Jump to content
Game-Labs Forum

Mr. Mercanto

Civil War Tester
  • Posts

    684
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Posts posted by Mr. Mercanto

  1. Just now, Admiral666 said:

    Interesting to hear that you two are playing on Easy/Normal. I've played a couple of campaigns on Hard...But they just aren't fun. The unending hordes of elite and lavishly equipped enemy armies become tedious rather than challenging. One of the decisions one can make in this game is to withdraw rather than press a pointless attack. On hard, the objectively correct decision is almost always to withdraw.

    I want to stress: I've managed to win every battle on hard through Chancellorsville. It's certainly possible. However, it is not fun. Battles are rarely won through clever manuevering or bold strategy, but instead by gaming the system to survive the aforementioned AI armies of doom. There's little choice when the alternative is to fight "properly" and lose half or more of your army in every battle.

    What do you think, @Koro, @Mr. Mercanto, others? Do you enjoy the higher difficulties, or are they more of a tedious experience? Or something else?

    Sadly, my little brain can only handle Easy. I can play Historical battle on higher difficulties, and prefer Normal for them. For Campaign, I find anything higher then Easy oppressively difficult. 

  2. On 31/03/2017 at 4:50 PM, Gael said:

    Andre B,

    Here is my favorite Stonewall Jackson phrase:  "Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy"

                      --Gael

    Along with this list from:  https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson

