It would slowly become evident that when they committed themselves at last to secession, not as a threat but as an accomplished fact armed for violence, the devoted men who wanted to preserve the Southern way of life had made a tactical error. The ultimate fate of their cause would be largely determined by what was done in Washington. Leaving Washington forever, they had fatally surrendered the initiative. Now their enemies would seize it.
The decision by Southern leaders to commit to secession was fraught with tactical missteps. Initially seen as a means to protect their way of life, the move escalated to a point where it was backed by violence, culminating in a pivotal mistake. Once they severed ties with Washington, the South relinquished control over the unfolding events, which would ultimately shape their destiny.
This shift allowed their adversaries to take the lead in the conflict, seizing the initiative that the South had surrendered. The unfolding situation in Washington would play a critical role in determining the outcome of the Civil War, leaving the Confederacy at a significant disadvantage as they found themselves on the defensive.
