Colonel Lynn sir,
I find Chickamauga is the most fascinating battle of the war, not least for the strange and strained command and staff situations that existed on both sides. Big George Thomas is about the only senior Yank to emerge with his reputation enhanced, but some scholars suspect he was largely to blame for the catastrophe in the first place, insofar as Rosecrans can be excused for depending too heavily on his strongest subordinate. In response to his constantly repeated requests to shift forces north did the hole open in the Union line, so that when the southern portion of the Army of the Cumberland routed, Thomas actually kept most of the army under his operational control. He had so many units holding the Kelly Field that they could not all fit into the firing line. The monuments there today are very thickly placed. I believe Grant never trusted him for this reason.
Rosecrans, a recent convert to Catholicism, loved to sit up very late with his staff and talk religion, politics, news, philosophy, anything. Prior to Chickamauga, he hadn't slept normally in a very long time, and certainly didn't sleep for at least a couple of days during the battle. Immediately after the battle, his reports to Washington indicated a good deal of panic; otherwise he might have kept his job, since he still held Chattanooga after all.
An important fellow was Rosecrans' new Chief of Staff, a political animal with big ambitions. Following the rout, Rosecrans intended to join Thomas and continue the fight, and so he gave orders to his CoS to organize the defense of Chattanooga and to untangle the routed formations streaming in from the field. That officer begged off, insisting he lacked the clout to make such things happen, and could not remember all of the details anyway. So Rosecrans saw to these vital matters himself, and this officer rode off to join Thomas, who had absolutely no use for him. James Garfield would later win election to the Presidency, campaigning in no small measure on his war record, emphasizing the great moment when he rode through danger to stand by Thomas when his Commanding General was seeking refuge in the rear.
Salute!
GEN Gene Nix, 1/1/II/AotM
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