Off to War

From the perspective of an 18 year old clerk from Reading MA, I believe I would join the Union army. Although it was dangerous and the chance of death was high, it would be the right thing to do. I would know that it would take the strength of the whole north to win the war, and that includes me. This would be an opportunity for me to do something more meaningful with my life rather than just work as a clerk at a dry goods store. This would be the time and place that I could serve a greater purpose and fight for what I believe in. If anything I would join the Union out of pride, to be able to be content with myself and my life. Joining the army would give a better reason to wake up in the morning than to go to work at the dry goods store. It would be a chance to prove to myself that I can be a leader; Ulysses S. Grant is the perfect example of a this. He is a man that was a nobody before the war and quickly turned into the lead General of the war. This goes to show that anything can happen if you join the army and try new things, whereas nothing would happen if I continued my job as a clerk.

The Anaconda Plan

Technology had grown increasingly during the 1860's. In 1862 alone there were 240 military weapon patents issued, meaning that there was a wave of new weapons that the North had at their disposal. With this kind of advantage it would only strengthen make my decision to join the Union army. Some of the new inventions included, the first railroad artillery, land mines, telescopic sights, and military telegraphs. These new weapons just one of a few reasons to join the army. The second reason is that Union developed the "Anaconda Plan" which in my opinion is a great strategy. It would weaken the Confederates economically and cripple their morale. It included a naval blockade to restrict the flow of goods into southern ports, a combined Army-Navy effort to divide the Confederacy by seizing control of the Mississippi River, and major offensives into the Confederate hinterlands. To me personally, this plan seems great and it encourages me even more to join the union army. Lastly, the Confederate army didn't have a navy when the war started, and even though they created a new iron clad vessel, the Union army was able to build their own vessel. In a four hour stand off the two vessels fought and the Confederate Merrimack had to retreat. This just gives me more hope and faith in the Union army that they together can overcome and obstacle that the Confederates may place.

Battle of Shiloh

Their are a few things that bring doubt to my mind though. One being that Union armies would have to invade the Confederacy, destroy its capacity to wage war, and crush the will of the southern people to resist. Which I believe is an enormous task, and close to impossible to do. The Confederacy could win merely by prolonging the war to a point where the Union loyalists considered the effort too costly in lives and money. With the amount of casualties on both sides, it could become very apparent to everyone in the North that its not worth fighting the war. The Union has to go into the south and conquer, whereas the Confederacy just has to defend and wait till the North tires out. Another reason why I'm afraid of joining is because of the lack of medical treatments. Everyone who is returning from the war seems to physically lose a piece of them. If you get shot in the arm, many times the doctors will just amputate the whole army off. People return crippled and without arms or legs. This war won't last forever and if I lose an arm or a leg I don't know what I would do afterwards. I don't even think I could be a store clerk anymore. Lastly, General Grants battle of Shiloh makes me nervous, although the Union was the ultimate victor, the Confederates did show weakness in the Union army. It makes me realize that the Union can't and won't win every battle and the battles that they lose, they will suffer great casualties. 

The Merrimack

Considering all of this, the pros and cons of the Union army I would still enlist. My friends and family are all joining so there is no way that I would not go with them and fight with them for what we ultimately believe in. Plus, I would not want to be the only one that stays home and continues to work as a clerk while my friends fight on the front lines. Even though it means potentially losing my life at a young age. I think that I couldn't live my life truly happy if I knew that everyone else went off to war and I didn't.

http://www.edline.net/files/_yGHee_/9bdc9e8b5c1d71593745a49013852ec4/Strategies_Review_Article.pdf

http://www.edline.net/files/_yGHlI_/78d5b0a1d208b4aa3745a49013852ec4/Under_the_Knife.pdf