LEE'S - Last Chance to Save a Nation.

[tackitt27]

I guess I just dont see how the North could control every mile of the river and not let some supplies get snuck across. But maybe they patroled the river more than I'm aware of.

[5fish]

Originally Posted by tackitt27

Just a couple questions on Vicksburg if I may. I for one dont think saving Vicksburg would have saved the war for the South, and there is no way to get a significant amount of troops to do so very quickly. My questions are this: Was there actually a idea to send Longstreet to Mississippi, and who's idea was it? Also to what significance was the defeat at Vicksburg? I know there were plenty of cannon on the hills surrounding there to keep Northern ships getting to New Orleans. What was the North needing to ship from say St. Louis to New Orleans that was so important?

My impression is the south thought by controlling the Mississippi river, it could keep northern grain from the Midwest off the international markets. Before the war the Midwest grain was shipped down the Mississippi river and then shipped out of New Orleans.

During the war the Midwest farmers were able the use the northern train system to get their grain to the eastern ports and onto the international markets.

The north wanted the Mississippi for they were just slowly putting their stranglehold on the south.

[cash]

Originally Posted by 5fish

Read about those months leading up to that faithful days at Gettysburg and you will see Lee was completely frustrated with Pres. Davis and his mismanagement of the war.

Please post what you believe is Lee "completely frustrated with" Davis.

Regards,
Cash

[cash]

Originally Posted by whitworth

Well Lee didn't speak very highly of the Confederate deserters, late in the war, and those giving them aid and comfort at home.

Nor did he speak highly of confederate congressmen.

"Well Mr. Custis, I have been up to see the Congress, and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to eat peanuts and chew tobacco while my army is starving." [R. E. Lee to G. W. Custis Lee, March 1865]

There seem to be quite a few folks he said a discouraging word about.

Regards,
Cash

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by cash

Nor did he speak highly of confederate congressmen.

"Well Mr. Custis, I have been up to see the Congress, and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to eat peanuts and chew tobacco while my army is starving." [R. E. Lee to G. W. Custis Lee, March 1865]

There seem to be quite a few folks he said a discouraging word about.

Regards,
Cash

Lee was apparently a good judge of character.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by tackitt27

I guess I just dont see how the North could control every mile of the river and not let some supplies get snuck across. But maybe they patroled the river more than I'm aware of.

It was called "The Thousand Mile Front" and it was defended with a series of Union forts and from Wikipedia:
"After the fall of Vicksburg in July 1863, it became impossible for units to cross the Mississippi since Union gunboats constantly patrolled it. The South thus lost use of its western regions."

[ole]

Prewar Vicksburg figured significantly in river commerce. It served central Mississippi as a supply line. From west of the river, it served northern Louisana and some commerce from Arkansas and Texas but, it was not as important a river port as Memphis and St. Louis.

Without St. Louis and Memphis, Vicksburg couldn't handle the volume needed by the confederacy. Although taking it hurt, it served more as a psychological symbol than a tactical necessity.

Most certainly some supplies leaked across the river. The south no longer had steamers, so what made it was rowed across at night. How much could that be?

ole

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by cash

"Well Mr. Custis, I have been up to see the Congress, and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to eat peanuts and chew tobacco while my army is starving." [R. E. Lee to G. W. Custis Lee, March 1865]

I love that quote. It is so real.

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