Historical Study: Battles of the Civil War

The past couple weeks my recent fascination with the Old South has transitioned to yet another fascination with the American Civil War. I have been in many Civil War phases now (usually around the fall time) inspired by some of my favorite movies such as Cold Mountain or Gone with the Wind. I also enjoy the old music of the Civil War era, it's fiddle, banjo, gospel, and folk style. I have studied and written about the topic from many different perspectives such as on slavery, the confederate ideology, the draft riots of New York, the Old West, and so forth. However I've yet to tackle the war head-on and give a proper outline of it's course. 

I first remember studying the Civil War in around 4th grade and being so intrigued by this idea of Americans fighting one another on our home soil. As a young boy I thought the Civil War was such a glorious story, with great political and military leaders on both sides fighting over the unjust institution of slavery. It was the last and also the bloodiest war fought on our land, causing the deaths of approximately 620,000 men. The Civil war was one of the most significant events in American history that forever changed our nation. In this post I want to give an outline regarding the course of the war and it's key battles. 

Battle of Fort Sumter

• 
  Date: April 12-13, 1861
• Location: Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Confederate Generals: P.G.T Beauregard
• Union Generals: Robert Anderson
• Confederate Force: 500-600
• Union Force: 85
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: Following a string of southern states seceding from the Union, this was the first military action of the Civil War. The tension over Fort Sumter began with the secession of South Carolina in December of 1860 and the inauguration of President Lincoln in March of 1861. The fort held a key location in the Charleston harbor, and the Confederacy demanded that the Union evacuated the fort. When Major Anderson refused this demand the Confederates bombarded the fort causing the Union soldiers to surrender. There were no deaths in the siege, however this aggressive action by the South lead to increased mobilization on both sides. 

First Battle of Bull Run

• 
  Date: July 21, 1861
• Location: Prince William County, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Joseph "Stonewall" Jackson, P.G.T Beauragard
• Union Generals: Irvin McDowell
• Confederate Force: 32,000-34,000 (387 killed)
• Union Force: 35,700 (2,708 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: This was the first major battle of the Civil War fought on open land. It was located just 30 miles south of Washington DC, and often regarded as the "picnic battle". This is because the battle had many civilian spectators, mostly consisting of elected officials from DC. The war also was significant in that it gave rise to the glory of Joseph Jackson who was witnessed by his men as standing tall during the engagement like a "stonewall". From this point on Stonewall Jackson established a reputation as a heroic leader and brilliant tactician. The victory by the Confederacy showed President Lincoln that the nation was in for a long fight. 

Battle of Wilson's Creek

• Date: August 10, 1861
• 
  Location: Wilson's Creek (near Springfield, Missouri) 
  
• Confederate Generals: Sterling Prince, Ben McCulloch, Nicholas Pearce
• Union Generals: Nathaniel Lyon, Franz Siegel, Samuel Sturgis
• Confederate Force: 1232 (277 killed)
• Union Force: 1317 (285 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: This was the first battle fought on the western front along the Mississippi River. The state of Missouri was a neutral state, however more sympathetic to the Confederate cause. The Confederate Army attacked and killed the first Union General of the war, Nathaniel Lyon essentially causing the Union Army to retreat from Southern Missouri. 

Battle of Fort Donelson

• Date: February 11-16, 1862
• 
  Location: Fort Donelson, Tennessee
  
• Confederate Generals: John B. Floyd, Gideon J. Pillow, Simon Bolivar Bucknar
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew H. Foote
• Confederate Force: 16,171 (327 killed)
• Union Force: 24,531 (507 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This battle fought in the western theatre was the first major victory for the Union army and also the arrival of General Ulysses S. Grant. The battle began as a Confederate attack however resulted in a successful counterattack by the Union soldiers. Gen Grant demanded an unconditional surrender of the Confederate rebels, which essentially gave the Union control of most of Tennessee and Kentucky. 

Battle of Island Number Ten

• 
  Date: Feb 28-April 8, 1862
  
• Location: New Madrid, Missouri
• Confederate Generals: John P. McCown, William W. Mackall
• Union Generals: John Pope, Andrew H. Foote
• Confederate Force: 7,000 (30 killed)
• Union Force: 23,000 (23 killed)
• Outcome: Union victory
• Significance: This was a key battle fought for the control of the Mississippi River. The Union army felt they could control the war if they could control the Mississippi River as a key means to supply lines. The Island Number Ten was a key location along the river where the Confederates were able to repel countless Union movements. Union General John Pope was able to first lay siege to the town of New Madrid which caused the Confederates to flee to the Island Number Ten. From there the Unions coordinated a gunboat squadron to surround the island and cause the Confederates to surrender. 

Battle of Pea Ridge

• Date: March 7-8, 1862
• 
  Location: Leetown, Arkansas
  
• Confederate Generals: Earl Van Dorn, Sterling Price, Benjamin McCulloch, Albert Pike 
• Union Generals: Samuel Curtis, Franz Siegel  
• Confederate Force: 16,500 (2000 casualties)
• Union Force: 10,500 (203 killed)
• Outcome: Union victory
• Significance: In the Western theatre, Union General Samuel Curtis moved his army southward from Missouri to Arkansas to engage the Confederate forces at Leetown. The battle raged on for 2 days and resulted in a victory for the Union Army. It was one of the few battles in the war where the Confederates outnumbered the Union Army. The battle also resulted in the death of the Confederate General from Texas, Benjamin McCulloch. 

Battle of Shiloh

• Date: April 6-7, 1862
• 
  Location: Hardin County, Tennessee
  
• Confederate Generals: Albert Sydney Johnston, P.G.T. Beauregard 
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, Don Carlos Buell
• Confederate Force: 40,335 (1,728 killed)
• Union Force: 62,000 (1,754 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: From their southern base of Corinth, MS Confederate General launched an attack on Ulysses S. Grant's army at Hardin County, TN. The fight was fought in the swampy forests and favored the Confederates at the onset until the fatal shot of their general Albert Sydney Johnston. The next morning Union General Buell led a counterattack on the Confederates driving them back into Mississippi. It was a very bloody battle on both sides. 

Battle of Fort Jackson and St. Philip

• Date: April 18-24, 1862
• 
  Location: Southern Coast of New Orleans, Louisiana 
  
• Confederate Generals: Johnson K. Duncan
• Union Generals: David G. Farragut
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: While the Union Army had sustained a solid hold of the Mississippi River along Tennessee and Missouri, they felt an attack on New Orleans would best be launched from the Gulf Coast. This was the Confederate's largest city and a key location for seaport control. President Lincoln himself coordinated the attack, under the leadership of Admiral Farragut with a squadron of gunboats. The Union navy bombarded the key Confederate forts of Jackson and St. Philip and from there were able to easily capture the city of New Orleans. 