    Quotes

    • The time for war has not yet come, but it will come, and that soon; and when it does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.
      • Speech to cadets at the Virginia Military Institute (March 1861); as quoted in Mighty Stonewall (1957) by Frank E. Vandiver, p. 131; this has sometimes been paraphrased as "When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard."
    • If the general government should persist in the measures now threatened, there must be war. It is painful enough to discover with what unconcern they speak of war and threaten it. They do not know its horrors. I have seen enough of it to make me look upon it as the sum of all evils.
      • Comments to his pastor (April 1861) as quoted in Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson by His Widow Mary Anna Jackson (1895), Ch. IX : War Clouds — 1860 - 1861, p. 141; This has sometimes been paraphrased as "War is the sum of all evils." Before Jackson's application of the term "The sum of all evils" to war, it had also been applied to slavery by abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay in The Writings of Cassius Marcellus Clay : Including Speeches and Addresses (1848), p. 445; to death by Georg Christian Knapp in Lectures on Christian Theology (1845), p. 404; and it had also been used, apparently in relation to arrogance in a translation of "Homily 24" in The Homilies of S. John Chrysostom on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (1839), p. 331
    • Then, Sir, we will give them the bayonet!
      • Reply to Colonel Barnard E. Bee when he reported that the enemy were beating them back. At the First Battle of Bull Run (21 July 1861); as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 21
    • Yesterday we fought a great battle and gained a great victory, for which all the glory is due to God alone. Although under a heavy fire for several continuous hours I received only one wound, the breaking of the longest finger of my left hand; but the doctor says the finger may be saved. It was broken about midway between the hand and knuckle, the ball passing on the side next to the forefinger. Had it struck the centre, I should have lost the finger. My horse was wounded, but not killed. Your coat got an ugly wound near the hip, but my servant, who is very handy, has so far repaired it that it doesn't show very much. My preservation was entirely due, as was the glorious victory, to our God, to whom be all the honor, praise, and glory. The battle was the hardest that I have ever been in, but not near so hot in its fire.
    • My dear pastor, in my tent last night, after a fatiguing day's service, I remembered that I failed to send a contribution for our colored Sunday school. Enclosed you will find a check for that object, which please acknowledge at your earliest convenience and oblige yours faithfully.
      • Letter to his pastor after the First Battle of Bull Run (22 July 1861); as quoted in The Religious Development of the Negro in Virginia (1914) by Joseph Brummell Earnest, p. 84
    • Nothing justifies profanity.
      • A wounded Jackson said to Captain John Imboden, after First Manassas (The Oxford Dictionary of Civil War Quotations, 2006)
    • Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.
      • Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25; sometimes quoted as "My religious beliefs teach me..."
    • In the Army of the Shenandoah, you were the First Brigade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade! In the Second Corps of this Army, you are the First Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of your general, and I hope by your future deeds and bearing you will be handed down the posterity as the First Brigade in this our Second War of Independence. Farewell!
      • Farewell address to his brigade, as he left to receive his promotion to Major General (4 October 1861)
    • Our men fought bravely, but the enemy repulsed me. Many valuable lives were lost. Our God was my shield. His protecting care is an additional cause for gratitude.
      • Letter to his wife from Mt. Jackson after the First Battle of Kernstown (24 March 1862), as quoted in Life and Campaigns of Lieut.-Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, (Stonewall Jackson) (1866) by Robert Lewis Dabney, p. 329
    • I yield to no man in sympathy for the gallant men under my command; but I am obliged to sweat them tonight, so that I may save their blood tomorrow. The line of hills southwest of Winchester must not be occupied by the enemy's artillery. My own must be there and in position by daylight. … You shall however have two hours rest.
      • To Col. Sam Fulkerson, who reported on the weariness of their troops and suggested that they should be given an hour or so to rest from a forced march in the night. (24 May 1862); as quoted in Mighty Stonewall (1957) by Frank E. Vandiver, p. 250
    • Who could not conquer with such troops as these?
      • Remark to his staff (25 August 1862), as quoted in Life of Lieut. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) (1866) by Robert Lewis Dabney, p. 266
    • My men have sometimes failed to take a position, but to defend one, never!
      • Statement to Major Heros von Borcke (13 December 1862), as quoted in Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence (1867) by Heros von Borcke, p. 301; this has been paraphrased as "My troops may fail to take a position, but are never driven from one!"
    • Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.
      • Last words (May 10, 1863); as quoted in "Stonewall Jackson's Last Days" by Joe D. Haines, Jr. in America's Civil War
    • I like liquor — its taste and its effects — and that is just the reason why I never drink it.
      • As quoted in Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee (1874) by John William Jones, p. 171
    • I am more afraid of King Alcohol than of all the bullets of the enemy.
      • As quoted in Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee (1874) by John William Jones, p. 171
    • Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible.
      • As quoted in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (1884 - 1888) edited by Robert Underwood Clarence C. Buel, Vol. II, p. 297
    • War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to throw up breastworks, to live in camps, but to find the enemy and strike him; to invade his country, and do him all possible damage in the shortest possible time. This will involve great destruction of life and property while it lasts; but such a war will of necessity be of brief continuance, and so would be an economy of life and property in the end. To move swiftly, strike vigorously, and secure all the fruits of victory is the secret of successful war.
    • Through the broad extent of country over which you have marched by your respect for the rights and property of citizens, you have shown that you were soldiers not only to defend but able and willing to defend and protect.
      • As quoted in Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants : A History of Frederick County, Virginia (illustrated) from its formation in 1738 to 1908 (1989) by T. K. Cartmell, p. 322
    • Once you get them running, you stay right on top of them, and that way a small force can defeat a large one every time.
      • As quoted in The Civil War : An Illustrated History (1990) by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns, and Ric Burns, p. 272

    Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson (1891)

    Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) (1891) by Mary Anna Jackson PDF at Google Books
    • My duty is to obey orders.
      • Ch. 4 : The War with Mexico — 1846 - 1848, p. 45
    • We must make this campaign an exceedingly active one. Only thus can a weaker country cope with a stronger; it must make up in activity what it lacks in strength. A defensive campaign can only be made successful by taking the aggressive at the proper time. Napoleon never waited for his adversary to become fully prepared, but struck him the first blow.
      • Ch. 22 : The Last Happy Days — Chancellorsville — 1863, p. 429

     

    Misattributed

    • Duty is ours; consequences are God's.
      • Though this was a favorite motto of Jackson, and reported as among his last words, it did not originate with him, and was used by others at least as early as in a speech by abolitionist John Jay (8 October 1856)
    • Be content and resigned to God's will.
    • Easy, Mr. Pendleton. Easy. Good to have your dander up, but it’s discipline that wins the day.
      • These were lines in the film Gods And Generals (2003); they are not actual quotations of Jackson.

