In 1861, the first year of the Civil War, soldiers on both sides still felt some sense of momentum. Overly optimistic, many believed the war would over by Christmas. As the war stretched into 1862, the initial optimism was giving way to something else – a sense of failure and despair. And that sense affected both sides.
The South was beginning to feel the bite of the Union blockade of Southern ports. The North was watching a series of what seemed like only Confederate victories on the battlefield. Soldiers were becoming demoralized. It didn’t help the Union’s cause that so many senior officers were “political generals” and appeared sorely lacking in experience and common sense. The sense of failure and isolation was especially acute around Christmas, when soldiers would have ordinarily been home with their families.
To continue reading, please see my post today at Dancing Priest.
Some Wednesday Readings
Manchester, New Hampshire Civil War Monument – Patrick Young at The Reconstruction Era.
A State Divided: A New Book Featuring 50 Previously-Unpublished Civil War Letters Provides Insights on Why Many Believe the Civil War Started in Missouri – Tonya McQuade at Emerging Civil War.
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