Posted on Mar 9, 2020
Grant Appointed General-in-Chief of Union Army: March 9, 1864
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Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
The Civil War gave us a valuable lesson in regards to the principles of war. At the early stages of the war union generals conducted military campaigns independent of each other. I believe Grant changed that by UNITY OF COMMAND and COMMON OBJECTIVE.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I think that most of the Generals concentrated on winning a Battle and failed to understand that in strategic terms, it didn't matter if enemy could not hold the ground and was forced to withdraw. The Overland Campaign was really a series of Flanking Maneuvers that continually pushed Lee back towards Richmond because he didn't have a choice other than to follow and try to block Grant, and Grant continued whether a single battle was won or not.
The Atlanta Campaign was a more clear cut version of this strategy, when Sherman pushed South out of Chattanooga in a series of flanking maneuvers that pushed the ability of Hood and Johnson to keep in front of him. The only large scale battle of the Campaign was Kennesaw Mountain, I don't think Sherman would have attempted that battle if he had known their strength.
The Atlanta Campaign was a more clear cut version of this strategy, when Sherman pushed South out of Chattanooga in a series of flanking maneuvers that pushed the ability of Hood and Johnson to keep in front of him. The only large scale battle of the Campaign was Kennesaw Mountain, I don't think Sherman would have attempted that battle if he had known their strength.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
CPT Lawrence Cable - Like I said. The Union army lacked UNITY OF COMMAND and COMMON OBJECTIVE.
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