Featured What CW myth would you like to correct most?

[CSA Today]

As the south and the north were both members of one nation, the point is moot., Nathanial Green in his letters to G. Washington complained incessantly about the challenges he faces getting to Southerners to stand and fight the British.
Of course there is that famous Southern Col. Sanders.

Green’s big problem was getting recruits for his rebel army in the Carolinas and Georgia. Except for elements of the wealthy classes who had a financial interest in independence, the Scot-Irish who had a gripe against England going back to Ulster, and to a degree the descendants of French Huguenots of coastal South Carolina (Francis Marion), Southerners were either largely Loyalists or had no interest in the war.

Despite this, the war for independence was going nowhere until it moved south and French intervention.

 

[Oladowski]

This maybe too broad, but I would suggest the "Gods and Generals" myth. All CSA generals were not knights in shinning armor or gods and all USA generals were not hard drinking, cussing, louts.

It goes without saying. However I believe that particular myth pertains and conveys a massage about general attitude and behaviour of the union army towards confederate civilians and confederate property.

 

[TerryB]

That Wheeler was incompetent and that his troops were an undisciplined gang of looters, etc.

 

[Petethegreek]

while there are many to choose from, one that I have recently learned is that the Emancipation Proclamation was not Booth's ultimate reason for assassinating Lincoln. It is well documented that Booth was present outside during a speech the President made from his bedroom window in which the president suggested blacks should be extended the right to vote. This was the last straw for Booth and the motivating for the assassination which occurred not much later.

 

[Rio Bravo]

The Myth about the lack of footware in the C.S.A Army did really have a serious impact on it's performance. The strategy of Lee, Longstreet & A.P. Hill depended on fast flanking marches which ruined shoes & boots at a fast rate. Many C.S.A. Soldiers had to be left behind on the marches or excluded from the battlefield for lack of shoes ! This was so severe at Antietam in 1862, that it has been suggested that lack of shoes- and consequent lack of men- cost Lee a Victory. The authorities had to take 2,000 Men out of the army to concentrate on nothing but making shoes !

 

[rhettbutler1865]

The Myth about the lack of footware in the C.S.A Army did really have a serious impact on it's performance. The strategy of Lee, Longstreet & A.P. Hill depended on fast flanking marches which ruined shoes & boots at a fast rate. Many C.S.A. Soldiers had to be left behind on the marches or excluded from the battlefield for lack of shoes ! This was so severe at Antietam in 1862, that it has been suggested that lack of shoes- and consequent lack of men- cost Lee a Victory. The authorities had to take 2,000 Men out of the army to concentrate on nothing but making shoes !

I like it and agree...just wondering where you found the "2,000 men out of the army...making shoes?"

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

So many to choose from... in my own area of current (and relatively minor) interest there are two that grate. First, that so many internet sites copy a photo of the USS General Lyon (a small steamer, sidewheel) and declare it to be the USTA screw steamer General Lyon (when a moment's research shows that to be rubbish). Secondly that one Raines by name survived the disaster, spent 10 years on a desert island (one of billions between Wilmington and London) and was finally rescued by a non-existent British ship and transported to London's Guy's Hospital. It's not much tougher than the photo thing to search out the USA/UK government debunking of the entire thing as a hoax. These are indeed minor issues and not at all open to debate.

One of the bigger myths that I'd like to see scotched is that Meade is the only general of the national army to defeat Stonewall Jackson and Robert E Lee. Oh wait - he was! (Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and in the almost year long campaign carrying Grant along).

 

[CSA Today]

So many to choose from... in my own area of current (and relatively minor) interest there are two that grate. First, that so many internet sites copy a photo of the USS General Lyon (a small steamer, sidewheel) and declare it to be the USTA screw steamer General Lyon (when a moment's research shows that to be rubbish). Secondly that one Raines by name survived the disaster, spent 10 years on a desert island (one of billions between Wilmington and London) and was finally rescued by a non-existent British ship and transported to London's Guy's Hospital. It's not much tougher than the photo thing to search out the USA/UK government debunking of the entire thing as a hoax. These are indeed minor issues and not at all open to debate.

One of the bigger myths that I'd like to see scotched is that Meade is the only general of the national army to defeat Stonewall Jackson and Robert E Lee. Oh wait - he was! (Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and in the almost year long campaign carrying Grant along).

Has someone claimed Meade defeated Stonewall Jackson?

