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!

 

[Patrick H]

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!

You are sure to have some excellent discussions here!

 

[major bill]

One thing over looked is the effect the Civil War had on industrization. For example a gun manufacturer made a couple of hundred rifles a month. He use business practices that match this output. Suddenly the government wants a thousand rifle a week. New building are built and new workers hired. But there is more to it than this. The owner now runs a much bigger operation and has to adapt new operational and management skills. These new skills were use after the war.

 

[Yankeedave]

There also was a change in that parts were made interchangeable on a large scale.

 

[civilken]

what would have happened if the norms just worked on it the Anaconda plan and pull embargoes of the South and all their goods how long would it take to stave out the South and could iit be done.

 

[leftyhunter]

what would have happened if the norms just worked on it the Anaconda plan and pull embargoes of the South and all their goods how long would it take to stave out the South and could iit be done.

An Anconda exclusive plan does not prevent Confederate army attacks on Union soil which happened more then a few times. The Union had the right strategy although implementation was a bit spoty.
Leftyhunter

 

[MattL]

One thing over looked is the effect the Civil War had on industrization. For example a gun manufacturer made a couple of hundred rifles a month. He use business practices that match this output. Suddenly the government wants a thousand rifle a week. New building are built and new workers hired. But there is more to it than this. The owner now runs a much bigger operation and has to adapt new operational and management skills. These new skills were use after the war.

A very good point. A war is effectively a massive economic stimulus as well as exaggerating the typical pressures on production and techniques to meet the new demand.

Related, though not exactly the same topic, is the abolition efforts combined with women taking up more significant roles in both absent of men who were off to war as well as sheer demand, all laying a groundwork for women's suffrage and probably other political movements.

 

[nicholasraphael]

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

Fantastic - cheers!

 

[nicholasraphael]

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

How would we fix that? Can you recommend a starting point for research?

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

I would be interested in finding out your opinions on which aspects of the history of the Civil War have we neglected

I would say the average, dirty, grunt that did all the fighting. Many Americans these days get the armchair perspective of the war, but you don't get much out of it at all if you are unaware about what is not on the map and paper. When you learn what the soldiers have been through, it is SO much easier picturing different scenarios in your mind. As a reenactor, I will say long marches over rough terrain can be very exhausting especially with a lot of gear. I still can't figure out the brutes of Jackson's "foot cavalry," I just can't comprehend it. Enjoy.

 

[leftyhunter]

I would say the average, dirty, grunt that did all the fighting. Many Americans these days get the armchair perspective of the war, but you don't get much out of it at all if you are unaware about what is not on the map and paper. When you learn what the soldiers have been through, it is SO much easier picturing different scenarios in your mind. As a reenactor, I will say long marches over rough terrain can be very exhausting especially with a lot of gear. I still can't figure out the brutes of Jackson's "foot cavalry," I just can't comprehend it. Enjoy.

True being a grunt is no fun but their is a fair amount of well written biographies from grunts on both sides. Sam Watkins"Company Atch on the Confederate side and Elish Hunt Rhodes "All for the Union" being the most famous two but their are others. I like Evan Fletchers "Rebel Front and Rear" and the lesser known "A Southern Boy in Blue the memoirs of Marcus Woodcock 6th Kentucky US Volunteers. Both Watkins and Woodcock where from Tn but fought on opposite sides.
The Autobiography of Samual Hilderbrand edited by Kirby Ross is an excellent first hand view of a Confederate Guerrilla.
Leftyhunter

 

[Yankeedave]

I would say the average, dirty, grunt that did all the fighting. Many Americans these days get the armchair perspective of the war, but you don't get much out of it at all if you are unaware about what is not on the map and paper. When you learn what the soldiers have been through, it is SO much easier picturing different scenarios in your mind. As a reenactor, I will say long marches over rough terrain can be very exhausting especially with a lot of gear. I still can't figure out the brutes of Jackson's "foot cavalry," I just can't comprehend it. Enjoy.

We did a couple of 50 kilometers in 15 hours loaded down while in the army. bring extra socks.

 

[AUG]

How would we fix that? Can you recommend a starting point for research?

Well I'm no historian, but Donald S. Frazier's book on the New Mexico Campaign, Blood and Treasure, and his ongoing series on the war in Louisiana are bringing some of Green and his cavalrymen's actions to light. His books are a good starting point. Also Recollections of the Sibley Brigade by Jerry Thompson and Bloody Valverde by John Taylor are both good ones on the New Mexico Campaign.

Though I would still like to know more about Green's life leading up to the ACW. By 1861 Green was already seen as a prominent figure and legendary Texan who had even fought for Texas independence at San Jacinto, and served in a number of conflicts thereafter including the Mexican War. He was certainly famous at the time but is largely unknown to most now, even in Texas, mainly because he fought in a number of obscure battles and campaigns throughout the Trans-Mississippi, and of course didn't make it out alive to write his own autobiography.