Thomas Bates

The War Lectures 1861-1865 Thomas Bates

This book is the first of threevolumes that I have planned to write over the next few years.¿ Since this book is a part of a larger projectI feel compelled to explain some of the idiosyncrasies that exist, particularlyin Lecture I because the principles, theories and corollaries of war explainedin this lecture are applied to the follow-on lectures.¿ In essence, Lecture I provides the foundationfor all of the other lectures.¿ Duringthis first discussion I reference not only the American Civil War, but alsolater American wars through the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003.¿ Also, within the text of the lectures of thisvolume, I refer to incidents that I will cover in the future.¿ If the reader wishes to move on to the otherwars, the bibliography for supplemental reading includes the sources that Iwill use when I discuss these future wars.¿However, this volume stands alone nicely, as will the others. At the beginning of each battleand campaign that I discuss in this volume, I have suggested that the readers supplementtheir reading with biographical sketches of some of the significantparticipants in the events.¿ From mystudies I have found that wars and battles are not impersonal but reflect thethinking and backgrounds of those individuals directly involved in theaction.¿ I feel that these supplementalassignments will enhance the reader's understanding of the complexities ofarmed conflict. Finally, this book is neitherpro-war nor anti-war.¿ Without question,war is a horrible human experience.¿ Thesuffering in war is beyond the wildest imagination of the non-participant. Because of the horror and suffering, war must be reserved for only those eventsthat threaten the vital national interests of our country.¿ This series is a discussion to help the readerunderstand that war is not a romantic adventure but scars the very element ofhuman existence.¿ War is not an amateur'sgame.¿ It requires its own body ofknowledge and professional skill to execute that knowledge.¿ The participants at