Common Misconceptions/Myths

[weasel]

As a relatively junior student of the War there's a seemingly never-ending parade of myths, misinterpretations, false summations, etc (collectively, 'myth'). Over time one version of a story may be accepted as canonical but then a generation later that changes. Out of your studies of the war and environs, what myth of the War would you most like to snap your fingers and remove from the collective memory of humanity? What do you think has been the most destructive?

 

[Tennis]

As a relatively junior student of the War there's a seemingly never-ending parade of myths, misinterpretations, false summations, etc (collectively, 'myth'). Over time one version of a story may be accepted as canonical but then a generation later that changes. Out of your studies of the war and environs, what myth of the War would you most like to snap your fingers and remove from the collective memory of humanity? What do you think has been the most destructive?

I know more than a few University historians who like to "quote" Lincoln' infamous statement on Grant, whiskey, and other generals.

The usual quote is a myth, ….

See
Sears, Stephen W., Lincoln's Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac, 618.

"A widely circulated story had Lincoln where Grant got his liquor, so he could send some to his other generals. A good story, Lincoln said when asked about it, but not one of his. 'He supposed it was charged to him to give it currency.'

 

[leftyhunter]

I know more than a few University historians who like to "quote" Lincoln' infamous statement on Grant, whiskey, and other generals.

The usual quote is a myth, ….

See
Sears, Stephen W., Lincoln's Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac, 618.

"A widely circulated story had Lincoln where Grant got his liquor, so he could send some to his other generals. A good story, Lincoln said when asked about it, but not one of his. 'He supposed it was charged to him to give it currency.'

Arguably though it did express Lincoln's thoughts on the subject for Lincoln chose Grant to be the highest ranked general next to Henry Halleck.
Leftyhunter

 

[Tennis]

Arguably though it did express Lincoln's thoughts on the subject for Lincoln chose Grant to be the highest ranked general next to Henry Halleck.
Leftyhunter

Yes to thoughts.

Grant, as a Lieutenant General outranked Halleck

 

[Tennis]

Congress had restored the rank of Lieutenant General, just for Grant

 

[Tennis]

I know more than a few University historians who like to "quote" Lincoln' infamous statement on Grant, whiskey, and other generals.

The usual quote is a myth, ….

See
Sears, Stephen W., Lincoln's Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac, 618.

"A widely circulated story had Lincoln where Grant got his liquor, so he could send some to his other generals. A good story, Lincoln said when asked about it, but not one of his. 'He supposed it was charged to him to give it currency.'

Probably a good idea to clarify myths every so often

 

[leftyhunter]

As a relatively junior student of the War there's a seemingly never-ending parade of myths, misinterpretations, false summations, etc (collectively, 'myth'). Over time one version of a story may be accepted as canonical but then a generation later that changes. Out of your studies of the war and environs, what myth of the War would you most like to snap your fingers and remove from the collective memory of humanity? What do you think has been the most destructive?

1. The Confedrate soldier "fought to protect his home".
The federal government only siezed one man's property and that was Robert E. Lee's plantation at Arlington and Lee's family was compensated for the property.
2. African Americans loved being slaves and we're deliriously happy to be slaves.
3. The Confedracy had substantial amounts of African American soldiers.
4. Confederate's loved Indians and never harmed a hair on their heads.
Leftyhunter

 

[Bruce Vail]

As a relatively junior student of the War there's a seemingly never-ending parade of myths, misinterpretations, false summations, etc (collectively, 'myth'). Over time one version of a story may be accepted as canonical but then a generation later that changes. Out of your studies of the war and environs, what myth of the War would you most like to snap your fingers and remove from the collective memory of humanity? What do you think has been the most destructive?

That the Confederate soldier fought primarily to protect his home against invasion.

Most, if not all, of the men who enlisted in the Confederate armed forces in 1861 wanted war to establish an independent slaveowner confederation in North America. They had no notion of protecting their little towns and farmsteads from massive Union armies. Instead, they wanted to be part of a revolutionary movement to separate their own communities from the 'Black' Repubican Party-dominated federal government.

