The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Im curious of peoples opinions.

[hardeeflag]

Im curious of peoples opinions.

I belive Atlanta was because of the fall of the city before the Presidential Election of 1864.

[flattop32355]

Very tough question, because each had its consequences. I chose Vicksburg because it divided the South in two, opened the Mississippi and came at a critical time. But change the results of any of the above, and you alter the duration and tempo of the war.

[marlin teat]

I belive Atlanta was because of the fall of the city before the Presidential Election of 1864.

It was a hard choice for me, but had Chattanooga not fallen in the summer of 1863, the spring campaign 1864 would likely have been for middle Tennessee rather than north Georgia. Atlanta would probably still have been firmly in C.S. control at the time of the election. Chattanooga would have to be my choice.

[55th VVI]

Important how? Pollitically? Value vs. Victory? Contribution to history? Personally, to me, the Atlanta campaign was the most important to me. It showed that the winds of change were coming, and warfare would never be thought of in the same light. Just my thought.

[Gallinipper]

Important how? Pollitically? Value vs. Victory? Contribution to history? Personally, to me, the Atlanta campaign was the most important to me. It showed that the winds of change were coming, and warfare would never be thought of in the same light. Just my thought.

I was in a Borders recently and saw a book which postulated the "turning point" in the west came as early as Ft. Donelson for the CSA. I wish I could recall the book's name; someone else may know. It looked like it was a pretty good read, and shed some fairly new light on the subject. May have to go back and check it out.

Just my $.02, but warfare wasn't the same anywhere, after the broad strategic plan of '64 was put into motion by Lincoln, Grant and the US War Dept. However, a case COULD be made that all failed in it's implementation, save Sherman in GA/SC/NC. Thanks!

Rich Croxton

[ohiofed]

I think the Peninsular Campaign was the most important bcause it was the first major campaign in the eastern part of the war. This campaign, in my opinion, was one of the first to also see massive casualties. Also, The Peninsular gave folks an idea how massive both armies were and the destruction they can cause. Just an opinion

[LWhite64]

To add on to what Marlin said, the Union Victory at Chattanooga also propelled Grant to the main stage to go to Virginia.

Lee

[Gallinipper]

I think the Peninsular Campaign was the most important bcause it was the first major campaign in the eastern part of the war. This campaign, in my opinion, was one of the first to also see massive casualties.

There's also a little place in Tennessee called Shiloh. ;)

[Chuck A Luck]

Well, I had to vote for Gettysburg, 'cause if events had gone "the other way" during that campaign (& I think they well could have) who knows what might have happened...

[TheFenian]

Vicksburg. Even Winston Churchill stated (Don't recall the exact title of the work; as I am at work) "The guns of Champion Hill sounded the doom of Richmond."

Bill Eiff

[rogue]

Atlanta tore out the last major rail system linking various parts of the Confederacy, destroyed an industrial and transportation center in one swoop, and proved again that the Confederacy was basically a hollow shell and could not defend its vast territory with its limited resources.
Steve Sullivan
46th Illinois
Co. Mil. Hist.

[Pvt. Myers]

Im curious of peoples opinions.


Sharpsburg because it stopped the invasion, kept England from recognizing the Confederacy, and allowed Lincoln to issue the Proclamation.

I believe the Proclamation is often overlooked because after it was issued no European nation dared recognize the Confederacy and it gave the Union a chance to hurt the South by taking away capital and workers. This change in manpower took away Confederate slaves working in the fields and trenches and put them to work on the Northern side.

Ron Myers
1st US Infantry Co. D

[golden1864]

I had to agree with Marlin and Lee on this one.
But each one played out it's own political,moral,or geological impact on the WBTS.(Change the outcome of any, and things would have been different,... for a time)

Just my 2 cents,
Trent Golden

[cwarren64]

What about Early's campaign or raid against Washington in July of 64. What if Early had been successful with only four months before the election and right after the heavy losses from Grant's campaign. Both could have undermined Lincoln's reelection campaign and led to a political solution.

Warren Clark
3VA,IVR

[hardtack1864]

Don't forget Cedar Creek!