    Jackson's personal book of maxims

    This was a book of statements by others which Jackson had copied into a small book for his own use; published in Ch. 3 of Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson by His Widow Mary Anna Jackson (1895) they are sometimes quoted as statements by Jackson.
    • You may be whatever you resolve to be.
    • Through life let your principal object be the discharge of duty.
    • Disregard public opinion when it interferes with your duty.
    • Endeavor to be at peace with all men.
    • Sacrifice your life rather than your word.
    • Endeavor to do well with everything you undertake.
    • Never speak disrespectfully of anyone without a cause.
    • Spare no effort to suppress selfishness, unless that effort would entail sorrow.
    • Let your conduct towards men have some uniformity.
    • Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
    • Speak but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
    • Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself ; waste nothing.
    • Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off unnecessary actions.
    • Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.
    • Wrong no man by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
    • Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries as much as you think they deserve.
    • Be not disturbed at trifles, nor at accidents, common or unavoidable.
    • It is man's highest interest not to violate, or attempt to violate, the rules which Infinite Wisdom has laid down. The means by which men are to attain great elevation may be classed in three divisions — physical, mental, and moral. Whatever relates to health, belongs to the first; whatever relates to the improvement of the mind, belongs to the second. The formation of good manners and virtuous habits constitutes the third.
    • A man is known by the company he keeps.
    • Good-breeding, or true politeness, is the art of showing men by external signs the internal regard we have for them. It arises from good sense, improved by good company. It must be acquired by practice and not by books.
    • Be kind, condescending, and affable. Any one who has anything to say to a fellow-being, to say it with kind feelings and sincere desire to please; and this, whenever it is done, will atone for much awkwardness in the manner of expression.
    • Good-breeding is opposed to selfishness, vanity, or pride. Never weary your company by talking too long or too frequently.
    • Always look people in the face when addressing them, and generally when they address you.
    • Never engross the whole conversation to yourself. Say as little of yourself and friends as possible.
    • Make it a rule never to accuse without due consideration any body or association of men.

     

    Quotes about Jackson

    • There stands Jackson like a stone wall — rally round the Virginians!
      • General Barnard Bee, during the First Battle of Bull Run, in an exclamation which was the origin of the nickname "Stonewall Jackson", as quoted in Freedom (1987) by William Safire, p. 60
      • Variants:
      • There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians.
        • As quoted in Lee's Lieutenants : A Study in Command (1946) by Douglas S. Freeman, Vol. 1, p. 82
      • Yonder stands Jackson like a stone wall, let's go to his assistance.
        • As quoted in Stonewall : A Biography of General Thomas J. Jackson (1993) by Byron Farwell, p. 180
      • Yonder stands Jackson like a stone wall. … Rally round the Virginians.
        • As quoted in What They Didn't Teach You About the Civil War (1998) by Mike Wright
      • There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally round the Virginians!
        • As quoted in Chancellorsville, 1863: Jackson's Lighting Strike (1998) by Carl Smith, p. 18
      • Rally around the Virginians, there stands Jackson like a stone wall.
        • As quoted in 25 Best Civil War Sites (2005) by Clint Johnson, Site 6 : Manassas
    • Jackson fought for the constitutional rights of the South, and any one who imagines he fought for slavery knows nothing of Jackson.
      • William C. Chase, in Story of Stonewall Jackson : A Narrative of the Career of Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall) Jackson (1901), p. 203
    • It cannot well be denied that Jackson possessed every single attribute which makes for success in war. Morally and physically he was absolutely fearless. He accepted responsibility with the same equanimity that he faced the bullets of the enemy. He permitted no obstacle to turn him aside from his appointed path, and in seizing an opportunity or in following up a victory he was the very incarnation of untiring energy. … A supreme activity, both of brain and body, was a prominent characteristic of his military life. His idea of strategy was to secure the initiative, however inferior his force; to create opportunities and to utilise them; to waste no time, and to give the enemy no rest. ...That he felt to the full the fascination of war's tremendous game we can hardly doubt. Not only did he derive, as all true soldiers must, an intense intellectual pleasure from handling his troops in battle so as to outwit and defeat his adversary, but from the day he first smelt powder in Mexico until he led that astonishing charge through the dark depths of the Wilderness his spirits never rose higher than when danger and death were rife about him. With all his gentleness there was much of the old Berserker about Stonewall Jackson, not indeed the lust for blood, but the longing to do doughtily and die bravely, as best becomes a man. His nature was essentially aggressive. He was never more to be feared than when he was retreating, and where others thought only of strong defensive positions he looked persistently for the opportunity to attack.
    • You are better off than I am, for while you have lost your left, I have lost my right arm.
      • Robert E. Lee, in a letter to Jackson shortly before Jackson died; referring to Jackson as his right arm, as quoted in The Oxford Dictionary of Civil War Quotations (2006)
    • Jackson neither apologized for nor spoke in favor of the practice of slavery. He probably opposed the institution. Yet in his mind the Creator had sanctioned slavery, and man had no moral right to challenge its existence. The good Christian slaveholder was one who treated his servants fairly and humanely at all times.
      • James I. Robertson, Stonewall Jackson : The Man, The Soldier, The Legend (1997)

