What have we forgotten?

[nicholasraphael]

Hi all, my name is Nic, and I'm an Australian teenager with a deep passion for American civil war history, and I would be interested in finding out your opinions on which aspects of the history of the Civil War have we neglected, and what niche topics deserve further exploration. I love writing as a hobby, and I'm searching for a slightly left-field topic to focus on for a personal project. Thanks!

 

[Booner]

Welcome to the forum!
After studying the war in general for years, I now spend my efforts in trying to understand what happened locally. For me it's the war in Missouri, starting with "Bleeding Kansas in the 1850's through the 1870's or so, with the end of the "James Gang"
There's enough to study in that time period to last me the rest of my life.

 

[kevikens]

My reading of the Civil War is that few writers or historians or buffs understand the financial aspects of that war, from authors talking about five cent items reckoned as "nickels" to well respected authors thinking, and writing that when gold was pegged at 175 it was priced at $175 per ounce. Ask the average person how Union troops were paid, that is what the medium of payment was during the first six months of the war and I'll bet it's something that he does not know or ever even thought about. I think it would be worthwhile to further study the monetary aspects of the war.

 

[Bruce Vail]

In a similar post sometime back somebody replied that the subject of Civil War espionage seemed undercovered.

I'm not sure what is available on this subject, but it is a naturally intriguing subject.

 

[Patrick H]

Hi, Nic, and welcome from Missouri in the Trans Mississippi theater. You've posed a VERY interesting line of discussion for topics here. I will tell you that I like topics dealing with the war in Missouri (not often discussed at length here). But this is your introductory thread, so permit me to ask: What is YOUR great niche interest? Whatever it is, you will find lots of friends here.

 

[leftyhunter]

Hi all, my name is Nic, and I'm an Australian teenager with a deep passion for American civil war history, and I would be interested in finding out your opinions on which aspects of the history of the Civil War have we neglected, and what niche topics deserve further exploration. I love writing as a hobby, and I'm searching for a slightly left-field topic to focus on for a personal project. Thanks!

Untill recently say the last 20 plus years not much attention was focused on the role of Southern Unionists. Southern Unionists where white people who opposed the Confederacy and fought it several ways. Many about 110k joined the Union Army, many became Unionist guerrillas such as in the recent movie"Free State Of Jones. I cover guerrilla war in my thread Union vs CSA guerrillas. Their was quite a few deserters from both armies that has recently got more attention.Their was secret anti-Confederate societies in the Confederate states and similar anti-Union societies in the Union states. I am developing a thread "Compare and contrast Union vs Confederate anti-guerrilla operations where I show just how extensive guerrilla war was during the Civil War.
The role of Afro-American resistance to the Confederacy is a relatively recent area of historical study as is the role of women in the Civil War. In recent years more has been noted of the role of Indians in the ACW. We have a thread on the next page where the argument is made that since the Confederates had an Indian Brig.General Stan Waite it was just Confederate hug and kiss for the Indians. I added some sources that it ain't necessarily so.
Leftyhunter

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hi all, my name is Nic, and I'm an Australian teenager with a deep passion for American civil war history, and I would be interested in finding out your opinions on which aspects of the history of the Civil War have we neglected, and what niche topics deserve further exploration. I love writing as a hobby, and I'm searching for a slightly left-field topic to focus on for a personal project. Thanks!

Great question !

I think many have forgotten how advanced society was during the 1860's.
It's easy to think of that time as ancient history without any of the modern technology we enjoy today.

But we underestimate our ancestors.

Just walking through the 1862 " Ironclad" USS Cairo on display at the Vicksburg National Military Park is an example
of the technological advancements of the Victorian Era.

As late as 1990, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers had recognized this fact as seen by their award to this vessel.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/questor-visits-the-uss-cairo-in-vicksburg-ms.538428/

 

[MattL]

This is purely my own perspective, others may disagree. From what I've seen nearly all topics are covered somewhere. If you can think about it there's probably some niche books written about it, research articles, etc. What I do see is two fold:

1) What isn't thought of often in the mainstream of Civil War knowledge, to the typical person
2) What has much less focus

One of the topics I feel falls under both and I've found interesting is Contraband Camps. Former slaves stuck in the void between freedom and slavery and their communities built within that void, including support and exploitation by Northerners.

 

[Pat Young]

One of the topics I feel falls under both and I've found interesting is Contraband Camps. Former slaves stuck in the void between freedom and slavery and there communities built within that void, including support and exploitation by Northerners.

Agreed. The topic of refugees in general is neglected.

 

[nicholasraphael]

Ah, thank you, that is very interesting!

 

[nicholasraphael]

During the July, 1863 Draft Riots in New York City, Winston Churchill's maternal grandfather Jerome helped man a Gatling gun which protected his newspaper's office from the howling mob trying to invade and destroy the loyal-to-the-administration press.

That is truly fascinating! I knew his mothers side was American, but had no idea of a civil war connection - as an avid Churchill lover, I find that deeply fascinating - thank you for bringing it to my attention!