Later in the war, the CSA enforced extreme conscription measures to supply its armies with replacements. A good part of the fighting forces of the CSA were conscripts (or near conscripts) who deserted in huge numbers as the CSA began to disintegrate in late 1863.

 

[Rothermel]

'... there's a seemingly never-ending parade of myths, misinterpretations ..."

It's not really Jenny Wade's house !

 

[Tennis]

'... there's a seemingly never-ending parade of myths, misinterpretations ..."

It's not really Jenny Wade's house !

Thanks

 

[eeric]

I know more than a few University historians who like to "quote" Lincoln' infamous statement on Grant, whiskey, and other generals.

The usual quote is a myth, ….

See
Sears, Stephen W., Lincoln's Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac, 618.

"A widely circulated story had Lincoln where Grant got his liquor, so he could send some to his other generals. A good story, Lincoln said when asked about it, but not one of his. 'He supposed it was charged to him to give it currency.'

To bust an alledged myth one needs to have citations....or its another myth : )

 

[CowCavalry]

That the Union went to war to end slavery.

 

[CowCavalry]

The federal government only siezed one man's property and that was Robert E. Lee's plantation at Arlington and Lee's family was compensated for the property.

After a Supreme Court ruling.

from the ruling: " Shall it be said, in the face of all this, and of the acknowledged right of the judiciary to decide in proper cases, statutes which have been passed by both branches of Congress and approved by the President to be unconstitutional, that the courts cannot give a remedy when the citizen has been deprived of his property by force, his estate seized and converted to the use of the government without lawful authority, without process of law, and without compensation, because the President has ordered it and his officers are in possession? If such be the law of this country, it sanctions a tyranny which has no existence in the monarchies of Europe, nor in any other government which has a just claim to well-regulated liberty and the protection of personal rights. "

 

[CowCavalry]

. The Confedrate soldier "fought to protect his home".

Did the revolutionarys of 1776 fight to protect their homes?

 

[leftyhunter]

Did the revolutionarys of 1776 fight to protect their homes?

No for their homes were never threatened before the ARW. The Colonial Rebels fought to live in a Republic not to be ruled by a Monarchy.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

After a Supreme Court ruling.

from the ruling: " Shall it be said, in the face of all this, and of the acknowledged right of the judiciary to decide in proper cases, statutes which have been passed by both branches of Congress and approved by the President to be unconstitutional, that the courts cannot give a remedy when the citizen has been deprived of his property by force, his estate seized and converted to the use of the government without lawful authority, without process of law, and without compensation, because the President has ordered it and his officers are in possession? If such be the law of this country, it sanctions a tyranny which has no existence in the monarchies of Europe, nor in any other government which has a just claim to well-regulated liberty and the protection of personal rights. "

Lee's family still got compensated even though arguably they didn't deserve it but the SCOTUS said they did deserve compensation so they got it.
Lee and the Secessionists weren't fighting to protect their homes but for the right to own people.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

That the Union went to war to end slavery.

Not at first but the US government did end slavery.
Leftyhunter

 

[CowCavalry]

Here we go again.

 

[CowCavalry]

Not at first but the US government did end slavery.
Leftyhunter

And the point was that the myth that they went to war to free slaves would go away.

 

[leftyhunter]

And the point was that the myth that they went to war to free slaves would go away.

Here's the thing the Confedracy went to war to preserve slavery which would of gradually ended if it could not expand. So slavery caused the war and while the original Union goal was to preserve the country in order to do so slavery had to be abolished hence the EP and Thirteenth Amendment.
If slavery had nothing to do with the ACW the Confedracy could of simply abolished slavery,grant full civil rights to all Southeners including Miscegenation laws and then draft all able bodied men including an intergrated military which was nothing new under the sun since it was already done in Latin America.
If the Confedracy would of done all that it probably would be an independent nation.
Leftyhunter