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

Yes - history. Meade broke Jackson's line at Fredericksburg, gave him a good hiding and was all set to end the entire war when he had to pull back owing to pusillanimous generalship in the rear areas. As stated, not really a myth after all but the plain unvarnished truth!

Right, boys and girls? Right? Huh? No?

 

[CSA Today]

Yes - history. Meade broke Jackson's line at Fredericksburg, gave him a good hiding and was all set to end the entire war when he had to pull back owing to pusillanimous generalship in the rear areas. As stated, not really a myth after all but the plain unvarnished truth!

Right, boys and girls? Right? Huh? No?

I just learned something new -- Meade won the Battle of Fredericksburg. Now tell us about the thrashing Meade gave Jackson at Gettysburg.

 

[ole]

I just learned something new -- Meade won the Battle of Fredericksburg.

You well know that isn't what he said

 

[CSA Today]

You well know that isn't what he said

My mistake, he actually said that Meade "was all set to end the entire war."

 

[ole]

My mistake, he actually said that Meade "was all set to end the entire war."

Keep it up. Our new members haven't yet made up their minds about how important you are.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

My mistake, he actually said that Meade "was all set to end the entire war.... Now tell us about the thrashing Meade gave Jackson at Gettysburg

Ah, by diligent application of reading skills, you can probably work out that my post referred to Jackson at Fredericksburg and Lee at Gettysburg (and thereafter). I suppose one must almost give McClellan partial credit for Antietam (against both of 'em, too) but, well facts is facts and Lee was trounced by Meade at that small Pennsylvanian college town.... after which it was a loooooooooong mopping up exercise. Sheridan helped a bit at the end.

 

[CSA Today]

Keep it up. Our new members haven't yet made up their minds about how important you are.

But then again, there is always you.

 

[CSA Today]

My mistake, he actually said that Meade "was all set to end the entire war.... Now tell us about the thrashing Meade gave Jackson at Gettysburg

Ah, by diligent application of reading skills, you can probably work out that my post referred to Jackson at Fredericksburg and Lee at Gettysburg (and thereafter). I suppose one must almost give McClellan partial credit for Antietam (against both of 'em, too) but, well facts is facts and Lee was trounced by Meade at that small Pennsylvanian college town.... after which it was a loooooooooong mopping up exercise. Sheridan helped a bit at the end.

You did write : “One of the bigger myths that I'd like to see scotched is that Meade is the only general of the national army to defeat Stonewall Jackson and Robert E Lee. Oh wait - he was! (Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and in the in the almost year long campaign carrying Grant along).”

I’ll leave it to Ole to explain what you meant by the “in the almost year long campaign carrying Grant along).”

 

[ole]

You did write : “One of the bigger myths that I'd like to see scotched is that Meade is the only general of the national army to defeat Stonewall Jackson and Robert E Lee. Oh wait - he was! (Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and in the in the almost year long campaign carrying Grant along).”

I’ll leave it to Ole to explain what you meant by the “in the almost year long campaign carrying Grant along).”

It was quite clear to me.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

Me too! He said enthusiastically and somewhat breathlessly. Hey, CSA today - see that was supposed to be a joke. The myth is that Meade was a rubbish general - not to those who know and understand these things of course; but the hoi polloi kinda believe it and by their posts shall ye know them. So, no worries. Here's one of my favourite Meade quotes:

...the Herald is constantly harping on the assertion that Gettysburg was fought by the corps commanders and the common soldiers, and that no generalship was displayed. I suppose after a while it will be discovered I was not at Gettysburg at all!​

 

[nitrofd]

Green’s big problem was getting recruits for his rebel army in the Carolinas and Georgia. Except for elements of the wealthy classes who had a financial interest in independence, the Scot-Irish who had a gripe against England going back to Ulster, and to a degree the descendants of French Huguenots of coastal South Carolina (Francis Marion), Southerners were either largely Loyalists or had no interest in the war.

Despite this, the war for independence was going nowhere until it moved south and French intervention.

Greene may have had a problem getting recruits for the continental army but the southern militia were always ready for a fight and THEY proved that on two major occasions the being kings mountain 10/7/80 and then again at the cowpens on 1/17/81.the southern militia stopped the British plans cold which chased towards yorktown.

 

[CSA Today]

Greene may have had a problem getting recruits for the continental army but the southern militia were always ready for a fight and THEY proved that on two major occasions the being kings mountain 10/7/80 and then again at the cowpens on 1/17/81.the southern militia stopped the British plans cold which chased towards yorktown.

It is interesting that, despite it all, the first war for independence ended in the South.