[lentulusgracchus]

Something that the Union strategy made impossible. By very early in 1862 the south was almost completely cut in half. With but one or two exceptions there was no place where the south could cross the Mississippi and link up with rail lines. By mid-1863 that was gone.

Well, you've outlined the problem in the West. As history saw, the Confederate government didn't come up with a solution for it -- didn't even try hard, until Chickamauga, to effect some check to the Union's progress.

And as I said, significant resources sat idle in Texas, protecting rice and sugar-cane fields.

[Non-Sequitur]

Well, you've outlined the problem in the West. As history saw, the Confederate government didn't come up with a solution for it -- didn't even try hard, until Chickamauga, to effect some check to the Union's progress.

I would disagree that the south didn't even try, they just kept getting whipped. At Iuka, at Perryville, at Stone River, at Shiloh, at Memphis and New Orleans and Fort Donalson, The south had too much border to defend and too few troops and competent leaders to defend it.