    Hmmmm....not bad.


    ;P 

  3. Some of these quotes aren't exact as I am doing them from memory:

    "30 minutes of shelling is nothing to 30 seconds of rifle fire." James A. Wright, Sgt Company F, 1st Minnesota

    "I feel that I have partly avenged my brother's death." Henry Taylor [after the 1st Minnesota aided in the repulse of Armistead's brigade on July 3rd, 1863), Sgt, Company E, 1st Minnesota

    "No useless coffin enclosed his breast,/Nor in sheet nor in shroud we bound him,/But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,/With his shelter tent around him." Inscription on the grave of Issac Taylor, Lieutenant, Company E, 1st Minnesota, July 3rd, 1863. Inscription written by his brother, Henry.

    "We heard stories that the entire regiment had been destroyed...surely it could not have been as bad as that." James A. Wright, Sgt Company F, 1st Minnesota

    "We advanced down the slope till we neared the ravine, and "Charge" rung along the line, and with a rush and a yell we went. Bullets whistled past us; shells screached over us; canister and grape fell about us; comrade after comrade dropped from the ranks; but on the line went. No one took a second look at his fallen companion. "We had no time to weep." Corporal Alfred Carpenter describing the charge of the regiment on the second day of Gettysburg, Company E, 1st Minnesota. Letter dated July 30, 1863.

    "If I do re-enlist, I will join the artillery. I am tired of carrying a pack." For the life of me I can't remember the name of this private, I think it was James Knight, but he was in the 1st Minnesota. Also, he ended up deciding to work on the railroad instead of re-enlisting, because back packs can shove it. 

    "September 17, 1862: Fought the Battle of Antietam." Amos Berry, 1st Minnesota Infantry in the most boring Civil War diary I have ever read. (This was the entire entry)

    • Like 1
  4. This has been discussed at length in the Tester forum. Basically, almost no one played the multiplayer for UG:G, we're talking like 5%. While the single player was a huge hit, the multiplayer just didn't have the same staying power. The numbers rapidly dwindled, and UG:G essentially became an awesome single player game. For UG:CW, implementation of a multiplayer system would be extremely taxing for the developers, eat up months of time and resources, and necessitate the allocation of time and resources necessary to finishing and refining the game. All of this for a service which, objectively, over 90% of players did not even try once in the previous game. This really is a case of making the single player the best possible experience it can be in service to the overwhelming majority of the user base. UG:CW can only be as big as it is, and improved over its predecessor as it is, by allocating all resources to the Single Player features.



    Its great for me, since I now have an excuse to avoid getting whipped online by the pros ;) lolol. 


    Also, @Nick Thomadis, I hope this is all stuff I'm allowed to say...please don't Force choke me...

    • Like 3
  5. On 23/03/2017 at 3:05 PM, Andre Bolkonsky said:

    It is a programming issue. Changing that much code this late in the game would be very difficult for a cosmetic change. 

    If it makes you feel better, Once my brigades get to second level they get a name rather than being refered to by what kind of long arm they carry. 

    First one is always The Blackwatch (I'm Scottish, go figure). The 20th Maine, and the 54th Massachussets usually march side by side. 

    I always name mine after friends :P





    Or, if I've had just a little to much rum, I give them more...creative names...

    ...those screenshots don't make it to the tester forums...

    • Like 1
  6. 17 hours ago, Col_Kelly said:

    Ok got a nice one for you Professor :) hope it's not too specific.

