Howling Storm: Weather, Climate, and the American Civil War

The Civil War was a war between the North, the South, and the weather, with weather and climate shaping the outcomes of battles and campaigns. Events such as floods and droughts affecting the Confederate home front constricted soldiers' food supply, lowered morale, and undercut the government's efforts to boost nationalist sentiment. Union soldiers, with their superior equipment and open supply lines, were able to cope successfully with the South's extreme conditions and secure victory in 1865. The Howling Storm is the first comprehensive examination of weather and climate during the Civil War, and its approach, coverage, and conclusions are sure to reshape the field of Civil War studies.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 688 pages
\n Publication date: 30 October 2020
\n Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
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The Civil War, as traditionally narrated, is often portrayed as a conflict between the North and the South. However, Kenneth W. Noe proposes a different perspective, suggesting that the war should be understood as a battle between the North, the South, and the weather. In his book, "The Howling Storm," Noe delves into the history of the conflagration, emphasizing the significant role that weather and climate played in shaping the outcomes of battles and campaigns.

Noe argues that events such as floods and droughts, which affected the Confederate home front, had a profound impact on soldiers' food supply, morale, and the government's efforts to boost nationalist sentiment. On the other hand, Union soldiers, thanks to their superior equipment and open supply lines, were better equipped to cope with the extreme conditions prevalent in the South. This ultimately led to their victory in 1865.

Climate conditions during the war were particularly unusual, with irregular phenomena such as El Niño, La Niña, and similar oscillations in the Atlantic Ocean disrupting weather patterns across southern states. Noe's work challenges conventional explanations of battlefield victories and losses, prompting historians to reevaluate long-held conclusions about the war. Instead of attributing the Confederate defeat to factors like inflation, taxation, and logistical problems, Noe focuses on how soldiers and civilians dealt with floods and droughts that beset areas of the South in 1862, 1863, and 1864.

"The Howling Storm" stands as the first comprehensive examination of weather and climate during the Civil War. Its approach, coverage, and conclusions are bound to reshape the field of Civil War studies. By delving into the overlooked role of weather and climate, Noe sheds new light on the complex dynamics that shaped the course of the conflict and its ultimate outcome. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on the Civil War and will interest scholars, historians, and anyone with an interest in the history of America's most significant historical event.

\n Weight: 1078g\n
Dimension: 170 x 243 x 52 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780807173206\n \n