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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers J. B. Ulmer and Sidney Johnston at Shiloh (4/6/1862) - Nov 19th, 2003
www.tsha.utexas.edu ^
Posted on 11/19/2003 12:00:15 AM PST by SAMWolf
click here to read article
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To: colorado tanker
Even with Hitler's "generalship" and Ultra we still had a hard time beating the Germans. I'd hate to think what would have happened had the leadership been more competent.
61
posted on
11/19/2003 10:46:13 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.)
To: SAMWolf; colorado tanker; Johnny Gage
I didn't post all of this article, the link is at the bottom.
SNIP
Antietam was a masterpiece of defense. That's accurate if you look only at the battlefield," Frye said. "But if you consider the consequences of Antietam and Lee's failure to gain or earn time for Confederate independence, then perhaps Antietam should be viewed as Lee's greatest mistake."
One of the main reasons Lee made his first invastion onto northern soil on Sept. 4, 1862, was to gain time for Confederate independence, Frye said.
Here's why:
Politics - It was a congressional election year. The Democrats, who favored peace, were a minority in both the Senate and House. By maintaining a Confederate presence on northern soil, the Democrats may have gained enough votes to oust the Republican majority in the House and push for an end to the war.
Diplomatic recognition - At no time during the Civil War were England and France closer to recognizing the Confederacy as an independent nation than in the fall of 1862. By keeping a presence in the North, Lee could have proved to the two world powers that the Confedercy was determined to become its own country. Diplomatic recognition would likely have brought foreign aid to the South and doomed President Lincoln's goal to reunite the country.
Harvest - September and October marked the biggest harvest months in the Shenandoah Valley. Maintaining an army in the North would prevent Union armies from occupying Virginia, allowing the farmers to gather their harvest to feed the Confederate during the winter and spring of 1863.
Fear - The invasion into Maryland frightened many Northerners since it brought the war into their front yards. Northerners knew that their personal property was now at risk and that they could suffer the consequences of war. "In wartime, fear is the greatest weapon," Frye said.
Lincoln administration - Until now, the war effort had not received unanimous support in the North. The will of the people to continue the war was tenuous. "By invading the North, Lee allowed the people of the North to further question and doubt the Lincoln adminstration's capability to bring victory," Frye said.
Relieve Virginia of enemy occupation - Virginia had been ocupied by Union forces since the spring of 1861. By invading the North, Lee was able to shift the Union's strategy from invading the South to defending the North. "This relieved Virginia of virtually all Union soldiers on Old Dominion soil," he said.
Frye said Lee needed time to accomplish all six objectives, something he lost when he chose to fight.
"None of these objectives were accomplished when Lee decided to fight at Antietam," Frye said.
The Sept. 17, 1862, battle ended the invasion and later swayed the election in the House to the Republicans since it was seen as a Union victory.
Union troops, in pursuit of a retreating Lee, occupied Virginia in October 1862. That made it harder for local farmers to harvest and also dissipated the fear of Northerners who worried about the invasion.
Lincoln seized the moment to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which injected slavery into the war as an offical government position.
England and France never seriously considered recognizing the South after Antietam, primarily because they didn't want to get involved in the moral issue of slavery.
When Lee left Maryland just 14 days after crossing the Potomac, he lost valuable time he needed for the Confederacy to survive, Frye said.
Time is usually on the side of the underdog.
SNIP
Frye: Antietam was Lee's greatest mistake
62
posted on
11/19/2003 11:02:51 AM PST
by
SCDogPapa
(In Dixie Land I'll take my stand to live and die in Dixie)
To: SCDogPapa
Good Article.
My son used that one as part of his research into a term paper he did.
63
posted on
11/19/2003 11:09:12 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.)
To: colorado tanker
Good afternoon tanker. The PC crowd will never stamp out the heritage of the South. I don't believe it is possible.
64
posted on
11/19/2003 11:10:58 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf
portland is going to shut downHow much are you expecting if you have an inch now?
65
posted on
11/19/2003 11:12:13 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: snippy_about_it
We're up to about 2 to 3 inches and it's still coming down.
66
posted on
11/19/2003 11:13:53 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.)
To: SAMWolf
oh my!!
67
posted on
11/19/2003 11:17:41 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SCDogPapa
Excellent article, Snippy. It certainly would support the view that Antietam was the decisive battle of the War.
I wonder if the Presidents who use Camp David have visited the battlefield, which is in the same area?
68
posted on
11/19/2003 11:25:52 AM PST
by
colorado tanker
("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
To: SCDogPapa
Oops, that's thanks to you for the excellent article.
69
posted on
11/19/2003 11:31:26 AM PST
by
colorado tanker
("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
To: colorado tanker
LOL. I'm glad to see I'm always on your mind. :)
70
posted on
11/19/2003 2:10:18 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: w_over_w
Good afternoon w/w.
We sure can be thankful for the preservation of these historical journals
Isn't it wonderful we have these first hand accounts. Precious!
71
posted on
11/19/2003 2:12:32 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: stainlessbanner
..Yanks and Rebs trade tobacco for coffee along the river.Darn I wish I could remember the thread we ran where this similar story was posted as a first hand account from a soldier's diary. I'll have to look around.
72
posted on
11/19/2003 2:14:36 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf
Thanks SAM for this expansion on Valin's post. Only 6000 returned...more staggering numbers regardless of who they were.
73
posted on
11/19/2003 2:19:54 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf
A lot of their good use of language had to do with what they were reading, and the fact that they were reading. Not so much of that nowadays.
74
posted on
11/19/2003 2:21:20 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; bentfeather; Darksheare; Johnny Gage; Light Speed; Samwise; ...
Good evening all at the Foxhole! Howdy troops, veterans, and military family members!
THANK YOU for serving the USA!
75
posted on
11/19/2003 2:59:33 PM PST
by
radu
(May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
To: radu
Good evening radu.
76
posted on
11/19/2003 3:16:49 PM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: radu
Have a wonderful evening radu.
77
posted on
11/19/2003 3:17:35 PM PST
by
Soaring Feather
(I have a sword in my hand. I am a poet bentfeather)
To: radu
Hi Radu.!
78
posted on
11/19/2003 4:35:59 PM PST
by
SAMWolf
(I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.)
To: snippy_about_it
Evening FRiends. Check this out:
Operation Christmas CardThe American Legion Lady's Aux I belong to is gathering NEW Christmas cards to send to our Troops so that they can have Christmas cards to send to their Loved Ones and friends as they are not a common item in Iraq or Afghanistan.
79
posted on
11/19/2003 5:46:39 PM PST
by
GailA
(Millington Rally for America after action http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/872519/posts)
To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; AntiJen; SpookBrat; MistyCA; PhilDragoo; All
Evening friends. Good thread, Sam, thanks.
80
posted on
11/19/2003 5:48:49 PM PST
by
Victoria Delsoul
(I love the smell of winning, the taste of victory, and the joy of each glorious triumph)
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