Reply #57: I agree with most of what you say about the availability... [View All]

of material and the production capacity of the North. But your point about an endless supply of Irish immigrants willing to enlist in the Federal Army is not entirely accurate.
The most violent civil insurrection in American history took place in New York City in July 1863, only days after the Federal victory at Gettysburg. Union troops had to be marched from the battlefield straight into the city to restore order, in what is called the New York City Draft Riot (a little known sideshow of the Civil War) Over 105 people were killed and far more were injured.
The main combatants against authority in the riots were Irish (and some German) immigrants who wanted employment but absolutely NO part of military service. The riots developed an ugly racial tone as well, after several days of lawlessness, at least one orphanage for African-American children was burned by mobs drunk with their own savagery.
One book called, "The New York City Draft Riots" by Iver Bernstein covers the episode in exhaustive detail, but I'm sure the outlines of the insurrection and opposition to military service during the Civil War can be found elsewhere.