"Why the Confederacy Wasn't Ready for War" Topic

"The political, economic, and military strength of the Union was much greater than that of the Confederacy. However, the war did last four years. The Confederacy proved itself resilient on many occasions. Throughout the war the tide constantly shifted, and with that so did the political, economic, and military strength of either side. Although each side had its share of military successes, in the end, the superior Northern economy, centralized government and overwhelming manpower would eventually lead to victory. In mid 1863, both the Union and the Confederacy could have won the war although; the Confederacy lacked the industry, or manpower to wage a long war with the Union.

The Union was far more industrialized than the South. The North possessed 80% of total U.S. industry. In addition, most Confederate industry was located in the Upper South-particularly in Virginia. The Confederacy lost a great deal of potential industry and manpower when West Virginia, Kentucky, Delaware, and Maryland joined the Union instead of the Confederacy. The loss of these states to the Union was as much a testament to shrewd northern politics (Maryland) as it was to opposition within the states (West Virginia). Confederate industry, especially with the loss of these states, was unable to compete with the Union…"
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Amicalement
Armand

But the part that is forgotten is the Secretary of War in the Buchanan Administration John B. Floyd. Transferred Guns , Powder, artillery to Southern Arsonal.

Also if the Commander of Gosport Naval Yard had destroyed the Power Magazine before abandoning the base, The South would have had a gunpowder supply shortage in the first year of the war.

The Southern pre-war planners could not even get unified on the gage for railroad tracks.

Neither side was prepared for war, at least, not for the kind of war that developed.

Agreed!

Amicalement
Armand

It is almost universal to see the Union victory at least partially attributed to overwhelming manpower. Grant complains in his memoirs that a huge portion of the Federal army was tied up in occupying territory and thus was not available for combat operations.