Roscrans captures AOT at Tullahoma

[richard]

If it had not been for the 13 days of heavy rain during the Tullahoma campagin, the possibality existed that Roscrans could have prevented the Army Of Tennessee from crossing the Tennessee River. It is also possible that the AOT would have been nutralized at that point. What effects would that have made in the general picture of the war?

 

[Baggage Handler #2]

Interesting.
The real unknowns I think revolve around Grant's rise and the subsequent unlikelihood of Sherman's march.

But... bagging a whole entire army isn't something that actually happens very often... Chickamauga took out about 1/3 of the AOT as it was, and even Hood got away with about half of his army after Nashville, didn't he?

So my guess is that Chickamauga, a legitimate Union defeat, was even more devastating to the AOT - and when combined with Bragg's losses at Missionary Ridge, possibly as serious as your proposal. I'm going to vote a "net zero" with the Grant wild card stated earlier.

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Richard and List Members;

I do find that weather played a very important role in the movement and or lack of it, during the many battles and those times approaching a potential battlefield and or retreat from a battle.

It seems for four years the heavens cried, per se--as often rain caused rivers and streams to flood at the most critical time of military timing.

In regard to your particular case -- William Starke 'Old Rosy' Rosecrans, may have had some closeness as far as being born in Ohio which is not that far from Tennessee and IF, with a strong IF, he had been raised around Ohio and Tennessee rivers, he would know there characteristics, given rain and how they shed into the major river flows, Tennessee River one of the major ones.

That said; my view in the larger frame of things -- it must be mentioned that the entire Union army was not in one spot but, in different theaters. In the case of General Rosecrans, he had his assignment in the Tennessee area and that is where his focus would be and, I do find the 'levels' of forces not so great as other forces, this is why there was often need for cooperations by other 'divisional commanders,' such as the Army of Ohio.

Another glaring factor, as I read these Official Reports of the Rebellion; is that the Union army was able to replenish soldiers. It was much harder to replace Confederate soldiers.

Then both sides had to contend with 'nature' and supplies.

During this focused operation, other operations out West and in the East theater of war; was going on.

The only opportunity to 'bag' an entire Army would be perhaps at the final "Grand Review" where all the Army was in one place; not just one theater but all the armies from West to East, South to North. Even so, there were armies around elsewhere; as they had to tie up the loose ends after surrender and maintain law and order until reorganization of civil and legal authority returned. And, the ratio of soldiers Union 5 to 1 Confederate --so the amount of men captured would mathematiclly spell disaster by loosing the percentage of the total force, rather than look at the numbers alone. The South being light of men and length; were efficient and swift; where the Northern army was lumbering in number and mass--length and width of travel space and time. When the Southern Army began to be dangerously light--which was around the time General John B. Hood took over; he had little to work with, especially with supplies and well nurished men. The percentage is, to my opinion the factor.


Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[larry_cockerham]

Dear Richard and List Members;

I do find that weather played a very important role in the movement and or lack of it, during the many battles and those times approaching a potential battlefield and or retreat from a battle.

Then both sides had to contend with 'nature' and supplies.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

Much agreement here. The DIFFERENCE in Union and Confederate was how they contended with nature and supplies. Union logistics and sources were FAR superior to Confederate efforts to resupply troops. After a few such occurrences, Confederate morale, no matter how revered their cause, had to suffer immensely. An army without food isn't strong enough to fire bullets and often have far more serious thoughts in mind. Some went home, others died.