[Skywise]

Interesting. Makes you wonder if Lincoln really WAS trying to hold the union together or afraid that the south would overpower it and struck first.

[Bull Snipe]

The South lacked the finances, manpower, equipment, and industrial capacity to overpower the United States, let alone try and conquer South America or a part of it. The may have had a shot at some of the islands in the Caribbean.

[shanover]

Makes you wonder if Lincoln really WAS trying to hold the union together or afraid that the south would overpower it and struck first.

I never once in my life ever thought of that. The South did have very capable generals. Maybe the problem was "President" Davis of the Confederacy tried to act like a general and hampered General Lee.