the South could have won the Civil War if it had better intelligence

[larry_cockerham]

The only thing missing here, aside from intense civility, is the fact that the Confederacy ceased to exist in 1865. Othe considerations are a whim of fantasy not really worth the effort. The remaining entity, the US of A, needs our attention and our energy far more than the past. May the memory of the Confederate soldier survive a good while longer, but the Confederacy is gone. May it rest in peace.

[unionblue]

Larry,

You are making sense, as usual.

I will try to implement your suggestion concerning more civility and totally agree with your summation that the Confederacy ceased to exist in 1865.

Thanks for having the sense and the courage to say so and to further comment that honoring the soldiers who served the Confederacy should last a great deal longer than our concerns over the short, political livespan of same.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[Capt Coxetter]

Originally Posted by suwannee

There were only 3 ways the South could have won the Civil War.

1. 30 years of guerrilla warfare.

2. Immediate attack by both armies of Virginia on Harper's Ferry; followup attacks on Baltimore by Jackson and Johnson on Harrisburg with the destruction of Fremont's army between them; rapid seizure of Philadelphia by Johnston and move against Charleston VW by Jackson, with a small force under Beauregard in Richmond (this force would move against Washington if the AoP left there; seizure of Pittsburg, Columbus by Johnston; converging attack on Cincinnati by both; meanwhile AS Johnston holds fortified Chattanooga and Pemberton same in Memphis to block Buell and the Western armies, with small forces in New Orleans, Charleston SC and Norfolk to prevent sea invasions;
combined armies of Johnston and Jackson seize Louisville and then Paducah, isolating Buell facing Johnston in Chattanooga; Jackson moves on StLouis while JE Johnston moves on Indianapolis and Springfield; if Buell tries to move, AS Johnston attacks Nashville; Jackson, JE Johnson, AS Johnston converge to attack Buell in Kentucky or northern Tennessee; with defeat of Buell Union resistance collapses and Washington is starved into surrender.

3. wait 140 years.

4. Free the slaves. This would likely have brought British, maybe French intervention in support of the Confederacy. And Grandfather Abraham, no fool he, would have capitulated to Southern Independence faster than you could say "The Trent Affair".

Capt. Coxetter

[unionblue]

Capt. Coxetter,

'Free the slaves.'

Now that suggestion has some real merit! I wonder what the war would have been like if that action had been taken.

Sincerely,
Unionblue