Ahhhh, the plays the thing!
From the Union perspective on Day One we had 1/2 of it wrong and 1/2 of it right.
The CinC's assessment of the CSA intentions and dispositions was completely wrong on all accounts. (This is why I love blind battles) The Great Oz figured that Chattanooga would be the primary focus of CSA defenses with the outlier of Rossville being an adjunct to due to strategic value and ease of access from Chattanooga. Also it was concluded that the CSA forces would be in force at the Refugee House well before our first troops arrived. This outstanding AAR and accompanying CSA commentary has pulled back the curtain on the Great Oz's pronouncements though!
But all did not go against the Union that day one. As is many the case the brave troops pulled the incompetent Commander's butt out of the fire. The quick storming of Lookout Mountain was the first tactical victory of the day. This was followed by the clash at the Refugee House and concurrent storming of the Missionary Ridge. These were examples of a good plan with a bit of good luck worked very well.
The luck part was the erroneous intelligence that the CSA would be at the Refugee House in force, thus Rosecrans's instructions to Thomas not to immediately storm the Refugee House when the arrived in the vicinity, but to make a demonstration before to draw the CSA attention in his direction as McCook prepared to storm Missionary Ridge slightly north in an attempt to pinch off the defenders.
Perhaps if the Union stormed the Refugee House immediately when Thomas's forces arrived there that would have not allowed as many CSA troops to become committed to the defense of the area which worked in the Union's advantage as 1), the Union would have a significant advantage of troops in the fight and 2), the CSA forces where coming into a battle with little to no time to set up a proper defense.
No matter, it was fortuitous that the Union was operating on faulty intelligence. Another good stroke of fortune for the Union was that the previous unknown quantity, Gen. Thomas/Drott demonstrated throughout the march and following battles that he was more than capable of meeting the needs of the Union's Right Flank.
Still, while the Union came out ahead in casualties and objectives for the first day, they were in no way a decisive advantage considering the opponents and their forces.
And if the end of the day's activities by the CSA around the main Union goal of Rossville were any indication, a brutal Day Two would lay in store if the Union hoped to secure a victory through that route.
Finally, we also agree with our esteemed opponent that a heavy redeployment of forces at night would not be worth the fatigue that it would entail so the order went out to bed down and make preparations. The Union was planning to "pitch into it" at first light.
With thanks to Blake for his outstanding serial and respect for all.
_________________ Brig. Gen. L.T. Korotko1/1/VI/AotSThe Bucktails
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