Donald Miller on Chickasaw Bayou

tony_gunter

First Sergeant
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Location
Mississippi
Donald Miller on Chickasaw Bayou:
"Grant took Halleck's advice ... [and decided to attack Vicksburg with a riverine operation]. Halleck approved, and when Grant asked whether he or Sherman should lead the river expedition, he left the decision to [Grant]. It would be Sherman, Grant decided." page 221, source Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 6 page 402.

My reading of that source is the complete opposite of this. For one, Halleck ORDERED Grant to terminate his overland campaign and send an expedition downriver. This preremptory order came after several weeks of Halleck "suggesting" to Grant that he not go too far south and instead send an expedition down river. Grant then asks if he should send the men down river under himself or Sherman. Halleck responds "the President may insist upon designating a separate commander; if not, assign such officers as you deem best. Sherman would be my choice as the chief, under you."

Halleck told Grant to assign a commander, which obviates Grant leading the expedition himself, and Grant had just spent weeks fielding Halleck's preremptory orders disguised as "suggestions," why is this one any different?
 
Hallek didn’t send Sherman. Grant’s nemesis, McClernand, a political general, had massed an army of troops in Memphis to conduct his own water campaign against Vicksburg. Grant told Sherman to go take control of those troops while McClernand was absent. By the time McClernand got back to Memphis to discover his troops gone, Sherman was well on the way to Vicksburg by water. The subsequent attack at Chickasaw Bayou was a disaster for the Union army and resulted in Sherman pulling what was left of his troops back.
 
Hallek didn’t send Sherman. Grant’s nemesis, McClernand, a political general, had massed an army of troops in Memphis to conduct his own water campaign against Vicksburg. Grant told Sherman to go take control of those troops while McClernand was absent. By the time McClernand got back to Memphis to discover his troops gone, Sherman was well on the way to Vicksburg by water. The subsequent attack at Chickasaw Bayou was a disaster for the Union army and resulted in Sherman pulling what was left of his troops back.
Halleck ordered Grant to take command of those troops and undergo a campaign down river, after suggesting to him for two months that's what he wanted done (and intimating that the pressure to do so was coming directly from the president). Grant then asked if he or Sherman should be in command. Halleck ordered him to assign a commander, and "suggested" Sherman, which at this point I would think Grant would take that as an order, given the nature of Halleck's previous "suggestions." :bounce:
 
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