The Civil War in Four Minutes. When this link first showed up three/four years ago, I accepted it as a clever curiosity. After seeing run on a larger than 40 inch High Definition Television in the Walters Art Museum I realized the view of the strategy presented in this map display is unique. If you have some understanding of the Civil War, this display map clarifies the strategy employed by the Union. While everybody is familiar the great battles between Army of the Potomac and The Army of Northern Virginia, those battles, as terrible as they were, are only defensive operations to keep the Union Capital of Washington out of the Confederacy's hands. Washington had great symbolic and psychological value it's loss would probably not have put the Union out of the war.
The Union won the Civil War in the West. It wasn't easy, as the difficulty the Union had in getting control of Chattanooga, is clearly visible in this display. Grant's operations against Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had the strategic purpose of keeping troops pinned down around Richmond and away from the critical fronts in the South. I have heard of the "Cincinnati Meeting" which took place between Grant & Sherman and perhaps others from the Armies of Tennessee & Cumberland. And maybe even some representatives from the War Department. Supposedly It was at that meeting where the grand strategy was settled. A decision on the level of "Europe First" in the Second World War. I have always wondered what map did the Generals use in that meeting? My guess would be it was a railroad map of some sort.
This map is belongs to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield Illinois The last I have heard they have not approved any web distribution, but it still shows up occasionally. Hopefully this link holds up for a while.
The Civil War in Four Minutes was really neat. One of the places I want to visit is Springfield. Thanks for sharing the link.
Posted by: Sharon | Jul 07, 2008 at 10:33 AM