Siege of Corinth

• 
  Date: April 29-May 30, 1862
  
• Location: Corinth, Mississippi
• Confederate Generals: P.G.T Beauregard, Braxton Bragg, Earl Van Dorn
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, Don Carlos Buell, John Pope
• Confederate Force: 65,000
• Union Force: 120,000
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: After their victory at the Battle of Shiloh, Gen Grant marched his soldiers southward towards the Confederate stronghold of Corinth. The Union lay siege to the town of Corinth for a month until finally the Confederate army was forced to withdraw. Despite their defeat the battle is often remembered by Beauregard's bombardment decoy which allowed his army to escape.  

First Battle of Winchester

• Date: May 25, 1862
• 
  Location: Winchester, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Stonewall Jackson
• Union Generals: Nathaniel P. Banks
• Confederate Force: 16,000 (68 killed)
• Union Force: 6,500 (62 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate victory
• Significance: In March of 1862 Stonewall Jackson lead a campaign thru the Shenandoah Valley with rapid speed and won several minor battles. One of his greatest victories of this campaign was at the Battle of Winchester, in which he drove the Union Army across the Potomac River and into Maryland. This was a much needed victory for the Confederacy. They were able to repel the Union's offense on Richmond and drive them back to defend Washington DC. 

Battle of Gaines Mill

• 
  Date: June 27, 1862
  
• Location: Hanover County, Virginia (Near Richmond)
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee
• Union Generals: George McClellan
• Confederate Force: 57,018 (1,483 killed)
• Union Force: 34,214 (1,005 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: This was a decisive battle for the Confederacy that brought an end to the Union Army's invasion of Richmond. This was the first major victory for General Robert E. Lee and brought him instant fame and glory as the defender of Richmond. Lee would have preferred to make pursuit at the fleeing Union Army but could not due to the delay of Stonewall Jackson. 

Battle of Malvern Hill

• Date: July 1, 1862
• 
  Location: Henrico County, Virginia (Near Richmond)
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee
• Union Generals: George McClellan, Fitz John Porter
• Confederate Force: 55,000 (5,650 casualties)
• Union Force: 54,000 (3,000 casualties)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: After successfully defending Richmond, General Lee finally organized a counterattack against McClellan's Union Army. However the Union had found an advantageous position on top the Malvern Hill and were able to repel Lee's advance. While the Union was able to win the battle, they realized they were too weak to move forward and decided to regroup. This marked the end to the Seven Days Battles of the Pennsylvania Campaign and both sides were able to regroup for a bit. 

Second Battle of Bull Run

• 
  Date: August 28-30, 1862
  
• Location: Prince William County, Virginia (Near Manassas)
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet
• Union Generals: John Pope
• Confederate Force: 50,000 (1,096 killed)
• Union Force: 77,000 (1,747 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: In mid July General Lee waged the Northern Virginia Campaign to recapture key territories. The culmination of this offensive was at the Second Battle of Bull Run (also referred to as Manassas). This battle was much larger and bloodier than the first one. Gen Lee was joined by his two best commanders Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet. Despite some reluctance, Gen Longstreet lead one of the largest assaults yet of 25,000 men to win the field.  

Battle of Antietam

• 
  Date: September 17, 1862
  
• Location: Washington County (near Sharpsburg, Maryland)
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, 
• Union Generals: George McClellan, Ambrose Burnside
• Confederate Force: 38,000 (1,567 killed)
• Union Force: 87,164 (2,108 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: After succeeding with his Northern Virginia Campaign, Gen Lee initiated an offensive into Maryland in September. This campaign came to it's climax at the Antietam Creek which notoriously would become the bloodiest single day of the war (with nearly 23,000 causalities). Although heavily outnumbered General Lee's forces were able to drive the Union Army back into a stalemate. While the battle was somewhat inconclusive the Union army was ultimately successful in repelling the attack. President Lincoln was very upset over McClellan's cautious tactics and that he had not taken advantage of Lee's fewer numbers. After his battle he decided to relieve McClellan and replace him with Gen Burnside. The battle was most significant in that it gave Lincoln a chance to issue his Emancipation Proclamation. While this was a landmark for abolishing slavery, it was also a major diplomatic move to dissuade France and Britain from supporting the South. 

Battle of Perryville

• 
  Date: October 8, 1862
  
• Location: Perryville, Kentucky
• Confederate Generals: Braxton Bragg
• Union Generals: Don Carlos Buell, George Henry Thomas
• Confederate Force: 16,000 (510 killed)
• Union Force: 55,000 (845 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: In the Western theatre of the war, Confederate general Braxton Bragg had initiated an offensive known as the Confederate Heartland Campaign. The primary goal of this offensive was for the control of the border state, Kentucky. Both armies converged near the Chaplin river and there was fierce fighting. The result was rather indecisive, however the Confederate army withdrew from their attack. It was one of the bloodiest battles fought in Kentucky. 

Battle of Fredericksburg

• Date: December 11-15, 1862
• 
  Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia 
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet
• Union Generals: Ambrose Burnside, George Meade, Winfield Hancock
• Confederate Force: 78,513 (608 killed)
• Union Force: 122,009 (1,284 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: Having replaced McClellan as the lead general, Ambrose Burnside was eager to demonstrate his offensive side. He thus lead another campaign on the Confederate capital of Richmond, hoping to beat Lee's army to the city. Burnside's Union Army was however delayed in crossing the Rappahannock River, which allowed Lee to organize his defense of Fredericksburg. Despite Burnside's stubborn persistence ordering various waves of assault, the Union Army was unable to break through the Confederates defensive lines. After nearly 5 days of battle Burnside decided to withdraw his attack having been dealt far greater causalities then the Confederacy.  

Battle of Stones River

• Date: December 31 1862 -January 2nd, 1863
• 
  Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  
• Confederate Generals: Braxton Bragg, Leonidas Polk, William Hardee, Joseph Wheeler
• Union Generals: William Rosecrans, Alexander McCook, Philip Sheridan
• Confederate Force: 35,000 (1,294 killed)
• Union Force: 43,400 (1,677 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: The Union army marched southward from Nashville led by General William Rosecrans to attack the Confederate stronghold at Murfreesboro, Tennessee under the command of Braxton Bragg. It was yet another bloody battle in the heartland region with high causalities on both sides. The Confederates were able to drive back the Union's advances on Dec 31st however a couple days later they were pushed back by the Union Army. On Jan 2nd, Braxton Bragg was under the impression that Rosecrans had more reinforcements arriving and ordered his army to retreat further south to Tullahoma, Tennessee. This was a much needed Union Victory after the devastating loss at Fredericksburg.

