Many interesting views, my friends !

I do beleive the main obstacle for CSA`s political elite was to "run" a war and build a nation and it`s infratructure at the same time.
But, we have to remember that the main aim for the CSA was to be aknowleged as a nation and that it`s borders was to be respected.

The Southern army at the time of first Manassas did have intelligence about 14 days before the battle - about when and how many the Union was to attack and number of men would meet them due to Rose Greenhows spyring in Washington.

I do understand both army command and politicians in the South at the time did not quite understood how fortunate they were to have this information. If Lee had been at war 2 years before this battle and with it`s information AoN would have chased the federals to Washington and entered the city to demand a surrender ! lol !

The Anconda plans purpose and goal was revealed too late for the Southern administration to come up with strong countermeasures.
Distribution of all the guns from Norfolk was also critical to success in this counter strategy.

I do also belive as Joe mentioned that during 61-62 the South could have won the war, but it needed a major defeat for the Union during this time to accomplish that - they didn`t.

After `62, the chances to win the war was slim. The South had lost to much strategic important territory since the war started - and some top valued commanders. Shiloh became the lesson of how this war was headed for both combattants - a total war of annhilation and bloodletting. With 29 million against 4 million people the card was dealt from the start, and tthat the South did what it did was remarkable. Battle after battle in ratio 4:1,3:1 and 2:1 they won and kept ground. The few times they outnumbered the Union the loss was total for the enemy. The problem was the times they lost did cost more than the enemy loss.

Roy