Decisions

[Chiefystyles]

What was the most important decision in the Civil War. Was it Gen. Lee decision for Picketts Charge. Or was it Lincoln's decision to declare the emancipation proclamation. Or was it something else...perhaps the Dred Scott decision. I don't know. What do you guys think and what are some other key decisions?

Andrew, you need to sign all of your posts - Mike Chapman

[Minieball577]

What was the most important decision in the Civil War?
The decision to end it... :D

[Yulie]

Politically, I believe it was the ratification of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. Militarily ... gotta think about that some more.

FYI: Scott v. Sanford (plaintiffs Dred Scott and Henrietta Scott) was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. Certain parts of that decision were overturned by Congress in the 1st and 2nd Confiscation Acts. The 14th Amendment totally tossed out the Supreme Court's decision.

[flattop32355]

What was the most important decision in the Civil War.

The decision by Gen's Lee and Johnston to disobey orders from Jeff Davis and not commence irregular warfare from the hill country.

[Alamo Guard]

Vicksburg without a doubt. Not only did it divide the country an entire army surrendered as well.

[DougCooper]

Edmund Ruffin pulling the layard on that first gun aimed at Sumpter was a biggee...

Seriously, the decision to declare a blockade of the south told everybody in and outsdie the US that Washington was serious...symbolic at first but powerful

And the Emancipation Proclamation - one of the most courageous political moves in the Nation's history...symbolic but even more powerful to the audience it was designed to target (Europe and US anti-war parties).

Whenever you can crystalize a morale dimension as a reason to fight...it plays well among Americans.

War is just politics by other means...ClausewitzVicksburg without a doubt. Not only did it divide the country an entire army surrendered as well.

[Chad Teasley]

Militarily speaking, the decision by the Davis administration to heavily subordinate the effort in the Western Theater to that in the East. The Armies of Tennessee, Mississippi, etc. constantly played second fiddle in terms of ordnance, commissariat, and leadership talent to the Army of Northern VA (even when it was the Army of the Potomac). Even when Davis tried to place priority on the West, he was never ever to break his government's paradigm and do so. (Example: When he considered re-assigning Lee from command of the ANV to the AoT. Marse Robert wasn't keen on leaving his native Virginia, and Davis decided to retain Bragg in command in the AoT instead. That had VERY far-reaching consequences when ol' Braxton squandered away the great victory at Chickamauga.

The massive campaigns in the East got (and still get) most of the press...But the Confederacy lost the War in the West. The credit for that goes largely to a lot of slick moves by Lincoln, and some pretty darn good Generals named Grant, Sherman, Thomas, and Sheridan...But Jefferson Davis, and even R.E. Lee, must also share some of the blame.

Respectfully,
Chad Teasley
Chaps
SAVE MANSFIELD

[Jack Booda]

I agree somewhat with Chris Hubbard that "ending the war" was the most important decision made, but I think it needs a bit more explanation. ;)

The most important decision of the Civil War was made on November 8, 1864. On that day the American people reelected Abraham Lincoln and decided that just ending the war was not enough. After three years of pain and sacrifice, they refused to take the "easy way out" and just vote for Peace-At-Any-Price. They confirmed their willingness to do whatever it took to finish the job that had been thrust upon them. With their vote, they made the decision to not just end the conflict, but to end it by WINNING.

Everything after that became a foregone conclusion. Like the colonies before them, the confederacy had had a slim chance of success. But this time, foreign recognition (with the resultant military support) failed to materialize, while decisive offensive military victories eluded them. The only remaining hope was for "President McClellan" to negotiate a treaty and allow the rebellious government to exist. But the people decided otherwise.

That in itself is important to me; the generals didn't decide it, the governors didn't decide it, the newspaper editors and arms makers didn't decide it. The timing of the election made the vote a national referendum on continuing the war, and therefore allowing the American people to ultimately make the most important decision of the war, to FINISH it!

So be an authentic reenactor, VOTE. :)

[DougCooper]

Very well said Jack! I agree - millions of individual decisions became a "decision of the people" and was a uniquely American thing at that time. Come to think of it, can anybody else think of an earlier such vote by any people that had such a momentous impact on ours or any other country? Of note - the decision to secede was not the people's vote, but each convention's vote, and if put to the people, may or may not have received a majority. The election of 1864 was the Northern people's referendum on the war and the future of the country...and we have been doing that ever since....

[flattop32355]

Am I correct in my understanding that the Union rank and file voted overwhelmingly for Lincoln?

[Jack Booda]

Info below taken from Harpers Weekly website (via Google of course :))

"With 78 percent of the Union electorate casting ballots, Lincoln was reelected in an electoral college landslide, 212 to McClellan’s 21. The 55 percent popular vote for the president was the third largest in the nineteenth century, surpassed only by Jackson’s first victory in 1828 and Grant’s reelection in 1872. McClellan won only New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky. Republicans drew support from native-born farmers, skilled and professional workers, those of New England descent, younger voters, and military personnel. Democrats were strongest in the cities and among Irish- and German-Americans (the most populous immigrant groups). It has been estimated that Lincoln received 78 percent of the vote of Union soldiers and sailors; not necessary for his reelection, but perhaps the margin of victory in a few close states and, more importantly, of great symbolic value."

BTW- Has anyone seen the thread originator lately? For some strange reason I get the feeling we're helping to write a History 101 report! :)

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Davis´s decision to push Burnside out of Knoxville, stripping the AoT of its defences at Chattanoga.

Braggs decision not to fortify the military crest of Missonary Ridge.

Lincolns decision to reinforce Burnside rather than have Grant finish off the AoT, after Missionary Ridge.

Davis´s decision to replace Johnston with Hood.

Hoods decision to go into Kentucky (Tennessee) rather than defend the rest of GA from Sherman.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Mr Booda is totaly correct. The only way the south could have won the Civil War is if lil Mac had won the 1864 election. As far as the war in the East, there was never a capture or loss of a single crippling stratigic location until the fall of Petersburg. It the west one crippling stratigic defeat after another fell opon the CSA, New Orleans, Corinth, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Knoxville, Mobile, and Savanah. Vicksburg and Chattanooga was the 1 2 punch that killed the CSA.