"Sherman’s “Flying Column” at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain" by Dr. J. Britt McCarley

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10 жыл бұрын

"Sherman’s “Flying Column” at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain: Major General John M. Schofield and the 23rd Army Corps,
10 June - 10 July 1864"
By 1864, the battle weary and bloodied Confederate armies lacked the means to conquer the Union forces pushing into Southern territory. In response to the continued Northern aggression, Confederate leaders opted for a strategy of survival and attrition. The strategy required Richmond and Atlanta to redouble their defensive efforts in the face of a scorched earth offensive led by Major General William T. Sherman. Sherman’s objective was the annihilation of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee and the capture of Atlanta. The campaign faltered at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain and might have stalled completely but for a daring flank attack. Dr. J. Britt McCarley of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) will give a lecture examining the brilliant maneuver based on his new book, The Atlanta and Savannah Campaigns, May-December 1864. Dr. McCarley will discuss Union Major General John M. Schofield’s successful and far-reaching envelopment of the eight-mile Confederate line and its critical strategic implications.
Length: 73 Minutes
Lecture Date: July 16, 2014

Пікірлер: 17

@mikenodine6713 9 жыл бұрын

I grew up near Ruff's Mill and found unfired mini balls in my yard. Neighbor's found a 12 pound cannon ball in the small creek that feeds Nickajack Creek. I knew it had been a Union encampment from stories passed down in the neighborhood by descendants of families who lived there during the war years. I did not know why the Union was encamped there or why Ruff's Mill was so important until hearing this awesome explanation! Thanks!

@brittmccarley220 9 жыл бұрын

Mike Nodine Mr. Nodine, Thanks for your kind and generous remarks. I grew up in Mableton (moved in from Atlanta in 1966 and graduated from South Cobb in 1975) and therefore have a long association with the area. BTW, I'm rolling all of the research to prepare for the lecture into an article for my professional bulletin, Army History, which is published quarterly in DC. I work and teach for the U.S. Army in its system of service schools in the continental US. Assuming that you're interested in the whole of the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea, I published a short study on it all through the Army's Center of Military History in December 2014. The publication is available in hardcopy and for free online in PDF at www.history.army.mil/html/books/075/75-13/index.html. Regards, Britt McCarley.

@richardgodwin2967 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation.

@dogfishjones850 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Britt,I for one will stand behind your research about anything that happened during the Kennesaw Line in 1864. I think if anyone has done their research on the Atlanta Campiagn it is you. Hope to meet up with you oneday and talk about the days we spent on top of Kennesaw Mountain. Rick Chapman

@brucec43 8 жыл бұрын

It is important to note the disorienting effect of being in the North Georgia forests. Even back then, much of the area had very short sightlines.

@chilingpai 8 жыл бұрын

Mr. McCarley, Thank you for your wonderful video on the Battle of Kennesaw. I have watched it a few times and have learned a lot from your talk. If you could find a moment, would you please tell me the current roads that make up the Sandtown Rd that General Cox moved down to outflank the Confederates. I live locally and would love to drive it. But I am not sure of the route... I am aware of the intersection of Concord RD and Hicks Rd.

@mykofreder1682 4 жыл бұрын

Grant and Cold Harbor demonstrate the frontal vs flanking approach, the cavalry was out of the picture until after the frontal approach. Later they were used to extend the lines and that created line weakness and Lee's final defeat. I don't understand why there were not cavalry assigned to this task all the time when they met these siege situation, with troops following it to hold a key positions if you succeed.

@bernardfinucane2061 7 жыл бұрын

Calling people liars because they changed their plans is a bit much.

@AlGreenLightThroughGlass 6 жыл бұрын

The main battle effectively fixed the confederates which allowed for the concurrent flanking movement - probably not the intent originally but demonstrated the power of fire and maneuver.

@brucec43 8 жыл бұрын

Sherman would not have had the supply capacity available to quickly bombard the Shoupades into submission. Also be aware of the limited explosive power of field cannon. The time it took to bring up siege weapons and enough ammo to be useful would not have been acceptable. The fortifications served their purpose, to prevent a frontal attack in that area. No field fortification is intended to be impregnable.

@robertalpy9422 Жыл бұрын

Thomas was never as slow as Sherman and Grant pretended. They both made constant mention of it in private letters they knew were not private and that Stanton, Hallock and Lincoln were likely reading. Thomas was The only American General on both sides never to lose a battle in which he was in command. Grant and Sherman were at pains to discredit Thomas as both knew he was better than them both. Lee feared only Thomas and was always happy to never see him in the east. Sherman intentionally placed Thomas at the center and forced him to make a frontal assault while he allowed other commanders to avoid it. I am convinced the frontal assault was intended to smear Thomas since he was known to be a superior commander. Since Sherman was actually in command he only muddied himself though he tried to blame Thomas.

@brucec43 8 жыл бұрын

This is simply the obvious strategy when you had a 2-1 manpower advantage.

@user-mt4vo4ey5n 5 жыл бұрын

Go to 7:19 and skip the into. Way too long to get to any real meat in this presentation.

@DouglasMoran 7 жыл бұрын

This is a very poorly prepared talk. There is grossly excessive repetition, especially immediate repetition that serves only the speaker trying to gather his thoughts. There is interesting content in the questions that should have been part of the talk.

@joshgregory8370 9 жыл бұрын

Boring commentary. I would read Hess's book instead. He used everything from that book but didn't even comment on the Confederate mistakes.....mainly Hood commanding the left of the Confederate line. He actually defies Hess's commentary that Hood led an ill fated assault at Kolb's farm without consent from Johnston the commanding officer. This army guy gives Hood credit for stopping the federal assault? Seems like we want to justify Kennesaw Mountain which was about a 2 minute clip in this 1 hr and 15 minute clip. Wow, way to read and comment on what you want to! Lame!