Opinions on Mine Run?

[LematLemat]

Meade's general assault upon Lee's line on November 30th was all but executed, with Warren convincing Meade to cancel the assault even after the preliminary artillery fire had begun. Most of Meade's corps commanders believed that the attack would be a costly failure, but could Warren's attack on Lee's right had succeeded if followed through? Was Lee vulnerable in other parts of his line, such as his left, where Sedgwick and Sykes were intended to assail?

 

[RedRover]

Walter H. Taylor of General Lee's staff commented on this action post war:

W.H. Taylor.

 

[General JJ]

Lee's left may have been vulnerable. A bend in Mine Run made a good possible position for artillery to enfilade Lee's line. Early himself recognized it as a weak spot.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I'm eagerly awaiting Jeffrey William Hunt's book on the subject.

 

[JerryD]

One of the rare instances in this bloody war when someone had the intelligence to realize that a frontal assault on a prepared position was perhaps not the best idea.

 

[1SGDan]

For more information on this little thought of campaign see my
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-mine-run-campaign.15720/
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/engineer-operations-of-the-mine-run-campaign.202637/#post-2653726

 

[rpkennedy]

Mine Run had some early potential but it was quickly squandered by slow corps commanders and then French getting delayed at Payne's Farm. Once Lee was firmly ensconced behind Mine Run, the campaign was over. Meade had both the good sense and the confidence to order his troops back and into winter quarters rather than launch an attack which had little chance of success.

Ryan

 

[jackt62]

Meade had both the good sense and the confidence to order his troops back and into winter quarters rather than launch an attack which had little chance of success.

Meade took a big risk at following Warren's advice to forgo the attack. He surely knew that the Lincoln administration already looked upon him with some suspicion for not engaging in a vigorous pursuit of the ANV after Gettysburg. But to Meade's credit, he chose to save soldiers lives rather than choosing to save his reputation.

 

[Belfoured]

I'm eagerly awaiting Jeffrey William Hunt's book on the subject.

Yep - until then Chris Mackowski's ECW book The Great Battle Never Fought is an excellent entry in the ECW series. Both are from Savas Beatie and Ted was instrumental in locating the Payne's Farm battlefield in the 1990's.

 

[Bruce Vail]

I have a question for any or all of the CWT folk knowledgeable about the battle of Payne's Farm (same as Bartlett's Mill?).

I have a family ancestor who was wounded in the fight Nov. 27, 1863 while serving as a junior officer in the 3rd NC Infantry Regiment (Steuart's Brigade, Johnson's Division). From the descriptions I have read, it appears that the fighting began when Steuart's Brigade accidentally collided with Federal forces, with the Confederates being taken completely by surprise. Is it accurate, then, for me to describe the battle as an accident caused by poor reconnaissance on both sides?

 

[1SGDan]

I have a question for any or all of the CWT folk knowledgeable about the battle of Payne's Farm (same as Bartlett's Mill?).

I have a family ancestor who was wounded in the fight Nov. 27, 1863 while serving as a junior officer in the 3rd NC Infantry Regiment (Steuart's Brigade, Johnson's Division). From the descriptions I have read, it appears that the fighting began when Steuart's Brigade accidentally collided with Federal forces, with the Confederates being taken completely by surprise. Is it accurate, then, for me to describe the battle as an accident caused by poor reconnaissance on both sides?

Poor recon certainly did not help matters. This type of battle is known as a meeting engagement. Neither side was planning an attack but simply ran into each other as they moved. The lack of alternative routes in the area probably meant that this type of fight would occur as both sides were using the same limited road network.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Poor recon certainly did not help matters. This type of battle is known as a meeting engagement. Neither side was planning an attack but simply ran into each other as they moved. The lack of alternative routes in the area probably meant that this type of fight would occur as both sides were using the same limited road network.

Thanks!

FYI -- I know I am very late to the conversation but your 2010 description of the Mine Run Campaign appears to be in error about the fate of Confederate Gen. Raleigh Colston. Colston survived the war and had a rather interesting post-war career before his death in 1896. See https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/colston-raleigh-edward-1825-1896/

 

[1SGDan]

Thanks!

FYI -- I know I am very late to the conversation but your 2010 description of the Mine Run Campaign appears to be in error about the fate of Confederate Gen. Raleigh Colston. Colston survived the war and had a rather interesting post-war career before his death in 1896. See https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/colston-raleigh-edward-1825-1896/

Acknowledged, In November 1863, his cousin Raleigh T. Colston, an 1850 VMI graduate who had become colonel of the 2nd Virginia Infantry (also part of the Stonewall Brigade), became one of the few fatalities of the Battle of Mine Run.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Acknowledged, In November 1863, his cousin Raleigh T. Colston, an 1850 VMI graduate who had become colonel of the 2nd Virginia Infantry (also part of the Stonewall Brigade), became one of the few fatalities of the Battle of Mine Run.

Look like my recon wasn't very good either. Thanks for the new info...

 

[rpkennedy]

While we're all waiting for Hunt's book on Mine Run, I would heartily recommend Bradley Gottfried's The Maps of the Bristoe Station and Mine Run Campaigns, published by Savas Beatie.

Ryan

 

[Bryce]

Thanks!

FYI -- I know I am very late to the conversation but your 2010 description of the Mine Run Campaign appears to be in error about the fate of Confederate Gen. Raleigh Colston. Colston survived the war and had a rather interesting post-war career before his death in 1896. See https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/colston-raleigh-edward-1825-

https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/colston-raleigh-edward-1825-1896/

General Colston Saved Petersburg from an attack by the army of the james on June 9, 1864.

 

[Bryce]

Meade's general assault upon Lee's line on November 30th was all but executed, with Warren convincing Meade to cancel the assault even after the preliminary artillery fire had begun. Most of Meade's corps commanders believed that the attack would be a costly failure, but could Warren's attack on Lee's right had succeeded if followed through? Was Lee vulnerable in other parts of his line, such as his left, where Sedgwick and Sykes were intended to assail?

The attack by Warren wasn't meades main objective. N Warren was supposed to tie down rebels on the confederate right so that Sedgwick could attack the rebel left with a couple of army corps. Sedgwick believed that his attack could succeed.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The attack by Warren wasn't meades main objective. N Warren was supposed to tie down rebels on the confederate right so that Sedgwick could attack the rebel left with a couple of army corps. Sedgwick believed that his attack could succeed.

From Wikipedia:

 

[Bryce]

I'm eagerly awaiting Jeffrey William Hunt's book on the subject.

I am currently reading his manuscript, which is a very rough draft.

 

[Jamieva]

Warren's attack was to be the main attack. Sedgwick was to attack to cooperate with Warren's attack and not allow Lee to shift over troops to his right