Battle of Chancellorsville

• Date: April 30-May 6, 1863
• Location: Spotsylvania County, Virginia (Near Fredricksburg) 
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart
• Union Generals: Joseph Hooker
• Confederate Force: 60,298 (1,665 killed)
• Union Force: 133, 868 (1,606 killed)
  
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: It is considered one of the Confederate's greatest victories and General Lee's most brilliant tactical battles. President Lincoln once again replaced his lead general from Burnside to Joseph Hooker, with an intent to once again invade Richmond. Joseph Hooker's large force advanced across the Rappahannock River and came upon Lee's force in a pincer movement (attacking the front and rear of Lee's army). General Lee then made one of the most risky tactical moves of his career by splitting his army into two facing overwhelming odds on both sides. Hooker was intimidated by this decision and changed his tactics from an offensive to a defensive stance. Gen Lee then divided his army even further by having Stonewall Jackson attack the flank of the Union Army. While Stonewall Jackson's assault was successful later that night on a scouting report he was shot by friendly fire. On May 3rd Lee launched multiple attacks against the Union defensive line. It was the 2nd bloodiest day of the war (after Antietam) and resulted in Hooker dropping further back. The battle broke out into three simultaneous fronts, at the forests of Chancellorsville, at the city of Fredericksburg, and at the Salem House Church. Union General John Sedgwick was able to capture Fredericksburg on May 3rd at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg. Meanwhile Robert E. Lee decided to move his army away from Chancellorsville and onto Fredericksburg to reclaim the town from Sedgwick. On May 4th General Lee was successful at driving Sedgwick's army out of Fredericksburg at the Battle of Salem Church.  The following day General Lee returned to face Hooker in the fields of Chancellorsville, but Hooker decided to withdraw his army. It was a monumental victory for the Confederate Army, however came at a devastating loss when Stonewall Jackson died a few days later due to pneumonia. 

Siege of Vicksburg

• Date: May 18-July 4 1863
• 
  Location: Warren County, Mississippi
  
• Confederate Generals: John C. Pemberton
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, William Sherman
• Confederate Force: 33,000 (3,202 killed)
• Union Force: 77,000 (766 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: During the Vicksburg Campaign, General Grant and William Sherman came at the key city of Vicksburg from different directions. This was the final Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi river, and a key access point to controlling the river. Marching from Jackson, MS, Grant's army defeated Pemberton's Confederates at the Battle of Champion Hill. Grant then joined up with Sherman to assault the city of Vicksburg, however the attacks were well defended. The union then began a drawn out series of bombardments, laying siege to the city for nearly 40 days. Simultaneously Union Gen Nathaniel Banks successfully laid siege to Port Hudson in Lousiana. The Confederates eventually ran out of supplies and surrendered both key forts along the Mississippi River.  This brought a successful end to the Union's Anaconda Plan to completely blockade the Confederate from the waters. It was a major turning point in the Western theatre and alongside Gettysburg began the end of the Confederacy. 

Battle of Gettysburg

• Date: July 1-3, 1863
• Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, J.E.B. Stuart
• Union Generals: George G. Meade, Winfield Hancock, John F. Reynolds
• Confederate Force: 75,000 (3,903 killed)
• 
  Union Force: 104,256 (3,155 killed)
  
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: Despite the loss of Stonewall Jackson, the Confederate morale was very high after their victory at Chancellorsville. Gen Robert E. Lee initiated a 2nd invasion of the north along the Shenandoah Valley and up towards Pennsylvania. Union Gen Hooker pursued Lee's army until both took position at Gettysburg. Shortly before the engagement President Lincoln relieved Hooker and replaced him with George G. Meade. On the first day of the battle, Union General John Buford positioned his men at the outer ridge of the city to defend the Confederate assaults. The Confederate assault was fierce and drove the Union back to the hills at the south of the town. On the second day of fighting the Union has established a strong line with a fish-hook and had the advantageous position uphill. Gen Lee concentrated most of his assaults at the Union's left flank which lead to some bloody fighting in the rocks and forests of Devi's Den and Little Round Top. It was here that Colonel Joshua Lawrence, commander of the Maine Regiment, led a glorious bayonet charge against the Confederates. After a day of bloody fighting, the Union still held it's defensive position. On the 3rd day, Gen Lee decided to attack the center, believing the Union would have most of it's strength at it's flanks. It was here at Cemetery Ridge where the iconic Picket's Charge took place, which sent 12,500 Confederate infantry soldiers up the middle. While courageous, the charge took place over nearly a mile of open-field and the Confederate soldiers were sitting ducks to the Union rifles and artillery. The Union were once again able to repel the attack which caused Gen Lee to withdraw his army from the battlefield. It was the bloodiest battle of the war resulting in over 51,000 causalities and 7,000 fatalities. It led to Lincoln's most famous speech, a few months later where he honored the fallen in his Gettysburg Address. This battle alongside the Siege of Vicksburg were major defeats for the Confederacy and essentially marked their downfall.    

Battle of Chickamauga

• 
  Date: September 18-20, 1863
  
• Location: Chickamauga, Georgia (Near Chattanooga, TN)
• Confederate Generals: Braxton Bragg
• Union Generals: William Rosecrans
• Confederate Force: 65,000 (2,312 killed)
• Union Force: 60,000 (1,857 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: Following his successful victories in Kentucky and Tennessee, Union general William Rosecrans continued his army further south to engage the Confederates in Georgia. Gen Braxton was also moving his army on an offensive eager to recapture Chattanooga. Both armies engaged along the Chickamauga Creek in fierce fighting and heavy causalities. On the third day of fighting Gen Rosecrans mistakenly repositioned his army to strengthen a perceived gap while in doing-so created an actual gap. Gen Longstreet was able to take advantage of this gap and drive the Union soldiers off the field. The Union army was forced to retreat back to Chattanooga where they would face off again at the Battle of Lookout Mountain. This was the 2nd bloodiest battle of the war. 

Battle of Lookout Mountain

• 
  Date: November 24, 1863
  
• Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Confederate Generals: Carter L. Stevenson
• Union Generals: Joseph Hooker 
• Confederate Force: 8,726 (200 killed)
• Union Force: 12,000 (89 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: Following the Union's retreat from the bloody Battle of Chickamauga, the Confederates lay siege to Chattanooga. The Union responded by coordinated two attacks against the Confederate positions. Gen Hooker lead an assault on Lookout Mountain, while Gen Ulysses Grant led an assault on the Confederate's left flank at Missionary Ridge. Gen Hooker's men were able to take control of the strategic mountain. The next day his army joined Gen Grant's at the Battle of Missionary Ridge.

Battle of Missionary Ridge

• Date: November 25, 1863
• Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
• 
  Confederate Generals: Braxton Bragg
  
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, William Sherman, George Henry Thomas, Joseph Hooker
• Confederate Force: 44,100 (361 killed)
• Union Force: 56,359 (753 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: After the Union's victory of Lookout Mountain, Gen Grant coordinated an attack on the strategic Missionary Ridge on the outskirts of Chattanooga. The fighting was fierce on both sides and the Confederacy was able to hold their lines, until they were flanked from behind by Gen Hooker's army arriving from Lookout Mountain. This marked an end to the Chattanooga Campaign and the Confederacy army was forced to retreat back into Georgia.  

