building railroad lines
General Lee responded by having another shot at invading the North, which came to grief at Gettysburg.
Just the American Civil War began, the military leader who would end up becoming the most famous Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, was offered a key position in the Union Army. Despite being personally opposed to slavery and secession, Lee hesitated to accept the position because it would require him to make war against his beloved home-state of Virginia. His hesitation cost him the job, and he went on to serve in the Confederate military.
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They were missing official recognition by the British and French, which might have happened, until Lincoln skillfully deflected it by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Confederacy was missing a number of important things and even so, it still had a chance.