[Hoosier]

Sharpsburg because it stopped the invasion, kept England from recognizing the Confederacy, and allowed Lincoln to issue the Proclamation.

I believe the Proclamtion is often overlooked because after it was issued no European nation dared recognize the Confederacy and it gave the Union a chance to hurt the South by taking away capital and workers. This change in manpower took away Confederate slaves working in the fields and trenches and put them to work on the Northern side.

Ron Myers
1st US Infantry Co. D

First, even before the battle of Sharpsburg and the proclamation issuance, the North was utlizing "freed" slaves as labor (contraband of war). The popular "mythical", impact of the Emancipation Proclamation (a very overated legal document) was that it freed scores of slaves. In actuality it freed 0 slaves and was never ratified by the border states for which, it was targeted. It was important in the fact that to the outside world (Europe) it looked like the U.S. was attempting to phase out slavery but in reality the document had no legal or social impact on the status of slavery in this country. One could argue though that the "proclamation" helped open the door for the 13th. 14th. and 15th. admendments after the closure of the war. This was example of another of Lincoln's shrewd political and diplomatic moves that upon first examination appears to be a bold move, but further annalysis reveals its calculated impact was intentionally weak. Lincoln wished mearly to appease slavery's detractors abroad and to not legally and socially "rock the boat" here at home.

Second, the Gettysburg campaign was ill-concieved from the beginning as it had no clear objective other than having the ANV meander through the Northern countryside looking for the "the big desive battle" with the far more numerous and cagey AoP with the far reaching hope that the if a victory was acheived the North would capitualate and sue for peace. Even after the Confederate defeat at Gburg the AoP was slow to gain any immediate advantage and it was still took nearly two more years to reach its objective since the outset of the war: Richmond.

The Chattanooga campaign was the most important campaign because the Western armies regained the initiative (for good) and were able to drive towards their ultimate target: Atlanta. This subsequent campaign would do the most damage to the Confederate war effort striking at the heart of the Confederate homeland.

The Western armies (Cumberland, Ohio and Tennesee) had a much more daunting task in terms of geographical distance of its objectives and the responsibility of security for the conquered territory against the roaming calvary legions (Forest, Morgan and Wheeler). While, the AoP suffered from the prolonged ineptitude of poor leadership, lack of mental fortitude, and sustained initiative to forge just 100 miles to Richmond in four years, the Western armies meanwhile would go on to subdue the AoT sweep up along the southeast coast traveling thousands of miles in four years and close the back door on Lee's army thus entraping it. The war was clearly won in the West!

Jeremy Snyder

[Rmhisteach]

I will have to cast my vote for the Vicksburg Campaign for the following reasons.

1. It meant that the US had complete control of the Miss. which meant open transportation and the demise of the confederate west.

2. It brought fame to Grant, and led to him coming east and winning the war.

PS - for that matter where is Grant's Campaign into Va of 1864 -65? like I said that won the war!

[hireddutchcutthroat]

PS - for that matter where is Grant's Campaign into Va of 1864 -65? like I said that won the war!

The Overland Campaign.

[Justin Runyon]

In response to Mr. Snyder: It is true that a strong case can be made that the Emancipation Proclamation acomplished little in the line of legal emancipation, however, to say that it has no social signifigance is a flasehood I feel. Beyond its affect on European views of the war and all that goes along with that, it certainly had immediate social effects here in the U.S. It simultaniously caused increased support for the war effort among radical republicans and abolitionists, while decreasing support from other demographics such as middle class midwestern farmers (Who at the time were a large part of the Federal enlisted force). It did a lot to further widen the gap already existing within the republican party and probably sent a fair amount of former republicans to the polls holding Democratic tickets in '64. Remember the 64 election wasnt as "in the bag" as is sometimes thought. The E.P. also helped give rise to growing anger among lower class immigrnats in northern metropolitan areas, known for their already democratic and anti-abolition views (recall the NYC draft riots). Finally, the issuing of the proclamation made abolition a clear war aim, changing the view of the entire conflict then and ever since.