Battle of Mansfield

• Date: April 8, 1864
• Location: DeSoto Parish, Louisiana (Near Shreveport)
• 
  Confederate Generals: Nathaniel Banks
  
• Union Generals: Dick Taylor
• Confederate Force: 9,000 (1,000 casualties)
• Union Force: 20,000 (2,235 causalities; 113 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: In the spring of 1864 Union General Nathaniel Banks led the Red River Campaign to capture key areas along the Red River Valley. One of the objectives of this campaign was to capture the capital city of Louisiana, Shreveport. However the Confederates made a strong stand under General Dick Taylor at the small town of Mansfield. They were able to easily drive the Union Army back. The next day the Confederate army led a counter-assault at the Battle of Pleasant Hill. Causalities were high on both sides and the Union Army was able to repel the attack and then continued their retreat. This essentially ended Nathaniel Banks' Red River Campaign.  

Battle of the Wilderness

• Date: May 5-7, 1864
• 
  Location: Spotsylvania County, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, J.E.B Stuart
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade, Ambrose E. Burnside
• Confederate Force: 66,140 (1,477 killed)
• Union Force: 118,700 (2,246 killed)
• Outcome: Stalemate
• Significance: Union Gen Grant began his Overland Campaign at the start of May, 1864 to attack the Confederate's stronghold of Virginia. The campaign began with another bloody battle once again in the Spotsylvania County of Virginia. This battle took place in a region referred to as the Wilderness about 20 miles west of Fredericksburg. The battle took place in dense forests and consisted of heavy causalities on both sides. At one point Confederate Gen Longstreet lead a promising push, but this was halted when he was wounded in battle. After two days of fighting Gen Grant decided to disengage his army from the forests and continue their advance thru Virginia. This battle was ultimately an inconclusive one, however the Union were still on the front foot. 

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

• 
  Date: May 9-21, 1864
  
• Location: Spotsylvania County, Virginia
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade
• Confederate Force: 63,000 (1,515 killed)
• Union Force: 115,400 (2,725 killed)
• Outcome: Stalemate
• Significance: Continuing with his offensive Overland Campaign, Gen Grant repositioned his army at the Courthouse of Spotsylvania. Once again Gen Lee pursed and engaged them and both sides held their ground for a couple weeks. It was yet another very bloody battle that ended in an inconclusive stalemate. Both sides declared victory despite their heavy losses, and Grant once again persisted with his campaign to take Virginia. 

Battle of Cold Harbor

• 
  Date: May 31-June 12, 1864
  
• Location: Hanover County (Near Mechanicsville, Virginia)
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade
• Confederate Force: 62,000 (788 killed)
• Union Force: 117,000 (1,845 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: Following several more inconclusive engagements such as the Battle of North Anna, Gen Grant marched his men towards Richmond. Gen Lee positioned his men in a 7 mile long fortified line at the north of Richmond near a town called Mechanicsville. The fighting once again raged on back-and-forth for several days with many casualties. However this time the Confederates had the better position and the toll was much greater for the Union army. This brought an end to Gen Grant's overland campaign of Virginia, and he eventually moved his army to lay siege to Petersburg (an engagement that lasted nearly a year). This was the final major victory for Gen Lee and the Confederate army. 

Second Battle of Petersburg

• Date: June 15-18, 1864
• 
  Location: Petersburg, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, P.G.T Beauregard 
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade
• Confederate Force: 38,000 (200 killed)
• Union Force: 62,000 (1,688 killed)
• Outcome: Stalemate
• Significance: Following their defeat at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Gen Grant swung his army to the south of Richmond and began his year long siege of Petersburg. While the Union Army had the element of surprise, the Confederate army led by P.G.T Beauregard had the better positioning. The Confederates were able to defend the Union assaults, and the battle ended in a stalemate. However from here on, both sides built trenches which began a yearlong Siege of Petersburg. 

Battle of Atlanta

• 
  Date: July 22, 1864
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
  
• Confederate Generals: John Bell Hood, William J. Hardee
• Union Generals: William T. Sherman, James B. McPherson
• Confederate Force: 40,438 (1000 killed)
• Union Force: 34,863 (3,640 causalities)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: While Gen Grant went on an all out offense in northern Virginia, Union General William Sherman took on the south. His campaign known as Sherman's March to the Sea, has been one of the most controversial of the Union campaigns. It all began with his victorious Battle of Atlanta where he was easily able to overwhelm the Confederates. However Union General James McPherson was shot and killed at this battle. From here on Sherman lead a vicious campaign to the sea, scorching the earth as his army marched along thru Georgia.  

Battle of the Crater

• Date: July 30, 1864
• 
  Location: Petersburg, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, William Mahone
• Union Generals: Ambrose Burnside, James H. Ledlie
• Confederate Force: 6,100 (361 killed)
• Union Force: 8,500 (504 killed)
• Outcome: Confederate Victory
• Significance: Although it was a small battle on scale compared to most, it is well known as one of the most famous battles of the war. This was due to an offensive plan gone terrible wrong for the Union Army. Gen Burnside had his men build a mine underground to plant explosives at the Confederates position. When the explosives went off, they created a massive crater in the grounds, and as the Union Army charged, they trapped themselves in this big hole in the ground. With the upper position the Confederate line was able to rain bullets upon the trapped Union soldiers. Following this humiliating defeat Gen Burnside was completely relieved of his command. 

Battle of Mobile Bay

• Date: August 2-23, 1864
• 
  Location: Mobile Bay, Alabama
  
• Confederate Generals: Franklin Buchanan, Richard L. Page
• Union Generals: David Farragut, Gordon Granger
• Confederate Force: 1500 men
• Union Force: 5,500 men
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: It was one of the largest naval assaults in the War, and famous for Admiral Farragut's courage. Farragut led his gun-boat navy thru a field of mines and confronted the Confederate's  ironclad warship known as the Tennessee. Once the Union Navy was able to defeat the Confederate navy, they were easily able to take the forts. This was a very decisive victory in controlling the Gulf of Mexico and brought favor to President Lincoln as he approached his reelection.

Battle of Opequon

• Date: September 19, 1864
• 
  Location: Winchester, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Jubal Early, John Breckenridge, Fitzhugh Lee
• Union Generals: Philip Sheridan, Horatio Wright, William H. Emory, George Crook
• Confederate Force: 15,514 (4,015 causalities)
• Union Force: 40,000 (5018 causalities)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: In conjuction with Grant's Overland Campaign and Sherman's southern March to the Sea, Union Generaly Philip Sheridan led a campaign thru the Shenandoah valley on western Virginia. One of the key decisive battles of this campaign took place along the Opequon Creek near Winchester. The Union army made various assaults upon the Confederates and after heavy causalities on both sides, they were able to drive the Confederates out of Winchester. A few days later Sheridan caught up with the retreating Confederates at the Battle of Fisher's Hill to push them even further back. 

