NedBaldwin
Major
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2011
- Location
- California
@Cavalry Charger your post above with the quote:
"Buell reported that even on the morning of 6 April, after Grant's departure for the battle, the impression at Grant's headquarters in Savannah was that the firing was only another skirmish. Sherman was even less easily convinced. In his memoirs, he confessed: About 8 a.m. I saw the glistening bayonets of heavy masses of infantry to our left front in the wood beyond the small stream alluded to, and became satisfied for the first time that the enemy designed a determined attack on our whole camp."
These are just observations of mine
Hardcastle's Mississippians had collided with various companies of Peabody's Brigade at about 5:45 in Wolf and Fraley Fields, less than a mile from Sherman's Headquarters. I find it difficult that he would not be aware of the Confederate assault till 8 a. m. as mentioned in his Official Report of April 10:
"About 8 a. m. I saw the glistening bayonets of heavy masses of infantry to our left front in the woods beyond the small stream alluded to, and became satisfied for the first time that the enemy designed a determined attack on our whole camp."
Nearly 2 hours, later after he sent a request for support from General McClerand and warnings to Generals Prentiss and Hurlburt, he is certain of "a determined attack?" Seems very odd and
counterintuitive to me.
Earlier in his report he writes
"On Sunday morning early, the 6th instant, the enemy drove our advance guard back on the main body, when I ordered under arms my division, and sent word to General McClernand asking him to support my left; to General Prentiss, giving him notice that the enemy was in our front in force, and to General Hurlbut, asking him to support General Prentiss. At that time (7 a.m.) my division was arranged as follows..."
The "About 8 a. m. ..." quote refers to the time at which the enemy is attacking the camp
So he was earlier aware of the enemy presence and that they had pushed his guards back - just because there was fighting between advance guards/detachments etc doesnt indicate a general assault. Doesnt seem odd to me.