"Battle of the Month" Club

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by ole

That's one of the four pillars of the Lost Cause, Timewalker: "We only lost because you guys had the numbers and didn't mind killin' em." In the final analysis, a smaller percentage of Federals died under Grant's command than Confederates under Lee's.

ole

I didn't know the 'lost' cause had four pillars. I continue to learn! (Some would contend it ain't lost.) Yes, numbers were a factor.

After the first round of Confederate soldiers were mostly killed by the time of the beginning of the Atlanta campaign, more were recruited or otherwise coerced into service. Since Confederate logistics was lacking, to say the least, there is some merit to the numbers thing. Supply deficiency and management took care of the rest.

As for 'didn't mind killin' em', that was a widespread malady which also infected the Confederate forces (John Bell Hood being a shining example of what could be done to sacrifice men). As for percentages, I can't respond, though I am confident losses were far too high on all fronts.

Grant left a big pile of records in his correspondence that prove he was a general officer of considerable skill and confidence as the war drew to a close. He did take home the trophy to keep for his own, though I doubt his memories were any more pleasant than the nightmares suffered by the most meager surviving private.

Grant lived to shake Lee's hand at the final ceremony. What more could a soldier ask.