Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee, 1861–1862

Most of the Civil War was fought on Southern soil. The responsibility for defending the Confederacy rested with two great military forces. One of these armies defended the "heartland" of the Confederacy--a vital area which embraced the state of Tennessee and large portions of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Kentucky.

This is the story of that army--the first detailed study to be based upon research in manuscript collections and the first to explore the military significance of the heartland.

The Army of Tennessee faced problems and obstacles far more staggering than any encountered by the other great Confederate force, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Lee's army was charged with the defense of an area considerably smaller in size. And while Lee's line of defense extended only about 125 miles, the front defended by the Army of Tennessee stretched some 400 miles.

Yet the Army of the Heartland has heretofore been given relatively slight attention by historians. With this volume Professor Connelly, a native Tennesseean, has brought Confederate military history more nearly into balance.

Throughout the war the Army of Tennessee was plagued by ineffective leadership. There were personality conflicts between commanding generals and corps commanders and breakdowns in communications with the Confederate government at Richmond. Lacking the leadership of a Lee, the Army of Tennessee failed to attain a real esprit at the corps level. Instead, the common soldiers, sensing the quarrelsome nature of their leaders, developed at regimental and brigade levels their own peculiar brand of morale which sustained them through continuous defeats.

Professor Connelly analyzes the influence and impact of each successive commander of the Army. His conclusions regarding Confederate command and leadership are not the conventional ones.

Finding high-quality digital editions shouldn't be a challenge. With instant access to our curated library, you can start your journey with Aftermath immediately. Whether on your phone, tablet, or e-reader, the story of Raleigh's life is presented in a format designed for modern readers.

To get started finding Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee, 1861–1862, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of titles listed. Our library is one of the most comprehensive resources for free digital reading materials, providing verified and safe content for book lovers worldwide.