Great Civil War Cock-ups

Which brings to mind the whole Ft Donelson matter! Losing an army right off the bat without much arguing about it is...well...! For me, the surrender of Ft Donelson might be the top of the list. From that point on, it was a series of unfortunate events. I've always thought the Confederacy was lost from that point on.
I agree. It wasn't the bigger or better of an army for sure, but to loose them like that was a little careless, if not a rare case of plain incompetence.
 
Jeb Stuart's disappearance during the Gettysburg campaign??
Lubliner.
Well, blame the orders he was given... Col. Charles C. Marshall.

He was following his orders and not joyriding.

Read this topic;.
 
Pickett heading off to a shad bake :whistling:

But did his presence at the shad bake materially change the outcome of the loss at Five Forks? There is some argument on this matter that the perception of being away from the front when Sheridan attacked at Five Forks was more harmful than the actual influence on the battle.
 
I would have to agree with StephanColbert27. If Rosecrans had not created a huge hole in the lines at Chickamauga, then Longstreet's corps would have had to assault a well fortified line of defenders. They still may have won the day, but certainly a very great loss of men and materials. I also think that without the rout and retreat that the Union forces would of held the northern part of the field and not been forced back to Chattanooga.
 
The Confederacy not maintaining what little Railroads it had was a huge mistake. . It seems they had a fascination with iron ships and alot of the iron and steel went toward the ships instead of the Railroads.
 
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