Battle of Cedar Creek

• 
  Date: October 19, 1864
  
• Location: Warren County (Near Winchester Virginia)
• Confederate Generals: Jubal Early
• Union Generals: Philip Sheridan
• Confederate Force: 21,102 (320 killed)
• Union Force: 31,610 (644 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: As Union General Philip Sheridan continued his offensive thru the Shenandoh Valley, Confederate General launched a surprise assault. This occurred early in the morning in heavy fog while many of the Union soldiers were still asleep. The Confederates made significant gains and took on prisoners, and it appeared they had won the battle. However as the Union army began to retreat Gen Sheridan arrived from Washington and took charge of the battlefield. He reorganized his army and launched a counterattack in the evening to repel their advances. This was a decisive blow to the Confederate army positioned in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Battle of Franklin

• 
  Date: November 30, 1864
• Location: Franklin, Tennessee
  
• Confederate Generals: John Bell Hood, Patrick Cleburne
• Union Generals: John Schofield, David Stanley
• Confederate Force: 27,000 (1,750 killed)
• Union Force: 27,000 (189 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This was part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign led by Union General John Schofield. It was also regarded as one the most lopsided defeats for the Confederate army on par with their failed Picket's Charge at Gettysburg. The Confederates led various assaults against the Union line and were slaughtered. While this was actually the 2nd battle to occur in Franklin, Tennessee, it was much more significant then the first minor skirmish that occurred in 1863. The Confederate army was once again forced to retreat to Nashville. 

Battle of Nashville

• Date: December 15-16, 1864
• 
  Location: Nashville, TN
  
• Confederate Generals: John Bell Hood
• Union Generals: George H. Thomas
• Confederate Force: 22,000-30,000 (1,500 killed)
• Union Force: 55,000 (387 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This was the decisive battle in General Shofield's Nashville Campaign. Having secured victory at the Battle of Franklin Union General George H. Thomas marched against the Confederate army led by John Bell Hood. Just like it's previous battle it was once again a very one-sided affair with far greater causalities for the Confederates. This marked the end of the Confederate's resistance in Tennessee.  

Second Battle of Fort Fischer

• Date: January 13-15, 1865
• 
  Location: New Hanover County (Near Wilmington, North Carolina)
• Confederate Generals: Braxton Bragg
  
• Union Generals: Alfred Terry, David Porter
• Confederate Force: 8,000 (583 killed)
• Union Force: 9,632 (199 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This was the last major sea battle of the Civil War, and the final Confederate seaport. The Confederates were highly outnumbered to the Union's navy force which made for another one sided battle. This defeat for the Confederates cut their supply lines from Virginia and the south. Many in the north felt this was the final nail in the Confederate's coffin. 

Battle of Fort Stedman

• Date: March 25, 1865
• Location: Petersburg, Virginia
• 
  Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, John B. Gordon
• Union Generals: John G. Parke
• Confederate Force: 10,000 (600 killed)
  
• Union Force: 14,898 (72 killed)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This was the last major offensive by the Confederates during the Siege of Petersburg. Gen Lee had hoped to break the Union line with this assault led by Gen John B. Gordon. However the Confederate attack was repelled and furthermore their lines were weakened. From here the Union army were able to lead a counterattack at the Third Battle of Petersburg, which essentially brought an end to the war. This battle was Lee's final hope at turning the tide of the war.    

Battle of Five Forks

• 
  Date: April 1, 1865
  
• Location: Dinwiddie County, Virginia (Near Petersburg, Georgia)
• Confederate Generals: George Pickett
• Union Generals: William T. Sherman
• Confederate Force: 10,600 (2,950 causalities)
• Union Force: 22,000 (830 causalities)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This was fought over a key railroad on the west of Petersburg, which served as the Confederate's main supply line. As the siege of Petersburg had gone on for nearly a year, Union General William T. Sherman rained fire upon George Picket. Gen Lee commanded Picket to hold the position at all costs, since it was their final chance at defending Petersburg. However the Union army had far greater numbers and resources and were easily able to crush Picket's army. The Union were able to take control of this railroad which eventually bled the Confederate's out of Petersburg, and onto their final retreat of the war. 

Third Battle of Petersburg

• Date: April 2, 1865
• 
  Location: Petersburg, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee, A.P. Hill
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade
• Confederate Force: 45,000 (5,000 causalities)
• Union Force: 114,335 (3,936 causalities)
• Outcome: Union Victory
• Significance: This was the decisive battle of Petersburg Campaign in which the Union Army finally broke the Confederate lines to end the year-long siege. Following their victories at the Battles of Stedman and Five Forks, the Confederate line had become very weak at it's right flank. The Confederate line was able to hold long enough to allow a full retreat of Richmond. By the next day however the lines were broken and the Union army marched into the Confederate capital of Richmond. This essentially ended the war and a few days later the Union army surrounded Lee's remaining army at Appomattox. 

Battle of Appomattox Court House

• Date: April 9, 1865
• 
  Location: Appomattox County, Virginia
  
• Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee
• Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade, Philip Sheridan
• Confederate Force: 26,000 (195 killed) 
• Union Force: 63,285 (164 killed)
• Outcome: Union victory
• Significance: This was the final battle of the Civil War in which Robert E. Lee's forces were simply surrounded by Union General Grants. After retreating from the Siege of Petersburg, Robert E. Lee had hoped to reunite with southern forces in North Carolina. However his retreat to the south was cutoff by the army of Philip Sheridan. Knowing that Gen Grant was pursing them, Lee launched one final assault at Sheridan's front line. However the attack was easily repelled and Lee had no choice but to surrender. The documents of surrender were drawn up and Gen Grant accepted Lee's surrender. This brought an end to the Army of Virginia, which triggered the surrender of other smaller Confederate armies in the south. The Civil War had finally come to an end. 

Book Review: Origin by Dan Brown

I just finished reading the 5th book in the Robert Langdon Series, Origin by Dan Brown. As per usual the book was quite an exhilarating page turner filled with great academic insight. This time the book is set in Spain, which I thought was a nice break from the usual Italian settings. Book 1 Angels and Demons was set in Rome, Book 2 The Da Vinci Code was set in Paris and Rome, Book 3 The Lost Symbol was set in Washington DC, and Book 4 Inferno was set in Florence and Venice. This book was loaded with Spanish history, art, and culture, a topic I hope to dive deeper into someday. 

However I would say this book was more of a philosophical premise rather then a dive into Spanish art history. In Brown's past books, Professor Langdon is usually solving mysteries that pertain to the art of it's location. For example Freemasonry symbols in Washington DC or the many Renaissance artworks in Italy. While Langdon does visit some iconic Spanish architecture and paintings, I would say the location is more of a supporting backdrop than the primary focus of the book. Of all Brown's books this one is by far the more philosophical and scientific. After all as the title suggests it dives into the mysterious topic of cosmogony. 