    As a cavalryman did you have better chances of surviving the Civil War than your infantry counterparts ?

    I'm not sure if I'm the professor or Slathium is ;P 

    9 minutes ago, A. P. Hill said:

    Welp, I waited for the Professor, but he doesn't seem to be around so I hope you don't mind if Gilligan slips an answer in here while the Professor is MIA.  ;)

    This is just one battle, and probably not the best one but the returns for this campaign point out that given the role of the cavalry in the ACW, your chances of survival were much better than being in infantry.   But then the graphic above is also pointing to a more probable outcome as well.  Since the North was capable of providing replacement mounts, your survival as a Federal Cavalryman was way better than a Southern Cavalryman.   The South ran out of horses towards the end of the war, and if you were cavalry and had your mount killed, and there were no replacements, you had a choice of two other branches of service to finish out your career.  But if you chose the wrong branch, (i.e. the Artillery,) when they started running short on horses too, you were only left with one option, unless you got lucky to commandeer a new mount in which case you could try rejoining the cavalry again.

    This is basically a better answer then what I was going to give :P, as I had no direct examples. 

    I would like to add some scattered thoughts: 

    As far as I know, much of the cavalry on both sides fought dismounted by mid war. So far as I recall, Forrest's men were particularly noted for fighting this way and taking casualties similar to infantry. This suggests that while some cavalry did suffer similarly to infantry, enough did not so as to warrant the grisly plaudit. 

    Although, it is important to note that while cavalry generally suffered lower casualties, in instances where cavalry charged infantry unsupported, this was not the case. Needless to say, riding a horse in the era of the rifle head on was ill-advised. So far as I know, lower cavalry combat casualties had more to do with their more reserved deployment on the battlefield, and their preferential assignment to non-linera combat duties, such as attacking enemy lines of communication, defending lines of communication, screening the army, scouting, et cetera

    • Like 3
  7. This is a cool idea! Although, there is a problem that most of the battles in this game are not ones in which the USCT participated. The USCT were usually relegated to "backwater" departments, and were only given the honour of fighting in the Virginia department at the end of the war. I do believe they were with the AoP from Spotslyvannia through to the Petersburg Campaign. As they were with the IX Corps, the USCT portion of the AoP was moved to a different department after the Crater. The USCT division of the Army of the James would rejoin the AoP for Appomattox. 

  8. Interesting, however I cannot say I agree. Stephen W. Sears spends a great deal of time in consideration of the Lost Order in "Antietam: A Landscape Turned Red." In the narrative, Sears explains that Lee only became aware of the Federals having any intelligence concerning the disposition of the ANV when a "Maryland Gentleman" present when McClellan received the intelligence, informed him. In truth, Lee did not know the exact nature of the intelligence leak, only that it had excited McClellan greatly, and the Young Napoleon now intended to attack. Given the disparity in numbers, this alone was enough for Lee to concentrate his forces in and around the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. 

    In "The Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War" by James M. McPherson, McPherson dedicates an essay to Lee's decision to invade Pennsylvania in 1863. According to McPherson, Lee only became aware of the intelligence leak in 1863 when, in a hearing before the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, Major-General McClellan disclosed of the intelligence leak in his deposition concerning the Maryland campaign. This information actually contributed greatly to Lee's movement into Pennsylvania, as he became convinced his defeat in 1862 was merely a case of hard luck. 

    So, we can conclude that Lee had no idea that any orders were lost by the close of the Maryland campaign. 

    As a final note, Lee would not have intentionally risked the leaking of his Orders 191 to simply catch a traitor. The loss of these orders was the most tremendous military leak in American history. Had a more effective man commanded the Army of the Potomac, the capture of these documents by the United States might have ended the war in two weeks. Lee would be history's greatest fool to risk so much to gain so little. The loss of those orders were not worth the killing of ten thousand spies. 