As far as the original poll goes, Not truly a campaign in the sense of the others listed, but I have always believed Perryville is overlooked when dealing withthe critical moments of the war. A case can be made that the High Water Mark of the Confederacy was not at a copse of trees in PA, but on the rolling hills of KY 9 months earlier.

But in the end, as was mentioned at least once above, any of these events and all of them went on to play a huge role in the course of the war and the outcome. History does not exist in a vaccum, every event is affected by a previous one and goes on to affect another there after ad infinitum. My favorite historical concept: The Continuity of History Through Time.

[Pvt. Myers]

Reference Mr. Snyder, what Mr. PumpkinheadFed said. :wink_smil

The Proclamation didn't free any slaves, but it gave Union soldiers the impetus to take in contrabands and take away from the Confederate war effort. Federal soldiers saw slaves helping the Southern war effort and decided the less slaves working in the fields and trenches the better chance of survivial for Federal soldiers. This was no myth. There are several references to this in letters and writings by Union men.

The effect is like an old-fashioned scale. One side weighs more than the other, and as weight is taken from the lighter to the heavier side the scale tips more and more to the side with more weight.

European intervention was compromised by the Proclamation. No English or French government was willing to side with Southern slavery when the North was moving away from and disavowing the institution. After initial criticism in English press of Lincoln of the edict, massive demonstrations of English labor supporting the North led the government into a policy of not recognizing the Confederacy. This isolated the South and foretold its doom.

Read James McPherson's account of Antietam Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam This is an excellent account of the campaign and aftermath!

Ron Myers
1st US Infantry Co. D

[Gallinipper]

Read James McPherson's account of Antietam Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam This is an excellent account of the campaign and aftermath!

Ron Myers
1st US Infantry Co. D

McPherson?? OK, I don't mean to sidetrack a great discussion here, but I do have a couple of opinions on that subject....

Gents on second thought I've decided to delete the post. I appreciate your thoughts. Suffice to say I believe there are better WBTS historians in print. Thanks.

Rich Croxton

[weed]

Grant's Vicksburg Campaing was without a dout the most important campaign in the American Civil War. There are quite a few reasons for this. First, it opened up the Mississippi River for the farmers from the "Old Northwest Territory" Now they could get their crops to any place in the world.

Second, it cut the Confederacy (from the Mississiipi River to the Trans - Mississippi Confederacy.

Next, you have to study Grant's actual Vicksburg campaign. He tried every way in the world to get at Vicksburg, he finnially setted on a plan that was totally inconceivable at the time. Cut off his supply line and live off the land. Also, in doing this he was the First commander to make TOTAL warfare, not just against oposing ary but against the civilians that were backing that army and cause.. Take what you need and burn anything else of militay importance. This was NOT lost on his loyal LT., W.T. Sherman, which he later based the Georgial campaign. But, he got the idea from Grant.

Also, by this time, troop moral in the Western Theater was so high that they were almost invincible. (except for Rosecram's "screw up" at Chickamaugua) And again, Grant arrived in Chatanooga to straigten things out)

Also, by this time Grant was able to "cut political generals", such as McClerand, from gaing any real power.

Yes, Sherman's taking of Atlanta was VERY important, as it may have saved the political election in1864 for Lincoln, but all that Sherman used on this campaign and later ones, he learned from Grant.

Vicksburg was the turnning point in the war.

John M. Wedeward
33d Wisconsin
"The Raccoon Regiment"

[Gallinipper]

Grant's Vicksburg Campaing was without a dout the most important campaign in the American Civil War.

I have to totally agree with John there. Even with a Confederate victory at Gettysburg, the loss of Vicksburg would still have loomed large. The old saying "The war was won in the West" may indeed have been proved to be even more true in that case....

(Incidentally, you didn't REALLY say that word, did you? Time to hit the "edit" button pard!)

