It was hopeless the very second South Carolina seceded from the Union.
Sam Houston knew this, Alexander Stephens knew this, Toombs knew this, Sherman knew this, along with others.
The minute a free and fair election under the US Constitution was disputed and ignored, it was too late.
The instant Confederate commissioners showed up in Washington, D.C. only wanting recognition before negotiation, it was too late.
The day Southern States began seizing US forts, arsenals, payrolls, mints, ships, custom houses, etc., it was too late.
The day civilian resupply ships were fired on, it was too late.
The day US soldiers were taken prisoner, it was too late.
LONG before Ft. Sumter was fired on, it was way too late for negotiation.
Because, in the end, the South wanted no negotiation, it wanted capitulation.
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