- Joined
- Oct 10, 2012
- Location
- Mt. Jackson, Va
Battle of Shiloh by the artist Thure de Thulstrup
( With apologies to Batman and Robin ) Of all the generals who served during the ACW, some were very skilled and competent, while others not so much. But a chosen few could be considered brilliant, Lee and Longstreet immediately come to mind. On the Federal side, it took a little while for their talent to rise to the surface. " Cump " Sherman served well at First Bull Run ( where he received a minor wound ) and was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, seemingly headed in the right direction. However, when he took over operations in Kentucky he became nervous and pessimistic which lead to some sort of emotional breakdown. Maj. General Henry Halleck then ordered him to take a leave of absence.
When Sherman returned from his leave he assisted General U. S. Grant in the capture of Fort Donelson. Grant must have seen the potential in Sherman then because they formed a partnership which lasted for the rest of the war. Their partnership was even further solidified at the Battle of Shiloh. Shiloh was a massive battle which left thousands dead on both sides. Sherman's command received a major part of the Confederate onslaught, and while he gave up ground, he never retreated. It could be said that Sherman's coolness kept the fighting from turning into a route. The following day, Grant, Sherman, and other generals launched a devastating counterattack driving the Rebels from the field, forcing them to lose irreplaceable men and losing any advantage they held in Tennessee. Sherman's outstanding generalship further cemented his reputation with Grant, and would be one of the factors that ultimately convinced Grant and Lincoln that he be allowed to embark on his March to the Sea in 1864.
Last edited by a moderator: