Chapter 15

            Something I found to be interesting in chapter 15 was when it spoke about recruitment. The book says. “Southern cavalrymen provided their own horses, and uniforms were left to local option.” I never knew that before. I mean it makes sense to me. They went to war, but they really were not prepared at all. I think that especially if you are going to do something like go to war, you should be as well prepared as you could ever be for anything because your life and the lives of others are on the line. I think it was a huge triumph when Abraham Lincoln showed that he was much better at leading the country during wartime as compared to Jefferson Davis.

            I now understand why they also call the Civil War the first modern war. It was because of all the technology that had been invented like the railroad and better weapons. I do think it was somewhat troublesome because these weapons and inventions had just been created for the first time. It’s not like they were perfected. I’m sure they were very heavy and not nearly as efficient as they probably are today. Regardless, it was still a huge step in the right direction in becoming more technologically advanced.

            It was interesting how even though the North had way more people and the majority of the railroads, it was still not enough to be easily successful in fighting against the South.  I had always thought that the Civil War was one big battle, but now I understand that it was actually a series of mini battles, some bigger and stronger than the others, but smaller battles nonetheless. The book states, “Armies gained in efficiency in battle through experience, and only late in the war.” I feel like this is a bit unfortunate, but the only way it could have happened other than being better trained and more knowledgeable. I think that some of the pain they went through could have been avoided if they had been prepared for it.

            It was strange how some of the new laws that were made concerning property and slaves, allowed slaves to be both free in some areas, but slaves again in other areas. But this soon led to the enrollment of African-American soldiers in the war. This was the turning point in ending slavery. How can African-Americans fight for freedom for the country when they’re not considered free otherwise? If they’re willing to fight for the country, they should be given the utmost respect and freedoms as anybody else. But African-Americans were able to show how valuable they could be as a result of becoming a soldier. I learned that in a way, slaves went on strike by refusing to work or working inefficiently while the slaveholders went to war.

            It was unfortunate that the war had different effects on the economy. I think this was both good and bad. For example, the cotton textile industries suffered, but based on what I know, there was a lot of child labor and unsafe working conditions. So I would rather have something better come out of the situation, rather than to continue doing something dangerous and unethical.