The Premise

Professor Robert Langdon is welcomed to a special event in Bilbao, Spain by one of his former students Edmond Kirsh. The event is located at the modern Guggenheim Art Museum where Kirsh, a futurist and business mogul, plans to make a groundbreaking scientific revelation. Upon his arrival Prof Langdon is given a private tour of the museum by an artificial intelligence system named Winston. Before the big presentation Kirsh meets with Langdon in a backroom, to seek some counsel. Kirsh explains to Langdon that he has discovered humanity's greatest mysteries, where we come from and where we are going. He is also afraid that his discovery will upset all religions. 

After much build-up Edmond Kirsh finally gives his presentation with nearly 2 million online viewers streaming the event live across the world. The presentation is loaded with theatrics as Kirsh begins with the history of philosophy and society. However before he can get to his big reveal, he is shot and killed from behind by Luis Avila. We later discover that Avila is a former Spanish admiral and member of the controversial Palmerian Catholic Church. It is implied that Avila was simply carrying out the orders from their church and he is able to escape from the museum. 

However as usual Robert Langdon is left at the scene of the crime and quickly charged by the royal security guard in the building. As usual in Dan Brown books however he is aided by an attractive and intelligent female counterpart, this time the museum's director Ambra Vidal. Upon witnessing the murder, Ambra is in a state of distress as she is to be wedded to Prince Julian, the son of the king. She realizes that she unknowingly allowed the entry of the assassin into the building and is overcome with great guilt. Ambra is able to quickly befriend Robert Langdon and convince him that they can still reveal Kirsh's presentation. So together they are able to escape the museum from police custody and once again Langdon must solve a mystery while on the run from the cops. 

Prof Langdon and Ambra are aided by Kirsh's artificial intelligent computer named Winston who speaks to them via Kirsh's old phone. Winston explains to them that they can still reveal Kirsh's presentation that is stored on his mainframe computer. However they must unlock his password which Winston does not know. Ambra however believes it to be a line from a famous poem pertaining to science vs religion. Together they are able to catch a private flight from Bilbao to Barcelona to visit Kirsh's house. It happens to be located on the top floor of the famous Casa Mila, built by Spain's most famous architect Antoni Gaudi. 

The house is of course loaded with art and a library of literature, and while searching for this book of poetry Prof Langdon discovers that Edmond Kirsh was dying from cancer. Prof Langdon discovers that Kirsh owns an original book of William Blake, famous for his prophetic art and poetry. The only catch however is that the book is not in the Casa Mila however on loan at the church of the Sagrada Familia. Of course Dan Brown was not going to write a story set in Spain without including it's most iconic building of the Sagrada Familia. 

As they escape the cops from Casas Mila, Ambra drops Kirsch's phone which breaks and ends their communication with Winston. However Langdon and Ambra are able to get to the Sagrada Familia and visit this display of Blake's complete works. Down in the basement of the building the book is opened on a specific page that reveals Blake's Four Zoas, and the iconic illustration of Urizen in the Ancient of Days. Upon the page Langdon discovers the phrase they are looking for, "The dark religions are departed and sweet science reigns". However upon this discovery they hear gunshots, which happen to be from the assassin Avila who has located them at the basilica. Prof Langdon and Ambra run up into the rafters where Langdon is able to fight off Avila in a scuffle and send him plummeting to his death. 

Langdon and Ambra are able to once again escape the police by mounting a helicopter from the top of Sagrada Familia. They are escorted by the royal guard who believe Langdon and Ambra to be innocent and taken to Kirsch's scientific laboratory at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. Inside the building they are once again reunited with Winston who convinces them to wait 15 minutes to spread the news to the world. Since the murder of Kirsch was captured on live television the story has already amassed world attention. By the time Langdon enters Kirsch's password to start the presentation there are nearly 250 million people watching the live stream. 

I was quite satisfied in this book that Dan Brown actually had a philosophic theory to reveal rather then use it as an anticipatory driving factor. I half expected that there would be no big reveal and it was all just some twisted scheme to denounce religion. In the presentation Kirsch explains the Miller-Urey experiment of 1952 that recreated Earth's natural elements of oxygen, water, light, and gases to create amino acids. Kirsch used technological data to speed up the process some thousand of years to reveal that these elements alone could produce and evolve into life as we know it. He describes the science of  entropy, which is a natural disorder of the universe, where life can sustain free energy from. 

Kirsch's 2nd big reveal is where we are going, and once again uses his computing analysis to fast forward the evolutionary timeline. He essentially declares that in 50 years the majority of humanity will be cyborgs, a complete unification of biology and technology. As expected this revelation of course causes a stir of debate throughout the world but no immediate repercussions come from it. In achieving their goal, Langdon and Ambra feel gratified they were able to share Edmond's discovery. Upon discussing the discovery Langdon points out the obvious that it still doesn't answer the source of life's energy. Langdon and Ambra then part ways and she returns to her fiancé prince Julian who has now become king of Spain with the death of his father. 

At the closing of the book, Langdon speaks one last time with Kirsh's artificial intelligent system Winston. Langdon is shocked to discover that Winston will delete himself momentarily now that Kirsh's discovery has been revealed to the world. Furthermore Winston reveals that he plotted the deaths of various religious leaders who opposed the scientific revelation, and also that it was he who convinced Avila to assassinate Kirsch, not the Palmerian Church. Winston describes that he was doing everything in loyalty to his master Kirsch, who was going to die soon anyway due to his cancer. Feeling conflicted with this wicked system, Prof Langdon destroys the machine on a rock then he visits the Sagrada Familia once again. He is left with hope in the unity of religious faith. 

My Thoughts on Cosmogony

About ten years ago I was in a major scientific phase and dove deep into the studies of astrophysics, cosmogony, and cosmology. See Studies of Cosmogony, Studies of Astronomy, Studies of Modern Physics. I can hardly begin to understand the complexities of these sciences but at least came to understand some of the many structures in our vast universe. Science has actually made great discoveries in better understanding how this universe actually works. There is no doubt a law of physics at work explained by scientists such as Galileo, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein. And with modern technology these scientific discoveries can only continue to uncover more mysteries.

However despite these theories of entropy, evolution, the big bang, and the expanding universe there is still no answer to the source of it all. I believe Darwin's evolution of life to no longer be a theory but rather a fact as to how lifeform evolved over millions of years. I believe it is quite likely that life was essentially started by a chemical reaction of gases. But what remains unknown is where did these gases come from. I don't believe in this endless notion of infinite time and space. Even if there is a scientific structure to everything in this universe there has to be a source that has created the structure. 

I have nothing against scientific discovery and consider creationism to be rather foolish. I encourage the unification of science, technology, and religion. I don't believe one religion is more right then another, only that it should be practiced as the ultimate means of faith and purpose. There are far too many mysteries in this university that science will never uncover. To believe there is no source of the universe, to life and afterlife is complete meaningless nihilism. Furthermore I think it utter pessimism to believe our spirit will cease to exist when we die. The only rational and optimistic explanation to the origins of the universe is a supreme deity who sought to create energy, purpose, and life.         

