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For all practical purposes, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was the South's general in chief who reported to himself as commander in chief. This problem became evident early on in the war. Historians mostly agree that Davis should have insisted that in the West in 1862, that generals Bragg and Smith should have combined forces and attacked Union General Don Carlos Buell. Apparently, the distance away from the West that Davis had in Richmond obscured his view. He allowed those generals to act as they saw fit, however, that was an error.

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Q: What mistake did Confederate President Jefferson Davis make regarding the raids in the Western Theater in 1862?
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What relative of Confederate General Albert S Johnston was sent to investigate the loss at the Battle of Shiloh?

Confederate Jefferson Davis was surprised with the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Shiloh. Jefferson had been in contact with the now late Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston as they planned their concentration of troops on Union forces in Tennessee. Davis sent one of his aids, Colonel William Johnston to investigate what had happened in the aftermath of Shiloh and ask what plans the Confederate generals in the Western Theater had planned. Davis was seeking a way to recover lost Confederate territory. He sent Colonel Johnston, who happened to be the nephew of the fallen Confederate General Albert S. Johnston.


How did Jefferson Davis affect the Civil War?

As President of the Confederate States and Commander in Chief of its Armies, Jefferson Davis was one of the most influential men involved in the war. As a President he attempted to centralize power and so gained many enemies from the "States Rights" proponants who alway opposed centralizing power. He also attempted to gain foreign recognition through the use of emmisaries and by refusing to sell Cotton, Tobacco and other such crops in the mistaken view that these were essential to British and French economies. As Commander in Chief of the Confederate Armies his overall strategy was to defend all of the Confederate States at every point and to try to invade Union territory both in the East and West. He came up with the flawed system out west of using the Mississippi as a marker for the end of the Western Theater and the beginning of the Trans-Mississippi. He only had any real familiurallity with the Virginia Theater and only thought of the West and the Trans-Mississippi in passing. He allientated many generals and politicians and crippled the Confederate Cause as a result. He treated any and all of his oposition as untrustworthy, unpatriotic and those who opposed him as being little better than Traitors. Overall it is agreed by most that Jeff Davis was far more useful to the Confederate Cause as the Southern Martyr in Fort Monroe than he had ever been as the Confederate President in Richmond


What steps did Confederate President Jefferson Davis take prior to General Lee's raid into Maryland?

Prior to taking the Lee offensive into Maryland, Jefferson Davis believed he needed to first make organizational changes to the Confederate armies in the Western Theater. He set out to change Western commanders and restructure the army's military departments. One problem was the lack of good communications between Richmond and the Trans-Mississippi. Davis created a new department, the Trans-Mississippi and placed General Holmes in charge of it. The result was a division of the vast Southern frontiers. Historians believe the reorganization was a solid move, however, they have criticized Davis' choice of General Holmes to head the new department.


What caused Confederate President Jefferson Davis to believe that in the Summer of 1862 the South had a strategic advantage over the North?

In July of 1862, in the view of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, there was now the possibility of seizing a strategic initiative against the North. In the Western theater, the six month Union march had stalled. In Virginia, Lee's victory of McClellan stopped the Union's threat to capture Richmond. Despite Confederate defeats along the way, the Southern armies had not been destroyed and were available for offensive moves. This encouraged Davis to believe that it was a perfect opportunity to devise an offensive strategy and add further problems for the North. Davis had been criticized by Confederate leaders and the press for staying too long on the defensive. This allowed Northern forces to invade and occupy Southern territory. This has also been the view of modern day historians. It seemed that now that Davis should discuss with General Robert E. Lee, Lee's own preference at this juncture of the war, an offensive strategy while the opportunity seemed ripe to take advantage of.


When did Confederate General Hugh Weedon Mercer graduate from West Point?

Confederate General Hugh Weedon Mercer graduated from West Point in 1828. He was ranked third among his graduating class of 33 cadets. Mercer saw most of his war action in the Western Theater. He served at the Confederate victory of Kenneshaw Mountain and the Confederate loss in the Battle of Atlanta.