 

[nicholasraphael]

Howdy and welcome from Texas!

...I'm surprised no one has attempted to write a biography on him.

Thank you for your welcome!

Has nobody really ever tried to write a biography at all?

 

[nicholasraphael]

There were lots of battles fought around salt, an amazingly important article. One who knows a great deal about these very important but almost unknown battles is @1SGDan .

As in, salt as a resource? How important was salt? How much of an exaggeration would it be to describe salt to the civil war as crude oil to the gulf war? An enormous exaggeration, or a slight one?

 

[Pat Young]

As in, salt as a resource? How important was salt? How much of an exaggeration would it be to describe salt to the civil war as crude oil to the gulf war? An enormous exaggeration, or a slight one?

The crude oil of the Civil War was cotton. Salt was very important to the armies that needed to preserve foods for armies far from food sources.

 

[nicholasraphael]

The crude oil of the Civil War was cotton. Salt was very important to the armies that needed to preserve foods for armies far from food sources.

Thankyou very much!

 

[nicholasraphael]

Hi, Nic, and welcome from Missouri in the Trans Mississippi theater. You've posed a VERY interesting line of discussion for topics here. I will tell you that I like topics dealing with the war in Missouri (not often discussed at length here). But this is your introductory thread, so permit me to ask: What is YOUR great niche interest? Whatever it is, you will find lots of friends here.

My great niche interest is in the social and political context of the conflict, and the factors which led to the worsening relations between "North" and "South," but I'm actually more interested in the legacy of the Civil War in American society, and in particular assessing the validity or invalidity of the 'Lost Cause' school of historical thought. I find that these themes transcend the raw historical data and almost enter the realm of philosophy, and provide endless material for thought and discussion, which is always great fun!

Thanks for your welcome!

 

[nicholasraphael]

I cover guerrilla war in my thread Union vs CSA guerrillas...and similar anti-Union societies in the Union states. I am developing a thread "Compare and contrast Union vs Confederate anti-guerrilla operations where I show just how extensive guerrilla war was during the Civil War...
The role of Afro-American resistance to the Confederacy is a relatively recent area of historical study as is the role of women in the Civil War. In recent years more has been noted of the role of Indians in the ACW. We have a thread on the next page where the argument is made that since the Confederates had an Indian Brig.General Stan Waite it was just Confederate hug and kiss for the Indians. I added some sources that it ain't necessarily so.
Leftyhunter

That's true! I completely forgot about that! I was aware of the "Free State of Jones," and of the presence of similar Union sympathisers, but I had never considered the reverse in the North. That is so fascinating! With regards to this element of resistance, would you be able to advise a starting point for a newcomer to begin exploring this topic?

 

[leftyhunter]

That's true! I completely forgot about that! I was aware of the "Free State of Jones," and of the presence of similar Union sympathisers, but I had never considered the reverse in the North. That is so fascinating! With regards to this element of resistance, would you be able to advise a starting point for a newcomer to begin exploring this topic?

A great book is "the savage conflict the decisive role of guerrillas in the Civil War" Daniel Sutherland University of North Carolina Press. Sutherland explores guerrilla warfare on both sides.
On the COIN war in Missouri I like "Jesse James last rebel of the Civil War " T.J. Stiles and "Guerrilla hunters of Civil War Missouri" Sam Erwin. Bruce Nickols Guerrilla War in Missouri series are very good.
In the Union states Missouri had by far the most guerrilla war but their was significant Confederate guerrilla warfare in Kentucky and West Virginia. I am sure their are good books about that but those state conflicts are not as well known as Missouri.
All Confederate States had guerrilla resistance to the Union and Southern Unionists fought them in every state although limited in South Carolina.
A great book on Unionists resisting the Confederacy is "Bitterly Divided the Souths inner Civil War " David Williams thepress.com
Their was a bit of armed resistance in the Little Dixie region of Southern Illinois.
Pplus the threads I mentioned.
Sutherland has a new book on Unionist guerrillas "war on the home front"

Thst should get you started it's a fascinating subject.
Leftyhunter

 

[diane]

As in, salt as a resource? How important was salt? How much of an exaggeration would it be to describe salt to the civil war as crude oil to the gulf war? An enormous exaggeration, or a slight one?

The importance of salt can't be exaggerated! As well as food preservation it was also used to cure leather. Part of the reason for fighting over the area around Bowling Green KY was salt, and there were also contests about it in Louisiana and Georgia. Here are two threads on operations regarding salt in Southwest Virginia and in Florida:

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/lead-salt-and-the-fight-for-southwest-virginia.16310/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-salt-wars.93597/#post-778475

 

[leftyhunter]

As in, salt as a resource? How important was salt? How much of an exaggeration would it be to describe salt to the civil war as crude oil to the gulf war? An enormous exaggeration, or a slight one?

The U.S. Navy and 2nd Florida Cavalry regiment Union spent a lot of time attacking salt works on the Florida Coast.
Leftyhunter

 

[Yankeedave]

Battle of saltville va.