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To me the Tullahoma Caimpagin seems to be lost to historians because it takes place at the same time as Gettysburg and Vicksburg. Yet with consdierablly less time and bloodshed Rosecrans is able to force the Confedrates out of Chattanooga. What are some of you opinions of this campaign?
Rosecrans is an interesting study, against Bragg he was stellar... than again it was Bragg. He was a classsic example of a General unwilling to do anything until he was good and ready. This led to near disaster on several occawsions and allowing enemy troops to escape near total destruction at least twice. Rosecrans and Monty would have had a lot in common.
The Tullahoma Campaign is IMHO one of the more brilliant actions of the war and one that has always had me scratching my head... Rosecrans planned & accomplished that? Shcked me initially.
The man should have been relieved after Iuka & Corinth... but he wasn't. At least he accomplished the Tullahoma Campaign before his disaster at Chickamauga & Chattanooga.
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Gentlemen, can you better define for me the time period that you perceive to have been the Tullahoma Campaign? Tullahoma began life as a railroad construction yard mostly after 1855 as the Nashville-Chattanooga Railroad slowly came to life. Fortress Rosecrans played into the battle at Stones River at Murfreesboro, again a supply depot owing it's existance to the railroad. The fact the Union Army was able to keep the railroad open from Nashville to Murfreesboro to Tullahoma to Stevenson, Alabama supplying the Union troops at Atlanta was a huge factor in the ultimate victory by Sherman. This scenario played on until December 1864 when Forrest burned his last blockade and stockhouse. Reb Prof, sometimes lurking and writing on this board, is probably the leading authority on this particular subject. Perhaps he will find time to "jump in".
Rosecrans .... should have been relieved after Iuka & Corinth... but he wasn't. At least he accomplished the Tullahoma Campaign before his disaster at Chickamauga & Chattanooga.
Johan, Rosecrans was a canny strategist. He knew full well who he was up against (Walk Backward Bragg). Against another commander, who knows what he would have done?
At Iuka and Corinth, he expected support from Grant (which never came.)
After he took Chattanooga without a fight, he started a three-pronged attack, expecting that Washington would send more troops (which it didn't.) He didn't make nice with the politicos, including Stanton. Stanton sent his little stooge Dana to shadow Rosecrans and catch him in a mistake... not necessary, since Rosecrans made a big enough one for everyone to see.
I won't excuse Willie Rosecrans for his personality, which was his downfall. He tended to engage in diatribes, both spoken and written, and was well known in Washington for his letters of complaint. His diatribe against Wood for not following orders caused Wood to follow an ill-advised order, which opened that infamous gap on the Brotherton field at Chickamauga. But I also believe that if Rosecrans had been killed early in the battle of Chickamauga, he would be considered a minor hero, not everybody's punching bag. (I also believe that if they had had ***** in those days, Willie would have been easier to get along with!)
Sure, I'm a Rosecrans fan. Most of the time I feel like somebody with a really ugly dog... how can you love that dog, he's so ugly!! Well, I love that dog BECAUSE he's ugly.
Gentlemen, can you better define for me the time period that you perceive to have been the Tullahoma Campaign? Tullahoma began life as a railroad construction yard mostly after 1855 as the Nashville-Chattanooga Railroad slowly came to life. Fortress Rosecrans played into the battle at Stones River at Murfreesboro, again a supply depot owing it's existance to the railroad. The fact the Union Army was able to keep the railroad open from Nashville to Murfreesboro to Tullahoma to Stevenson, Alabama supplying the Union troops at Atlanta was a huge factor in the ultimate victory by Sherman. This scenario played on until December 1864 when Forrest burned his last blockade and stockhouse. Reb Prof, sometimes lurking and writing on this board, is probably the leading authority on this particular subject. Perhaps he will find time to "jump in".
The Tullahoma Campaign was the main campaign from June 1863 till August. The fight and campagin that led to Chickamauga was another campaign. As for Fortress Rosecrans it was no built until after the Battle of Stones River.
Bragg and Rosecrans deserved each other; much too similar to have been a coincidence... just some sort of celestial joke.
Tullahoma Campaign, in my opinion would be that period after Battle of Murfreesboro up until Bragg reached Chattanooga.
Couple here have mentioned that Rosecrans "forced" Bragg out of Chattanooga, without firing a shot. The way I understand it, Bragg "lured" Rosecrans beyond Chattanooga and had a pretty good plan in place to hurt him badly.
But he couldn't pull it off. But while they were all wondering around in the hills and in the woods trying to decide who's fault it was things went FUBAR, who would do what next, what to do and where to go, The Battle of Chickamauga just kinda' broke out.
Afterwards, Rosecrans invested Chattanooga (until this guy named Grant showed up with his buddy, Sherman and Rosecrans found other things to do). Shortly afterwards, Bragg found other things to do, also.
Now we have the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman vs Johnston.
And where Bragg and Rosecrans were so much alike, Sherman and Johnston... polar opposites. Advantage Sherman.
A common tactical thread worth noting however, Rosecrans and Sherman, was their constant and effective movement, or threat of movement, to go around the AOT and cut them off from their rail supply line. This never failed to force the AOT back further to keep their flank covered and secure another position on the rail line further down the road,,, and further down the road... all the way from Tullahoma to Atlanta. So Rosecrans and Sherman acted much alike, and Bragg and Johnston reacted much alike.
However, given the advantages in troop strength and supply chain held by Rosecrans and Sherman, Bragg nor Johnston had little choice. They were simply unable to present a broad enough front or mount any meaningful offensive counter.
Actually the dates of the campagn are from June 23-July 3. 1863. This is the period that Bragg is manuvered out of Middle Tennessee. AFter July 3, Rosecrans takes another month off to prepare for what would be the Chickamauga or Chattanooga Campagn. These dates come from the OR's
Actually the dates of the campagn are from June 23-July 3. 1863. This is the period that Bragg is manuvered out of Middle Tennessee. AFter July 3, Rosecrans takes another month off to prepare for what would be the Chickamauga or Chattanooga Campagn. These dates come from the OR's
I think the AOT was most of the way back to Chattanooga then. I remember reading in some contemporary diaries that they (or at least that portion of the army the writer was in) were somewhere around the Duck River headed east on the 6th or 7th when they heard of the fall of Vicksburg. Intrestingly, there were no contemporary notes regarding Gettysburg. Guess the "regular guys" in the West had no inkling of the significance of that... but they seem to have fully understood Vicksburg.
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