Jefferson Davis and His Generals: The Failure to Write an "A" Paper The Night Before

Steven Woodworth:
"Pemberton's first inkling that all was not as he had supposed came on April 16, 1863. Only the day before he had been confident that Grant was reinforcing Rosecrans, but now intelligence reports were conflicting. Pemberton nervously wired Johnston that he could not send as many troops as he had planned. That night Pemberton received another indication that Grant was up to something. The officers of the Vicksburg garrison were celebrating their apparent victory over Grant by attending a festive ball with the citizens of the town. As couples waltzed around the floor to cheerful tunes, the music was suddenly drowned out by the roar of the big guns along the waterfront. The ball changed into pandemonium as muzzle flashes lit the sky outside the windows and the acrid smell of powder smoke seeped into the ballroom. Officers dashed off to join their units. Whatever it was, it was over quickly. The Vicksburg guns fell silent. A few minutes later the stillness of the night was again broken, this time by a distant rumbling and flashes on the southern horizon."

I made it through this dense book about an hour ago, presently embarking on a five-page paper about the failures of Davis and his generals in the western theater. The major themes I am focusing on are hesitancy, inflexibility, loyalty, and incompetency. My mind is on other things like orange juice, cuddling, winter break, my RCA project, Guatemala in the spring, home renovations, and buying a Christmas tree. (And from where?)

P.S. Trying to make it up to the DC tree this year, as I won't be going home for Christmas. Let's go, let's go!