As much as I like Thomas, he’s not going to March across Georgia. He’d likely just try to defeat the AofT.Thomas would presumably have the largest western army after Grant went east, but I don't think Grant trusts Thomas with an army group / theater command. There was nobody Grant trusted as much as Sherman. (McPherson in distant third?)
I daresay Grant stays west to fill the Sherman role instead of going to Virginia. Otherwise the 1864 campaign looks very different out west.
That is terrific. The “Frenchicans” are apparently very mobile! Madison is quite a trek.....As the obvious answers are all taken and I'm bored. He gives it to his bestest buddy Sheridan and Lincoln promotes his fav Banks as his #2 they promptly raid Ohio and are caught and destroyed by the Mexican/French army at the 4 day battle of Madison, Wisconsin. Hooray for Dixie!
I daresay Grant stays west to fill the Sherman role instead of going to Virginia. Otherwise the 1864 campaign looks very different out west.
George Thomas functioned almost as Sherman's executive officer. He could have filled that roll for someone else. And Thomas never lost a battle. Joe Hooker or William Rosecrans could have been given the overall command, if Thomas did not want to be the No. 1 guy. My money would be on Rosecrans, who certainly had the intellectual capacity. Grant and Thomas would have strengthened the command structure.Interesting. Sherman did not want Grant to be stationed in Washington and caught in the political mire and intrigue of the capitol. Which is why Grant chose to tag along with the AOTP in the field. I'm still not convinced however, that Grant would have gone out west to fill the void created if Sherman were not around. Grant knew the capabilities of the western commanders and while dubious about Thomas, Grant had a better understanding of those commanders than he did of the eastern ones. So he may still have chosen to go with the AOTP and left the western war in the hands of leaders who had at least amassed a fairly good record.
The other strong possibility is that McClellan would take that western command. Grant might have persuaded him.
Wonder if the war in the West would’ve ended a little sooner under US? There’s no question that the war in the East would’ve lasted longer!
Grant could have persuaded McClellan that was the way the Presidency, in 1868. Grant had time to wait out Lincoln and McClellan.Even though by 1863 (if not sooner), McClellan and his Democratic party leanings were anathema to Lincoln and the Radical Republicans?
Sherman and Forrest literally saw each other?An interesting question! I think he came closer to getting killed a year before, at Fallen Timbers, when he literally ran into Col Bedford Forrest. Forrest had a terrifying skill set and was in full combat mode, Sherman thought he was a goner but...he'd been shot earlier and had his arm in a sling. If he had had a weapon - I don't think there would have been a march to the sea! (And maybe sometimes Forrest thought about that opportunity in Tennessee...)
For me, I really can't see another commander working as well with Grant as Sherman did. That was a partnership that's rare in the military world. Sherman jumped before Grant said how high! Couldn't have had a better subordinate. It was that cohesion and thinking alike that made the winning team.
Sherman and Forrest literally saw each other?
An interesting question! I think he came closer to getting killed a year before, at Fallen Timbers, when he literally ran into Col Bedford Forrest.
The battlefield at Collierville was small and fighting at close quarters. I estimate the Confederate got 2 of their small breech-loaders within 150 yards range of General Sherman.
As much as I like Thomas, he’s not going to March across Georgia. He’d likely just try to defeat the AofT.