Southern Strategies

"The authors seamlessly integrate modern theory with historical case studies. In doing so, they demonstrate that a complex coalescence of factors doomed the rebellion to failure."—Army History

"Southern Strategies is unquestionably a success, reminding readers that there are always new ways to look at old questions."—H-Net Reviews

"This volume makes clear that the careful application of doctrinal theory to timeworn topics like Confederate defeat can offer insightful ways to synthesize the seemingly endless litany of mistakes, blunders, and missed opportunities that defined the brief and violent history of the co-called Southern Confederacy."—Journal of Southern History

"[A] collection of smart, informed essays."—Emerging Civil War

"All of the essays in Southern Strategies are highly recommended for their freshly formulated insights into arguments new and old regarding the Confederate leadership’s role in its own defeat."—Civil War Books and Authors

“The question of why the Confederacy failed has sparked endless discussion. Southern Strategies offers analysis from professional soldiers, whose training and experience set them apart from most earlier historians who addressed the topic. Their essays explore a number of leading commanders and campaigns, as well as economic and diplomatic factors, and bristle with arguments and insights that surely will encourage further debate.”—Gary W. Gallagher, John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the American Civil War Emeritus, University of Virginia, and author of The Enduring Civil War: Reflections on the Great American Crisis

“The applied military history dimensions of this volume constitute an extremely useful and helpful perspective that promises to enrich our overall understanding of Confederate strategy. This is a valuable and highly recommended contribution to the field of Civil War military history, particularly for nonmilitary or academic historians less familiar with the important concepts and applications the contributors explore.”—Andrew S. Bledsoe, assistant professor of history, Lee University

“In Southern Strategies: Why the Confederacy Failed Christian Keller and his contributors offer readers a fresh way of looking at a timeworn question. In doing so they deliver a highly readable book that is timely and intensely relevant to contemporary society. The contributors weave new twists and turns into familiar stories and open up new interpretations on why the South lost its bid for independence.”—Peter S. Carmichael, Robert C. Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies and director of the Civil War Institute, Gettysburg College, and author of The War for the Common Soldier: How Men Thought, Fought, and Survived in Civil War Armies