Rich Croxton

[weed]

Dear Rich:

I did use the wrong word, and have changed. Thank you for pointing this out. ;)

John Wedeward

[SCTiger]

I agree with John and all of the prior posters concerning the Vicksburg Campaign. If anything the Vicksburg Campaign highlighted the lack of coordination between the various political entities and the logistics that the Confederacy had to cope with. The campaign in Vicksburg taught the Federals that the CSA couldn't coordinate logistics and reinforcements with the same organization and speed as the Union Army. Every flaw became evident, from the size of the railroad track gauges to food and water supplies and the lack of cooperation between commanders. This war was dictated by whomever controlled the roads, waterways and railroad systems. It didn't matter if you had 2000 tons of bacon in Montgomery, 8,000 troops in Meridian or 2 million cartridge rounds in the Atlanta Depot. If you didn't have the horses, wagons, roads, steamboats, teamsters, rolling stock, locomotives, secure rail lines, and above all the coordination to make it happen, "it" was going nowhere.

[majdoc]

With some thought I do believe the Fort Donaldson fall was very important because the south lost Ky and 2/3 of Tn. and did not realy get any of it back for any length of time. Good question.
Jim "Doc" Bruce

[ChrisM(armyguy)]

my only problem with that is that after the fall of new orleans and the taking of henry and donelson, what little amount of traffic on the river could only be passed by the defenses of vicksburg, effectively the river had already been cut. it became more of a symbolic victory, rather than having much tactical value at the time.


chris mattingly

[Zacharias J. Forsythe]

Well gents,

I'd have to agree with those of you on Atlanta. Had it not been for this critical Union victory, closely coupled with Sheridan's success in the Valley, Lincoln would probably never seen another term in the White House, and it's not too hard to predict what the results would've been with McClellan in office.

Zacharias Forsythe, Sgt. USMC Camp Fallujah, Iraq

[Old Reb]

I gave the choices a great deal of thought, and concluded that selecting one was like an overweight, hard drinking, smoker who bungie jumps selecting the one thing that would most likely cause his death. The accumulative value exceeds the indvidual choices. Since some folks added battles that were not on the list, I too will digress from the poll choices and add Pea Ridge. Had the Confederates been able to threaten the Unions flank by controlling Missouri, it would have changed the Norths overall war plan. I add Pea Ridge to stand up for the Trans-Mississippi as having some importance in the overall war effort, something that the powers in Richmond failed to do.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Thank you for your feedback. You comments really underscore the fact that the war in the west was of utmost stratigic importance, while the war in the east was of great political importance. Keep those opinions coming!

[marine05]

All,

I found the poll very limiting as they all had an impact and I agree with those that stated take one away and history changes.

I do think that the Sharpsburg/Antietam Campaign had some long reaching geopolitical impacts and would also impact the campaigns to come in the Virginia AO.

I also feel that the coastal Campaign had a vast impact as many ports were denied use by general merchant vessels thus limiting the amount of seaborne goods that could be imported/exported.

Vicksburg led the way for other campaigns, such as Atlanta.

While Gettysburg is considered the "high water mark" I feel that it finally dashed Confederate hopes of demoralizing the northern population by invading

Tough question and one has to bring all the factors into play.

s/f

DJM

[Utah]

I would like to vote for the 1860 Census campaign...appx 3:1 sums it up.

[Cottoncarder]

Had to vote Vicksburg...with it, the Union had the Mississippi.

[Old Reb]

Though I voted for the Atlanta Campaign, I would throw in the naval campaign to take New Orleans. Taking New Orleans bottled up the Mississippi and led to the fall of Port Hudson and Vicksburg.

[AZReenactor]

I didn't see my choices on the list.

My choice for most important Campaign would be the one for the 1864 US Presidential Election. A lot was riding on that one.
http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/ti/000000c4.jpg (http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/000000c4.htm)

I have been also growing particularly fond of Sibley's military campaign for the Southwest and California. Had he not had his supply train destroyed at Glorietta, NM the war might have gone quite differently.

[Old Reb]

And what a great impression for a Texan. Ride a horse from San Antonio to east of Santa Fe and then walk back to San Antonio.

[GrumpyDave]

All campaigns of the Federal army that took place in July 1863. Those efforts combined divided physically and ended the offensive capabilities of the Confederacy.

[JimKindred]

Poll closed! This poll was started over two years ago and it is time it ended.