Related questions

What Confederate General was the son of former President Zachery Taylor?

Confederate Richard Taylor was the son of former US President Zachery Taylor. He was also the brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis. Taylor was not a strong proponent of secession. He saw most of his battle action in the Western Theater.


What Confederate general was sent to take command of the Western Department in 1862?

Confederate President Jefferson Davis saw the need for better results in the western theater. On November 24, 1862, he appointed General Joseph Johnston to take command of the Western Department. At that time this area was comprised of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and eastern Louisiana.


What plans did Confederate President Jefferson Davis have for the Western Theater in 1863?

In late December 1862 Jefferson Davis recognized the weakness of the Confederacy in the West. His ideas concerning overall strategy were based on speed and concentration. In his speech in Jackson, Mississippi on December 21, 1862, his goals were to bring Missouri into the Confederacy and take control of Kentucky.


What relative of Confederate General Albert S Johnston was sent to investigate the loss at the Battle of Shiloh?

Confederate Jefferson Davis was surprised with the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Shiloh. Jefferson had been in contact with the now late Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston as they planned their concentration of troops on Union forces in Tennessee. Davis sent one of his aids, Colonel William Johnston to investigate what had happened in the aftermath of Shiloh and ask what plans the Confederate generals in the Western Theater had planned. Davis was seeking a way to recover lost Confederate territory. He sent Colonel Johnston, who happened to be the nephew of the fallen Confederate General Albert S. Johnston.


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How did Jefferson Davis affect the Civil War?

As President of the Confederate States and Commander in Chief of its Armies, Jefferson Davis was one of the most influential men involved in the war. As a President he attempted to centralize power and so gained many enemies from the "States Rights" proponants who alway opposed centralizing power. He also attempted to gain foreign recognition through the use of emmisaries and by refusing to sell Cotton, Tobacco and other such crops in the mistaken view that these were essential to British and French economies. As Commander in Chief of the Confederate Armies his overall strategy was to defend all of the Confederate States at every point and to try to invade Union territory both in the East and West. He came up with the flawed system out west of using the Mississippi as a marker for the end of the Western Theater and the beginning of the Trans-Mississippi. He only had any real familiurallity with the Virginia Theater and only thought of the West and the Trans-Mississippi in passing. He allientated many generals and politicians and crippled the Confederate Cause as a result. He treated any and all of his oposition as untrustworthy, unpatriotic and those who opposed him as being little better than Traitors. Overall it is agreed by most that Jeff Davis was far more useful to the Confederate Cause as the Southern Martyr in Fort Monroe than he had ever been as the Confederate President in Richmond


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As President of the Confederate States and Commander in Chief of its Armies, Jefferson Davis was one of the most influential men involved in the war. As a President he attempted to centralize power and so gained many enemies from the "States Rights" proponants who alway opposed centralizing power. He also attempted to gain foreign recognition through the use of emmisaries and by refusing to sell Cotton, Tobacco and other such crops in the mistaken view that these were essential to British and French economies. As Commander in Chief of the Confederate Armies his overall strategy was to defend all of the Confederate States at every point and to try to invade Union territory both in the East and West. He came up with the flawed system out west of using the Mississippi as a marker for the end of the Western Theater and the beginning of the Trans-Mississippi. He only had any real familiurallity with the Virginia Theater and only thought of the West and the Trans-Mississippi in passing. He allientated many generals and politicians and crippled the Confederate Cause as a result. He treated any and all of his oposition as untrustworthy, unpatriotic and those who opposed him as being little better than Traitors. Overall it is agreed by most that Jeff Davis was far more useful to the Confederate Cause as the Southern Martyr in Fort Monroe than he had ever been as the Confederate President in Richmond


What general did Confederate President Davis believe was the best person to replace Braxton Bragg in the Western Theater?

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