Civil War History - "What if..." DiscussionsWhat if they had attacked instead of digging in...? What if he was in charge of the army instead...? Did you ever have a "What if..." question, and you weren't sure where to post it? Here's the place to ask these speculative questions!
You are a division commander. Your division numbers about 3,700 men, but earlier in the day the commanding general ordered your largest brigade and 1/2 of your second largest brigade to other parts of the field.
Your corps commander has instructed you to align YOUR left with the division to your left - which makes you the extreme right of the army.
You are instructed that you will commence the assault with the attacks following in succession to the left. The sun is already set - and only about 30+ minutes of direct light is left.
Shortly after the advance commences, word comes from your brigade commander on the extreme right - that the enemy not only covers your front - but extends 300 yards beyond your right flank and to halt the advance to come observe the situation.
Your brigade commander is a veteran - you trust his judgement, and rapidly ride to the right to observe your threatened right flank. To your astonishment - there is indeed a heavy force on your flank. The promised support to your right is nowhere to be seen. If you advance - it is certain that you will be hit heavily in flank and likely a counter thrust to your right rear.
The enemy line in your front is at least as strong as you - you are advancing uphill - nearly a half mile to attack an enemy force not only protected by temporary rails, but supported by two or more batteries of artillery.
Your division frontage from right to left is about 1000 yards with your two and a half brigades present.
Send up the BatSignal! Call for Mommy. Find the nearest happy hour. Shoot Hood.
You've presented an impossible situation. You can be shot for disobeying. You and the rest of your command will likely be shot if you obey.
I DON'T KNOW.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Call in a bomber squadron to level the top of the hill and all that are defending it with a few 500 lb bombs.
I make an "attempt" to attack my portion of the hill. Then I hope that the enemy flank decides to advance on me so that it becomes obvious to everyone else that I'm completely outnumbered on my flank, then withdraw quickly and with dignity. If they charge me, run like heck and take the fall for my division. Arrest me and court martial me. Go ahead...I get to go home dummies.
Bart
__________________ "Thank You....Noooo."
Major Charles Emerson Winchester III M.A.S.H. 4077th
Notify Commanding General, then do what you came for, Attack. Try to adjust your troops to deal with the threat to the flank. If necessasry retreat, regroup and try again. At some point you either take the position or decide it is costing too much and move on to fight another day.
I agree with Pinckney about notifying my commander, and would also take into consideration the amount of light left. If I could make clear my intent to advance but drag my feet for an hour or so, waiting for clarification, it would be too dark for fighting and I would have carried out the spirit, if not the letter, of the order.
I'm interested to know what our real-life general did!
This if John C. Brown and his division at Spring Hill, the night before Frankin.
Brown has been a "FALL GUY" since shortly after the chain of events transpired.
In regards to the responses that were posted.
Ole, Sending up the Bat Signal is likely the best idea. And that is probably why Brown hesitated to do anything else. An attack - could - spell disaster, but the situation called for action of some sort. Decide and act, as they say. Brown's action was not attacking, but rather informing his commander of a potentially lethal action on the enemy's part.
A turning point in the battle was when Cleburne halted his men. Granted his men had charged over a distance of a half mile, and were disorganized - he stopped his men to reorganize - this gave the Feds time to act, and as the sun was setting - they did.
By the time Brown's Division arrived on Cleburne's flank - the sun was setting, and there were too many variables for Brown. He did what I believe makes perfect tactical sense. He advised his corps commander of the situation immediately and kept his troops ready for action.
In hindsight, we can see even better, that he made the right decision. The force on his flank numbered over 300 men supported by at least a section of artillery. WHAT DID HE DO?
Brown reported the situation to his commander and shortly thereafter his corps commander as well as the army commander agreed with his decision and ordered him to wait for another corps to form on his right.
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