    All that having been said, I do love the "Turn: McClellan's Spies" vibe ;)

  9. 1 hour ago, Slaithium said:

    Ok the only clause in the entire part of that article that needs to be addressed that would give Lincoln that kind of power to over-rule constitutional rights. " [congress]To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. " But the power lays in congress which is the law making body of government, and the point of what makes all of this controversial is the Lincoln's view " I see the South in rebellion of its native country, and will never recognize them as a sovereign state". I paraphrased, but that is the point. Lincoln holding that view and policy would be reaching beyond his executive powers or at minimal a clear contradiction. Also the, " Special Session on July 4, 1861 " was a speech he made to congress, no formal law or legislation to recall gave him special powers. Hell, Lincoln himself debated with himself that we know of from his writings that he was most-likely over-reaching, but felt it necessary. There lays another issue what you feel is necessary and what is actually necessary are two totally separate things.

    As far as Historiography is concerned, you have a minimum standard that must be achieved and then within that you can create further frame-works. Most do not and stick to the bare minimum, but as long as they are excepted and are explained why it was significant to be done this way it is general accepted.  But as said, there are several historical methods that could be applied to whatever era of study. But at the same time, does not take away good history.

    Lastly, when doing Q&A different views and histories do not make them wrong if they are well organized and supported reasonably, moreover if it can persuade the audience that is listening or reading. So debate is built into Q&A, if you want to make it a thread where you give all the answers from your own studies and deductions then that fine and on you, but there are more than one supported answers to these questions. And in a public forum, it will invite opposing answers and ultimately view points on any subject in history. That why I wrote you should be-careful how you exert and write. I am simply pointing out things from other corners of the field of study, and if you do decide to go for you doctorate, you will be drilled repeatedly for this if you do not consider and fully understand all arguments surrounding a particular specialty of study in history. In my doctorate for example to what we are talking about, I had to argue for the position that North was going to win the war not matter what essentially, that is not my view but I had to argue that stance so I could understand why historians and people think that and I learned alot about many many many details that changed some of my thinking on doing that. Course, that was a side project that co-worked on to build up resume but still the point remains.

    I agree with the several methods of historiographical approach, but in the Civil War Era I am stressing that caution must be used. I'm not sure how posted you are in Civil War historiography. As a professional historian, I'm sure you'll agree that while there are universal elements to the broader study of historiography, individual historical periods also enjoy unique historiographical trends, problems, et cetera.


    As for the Special session, Congress did authorise Lincoln's actions, though perhaps I've mis-cited the particular event, though it was in the wake of the Special Session. Damnable in a grad seminar, but to be fair, I'm doing this off the cuff. Regardless, it is my opinion that the retro-active legalisation settled what little legal discrepancy that already existed. The fact remains that the Federal government had the power to suspend these rights in a time of crisis and had done so in the past, (Whiskey Rebellion and Hartford Convention to name a few). If anything, I think Lincoln's blockade of Southern ports is a more legalistically problematic act. 

    With respect to Q&A, I recognise that debate is inevitable, I am simply trying to keep it brief and to the point. To allow each party to make a few points, and then allow the readers to decide. Otherwise it becomes a quagmire. I also invite other answers, indeed, if you peruse the thread, you'll find there are instances where I do not participate in answering at all. I only entered the conversation here because you specifically addressed me in your comment. I suggested we let our debate end because, while I take issue with some of your conclusions and suppositions, your arguments have the strong foundation of someone professionally trained in history, thus, I wanted to let readers come to their own conclusions and let the thread move on. I felt we both made effective arguments, and further discussion would move from Q&A to outright debate. The question is, between our perspectives, answered I think. 

    And no, I'm sure as hell not going for the PhD, I've suffered enough lol. Thanks though :) I do feel the need to state that I am very familiar with the arguments from the other side, a fact evidenced somewhat by my familiarity with your arguments. I simply do not agree with them.

  10. 1 hour ago, Buford Protege said:

    Well Mr. Mercanto, 

    As a Minnesotan who did a good amount of research on all 11 Minnesota Infantry regiments.  I can add a bit to your estimation of "the old thunderbolt" the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.  Governor Ramsey was in Washington D.C. when news reached the city that Fort Sumter had been fired upon.  He went to the White House and offered President Lincoln 1,000 men to help put down the rebellion.  Lincoln then told Cameron to muster them in first.  The youngest state thus became the first to tender Volunteer troops to serve.  They were mustered in with 3-year enlistments.

    They served first at 1st Bull Run in William B. Franklin's 1st Brigade of Samuel Heintzelman's 3rd Division.  They the highest percentage of casualties of any Northern Regiment in the battle as they were placed in an exposed position to cover artillery.

