Hardee

[Borderruffian]

Okay in mid 1861 Hardee commanded all Confederate troops in Northern Arkansas. He invaded Southeast Missouri on July 31st this was in conjunction with Pillows Confederate Army of Liberation invading Missouri at New Madrid and linking up with M. Jeff Thompsons Missouri State Guard Troops.

The idea was to gain control of the Missississippi and make Cairo Illinois untenable for Union forces and thereby protect and secure the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers for the CS, and eventually link up with Prices State Guard and secure Missouri. Hardees presence in SE Mo factored into Lyons defeat at Wilson's Creek because with Pillow and Hardee in Southeast MO Fremont withheld reinforcements from the Union forces in SW Mo.

Eventually however Grant did secure the Mississippi and rendered the SE Mo incursion mote.

Could be that Davis felt that Hardee and Pillow were to blame for the loss of the Mississippi and this is the reason he never was granted larger command. Coupled with Hardees berating of Jeff's fairhaired boy Braxton.

[ole]

The idea was to gain control of the Missississippi and make Cairo Illinois untenable for Union forces and thereby protect and secure the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers for the CS, and eventually link up with Prices State Guard and secure Missouri. Hardees presence in SE Mo factored into Lyons defeat at Wilson's Creek because with Pillow and Hardee in Southeast MO Fremont withheld reinforcements from the Union forces in SW Mo.

Now that is almost rational. Do you mind if I ask for some further reading on that? By itself, it would indicate some confederate thinking. Was unaware of any strategic thought regarding Missouri. Was this local? Or was it to some degree an example of a thinking Jeff Davis?

Thanks in advance.

Ole

[Borderruffian]

It's covered briefly in the Wilson's Creek book and I have another book that goes into greater depth. But as I am in the process of moving and the Commanding General of the Army of the Home has already packed the majority of my books I'll have to beg your patience on that one.

I am pretty sure however that it wasn't Jeff's idea. I'm thinking it was the a combined idea orginating in the Army of Kentucky.