Sherman's feint

[JohnG0609]

Hi all,

Two sources, "The Final Fortress" and "Memoirs of William T Sherman" make reference that a body of troops enroute to Grand Gulf were diverted back to Snyder's Bluff in response to Sherman's feint. It does seem that "The Final Fortress" may just be parroting Sherman's memoir. I've not seen this anywhere else. I don't think it's found in the OR. Can anyone confirm this troop movement or can point me to a more primary source?

Another point, "The Final Fortress" also list a quote, "the enemy are in front of me in force such as he has never before at Vicksburg. Send me reinforcements." Footnote 5 list the citation as OR V XXIV 3, pp 800. But that quote is not to be found on pp 800. Does anyone know the source of this quote?

Thanks in advance! John

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Hi all,

Two sources, "The Final Fortress" and "Memoirs of William T Sherman" make reference that a body of troops enroute to Grand Gulf were diverted back to Snyder's Bluff in response to Sherman's feint. It does seem that "The Final Fortress" may just be parroting Sherman's memoir. I've not seen this anywhere else. I don't think it's found in the OR. Can anyone confirm this troop movement or can point me to a more primary source?

Another point, "The Final Fortress" also list a quote, "the enemy are in front of me in force such as he has never before at Vicksburg. Send me reinforcements." Footnote 5 list the citation as OR V XXIV 3, pp 800. But that quote is not to be found on pp 800. Does anyone know the source of this quote?


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Thanks in advance! John

Welcome. You are going to contribute a lot. I have learned a lot on this site despite thinking that I knew a lot beforehand. Enjoy!

 

[tony_gunter]

Hi all,

Two sources, "The Final Fortress" and "Memoirs of William T Sherman" make reference that a body of troops enroute to Grand Gulf were diverted back to Snyder's Bluff in response to Sherman's feint. It does seem that "The Final Fortress" may just be parroting Sherman's memoir. I've not seen this anywhere else. I don't think it's found in the OR. Can anyone confirm this troop movement or can point me to a more primary source?

Another point, "The Final Fortress" also list a quote, "the enemy are in front of me in force such as he has never before at Vicksburg. Send me reinforcements." Footnote 5 list the citation as OR V XXIV 3, pp 800. But that quote is not to be found on pp 800. Does anyone know the source of this quote?


View attachment 537060
View attachment 537061


Thanks in advance! John

Just going by memory, but if they're implying that units were counter-marched, then no.

Stevenson was ordered to have two brigades staged to the south and ready to reinforce Bowen. He was also directed to have as many as could be spared formed and ready to march south. It's that second wave that Stevenson failed to release.

Compounding the issue is that Pemberton was directing all this from Jackson, and at the critical moment the telegraph went dark. It's unclear if it was cut by Grierson or some cavalry that crossed the river with Grant, because Grierson was allegedly well past Hazelhurst when the line went dead (I think the lines ran through Hazelhurst but I could be wrong).

 

[JohnG0609]

Thanks. I couldn't find any corroboration that troops were counter marched and wanted to confirm that no unit was ordered so.

 

[tony_gunter]

Thanks. I couldn't find any corroboration that troops were counter marched and wanted to confirm that no unit was ordered so.

Actually, the two brigades went to Bowen immediately. The second wave of 5,000 was repeatedly ordered to be staged near Warrenton and ready to march to Bowen. Pemberton also suggested Stevenson ready as many as not absolutely necessary to man the fortifications.

Stevenson appealed to Pemberton stating that surely it would take days to transport enough troops across the river to withstand a counter-attack. Pemberton, being removed from the situation in Jackson, appears to have been swayed by the argument.


Bowen reported that he had met the enemy, which should have at least triggered the second wave of 5,000. But then the telegraph went dark. Pemberton finally shifted his HQ to Vicksburg, but by the time he arrived the battle had been fought and lost.

The next morning, 10,000 troops marched for Grand Gulf.

So you could say that Sherman's feint prevented 5,000 from reaching the battle and another 5,000 close behind.

 

[sunday silence]

Stevenson appealed to Pemberton stating that surely it would take days to transport enough troops across the river to withstand a counter-attack. Pemberton, being removed from the situation in Jackson, appears to have been swayed by the argument.

what does this even mean? What river the Big Black or the Miss? And what counter attack by Grant or Bowen or PEmberton? My best guess is Stevensen is telling P not to send troops to Grand Gulf because it takes Grant too long to get many troops over the river? I have no idea

 

[tony_gunter]

what does this even mean? What river the Big Black or the Miss? And what counter attack by Grant or Bowen or PEmberton? My best guess is Stevensen is telling P not to send troops to Grand Gulf because it takes Grant too long to get many troops over the river? I have no idea

Yeah, it would take Grant several days to transport enough troops across the Mississippi to have an effective fighting force.

 

[JohnG0609]

Yeah, it would take Grant several days to transport enough troops across the Mississippi to have an effective fighting force.

Another planning assumption the Confederates got wrong.