Kontan.

Were there reasons other than ability (or lack of) that made the East more successful than the West?

The size of the area of operation in the East was smaller. Lee’s job was to keep Richmond from falling.

The strategy defending particular positions rather than going after particular armies (Jominian Strategy: Do the greatest damage to enemy with least to self, concentrate all forces in strategic place, then go against enemy keeping interior lines of communication open.)

Government policy: Jefferson Davis concerned with saving capital, the West was not his priority.

Geography: Mountains in the East, rivers in the West. Union controlling rivers and Confederates had no navy or control. Confederates tried to defed rivers from land. The challenge was how to defend without a navy.

Navy factor: Union navy attacks from gulf up and down MS river. Confederate trying to build ironclads in NOLA, but no time to concentrate on navy. Confederates had the Arkansas as an ironclad. The Arkansas fended off Faragut in Vicksburg. CSS Arkansas was sent to Baton Rouge, but couldn’t make it, the Confederates blew it up.

Logistics: Lee has secure RR in rear around Richmond going south. Does not have major logistic problem. A lot of food was sent to Lee and not in the West who really needed it. The RR was down in the West. Rivers were tenuous at best, and ran east to west, and subject to raids. Also an expansive territory, so they could not guard all rail lines. Furthermore, n o standard guage.

Communications: not just telegraph. Due to distance from Richmond, many Confederate generals didn’t communicate with Richmond or each other.

Civil Support: For Confederacy in West (as opposed to VA). Because troops couldn’t defend all areas people were left vulnerable, less support for Confederates in the West. Lee had support in VA.

State government support: As long as Lee inn VA the state government offered support. In West, had to move government frequently to avoid capture. Some Governor’s protested because vulnerable. Not as much support in the West.

Decline of morale among Confederate soldiers: Happens to army of VA at Seige of Petersburg. Starts a lot earlier in Western theater. Desertion was a problem.