    In McClellan's reorganization of the army they became part of the 2nd Corps (eventually the "Damned Cloverleafs")

    They served through McClellan's drive on Richmond under Edwin Sumner's command.  Missed 2nd Bull Run due to Sumner's corps being one of the last to leave the Peninsula, yet arrived in time to aid in covering the retreat.  Served with distinction at Antietam while the 2nd Corps assaulted the Sunken Lane.  They were on the right of the 2nd Corps and was, with the rest of the brigade caught in enfilade fire in a counterattack by Hood from the Dunker Church area.  They held long enough to allow the Sunken Road to be overwhelmed.  They suffered immensely to hold together that long.

    At Fredericksburg their brigade commander was cashiered for not fully committing his brigade in the assault on Mayre's Heights which saved the command from the extreme casualties of Hancock and French's divisions.

    At Chancellorsville they were among the rest of Couch's 2nd Corps in advancing rapidly up the Confederate rear only to be recalled and join in the defense around the mansion.  There they aided in holding back Anderson and McLaws' diversionary attacks and like the rest of the 2nd Corps did not break.

    Mr. Mercanto gave a nice description of their work at Gettysburg. (There is a cool story of their captured battle flags from the fight here and at Deep Bottom).  The final tally from their suicidal attack was 82% casualties.  Most sources say that after the entire battle of Gettysburg they left with less than 100 effectives.

    They then served until the end of the year. Taking part in the Bristoe Campaign (helped inflict devastation on Heth's division in a matter of minutes) and the aborted Mine Run maneuvers.  Then with their enlistments expiring enough of the regiment re-enlisted to form the 1st Battalion 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.  As such the survivors served until the close of the war, in their old position in the 2nd Corps.  A much longer commitment than many regiments who served for the North.

    Anything I miss Mr. Mercanto?

    Also I recommend reading on the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, they served George Thomas and William T. Sherman rather admirably for the entire conflict.

    I can't say I can add much to that :) 

  11. Just now, Slaithium said:

    That why I was quick to say that the original post that was not entirely accurate, when I teach my classrooms I make a clear distinction between mythos, history, and facts. The reason for that facts tell you when and where and the basic essentials, the history of of people involved, notable things that happened (that are not biased), etc. Then the mythos which is not factual but gives flavor towards the passions on each side, the passions are what excite the imagination and gets people to dig into history.

    I'm not sure I am following you. Are you familiar with the Dunning and Randall schools of post-Civil War historiography? I ask because the Civil War has a rather unique and complex historiography which may differ a great deal from Prussian military historiography.

  12. Just now, Slaithium said:

    Not constitutional rights it does not, that is why the view that Lincoln held is problematic he viewed the South as being still citizens of the United States just in rebellion. Also Article 1 section 8 deals with the powers of Congress not the executive. Since you keep bringing that up.

    Actually Article I makes no such specification. While most of the powers in said Article refer to Congress, Articles are not explicitly ordered as such in the Constitution. Whether or not Article I is actually only in reference to Congress is still hotly debated by Constitutional scholars to this day. Regardless, Congress, who unimpeachablely do have this power,  retroactively authorised all of the President's actions with respect to Article I Section 8 during their Special Session on July 4, 1861. Thus, making the question, in a phrase Lincoln would have used, "a pernicious abstraction."

    As I said, I specialise in this field ;) 

    Remember that the Constitution was written in the wake of the Shay's Rebellion, and was designed to avoid future such crisis. Both Adams and Washington would suspend the Writ before Lincoln, though on a much smaller scale. 

    Anyway, I think this is getting tiresome for everyone. I set this forum up as a question/answer forum, not a debate forum. I'll warrant that one is easy to become the other, but since we have both outlined our cases, let us allow the readers to decide :). I want to open the forum up to more questions. 

  13. Just now, Andre Bolkonsky said:

    This is hardly your first post on the subject I have read, there have been many. And humor was the objective, not causing you offense; my apologies if you took it in a spirit which was not intended.   

     

    Apologies accepted, I know you are not the type to be malicious. I do think that your summation of my views was a bit more unfair then amusing though. 

    Perhaps I'm just being a bit testy lol. One of those days...

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...