Missionary Ridge

[OpnDownfall]

Remember be consistent; wheneven you find a mistatement in a memoir be sure to always call it a lie.

[oneplez]

Originally Posted by OpnDownfall

Remember be consistent; wheneven you find a mistatement in a memoir be sure to always call it a lie.

Unfortunately there were too many "mistatements" in either Grant's or Sherman's writings to call them anything else.


Don

[OpnDownfall]

So long as you are consistent in 'your' judgements.

[blue_zouave]

That's why they're memoirs and not autobiographies. Memoirs have a more personal spin, more of "the way I remember it." Of course the memoirist wants to spin it in the positive direction (unless it's St. Augustine!)

Zou

[oneplez]

Originally Posted by OpnDownfall

So long as you are consistent in 'your' judgements.

Are you setting up the rules now?


Don

[OpnDownfall]

Are you arguing against being consistent in your criticisms. After all Liar, is very strong accusation.

[oneplez]

I'm always consistent in my statements beliefs.

Aren't you?

Read "Prevaricating thru Georgia" by Castel.

Read also Sherman's first edition of his "Memoirs," that he had to change because of the uproar it caused amongst the living CW troops.

In addition, I am not PC. I find it just toooo icky. Don't you?


Don

[Paul L. Hulse]

I have been doing some research for an article I was going to write on George Thomas when I came across orders written by Grant to Thomas concerning Missionary Ridge. We all know that Grant wrote orders for Sherman, Thomas, and Hooker to take the rifle pits at the base of the ridge and then regroup for a push up the ridge. These were more or less generic orders and Grant gave more orders between 8 November and 25 November, but all, including the soldiers, knew the ridge would have to be taken to end the siege of Chattanooga.

Grant did give a specific order for Thomas to take the ridge:
"...I have instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will be in co-operation.
Your command will either carry the rifle-pits and the ridge directly in front of them or move to the left, as the presence of the enemy may require...." O. R. Series I, Volume XXXI, Part II, page 44. These orders are dated 24 November 1863.

In Granger's report on the battle;
"...I sent Captain Avery, my aide-de-camp, directly to Major-General Sheridan, instructing him to go ahead and take the ridge if he could...." Ibid 133. This report did not specify the source and Sheridan acknowledges the reciept of these instructions in his report on the battle (Ibid 190). Before Granger left to rejoin his Corps, he and Thomas had a private conversation. The subject of this conversation are unknown,but Granger obviously got his orders from Orchard Knob.

Orchard Knob was captured on 23 November; Grant gave his order from the Knob on 24 November for an attack on the ridge on 25 November; and there is no other ridge between Orchard Knob and Missionary Ridge. Grant ordered Thomas to assault the rifle pits and take Missonary Ridge.

[ole]

Excellent post, Paul. Might even regenerate this thread.

Thank you.
Ole

[samgrant]

So is the "Who ordered those men to take that ridge"(sic) quote just a legend?