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JOHN BELL HOODS DIVISION IN THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS.
by
KYLE J. FOLEY, MAJ, USA
B.S., Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 1990
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
ABSTRACT
JOHN BELL HOODS DIVISION IN THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS, by Major Kyle J. Foley.
This thesis is a historical analysis and assessment of Major General John Bell Hoods Division during the Battle of Chickamauga. In early July 1863, the Confederate Army suffered two major defeats, Vicksburg and Gettysburg, where the division suffered many casualties, including Hood. Hoods Division earned a reputation as the best division in the Army of Northern Virginia. This division was selected to reinforce General Braxton Braggs Army of Tennessee, and his campaign to defeat the Federal Army of the Cumberland, under the command of Major General William Rosecrans. Their reputation preceded them with high expectations. Chickamauga was the divisions first major battle in the western theater.
The thesis begins with brief pre-Chickamauga biographies of Hood and his brigade commanders; Brigadier General Evander McIver Law, Brigadier General Henry L. Benning, and Brigadier General Jerome B. Robertson. Next, the circumstances that brought the division to the Battle of Chickamauga and their journey to northern Georgia will be discussed. Thereafter, a close examination of the engagements conducted from 18-20 September 1863 will be discussed. Finally, an analysis will be presented to how the leaders of Hoods Division performed during the Battle of Chickamauga, and draws conclusions as to the proximate causes of their performances. These causes focus on the divisional leaders and their decisions.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Dr. W. Glenn Robertson for his assistance and guidance during the course of this project. This thesis would not have been completed without his encouragement and sound advice. Despite serving on other masters committees, organizing staff rides, the CAC command historian, and the supervisor of three CSI divisions, he would set it them all aside and take the time to assist me, providing valuable guidance and direction.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey J. Gudmens is most deserving of special recognition as my reader. His relaxed demeanor and thorough understanding of the Civil War and army doctrine was exceptionally helpful. I was always refreshed by his quick wit and great sense of humor.
A special thanks to Mr. Michael Brown, Ms. Maria Simmons, and Mrs. Dorothy Rogers of the Combined Arms Research Library for their enthusiastic assistance in my research. Additionally, much gratitude goes out to Ms. Helen Davis for her exceptional expertise and editing.
A deep appreciation is expressed to my Staff Group, 9D, and our fearless leader, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Stepanchuk, for their support and patience.
Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my wife Stephanie, and my children, Kayla and Christopher, for their understanding and extreme patience during the long days and early morning hours at the computer and reading chair. Any written expression of my feelings cannot describe the affection and gratitude I have for my family. I love you.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure
1. Routes for Journey to Ringgold
2. Bushrod Johnsons Movements, 18 September 1863
3. Advance of Hoods Column, 18 September 1863
4. General Situation, 19 September 0700
5. Array of Hoods Division, 1400, 19 September 1863
6. Hoods Division begins the assault
7. Texas Brigade changes front
8. Viniard Field, 1600, 19 September 1863
9. General Situation, 1630, 19 September 1863
10. Array of Hoods Division, 1100, 20 September 1863
11. The Break Through, 1110-1130, 20 September 1863
12. Hoods Division, 1300, 20 September 1863
13. Hoods Division, 1330, 20 September 1863
INTRODUCTION
Often it serves to reflect on history to find directions for the future . John O. Marsh, Jr. former Secretary of the Army
Field Manual 22-100 identifies two reasons why leadership is important to our leaders today: to win the wars for our nation and for the soldiers who deserve nothing less. To become a competent military leader today, a person must possess self- confidence in his or her abilities to lead soldiers into conflicts and win our nations wars. They must strive to gain a thorough knowledge of their profession, through academics and personal experiences, to build a level of competency in their abilities to lead. Competence is not inherited. It is achieved through the dedicated study of a profession. Understanding the basic values, attributes, skills and doctrine of a profession is the foundation of good leadership. A continuous study of the basic fundamentals in the art and science of military history is most beneficial to military professionals today. Military history studies provide insights and reasons for successes and failures of past conflicts. They provide superb lessons for what went right, what went wrong, and what was done to correct the problem or sustain the success.
Professional military leaders must consolidate all they have learned, experienced and studied. They must formulate basic principles and processes that allow them to efficiently manage any assigned task or mission. Yet, it is through a mastery of analyzing the art and science of the problem that successful leadership is achieved.
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the performance of John Bell Hoods divisional leaders during the Battle of Chickamauga, and provide beneficial insight into the leadership qualities and tactical considerations essential in combat that remain constant throughout history and today.
Background
It was late August 1863. Confederate armies had just suffered from two major defeats in the previous month. The campaign of General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, failed in Pennsylvania, culminating in defeat at Gettysburg on 3 July and repulsed south beyond the Potomac River. Lieutenant General John C. Pembertons Confederate forces in the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana and the river port at Vicksburg had succumbed to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of Federal forces in the Department of West Tennessee, the very next day.
The President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, knew that a change in strategy was needed. Union successes had lowered Confederate morale, cost thousands of Confederate lives, and relinquished vital territory in central and western Tennessee. Control of the railroad hub near Chattanooga was key to success in the west, for without it, the Confederacy would be split, losing the ability to maintain lines of communications and hold off the impending advance of Union troops through the heart of the South.
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