Why the difference in nomenclature?

[mike.frontier]

Originally Posted by gary

Even in the Mexican War the US Army named its battles after the closest city. It traces back to the Revolution. Bennington which was not only a few miles from the two but also across the state line. Saratoga, Lexington, Princeton, Trenton, Yorktown, Charleston, Guildford Court House, Cowpens, Camden, Petersburg (yep, there was fite-n 'round Petersburg during the Revolution and that bad man Tarleton was there) are other examples.

I think the Corn-feds deviated from tradition because they were Con-feds.

Yes, but the FEDS were the ones who deviated from the tradition. CONFEDERATE terminology affords battles at the site of cities - not UNION terminolgy. I think whoever had the idea up there ^ ^ about the fact that Union nomenclature was sort of an extention to their own name (ie Army of the Potomac) was on to something there. There has to be some kind of underlying "water" theme though. This is just a question that has always bothered me.

[ole]

An example of Neil's post: Who rembers Big Shanty?

ole