John Bowen-hero or villain?

[Vicksburger]

I would be interested in knowing if others in the forum are puzzled as I am about Maj. Gen. John Bowen? His brigade were always good fighters, I get that, but here is what I have come across, maybe I'm wrong, but is it time to reconsider his legacy:
He preferred mostly baseless charges against Van Dorn after Corinth. He failed to attack, on the morning assault, although Lovell evidently never gave him his order to attack, nevertheless, Bowen was not too cooperative.
Author Warren Grabau, in his "98 Days" says Bowen saw Yankee campfires the night before Champion Hill and didn't report to Pemberton.
He refused to obey Pemberton's initial order, then changed his mind and sent up his brigade, after time passed while Stevenson's division was being mauled, at Champion Hill. Conspired with Loring to undermine Pemberton.
Mislead Pemberton as to Grant's intentions during surrender negotiations.
Yet most historians, except Grabau, seem to give him a pass, indeed, make him out to be the reincarnation of Stonewall. No doubt he was brave and competent, but should he be called on some "loyalty to the Cause" things?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

An Interesting question & some unique observations. I'm looking forward to the responses.

 

[TinCan]

Interesting question indeed, Bowen did seem to have a little trouble getting along with his superiors.
Grant (who was a pre-war friend) saved his hide at Vicksburg by allowing him to be paroled a second time while many were calling Bowen a parole breaker for actions that broke his first parole after being captured at Fort Jackson. By this time however Bowen was dying of dysentery so Grant may have took that into account.

 

[Missouri 1st]

Hero!

...but he was indeed involved in some of the seemingly petty squabbles that so plagued the Confederate armies that affected the outcome of battles more so than did those in the Federal armies. Bowen was definitely frustrated by the wasted momentum gained on day 1 at Corinth and the failure by Van Dorn to utilize his right to follow up, while the center continued frontal assaults. Interestingly, fellow Missourian Price, who had issues with Van Dorn, sat on the board of inquiry and defended his actions.

At Champion Hill, his initial actions are fustrating. I believe Timothy Smith called them borderline "treasonable", but that Bowen seemed to have a dramatic change of heart after which he threw all his energy into fighting battle. It was Bowen's Division (Cockrell and Green), and Stevenson who drove back the Federal right, nearly shattering it. He then held open an escape route across Bakers Creek and established the only organized defenses on the Big Black.

At Vicksburg he initiated negotiations with Grant and even misrepresented Pembertons position, but by then it was too late and nothing would have changed the outcome.

I suppose he was a difficult subordinate at times, but his generally served under "inferior" commanders. He was a man of action and initiative. After parole from Camp Jackson he went to Memphis to raise a regiment of Missourians in exile, the basis of the Missouri Brigade. That is but one example of his audacity.

I suppose you can rank Bowen (or any other commander) as hero or villain based on your bias. He definately shines in comparison to his commander - Van Dorn/Pemberton. For me the magnificent men of the Western/Trans-Mississippi were horribly served with the leftovers from the ANV (Pemberton, Holmes to name 2), the Confederate government never developed a strategy for the most important theater and watched seemingly "minor" battles eat up strategically important/vital positions like Island #10, Elkhorn Tavern, Forts Henry/Donaldson, Iuka/Corinth and on and on and on...

For me, Bowen was one of many tragic hero's. Cockrell, Green, Stevenson, S. D. Lee, Wirt Adams, Shelby, Fagan, Cleburne, etc, who competently filled the regimental/brigade commands of the Western/Trans-Mississippi armies.

My 2 cents.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Pemberton sure seems to have been saddled with a lot of semi-cooperative and uncooperative subordinates... Bowen, Loring, etc. And he really didn't seem to be the type that could get that team to pull together.

 

[Malingerer]

IIRC, there was an article by Ed Bearss that described Bowen leading his troops in a charge at the battle of Port Gibson with his sword in one hand and a Magnolia blossom in the other - its a beautiful image. In any case, I dont think that boy lacked sand.

 

[Missouri 1st]

I would be interested in knowing if others in the forum are puzzled as I am about Maj. Gen. John Bowen? His brigade were always good fighters, I get that, but here is what I have come across, maybe I'm wrong, but is it time to reconsider his legacy:
He preferred mostly baseless charges against Van Dorn after Corinth. He failed to attack, on the morning assault, although Lovell evidently never gave him his order to attack, nevertheless, Bowen was not too cooperative.
Author Warren Grabau, in his "98 Days" says Bowen saw Yankee campfires the night before Champion Hill and didn't report to Pemberton.
He refused to obey Pemberton's initial order, then changed his mind and sent up his brigade, after time passed while Stevenson's division was being mauled, at Champion Hill. Conspired with Loring to undermine Pemberton.
Mislead Pemberton as to Grant's intentions during surrender negotiations.
Yet most historians, except Grabau, seem to give him a pass, indeed, make him out to be the reincarnation of Stonewall. No doubt he was brave and competent, but should he be called on some "loyalty to the Cause" things?

Just another thought or two. I don't think Bowens "loyalty to the Cause" can be doubted. I think his sometimes seemingly insubordination was in response to what he saw/believed would help the cause. Certainly his worst "offenses" were not any where near as detrimental as those committed by the entire Army of TN command, or Longstreet or D. H. Hill or many other examples throughout the war, and his successes (usually not realized) were more notable than many mentioned above.

I don't recall Grabau being negative on Bowen. I thought he was rather complimentary of his conduct throughtout the Vicksburg Campaign from Grand Gulf on.

 

[Vicksburger]

Missouri 1st: Great analysis and appreciate your observations. I think your comments are right on the mark. I think many of the Confederate Generals were frustrated by the many ills that plagued that fledgling nation trying to establish itself among the great nations of the world. Even though I sometimes get frustrated with Bowen and especially Joe Johnston, I have to respect someone who threw away essentially their army career for what they deemed their duty to their native State and the Southern people. Thanks again for the comments. Vicksburger

 

[johan_steele]

The men of the western armies, both US & CS, are often skimmed over by those who think the war began and ended with the ANV & AoP. IMHO the western battles and campaigns had more of a strategic import than most anything east of the Appalachians... there just weren't as many newspapers out west.