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Thomas was a bit on the slow side going after Hood at Nashville.
He got a rap for being slow, but in looking at it, I think he was correct in his actions. Yes, his replacement was already on his way there when Thomas finally attacked, but there was an ice storm which delayed his attack. I do not think Thomas was slow so much as... thorough.
Clearly, his attack on Hood was well-plan and well carried out. An earlier attack may not have been as devastating.
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
Nathanial Green said something to Washington .....
"Nobody ever remembers a Quarter Master General".
I guess that goes for Meigs as well.
Not entirely so.
Post-war Secretary of State William Seward said, "The prevailing opinion of this country sustains a firm conviction which I entertain and on all occasions cheerfully express, that without the services of this eminent soldier [Meigs], the national cause must have been lost or deeply imperiled."
“He got a rap for being slow, but in looking at it, I think he was correct in his actions. Yes, his replacement was already on his way there when Thomas finally attacked, but there was an ice storm which delayed his attack. I do not think Thomas was slow so much as... thorough.
Clearly, his attack on Hood was well-plan and well carried out. An earlier attack may not have been as devastating.”
Timewalker, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Initally his forces consisted of about 23,000 quartermaster employees and the cast offs from Sherman’s forces plus about 15,000 raw recruits sent as replacements.
Then Schofield and Stanly showed up on Dec. 1st with about 23,000 with Hood right on their tail. Smith and Steedman showed up on the same date. Thomas of course had to organize these forces and explain the planning. Also n December first he finally received permission to confiscate all the civilian horses ne needed (Including Gov. Andy Johnston’s). The Government hasn’t changed much has it?
Of course his actions were correct. In addition he was re-mounting Wilson’s cavalry, which he planned to use to get around Hood’s left top hit him on the left and rear. The fact that Sherman took most of his animals, equipment and healthy cavalry was a further hindrance. The fact that once he got most of his cavalry mounted a sleet storm began and when ordered by Grant to move against Hood anyway he tried found it impossible and called off the attack.
After the storm cleared he attacked and destroyed most of the AOT. Why would anyone claim that was slow?
“He got a rap for being slow, but in looking at it, I think he was correct in his actions. Yes, his replacement was already on his way there when Thomas finally attacked, but there was an ice storm which delayed his attack. I do not think Thomas was slow so much as... thorough.
Clearly, his attack on Hood was well-plan and well carried out. An earlier attack may not have been as devastating.”
Timewalker, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Initally his forces consisted of about 23,000 quartermaster employees and the cast offs from Sherman’s forces plus about 15,000 raw recruits sent as replacements.
Then Schofield and Stanly showed up on Dec. 1st with about 23,000 with Hood right on their tail. Smith and Steedman showed up on the same date. Thomas of course had to organize these forces and explain the planning. Also n December first he finally received permission to confiscate all the civilian horses ne needed (Including Gov. Andy Johnston’s). The Government hasn’t changed much has it?
Of course his actions were correct. In addition he was re-mounting Wilson’s cavalry, which he planned to use to get around Hood’s left top hit him on the left and rear. The fact that Sherman took most of his animals, equipment and healthy cavalry was a further hindrance. The fact that once he got most of his cavalry mounted a sleet storm began and when ordered by Grant to move against Hood anyway he tried found it impossible and called off the attack.
After the storm cleared he attacked and destroyed most of the AOT. Why would anyone claim that was slow?
Don
Finally two men speaking/writing facts. Thank you both. The two weeks following Nashville were in my opinion the most horrendous time any group of men ever spent in uniform. I know that is probably a stretch in the history of the world, but it was brutal. N.B. Forrest and E.C. Walthall were about to give a lesson in how to hogtie a young cavalry. The men of the AOT owed their very lives to those two generals, my 19-year-old gg grandpa from Virginia among them.
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
We tend to remember Joe Hooker as being the overconfident, arrogant commander. But to get to the command his actions have military merit and he does some things thereafter too that are worthy. Problem is that history makes us focus on his negative traits; I tend to do the same thing with Howard.
i agree very much. hooker can get cocky at times when he thinks he can cause a great blow thats good to the US. but some actions that he did (ex. Lookout Mountain) causes all of the cockyness to go away and make him a "hero". i doubt it though.
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