The Western theater of the Civil War, rich in agricultural resources and
manpower and home to a large number of slaves, stretched 600 miles north
to south and 450 miles east to west from the Appalachians to the
Mississippi. If the South lost the West, there would be little hope of
preserving the Confederacy. Earl J. Hess's comprehensive study of how
Federal forces conquered and held the West examines the geographical
difficulties of conducting campaigns in a vast land, as well as the toll
irregular warfare took on soldiers and civilians alike. Hess balances a
thorough knowledge of the battle lines with a deep understanding of what
was happening within the occupied territories.
In addition to a mastery of logistics, Union victory hinged on making
use of black manpower and developing policies for controlling constant
unrest while winning campaigns. Effective use of technology, superior
resource management, and an aggressive confidence went hand in hand with
Federal success on the battlefield. In the end, Confederates did not
have the manpower, supplies, transportation potential, or leadership to
counter Union initiatives in this critical arena.