Book Review

Now back to the matter at hand, I think this is yet another great book from Dan Brown. It follows the usual Professor Langdon format, mixing an exhilarating mystery pertaining to academic art and history. As I mentioned before however this book deals a lot more with science then his previous books. In his books Dan Brown often pins science against religion, but this one by far takes that claim. It is clear that Brown put a lot of research into this philosophical topic and provided some real good scientific insight. What was most satisfying is how he built this big scientific discovery and actually provided one of his own. Sure he mixed various theories together but his character of Edmond Kirsch was actually presenting a credible and original discovery by using computing analysis.

I think both of the scientific cases Brown makes in this book are quite legitimate. I would say the first case is probably not as surprising that life was discovered to be created from natural elements and disorder. But the second case is the more intriguing for me, where the futurist predicts society will merge with technology. This is the stuff of science fiction where we often hear of robots and artificial intelligence coexisting or even taking over humanity. I think it's quite realistic to consider modern smart technologies that are everywhere. Furthermore there are even medical technological advancements that can infuse into a human's biological structure to improve their health. This is no doubt the utter definition of a cyborg (part human/part machine).

While Dan Brown provides some great scientific insight in this book, I would argue that the plot is not as exhilarating as some of his previous Langdon books. In his previous books there were far better villains, shocking twists, and penultimate situations. I guess I did not feel as engaged with a scientific discovery as opposed to the release of a deadly virus in Inferno. I would also argue that there really isn't a proper villain in this book, compared to say Teabing, Camerlengo McKenna, Dr. Sienna Brooks, or especially Mal'akh from the Lost Symbol. I predicted from the onset that Bishop Valdespino was not the guilty culprit only because he was made out to be at the beginning. I had a good feeling all along that the AI character of Winston was behind it all, and was gone before there could be a proper confrontation. 

I think where I gave Dan Brown most praise in this book and all his other books, is his subtle favoring with religion over science. The basis of this book is loaded with great philosophical, scientific, and technological concepts and almost appears to be a celebration of those ideals. However in the end the main protagonist himself, the all knowing Robert Langdon confesses that while he believes in the mathematical laws of the universe he also believes there is a greater unknown force behind it all. Furthermore the books ends with Langdon not celebrating scientific discovery but rather recognizing human unity thru religious faith.   

Folklore Study: The Lost Cause of the Confederacy

Upon my recent trip to the Deep South, visiting New Orleans for the first time I was left with much reflection. There was of course the positive experience of a city rich with culture, jazz music, and Cajun cuisine. Then however there was the negative association considering this city was more-or-less established by slavery during the Southern Antebellum era that thrived off of cotton and sugar plantations. New Orleans later became a capital city of the Confederacy and a key battleground during the Civil War. 

So this leads me now to a recent curiosity pertaining to the Civil War. And that is in regards to the Southern Confederates ideology. I've always been quite fascinated how such extreme notions arise, such as that of Hitler's Nazi's. I by no means support their beliefs, only curious as to how they arrive to them. The Confederate South could easily be compared with the wickedness of the Nazi Germans. It is without question the South was in the wrong, and thankfully righteousness prevailed in the end. However I often believe it's good to understand both sides of an argument to acquire better wisdom. 

The Civil War was ultimately fought over slavery. The north felt it was an outdated, inhumane institution that should be abolished while the south considered it a vital means to their production and way of life. This American disagreement spanned over 50 years in the making, since the nation's birth in the 1790s. Many northern states such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont abolished slavery as far back as the 1770s. However during the early 1800s the South was experiencing a golden age of agriculture much ado to their slave labor, working in the plantations. Wealthy southerners were able to influence the government for some time to essentially stay away from their culture. 

Many years after the Civil War, and into the age of Reconstruction a new perspective took shape in the South. It was a form of denial referred to as the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. It essentially glorified the period of the Antebellum South where men were chivalrous gentlemen, women were ladies, and slavery was for the betterment of the white and the black man. Thru this denial, the South was making the case that their struggle was not about slavery, yet rather about their way of life. To this day it has become the basis of modern day racism, where southern neo-nazis feel their heritage is at risk. Movies such as the Birth of a Nation, Gone with the Wind, Gettysburg, or Gods and Generals have glorified the lost Southern cause. I simply would like to highlight the key points of this ideology and some of it's influential material. 

Lost Cause Beliefs

There are quite a few tenets to this distorted ideology that I would like to summarize here. I would like to elaborate on each of their points from an unbiased historical analysis. While most of the points in this ideology are simply incorrect, I would like to provide some fact-checking with counter-arguments. I also will admit that some of their points might not be so far-fetched (such as the cruelty of Sherman's torch tactics and the carpetbaggers). However these minor points in their favor are still too insignificant to defend the utter wrong of slavery. So without further ado here are the beliefs of the Lost Cause ideology.

• 
  States should have the freedom to leave the Union just as they had the freedom to join the Union.
• Analysis: While I believe our country is quite unique from other nations when it comes to our separation of federal and state; the states are ultimately residents within the nation and therefore must adhere to the laws of the federal government. That is to say these states are essentially well defined territories that make up a sovereignty. Without the states there can be no country and therefore the federal laws will always trump the state laws. The United States of America is not a club of states where admission and withdrawal is optional.  
• The North waged this war not over slavery, but over economic aggression
• Analysis: There are some theories that believe the North had begun to fear the South's economic boom. These theorists feel the North's reasoning was not to free the slaves yet rather to regulate and eliminate their mass production thru slaves. Without slaves the South would not be as wealthy. The problem with this point is that Southern wealth was in no way bad for the nation. To attack the South's wealth would be no different than attacking the nation's wealth. Therefore this is a misconceived notion. 
• Slavery was a "positive good" for the Africans
• Analysis: This extremely racist notion ultimately pertained to southern white supremacy. They felt they were doing good by providing food and shelter to these Africans, thinking they were not capable to survive on their own in America. However this theory is simply incorrect when you consider the free African Americans living in the north for nearly 100 years to that point. While the southern slaves may have been uneducated it's very rare cases where they themselves would have preferred slavery over freedom. Certainly not the field slaves who were forced to work 18 hour days in the blistering sun (for minimal food and shelter). Definitely not a fair trade off at all. 
  
• The South valued chivalry and honor
  
• Analysis: I do believe that southern etiquette has a unique charming appeal to it, where it is encouraged to be a good Christian, a gentlemen, or a lady. But this is mostly the case for the wealthy aristocrats and certainty not for the common folk. And even so, there is nothing chivalrous about hanging or raping another human and considering them as your property.
• Southern Generals such as Robert E. Lee or Stonewall Jackson were honorable men
• Analysis: There can be no question that the Confederacy had the better generals in the war. This is especially the case for Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson well renowned for their tactics and also the discipline of their armies. Robert E. Lee famously refused the offer to lead the federal army against his home state of Virginia. From the onset he accepted the more challenging option by leading a rebellion and that in itself is an honorable decision. But despite their admirable traits these generals still had their tactical shortcomings, and even more-so they were still fighting for an unjust cause.  
  
