Behind the Lines in the Southern Confederacy

Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures in Southern History

by Charles W. Ramsdell

In this groundbreaking study, Charles W. Ramsdell explores the causes of the South's defeat in the Civil War. Finding traditional military explanations insufficient, he argues that deficiencies on the homefront were fundamental to the collapse of the Confederacy.

According to Ramsdell, the war raised economic and social problems that the southern people were unprepared to solve. Financially weakened and demoralized, the civilian population could not adequately support its armies, causing the Confederacy to break down from within long before the military situation appeared desperate.

Genres: History, Civil War, American History

136 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Charles William Ramsdell (1877-1942)

Reviews

[Gregory Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ramsdell has an exceptional grasp of the Southern economy leading up to and through the civil war. He is very clear on the tremendous infrastructure problems facing the South in this period and why those issues contributed significantly to the defeat of the Confederacy, in spite of the overwhelming effort of their troops.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so well written and thorough. Everyone interested in the Civil War or the Confederacy should read this.