Thomas and Virginia

[MikeyB]

Two questions:
1) Did Thomas specifically ask to serve in the Western theater? Or is there any evidence Stanton or Mac specifically assigned him to the Western Theater because they wanted him away from Virginia? Or was it just dumb luck he served in the West and not the Eastern theater? After all, others served in the AotP of Southern descent (Gibbon) and imagine trying to make the argument to keep Thomas away from the East due to loyalty concerns to the first GiC Winfield Scott!

2) Speculative and for discussion - Would Thomas have failed as a corps commander in the AoP given his more deliberate command style versus the more aggressive "On to Richmond" culture that prevailed in the East? Did he end up in exactly the right place?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

1. Interesting question that I don't know the answer to.

2. I think the biggest reason Thomas stood out in the west is serving with mediocre officers like Crittenden, McCook, and Buell.

Had he been in the AOTP I think he would have fine. He would have stayed out of the political squabbles. He might not have stood out as much.

 

[RedRover]

General Thomas did serve in the east in the first year of the war. In the Manassas campaign he was a colonel commanding a brigade serving under General Patterson on the Potomac. While Patterson came in for a large amount of public blame for the whole debacle that summer, Gen. Thomas was firm that Gen. Patterson did nothing incorrect given the circumstances, which was contrary to the popular view of the subject.

Shortly after, Robert Anderson, defender of Sumter, promoted to general, took command in Kentucky, and was given his choice of brigadiers... and was convinced to request Thomas to join him there..., and pressed for his promotion to brigadier general for the purpose...

 

[MikeyB]

1. Interesting question that I don't know the answer to.

2. I think the biggest reason Thomas stood out in the west is serving with mediocre officers like Crittenden, McCook, and Buell.

Had he been in the AOTP I think he would have fine. He would have stayed out of the political squabbles. He might not have stood out as much.

Interesting point. Certainly plenty of mediocrity to go around in the AoTP. That said, I'd imagine he would have felt right at home w/ the conservative McClellan which may have caused issues, particularly for those in the Lincoln administration already suspicious of him.

 

[RedRover]

Two questions:

2) Speculative and for discussion - Would Thomas have failed as a corps commander in the AoP given his more deliberate command style versus the more aggressive "On to Richmond" culture that prevailed in the East? Did he end up in exactly the right place?

General Scott was still commanding general of the army when Thomas was promoted and dispatched to Kentucky in later summer 1861. Prior to that, as colonel of the 5th Cavalry, was one of the regular army commanders Scott looked to to form the "iron column" of the Union, viz. the solid core of regular troops to build the Union army around.

Scott had opined that the Union army needed "Rough-vigor fellows" for senior command positions.

Gen. Thomas seems to have been fine with the Anaconda plan of conquest, etc.

In early October, Thomas was planning a movement upon Cumberland Gap and the railroads in East Tennessee. The War Department approved his plans, but ordered Gen. O.M. Mitchel to assume the command. This mortified Thomas, who presumed it was a lack of faith in his capabilities, and he asked to be relieved. Gen. William T. Sherman, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, declined to relieve Thomas, told Thomas he was in command, and would handle Gen. Mitchel, and to go ahead with his operation, etc.