• Northern General Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, and William Sherman were inhumane
• Analysis: The South felt that in contrast to their honorable leaders, the northern leaders were overly cruel and brutal. Gen Grant is often portrayed as an alcoholic by the Lost Cause. This case might have some merit in regards to Philip Sheridan's burning of the Shenandoah Valley or Sherman's march to the sea. Both of these Union generals used some inhumane scorched-earth tactics which not only targeted enemy soldiers, but also the civilian land. I believe this to be a negative fault of the Union, perhaps going too far to bring an end to something. This was certainly the case in WW2 where the US decided to drop a nuke bomb in order to bring a swift end to the conflict. 
  
• The Confederacy lost the war due to a lack of resources 
• Analysis: I actually think this one is very true. The South had the better generals and the morale on their side, but they did not have the logistical structure of the federal army. The Union army had far more resources and systematic supply lines then the South did. The Confederacy consisted of rag-tag rebels while the north had well trained soldiers with superior weapons and supplies.  
• During the Reconstruction the North had begun to take advantage of the South
• Analysis: Following the end of the Civil War and the dismantling of the Confederacy there was much reconstruction required in the south. Not only in regards to the ruined cities, roads, railways, and fields but more so it's social, economic, and political structure. This brought on the Southern derogatory terms of carpetbaggers and scalawags to describe northern businessmen or sympathizers who were seeking fortune in a chaotic state. There can be no denying this case, and I believe it favors the north. Reconstruction (or cultural-economic-realignment) was a necessary means by the North to avoid any further civil conflicts.  

Lost Cause Media

This notion of the Confederate Lost Cause emerged almost immediately after the ceasefire of the Civil War. Quite naturally the defeated leaders, generals, elected officials, and other prominent figures came up with excuses to defend their honor. Former Confederate president Jefferson Davis published his own political manifesto in 1881 titled the Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government which essentially outlined the Confederate's ideology and their Lost Cause. No person was as influential to the Lost Cause ideals then the author Thomas Dixon who wrote a controversial trilogy pertaining to the Reconstruction. 

Organizations such as the United Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy were in the 1890s to honor this lost cause that they died for. While other more extreme organizations such as Nathan Bedford Forest's Ku Klux Klan encouraged violence as a means of revenge. Throughout much of the Reconstruction Era (late 1800s to early 1900s) many other writers, artists, sculptors, and even filmmakers made many contributions to commemorate the southern lost cause. However by the 1960s this ideology was squashed even more with the Civil Rights Movement. To this day there are still many racist organizations who defend this mythical creed, but thankfully the Antebellum South has mostly transformed into a modern New South. 

• Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881)
• This political manifesto written by the former Confederate President Jefferson Davis essentially outlined the history of the Confederacy. It was written as an attempt to defend his Southern beliefs and the principles they fought for. In this book he outlined the common tenants of their defeat which made up most of the Lost Cause Ideology. The book was received with mixed criticism however still a popular seller in the South. 
• The Leopards Spots: A Romance of the White Man's Burden (1902)
• In the first part of his Reconstruction Trilogy the author Thomas Dixon is making the case that despite their freedom the African American race cannot change their inferior qualities. He also criticizes northern carpetbaggers and glorifies the Ku Klux Klan as heroes defending the wicked. It is a very racist book yet popular among the Southern Lost Cause. 
• The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan (1905)
• In the second part of his Reconstruction Trilogy Dixon dives deeper into the wicked KKK. He once again makes them out to be heroes fighting against criminal freed slaves. This was the most popular of his books that was later adapted into an even more popular film, The Birth of a Nation. The book is once again very racist and inaccurate about the qualities of the KKK members and the freed slaves. 
• The Traitor: A Story of the Fall of the Invisible Empire (1907)
• 
  The third part of Dixon's Reconstruction Trilogy once again pertains to the KKK and brings an end to their organization. He makes the case that they have completed their goal  against black power, however the book ends with the formation of a second Klan. It's clear that Dixon's motives were to glorify the first Klan that lasted from 1865-1872 and encourage the formation of a second Klan that eventually did happen in 1915. 
• The Birth of a Nation (1915)
• One of the most famous and successful films of it's time, director DW Griffith adapted Dixon's novel of the Clansman to the big screen. Despite it's very racial theme, the film was groundbreaking in many techniques such as a musical score, close-ups, fade-outs, and epic large scale battles. It was the first film ever to be presented in the White House viewed by President Woodrow Wilson. Despite it's cinematic achievements for it's time it is to this day considered one of the most racist films of all time. 
• Gone with the Wind (1936)
  
• This novel written by Margaret Mitchell is yet another prime example of the Lost Cause sentiment. While the romantic story and it's characters are actually quite enthralling the underlying themes are laced with southern resentment. Mitchell depicts slaves as happy with their condition, the Union Army as ruthless invaders notably during Sherman's March, and the corruption of the northern carpetbaggers during the Reconstruction Age. Once again it is a very well written book but no doubt is a favorite for Lost Cause Idealists. 
• Gone with the Wind (1939)
• The film adaptation of Mitchell's novel directed by Victor Fleming was equally as significant as the book. The film was a sweeping epic for it's time and to this day is considered one of the greatest films ever made. It stars the beautiful Vivian Leigh in the title role of Scarlett O'hara alongside the dashing Clark Cable. It went on to receive 13 Academy Awards nominations and won 10 including best picture and best lead actress. The film is an iconic Hollywood movie and after inflation is still the highest grossing film of all time. 
• Song of the South (1946)
• 
  This controversial animated/live film by Disney essentially glorifies the Southern Antebellum period. It displays freed African Americans such as the lead character Uncle Remus as dimwitted and still subservient to their white neighbors. It is one of the only Disney films not to be released on home video or their streaming platform. 
• Gettysburg (1994)
  
• This epic Civil War film attempts to portray an unbiased dramatic account of the Battle of Gettysburg. It does this by telling stories from both sides yet in my opinion there is more time, depth, and quality focused on the Confederacy's perspective. The character of Robert E. Lee is portrayed honorably by Martin Sheen, while his right hand man Gen Longstreet is portrayed by Tom Berenger. The film demonstrates the doubt Gen Longstreet had in Gen Lee's tactical plan. Many Lost Cause believers, feel Gen Longstreet was to blame for the significant loss at Gettysburg that turned the tide against the Confederate Army. 
• Gods and Generals (2003)
• This film once again glorifies the Confederate generals of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Both men are portrayed as honorable men, not focusing on their ideals but more so their chivalrous character and tactical fortitude. The film is a classic example of a misconstrued interpretation held by the Lost Cause in that these Southern states were fighting for their freedom instead of for slavery.