Chattanooga Union Takes Chattanooga in 1862

[Hoplite]

So after Corinth, Halleck basically dispersed the 100,000 strong army to repair and protect railroads, diverted troops to Arkansas backwater, etc.
Meanwhile Buell bickered constantly with McClellan and then with Halleck when he moved east about strategy.

What if Buell helps Mitchell and they take Chattanooga in 1862. Cuts east-west rail links and opens up the Deep South to a potential earlier invasion.

Would also have prevented Bragg from moving north to the Ohio River I would assume, as his supply line would have been cut.

Does this do anything to shorten the war?

 

[NedBaldwin]

Is your "what if" that Buell's movement from Corinth toward Chattanooga in June and July 1862 had been faster and successful?
Or is it that Buell had goneto Mitchell earlier and not been part of the movement on Corinth?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I think it depends how strongly Chattanooga is held and whether Bragg would/could simply flank Chattanooga to invade Kentucky. Could Mitchell/Buell hold Chattanooga without first repairing the railroad?

 

[Hoplite]

Is your "what if" that Buell's movement from Corinth toward Chattanooga in June and July 1862 had been faster and successful?
Or is it that Buell had goneto Mitchell earlier and not been part of the movement on Corinth?

both

 

[uaskme]

There was about 2500 Confederates in Chattanooga before Bragg got there. 3500 in Knoxville.

 

[Hoplite]

There was about 2500 Confederates in Chattanooga before Bragg got there. 3500 in Knoxville.

and Buell and Mitchell had how many- i would guess 40ish thousand
For some reason seems like only Lincoln, Stanton, McClellan and Halleck had any idea of the value of Chattanooga, though Halleck did not really push Buell or anyone else to take it when he was out west.

 

[uaskme]

and Buell and Mitchell had how many- i would guess 40ish thousand
For some reason seems like only Lincoln, Stanton, McClellan and Halleck had any idea of the value of Chattanooga, though Halleck did not really push Buell or anyone else to take it when he was out west.

Don't think Richmond recognized the importance of Chattanooga either. Not until it was late in the game.

Buell gets to the Crow Valley north of Bridgeport AL. NBF raids Murphreesboro. So Buell heads to Nashville to fall back on his communications.

 

[NedBaldwin]

and Buell and Mitchell had how many- i would guess 40ish thousand
For some reason seems like only Lincoln, Stanton, McClellan and Halleck had any idea of the value of Chattanooga, though Halleck did not really push Buell or anyone else to take it when he was out west.

Halleck did send Buell toward Chattanooga in early June but the supply line problem was serious.
Halleck thought Buell could rebuild the rail line from Corinth as he went but the bridge damage was a big issue
Buell did get Negley's brigade from Nashville almost to Chattanooga and Morgan's division took Cumberland Gap
But the main part of his army floundered in northern Alabama
Then Forrest et all began raiding mid Tennessee and Buell's situation unravels

Could it have gone faster? I dont know. How do you make the railroads work?
Certainly would have helped if Mitchel had not blown the bridges; certainly would have helped if Buell hadnt told him to.

Would it have shortened the war to have captured Chattanooga a year earlier? I dont see a concerted effort at Atlanta until after the capture of Vicksburg, so maybe Atlanta campaign starts in September 63 and possible capture of it by end of year -- maybe shaved a year off the war.

 

[Lubliner]

Buell had a terrible problem with the confederate supporters in the territory he was advancing through. They disrupted his supply line and he complained about guarding the points already rebuilt, having insufficient numbers of troops. I thought Mitchell was sent ahead to Bridgeport, and at that time he complained to Washington so he could transfer away from Buell. He was sent to South Carolina and soon died from disease.
Lubliner.