the Union lost a battle, they could come back and fight another day.
For example, Gettysburg was the Confederate version of the Battle of Midway in terms of irreplaceable losses.
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generalsmite7167
The south never fought for strategic goals so even though they were always at a strategic disadvantage from the beginning they never did a lot to change the strategic situation even though they won battles. They never made actual use of their victories only maintaining the strategic status quo
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The south never fought for strategic goals so even though they were always at a strategic disadvantage from the beginning they never did a lot to change the strategic situation even though they won battles. They never made actual use of their victories only maintaining the strategic status quo
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user-is9xu7hp4l
First of all the war between states was not over slaves it was because Lincoln was voted in without south not getting to vote. slaves were not freed till 2 years after war was already started. The first slave owner was a large land owner in Penn. State which was a black man.
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First of all the war between states was not over slaves it was because Lincoln was voted in without south not getting to vote. slaves were not freed till 2 years after war was already started. The first slave owner was a large land owner in Penn. State which was a black man.
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IDBTitanosaurus
I have to revist the GETTYSBURG cemetery, but I am very certain there are confederates buried there. It was meant to be a testament to the American Union! But, I guess if you want to interpret the Union more cruely, it certainly waters down Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
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I have to revist the GETTYSBURG cemetery, but I am very certain there are confederates buried there. It was meant to be a testament to the American Union! But, I guess if you want to interpret the Union more cruely, it certainly waters down Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
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patrickong2843
The reason the south lost the war, is that the English royalty sent their poor Irish, Scottish and poor English to America. When they arrived here, they slapped a blue coat on them. The kill ratio of the war shows an almost two to one rate in favor of the south.
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The reason the south lost the war, is that the English royalty sent their poor Irish, Scottish and poor English to America. When they arrived here, they slapped a blue coat on them. The kill ratio of the war shows an almost two to one rate in favor of the south.
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