The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Im curious of peoples opinions.

[hardeeflag]

Re: The Most Important Campaing of the WBTS

Im curious of peoples opinions.

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

[flattop32355]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaing of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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]

Re: The Most Important Campaign of the WBTS

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