Millitary Recources Used in Costal Deffence

[SouthernRebel772]

I have read alot about the war but have been unable to find any information on this. I have always thought that the South devoted far to many men and matirials to deffending their coast than was called for and which could have been better used on the front lines. So my question is, how many men were devoted by the Confederates to castal deffence, and were they necessary, as far as I can uinderstand they were not, with the exception of the Peninsular Campaign I know of know large yankee movements inland from the coast, which leads to my second question, did the Yankees ever launce a major offensive from the coast outside of the Peninsular?

Post Script. Any good book recomendations on this subject?

Sincerely, Southern Rebel

 

[Borderruffian]

List of Forts:

http://www.civil-war-journeys.org/civil_war_forts.htm

 

[johan_steele]

Hilton Head, Ft Clinch, Jacksonville, Ship Island, New Orleans all fell because of a lack of troops to defend the coast.

 

[wilber6150]

Lee actually thought too many troops were spent on coastal defense, at least in other states then Virginia.. He was always trying to get troops from the coast..

 

[dvrmte]

Lee had to often consider what condition the coastal positions were, before sending or asking for reinforcements. In my research of my ancestors and relatives service in the Confederate army, most all of them served some time on the coast. All that were from NC, GA, and SC, all served initially on their respective coasts before before going to the ANV.

 

[Carronade]

Much of the Union activity along the coast was geared to making the blockade more effective. This included securing places like Port Royal sound as bases for blockading ships and points like Fort Pulaski that could cut off access to southern ports. It was a difficult situation for the Confederacy since the Union concentrate force at whatever time and place they chose to attack; as johan pointed out, their incursions were generally successful. On the other hand the federals generally didn't press far inland, since they relied on their sea lines of communication for support, supply, or reinforcement. I think the principal deterrent to deeper penetrations was the possibility of a rapid Confederate concentration rather than the numbers of troops stationed semi-permanently at any point.

They did press up the Mississippi after capturing New Orleans, but the river was won for Union mainly by the river flotillas fighting their way down, in cooperation with the army. Farragut took a squadron of ocean-going warships as far as Vicksburg, but wasn't able to accomplish significant and returned downriver.

Mobile was a logical next objective after New Orleans; the federals might have done better to go there sooner rather than pressing up the Mississippi or, later, the Red River.

 

[3rd TN Cav USA]

I have a question along these lines;were there any CS regiments stationed as coastal defense that were never used anywhere else?I would think it unlikely but have always wondered.For that matter were there any regiments that served without seeing combat?I apologize for wandering off-topic,just curious.

 

[SouthernRebel772]

Thank you for all the information.