It was very hard to transport troops, supplies and munitions. The South also had only two main east-west railroads, which were run by over 100 different companies, and gauges differed from place to place. They had no locomotive railway manufacturers, and could not therefore replace damaged tracks or equipment. 97% of USA firearms were in the North, and as the main ports were in the North, no cotton could be exported to pay for munitions for the South.
As the North grew 80% of the oats and wheat in the US and had more cows, sheep and horses, the Union troops were given more to eat. By the end of the war, the Confederate troops were so hungry that they had to scavenge for food. Although neither sides could grant much leave, the plight of the Southern troops had grown so desperate towards the end of the war that they were granted no leave at all, and 1 in 7 Confederates deserted, compared to 1 in 10 Unionists.
All of this led to a psychological change in the Confederates. At the start of the war, one of the reasons why they looked so strong was that they were fighting for a cause…by the end, hunger, death, loss of possessions, break down of law, looting and mass demoralisation, made the people of the Southern states wonder what they were fighting for.
Finance also played a main part in the defeat of the South. The Union troops were better paid than the Confederates, and due to inflation at the end of the war, the paper dollars paid to the Southerners were worth nothing. The South owned no gold, its capital being land and slaves (which was useless with the abolition of slavery). The North blockaded ports, which made it practically impossible for the South to sell cotton abroad. This poverty meant that transportation, food, munitions became much poorer quality, again putting the South at a great disadvantage.
However, the ingenuity of many Southern officers compensated somewhat for their material disadvantages. Not once did a Southern army surrender for want of ammunition, and despite being in terrible disrepair, the Confederacy’s railroads somehow fulfilled their task of transporting troops to battle on several occasions. Furthermore, the South had several clear advantages at the start of the war. Firstly, fighting on home ground was easier since supply lines were shorter, the local people friendlier, and knowledge of the climate and land better. Secondly, most of the US Army’s best leaders were Southerners, so, at the start at least, the Confederacy had superior leadership in battle. Therefore, although the North’s superior resources undoubtedly helped, this alone does not fully account for the Southern defeat, as the Southerners had their advantages too.
The Southern government however was unsuccessful. The American government was already existing in Washington i.e. the North, and these people were used to running the country. Jefferson Davis was an experienced soldier, though, and soon built up a sound army, commanded by excellent generals. However, while a good military man, Davis was not a very able politician. Although as a slave owner, he was used to controlling people, in his presidency he had to start from scratch, and slowly gain people’s trust. Many of his decisions appeared to have been motivated more by personal like or dislike of an individual than any strategic reason. He found working with people very hard, as he knew how to obey and command; but nothing in his experience had taught him how to persuade and conciliate. Lincoln, on the other hand, was a masterful diplomat, prepared to overlook personal differences for the good of the Union. He never once faltered in his determination to save the Union, as we know by his statement made in August 1862 – ‘My main aim in this struggle is to save the Union etc.’
At the start of the war, the South had recruited and trained their troops better, winning the first Battle of Bull Run, and gaining victories throughout the first year of war. Yet by 1863, the Union general Ulysses S. Grant had a definite strategy, and managed to surround and overcome the Confederates, leaving the South in a state of devastation and defeat.
Yet the outcome of the American Civil War was not a foregone conclusion. The North’s larger population and superior resources were balanced by the geographical and strategic advantages of fighting on Southern soil. Lincoln’s greater ability can be negated by the Confederacy’s plentiful supply of experienced and competent generals. However, the South’s inadequate government was no match for the North’s pre-established, smooth running institution. This was a war of attrition – and in this type of war, the North with its superior numbers had to win.