Lee's Miserables by J.Tracy Power

[Blockaderunner]

The book tells the story of The Army of North Virginia from The Wilderness to Appomatox. Unlike most Civil War histories, the story is not told in terms of troop movements, leaders and official reports. The letters and diaries of Confederates from privates to junior officers are used to describe the conditions and morale prevailing in the ranks. The quotations from their writings are placed in chronological order, allowing the reader to judge the changing mood in the camp. The author gives brief descriptions of the wider picture which brings the words of the troops into context. Not all letters and diary entries are given in full. Only details which the author felt relevant. Often this may be only one or two lines. This works well, as the book flows and tells the story without the reader being side tracked.
The book is very well researched, and raised a few points which I found interesting.
During the last year of the war, the ANV were certain that victory was theirs. This view only began to change well into the siege of Petersburg and after the defeats of Early in the Valley.
The distribution of rations and clothing was eratic. Some units were very well supplied, others made do with very little.
The spelling of junior officers was no better than privates. This may show that many of the officers were elected men and not men of better education and social standing.
The Confederates did massacre black Union troops at The Crater. Letters and diaries claim that the US coloured troops jumped onto Confederate earthworks shouting 'no quarter'. When the tables were turned the black troops were massacred.
By early 1865, dessertions were so commonplace that the ranks of the ANV numbered only about 35,000. Defeat was inevitable.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by Blockaderunner

During the last year of the war, the ANV were certain that victory was theirs. This view only began to change well into the siege of Petersburg and after the defeats of Early in the Valley.

I wonder what lead them to that certainty?

Was it that they figured the North had grown tired of the war and would sue for peace (the political end)?

What, militarily, would have lead them to this belief?

[Blockaderunner]

The battles of The Wilderness, Spotsylvannia and Cold Harbour. The ANV were convinced that Grant had been completely defeated. Many letter writers and diarists were sure that the Confederacy would soon be on the offensive. The coming 1864 presidential election also gave the troops hope. The view was that Lincoln would surely lose. When Lincoln was re-elected, the letters became despondent. Many Confederate troops believed the war would continue for another four years. Dessertions around this time reached epidemic levels.

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by Blockaderunner

The spelling of junior officers was no better than privates. This may show that many of the officers were elected men and not men of better education and social standing.

The Confederates did massacre black Union troops at The Crater. Letters and diaries claim that the US coloured troops jumped onto Confederate earthworks shouting 'no quarter'. When the tables were turned the black troops were massacred.

The education level and accummulation of good sense still runs along that same vein in many of our politicians and others in 'leadership' roles. Not much has changed.

As for Crater, how do you claim 'massacre'? Jumping into an earthwork, armed, shouting like that would have brought severe self defense, but massacre? Massacre = "a savage and indiscriminate killing of human beings, as in warefare" or "killing of those who are defenseless or unresisting".......

I can't see armed soldiers jumping into an earthwork qualifying for that description?

[Blockaderunner]

My use of the word massacre was to describe black soldiers attempting to surrender being killed.