Civil War History - The South & Western TheatersCheck this forum for all South and Western Theater Questions. Included are the Western, Pacific, Trans-Mississippi, & Lower Seaboard and Gulf Approach Theaters.
Yes, it's all about the individual interests of the reader/researcher. Since my great-grandfather fought in the western theater of the war, that's where my own greatest interest rests. I'm still eager to learn more about the eastern theater, of course, but it seems that authors and the cinema have historically given disproportionate attention to these events. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that the average American doesn't know a single thing about the war aside from what occurred on the eastern front. Discount the campaign at Vicksburg/Mobile, and I'd guess that 95% would be unable to name one of the other battles.
__________________ Chaplain Rob Stroud, USAF Son of SgtMaj Chuck Stroud, USMC Grandson of Private Charles Stroud, USA Great-Grandson of Corporal Chauncey Stroud, Fifth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
It should go without saying that although I am a proud member of the military, my posts in no way reflect the official policies of the USAF or the United States government.
Hi Sam. I kind of know what you're talking about. Being from Indiana my interest lies mostly with the clashes between the AOP and ANV. I'm not sure really why that is. I've always wanted to live smack in the middle of the Old Dominion so that I could have easy access to all the big scrapes.
As far as the west in the CW I've always enjoyed reading about the battles on the Mississippi, such as Island No. 10 and New Orleans, Vicksburg. Plus the Red River Campaign really captured my interest as well.
Maybe if I were from Virginia I'd be more interested in the western battles.?
Good thread here and everybodys got good posts.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
This was mostly because most of the newspaper industry was located in the East, especially in New York City.
So for several reasons, most attention was on the war in the East.
- It was waged between Richmond and Washington, and it was closer to New York
- The perception that the prime objective was to capture Richmond
- Correspondents were fewer in the West, and communications from West to East were often unreliable.
- others
I have to take responsibility for this, as I started the thread. My thought was that stuff west of the Mississippi was not of particular interest to me, as a personal opinion. I was justifiably taken to the wood shed on that. However, I still believe that the stuff east of the big river, yet of the West was the most interesting and integral to the outcome of the war.
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
I have to take responsibility for this, as I started the thread. My thought was that stuff west of the Mississippi was not of particular interest to me, as a personal opinion. I was justifiably taken to the wood shed on that. However, I still believe that the stuff east of the big river, yet of the West was the most interesting and integral to the outcome of the war.
In reality what happened west of the Mississippi had little effect on the war. Once St. Louis and Vicksburg were secured the rest of what happened was insignificant to the big picture. Unfortunatly many people died in the partisan fighting that went on in primarily Missouri and Kansas. Nasty stuff, mostly murder IMO.
Rick
__________________ "We made a great mistake in the beginning of our struggle.... We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and all our best generals to edit the newspapers"
- Robert E. Lee
The Battle Flag of The Madison Light Artillery (Louisiana) MOODY'S BATTERY - 24 Pound Howitzers
Alexander's Battalion
Longstreets Corps
Sam Grant - Personally, I've no problem if you or anyone else isn't interested in a particular theatre or battle. I've absolutely no interest in the slave issue or the first year of the war. I've no interest in Jackson's brilliant Valley Campaign or anything that happened in modern West Virginia. The great thing of the Civil War, if such a horrible thing can be called great, is that it left us plenty of things to read about. Tennis matches or horse racing in the 19th Century has no appeal for me.
My interests are all over the map and I'm not entirely sure why. Researching some of my ancestors' units led to an interest in the Trans-Mississippi as well as operations in The Appalachians. One way or another I've picked up a certain affinity for the Charleston operations as well.
Of course I like the big battles, both in the East and West, although for somone living in Virginia I'm probably not as into the big AOP/ANV fights as one would guess.
That being said, most of my reading is determined by the availability of books. I probably read more on the AOP/ANV than any other subject simply because that is what most books are written on. If I had the money to pick and choose the exact books I want, maybe my reading list would be different but to really increase my book collection I mostly buy used.
Respectfully
__________________ Up men, and to your post! And let no man forget today that you are from old Virginia!
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