Most important shot of the war?

[gary]

I'm talking small arms and not the cannon ball lobbed by the Carolinians at Charleston at the Federal Fort Sumter.

The death of Reynolds at Gettysburg or Sedgwick at Spotsylvania didn't lose the battle or campaign for the Union. The death of Jackson was by friendly fire (oxymoron) so it really doesn't count.

In my opinion, the most important shot that affected the outcome of the war was the stray minie that hit Albert Sydney Johnston at Shiloh. Why Johnston? Because dear old Branston Bragg succeeded him as the Commander of the Army and apart from Mudfordville, Bragg's record of winning wasn't exactly stellar (OK, he won Chickamaugua but blew it when he failed to follow up and route Rosecrans' Army). In fact, that the Army of Tennessee held together so long after so many successive defeats is testament to the dedication of its soldiers.

[johan_steele]

I'll agree to that... though I think A.S. Johnston is a bit over rated.

[thea_447]

Sorry I have to disagree with you, Gary, about Jackson. Had he lived I believe things might have been vastly different. I also think that the death of Cleburne was a big one for the Confederates in that he would have persisted in trying to get the Confederates to allow the blacks to fight for the South.

I know what the original question was, but I have to say that the effects on the lives of everyone in the entire country were certainly altered forever by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

[wt_jimbos]

I agree with Thea that the death of Abe Lincoln is by far the shot with most effect, we'll pointed out because I was to busy thinking of KIA Generals to think of Abe.
The Sydney Johnston question is an interesting one though, lol but I don't believe Bragg won the battle of Chickamauga, as his hands off way of command meant that the right wing wasn't ready/formed for action and he continued to push for action to start despite this. Leading to the right wings efforts being piece meal and hence beaten badly. Longstreet was the man the won the battle of Chickamauga, he didn't move until all was ready and formed and when he did he kept it all moving until darkness ended the day.

[gary]

I would regard the killing of Lincoln the most important shot that affected the nation after the war but not the course of the war itself. The war was almost over and the South was largely defeated. As for Jackson, that was friendly fire that had a major impact on the war's outcome.

[johan_steele]

For what it's worth, most evidence points to the shot that killed A.S. Johnston to have been friendly fire as well.

Has anyone thought about the shot that killed McPherson?

[gary]

Hi Shane. Haven't heard that before. Please cite your authority re: A. S. Johnston.

[jackbluelight]

Perhaps the shot that wounded Joe Johnston at the seven days battle could be considered here, it is because of this shot that Lee took command. Perhaps the outcome of the battle would not have greatly differed because of McClellan's paranoia about the size of his enemies forces would not have changed(he thought he faced 200 thousand confederates in Richmond at this time)But the war would have been greatly altered, Perhaps with a different outcome.

[johan_steele]

Gary, he was hit by what apeared to be a .577 minie and the only unit in the line on either side where he was hit was (IIRC) a Tennesee unit w/ Enfields and they were off to a flank shooting to his front. The bullet wound was to the back of the leg and he thought it only a scratch. None of his staff thought it serious until he collapsed. By all accounts it was a mostly spent ball, his surgeon was off tending to wounded Union men, if he had not he would have been fairly easily tended to as it was a flesh wound in his leg and a tourniquet would have saved his life... he bled out.

Several diferent accounts but I think the best researched would be Swords, <u>Shiloh Bloody April</u>

[johan_steele]

Casey, interesting, Joe Johnston in charge of the ANV instead of Lee... two wholly different fighting styles and both very able generals. But then again a blind chimp w/ dyslexia could have outgeneralled McClellan...