The Civil War :: essays research papers

The Civil WarOn paper the northeasterly was far stronger than the South. It had two and ahalf times as some people, and it possessed far more ships, miles ofrailroad, and manufacturing enterprises. Southerners, however, had theadvantage of fighting on ingleside ground with better military leadership. ButUnion superiority in manpower was not so great as the gross figures suggest. half a million people scattered from Dakota to California, could make no positive contribution to Union strength. And every year Union regimentswere sent to the westerly to fight Indians. Hundreds of thousands of Americansin loyal border states and in southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois workedor fought for southern independence. Though, every state furnished men forthe other side, in that respect was little doubt that more Federals than Confederates"crossed over."The South had superior military officer personnel. For twenty historic period beforeLincolns inauguration, southern officers had do minated the U.S. Army. Another cum of southern confidence was cotton. Secession leadersexpected to exchange that staple fiber for the foreign manufactured goods theyneeded.The Souths most important advantage was that it had only to playrelatively short interior lines against invaders who had to deal with longlines of communication and to dishonour a broad front. The Confederacy alsohad no need to run around fighting men to tasks such as garrisoning capturedcities and holding conquered territory.In a short war, numerical superiority would not have made very much of adifference. As the war continued, however, numerical strength became apsychological as well as a physical weapon. During the closing years of theconflict, Union armies, massed at last against critical strongholds,suffered terrible casualties but seemed to fester stronger with every defeat.