Iuka - Victory as Failure

[Nathan Towne]

I know that and that has been covered and divulged previously, but it is not the only evidence available. We know that the connecting road was there, along with roads running south out of Iuka and at least one path running east out of Iuka.

 

[DanSBHawk]

The map is useful for another reason, as it shows how far Hamilton would have had yet to go on the 19th if the connecting road was open to reach the actual Fulton Road.

Even coming up the Jacinto Road with his entire force was not going to allow Rosecrans time to get Hamilton in position on the Fulton Road in time for a battle on the 19th before dark.

 

[Nathan Towne]

Maybe not. There may not have been enough time, regardless.

The other option would be to give up per Rosecrans articulation of the original plan and that wouldn't seem to be an option, obviously. This has all been covered at length now.

 

[DanSBHawk]

After the original schedule fell apart, it basically all came down to one key moment as to whether to try to salvage the plan, ...or, just give up on the plan and blunder forward. That key moment was the meeting between Rosecrans and Dickey and Lagow. After that meeting, their guide was sent back to Grant with a dispatch from Rosecrans.

Rosecrans could have decided to try to salvage the plan, and inform Grant that he could not be in position before dark on both roads. He could have told Grant that he would continue with plan to block both roads and Ord should attack at dawn the next morning.

Or, Rosecrans could send Grant a gibberish message that didn't make any sense, and just blunder ahead into a late afternoon battle.

Rosecrans chose the blundering option. It really doesn't matter how much spin is applied to this battle. The plan failed because Rosecrans fell behind the schedule, and then brought on a battle with the Fulton Road left unblocked.