The South faced many disadvantages during the war, such as less developed infrastructure and less central urban areas (“North and South”). Yet, their greatest advantage was their strong military leadership, which remained consistent up until General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson’s death (Piston). In fact, the South’s military leadership became so vital to the Confederacy that the …show more content…
Jackson was born into poverty, orphaned at a young age, and brought up by his uncle. He received largely inadequate primary education, yet still managed to succeed at West Point, graduating as seventeenth in his class (Fredrikson). Lee was born into a life with more privilege, he was a part of one of the more influential families in Virginia. Still, without the funds to attend a university, he went onto West Point where he managed to graduate second in his class (“Biography”). Both men managed to stand out academically in their younger years; Jackson by overcoming his initial circumstance and education by perseverance, and Lee by striving for excellence among his class. These early years demonstrate the strong will and ambition that would help ensure their later military