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Gettysburg

The problem for the CSA is that even if Longstreet had gotten his way, the war was still a disaster on every other theater. Only in Virginia did the Confederates actually win a significant share of battles. And in Tennessee, it was really only Longstreet's efforts against Rosecrans that yeilded any significant Confederate victories there.

Everywhere else, it was mostly a Union rout.

Ken
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not entirely....at least not in Louisiana.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Campaign
 
back to the ACW movie theme...'Glory' is a really good one IMHO.
 
redriver6 said:
not entirely....at least not in Louisiana.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Campaign
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The key was "significant," implying it changed the path of the war. Ultimately, despite the tactical success, strategically it altered nothing because Mobile and Vicksburg still fell. Consequently, from the standpoint of Union strategic objectives to split the Confederacy in half and prevent resupply from Europe, those battles did not alter the Union's goal.

When the CSA had a chance to destroy a Union fleet, the opportunity was abdicated by generals disagreeing at vital moments -- another lost opportunity.

Nathan Bedford Forrest enjoyed many successes in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. However, as brilliant as his campaigns were run, they did not alter Union success.

Cheers,

Ken
 
Yes, most excellent. "Glory" deserves to be listed as one of the best war movies period. The opening scene of Antietam is exceptionally well done. As an Army officer though, my favorite scene is where COL Shaw counsels the young private on how to shoot....how to shoot under fire. Unfortunately I've not been able to locate a clip of that.

As for Civil War movies in general, I must include "Red Badge of Courage" with Audie Murphy (also Bill Mauldin) and directed by John Huston. It was released in 1951 and was probably the first real good depiction of the Civil War. Although historical cinematography, I doubt "Birth of a Nation" is considered a good ACW movie.

Murphy was not a particularly talented actor (never claimed to be), but he did have a good "boy" quality which was excellent for that part. Interesting noting this particular boy killed over 500 men in a little over an hour. I often wondered what others on the set thought about playing opposite him.
 
I agree with Glory as a must have ... it certainly covered one aspect of the ACW that lots of folks don't want to acknowledge.
 
When the CSA had a chance to destroy a Union fleet, the opportunity was abdicated by generals disagreeing at vital moments -- another lost opportunity.

Nathan Bedford Forrest enjoyed many successes in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. However, as brilliant as his campaigns were run, they did not alter Union success.
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very true...
 
redriver6 said:
very true...
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My larger point -- perhaps not clearly stated -- is that only in Virginia did it appear the CSA had a real chance to alter the Union's strategic goal, capture of Richmond and the bread basket of the Shenandoah.

Furthermore, this was the only theater where it appeared the South had a strategic goal at all! Washington DC was there and so it seemed the goal was to use Washington as bait to trap the AoP.

In terms of Union goals, Shenandoah was a perpetual back-and-forth affair. The Union did suceed in capturing the vital Hampton Roads area and securing one more potential Confederate port of call. In terms of the Anaconda Strategy, the Union had total mastery. Whether Savannah, Wilmington, Hampton Roads, New Orleans, Mobile, or Charleston the South lost nearly all access to the outside world.

If that war was truly about "state's rights" vice a smokescreen excuse allowing "polite society discussions," then the CSA would have freed all slaves, gave the Union one week to pull out of their garrison at Fort Sumpter, and then opened the war. England would have allied with the CSA and Lincoln denied the all-important moral argument of slavery would have been unable to muster years of sacrificial effort among the north necessary to win the war.

Alas, the CSA didn't do that. So, that pretty much seals the truth! And having surrendered all that, the Union had a strategic advantage making Confederate victory a very daunting prospect.

Hence, I'm very happy it turned out as it did.

Cheers,

Ken
 
Another good file on the ACW and a different aspect.

Ironclads . Another Turner film, this time the sound stage was in Richmond VA and I got a chance after the filming to enter the building and take pictures of the sets.

Another note of interest, Richmond had a local news anchor who auditioned for a part and got the part as the capt of the Monitor ... that was the end of his news career in Richmond that I know of.
 
Snuffy said:
Another good file on the ACW and a different aspect.

Ironclads . Another Turner film, this time the sound stage was in Richmond VA and I got a chance after the filming to enter the building and take pictures of the sets.

Another note of interest, Richmond had a local news anchor who auditioned for a part and got the part as the capt of the Monitor ... that was the end of his news career in Richmond that I know of.
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Yeah, old times die hard around there! :icon_lol:
 
I should have said ... He quit his anchor job thinking he had made the big time in film ... as far as I know, he hasn't had another gig since ... I've moved from Richmond, so I don't even know if anyone hired him back as an anchor there either.

Sorry for the confusion.
 
there is also a movie about the Hunley..can't remember the name right now but it was fairly accurate..

i have two 'must see' ACW sites that i haven't seen yet and those are the Gettysburg Battlefield and the CSS Hunley in Charleston......well maybe three...third being the turret of the USS Monitor.
 
Snuffy said:
I should have said ... He quit his anchor job thinking he had made the big time in film ... as far as I know, he hasn't had another gig since ... I've moved from Richmond, so I don't even know if anyone hired him back as an anchor there either.

Sorry for the confusion.
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Oh, but that didn't make for nearly as good a story as if the town ran him out on a rail because he captained the mean ole' Yankee ironclad! :icon_lol:

Ken
 
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