What!?!?! The South lost?

Sorry, a little southern US humor, for some people here the war is still going.

The South is generally considered to have had "better" generals. The upper level officers were essentially southern nobility, this may have given them an edge at leadership over the troops. Maybe the men just had more faith in their abilities. Some Union general (can't remember, maybe Grant) even said the more southern officers killed during the war, the easier the occupation and subjugation would be. Something about "the flower of southern manhood", or some such crap.

There was some political interference from the southern side. Johnston was fighting a measured retreat towards Atlanta, outnumbered but delaying Sherman's advance. Davis replaced him with Hood, who promptly attacked, lost, and Atlanta was taken before the presidential election.

McClellan was much loved by his troops, probably because he kept them alive by not attacking. Grant knew the way to win was to keep attacking, eventually the northern supply/industry/manpower would grind Lee down.

At little trivia, you may or may not know this. Arlington National Cemetery is located on Lee's plantation in northern Virginia, right across the river from Washington DC. The North occupied the plantation in 1861, and in 1864 Gen. Meigs decided to turn it into a military burial ground so Lee could not use it after the war. Sort of a punishment for being so good at what he did.