answersLogoWhite

0

For the better part of the first six months of 1863, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Braxton Bragg, was positioned about 30 miles away from General Rosencrans' Army of The Cumberland. The two armies used the main line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad for their supplies. Rosencrans drew his supplies from Nashville and Louisville, Kentucky. Bragg foraged to supply his army from the local countryside and from Alabama to the south. He also relied on hi base at Chattanooga and whatever supplies he could from Atlanta for dry goods and ordnance. Bragg's army was all that stood between Rosencrans and the major rail hub in Chattanooga.

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Was there political pressure placed on Union General Rosencrans to begin a march to Chattanooga Tennessee?

There were few, if any, major military actions in 1863 that did not have the approval of US President Lincoln or his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. With that said, the answer was yes regarding pressure from Washington DC placed on General Rosencrans. On July 7, 1863, he received a strongly worded message from Secretary Stanton to advance onward to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rosencrans was informed that he needed to do his part to seal the fate of the Confederacy. Rosencrans was informed that Lee's army in Pennsylvania was in retreat and that Grant had things well under control regarding Vicksburg. Stanton "ordered" Rosencrans to march on Chattanooga.


What chain of events brought Union General William Starke Rosencrans to a position of great importance in Tennessee?

When the US Civil War began Rosencrans volunteered to be an aid to General George B. McClellan. In summary form here are the events that brought Rosencrans to become a key to Union military operations in Tennessee:1. He became a brigadier general and participated in General McClellan's operations in western Virginia;2. When McClellan left to take command of the Army of the Potomac, Rosencrans served as commander of the departments of Ohio and Western Virginia;3. Rosencrans left Virginia to command a division in the Army of the Mississippi;4. He was promoted to be the commander of the Army of the Mississippi;5. This placed him under the direct command of US Grant;6. Rosencrans fought his first major battle at Iuka Mississippi and won the battle;7. US Grant was disturbed at Rosencrans because he failed to follow Grant's orders to pursue the enemy;8. At this juncture, ill feelings between the generals began;9. At the Battle of Corinth in 1862, Rosencrans again was the victor, however, he failed to pursue the enemy; and10. Rosencrans was reassigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and thus fought Confederate General Braxton Bragg in Tennessee.


Why did President Lincoln create the new department called the Military Division of the Mississippi?

After Union General William Rosencrans was defeated at the US Civil War Battle of Chickamauga, President Lincoln had lost all confidence in General Rosencrans. As a result of this Lincoln combined the departments of generals Burnside and Rosencrans with US Grants. The new military department of the Mississippi was now under the command of US Grant.


What was the military situation of the US Civil War in the Spring of 1863?

There were three major "situations" for each side in the US Civil War in the Spring of 1863. Each side was hopeful that they could end the war as the casualties were mounting far above the numbers that only General Winfield Scott had predicted they would be in 1861.In the East the Union had the following situations:1. Major General Joseph Hooke, now commanding the Army of the Potomac, was still demoralized by the the major defeat at Fredericksburg. He prepared to do battle with Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia;2. In the West, Major General US Grant was regrouping after his luckless attempts to capture Vicksburg . His Army of the Tennessee was positioned on the west bank of the Mississippi River; and3. In Tennessee, Major General Rosencrans' army occupied Murfreesboro after his victory over Confederate General Braxton Bragg. If Rosencrans could push Bragg's army south, it would open up a clear path into Georgia.The situation for the Confederacy was to check and make counteroffensives against what was sure to be a major three pronged assault from the Northern armies.


Why did the South want to control Chattanooga?

Chattanooga is located in the state of Tennessee, which is was in the Confederacy. The city was a strategic one & Lincoln had urged Union General Rosencrans to march his Army of the Cumberland against Bragg's Army of Tennessee & push it back to Chattanooga. This was vital to Lincoln, as he wanted to continue the Union's successes after victories at Gettysburg & Vicksburg. A Union capture of Chattanooga by defeating the Army of Tennssee was now a priority. Defeating Bragg and occupying this city would open the way to the South's last & greatest railway center, Atlanta, Ga. Rosencrans used skillful tactics & did not press an attack on Chattanooga, as Lincoln had "ordered". Lincoln again pressed Rosencrans being not aware of good military tactics. Many historians have been lienent with Lincoln on his military choices and overall strategies. Genral Rosencrans, instead of attacking the well fortified enemy city, swung around Chattanooga & marched into northwest Georgia. This effectively caused Confederate General Bragg to have a vital concern that Rosencrans would cut off Bragg's supply & communication lines. Bragg had no choice but to abandon Chattanooga and move to protect his lines, lest his forces face a siege. Rosencrans took control of Chattanooga with a small force.


When was Tennessee Military Institute created?

Tennessee Military Institute was created in 1874.


When did Tennessee Military Institute end?

Tennessee Military Institute ended in 1988.


What were the plans of General in Chief Halleck for the Western Theater of the US Civil War in 1863?

Union General in Chief Henry Wager Halleck spent much of the 1862-1863 Winter polishing his plans for military operations against the Confederates in the West. He selected the Army of the Tennessee under the command of Major General US Grant for major actions. With Grant's successful advances along the Mississippi, the Confederates countered. Confederate General Joseph Johnston began shifting Rebel forces to relieve pressure on Vicksburg. In a counter measure, Halleck wanted Major General Ambrose Burnside, commanding the Department of the Ohio, to link up with Rosencrans to prepare to drive the Confederate forces from East Tennessee. Halleck's plans were followed to perfection, the offensive conducted by General Rosencrans would have his left flank protected by Burnside. East Tennessee or at least the northern portion of it would end Confederate dominance there. East Tennessee was a prime political target for President Lincoln inasmuch as there was strong Unionist support in Tennessee.


What US Civil War battle almost ruin the successful military career of Union General William S Rosencrans?

William S. Rosencrans had been a stellar student at West Point, graduating fifth in his class of 1842. He was an engineer and in 1854 he resigned his commission to enter the business world. When the US Civil War broke out, he volunteered for duty and was commissioned as a brigadier general. Although his was not well known then or now, he was one of the most successful commanders in the war. General Rosencrans has a long list of victories and promotions. The battle that ruined his fine combat record was the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. Following a brilliant campaign of battles in the west, Rosencrans occupied the key city of Chattanooga. When all seemed well, disaster struck. Just south of Chattanooga, the Confederate Army of Tennessee, under the command of Braxton Bragg counterattacked at Chickamauga. Rosencrans' forces held fast against Confederate assaults. The Rebels, however, were relentless. In an attempt to prevent a defeat, on the second day of combat, Rosencrans mistakenly set one of his divisions to shift its position. This resulted in a gap in the Union lines which was taken advantage of when Confederate forces under James Longstreet arrived to reinforce Bragg. With a concentration of force, another assault caused the Union line to collapse. Reportedly, Rosencrans panicked and only by the efforts of Union troops under George Thomas, did the entire Union army survive, an escape what could have been the destruction of his army. General George Thomas replaced Rosencrans as commander of the Army of the Cumberland. From that point on, Rosencrans' military career took turn for the worse. It's unfortunate that his fine record was tarnished.


What military operation was the second part of the Union's two pronged offensive against the South?

In keeping with the space and time offensive the Union planned for in the war in the Fall of 1862, the attack by Burnside was to be accompanied by an attack in Tennessee. In fact, this was a plan already discussed by General McClellan. With Burnside's horrible defeat, there was extreme pressure for the operations in the Western Theater to be a success.In Tennessee, Lincoln again changed generals. In Lincoln's opinion, the commander in the West was General Don Carlos Buell. Lincoln believed that Buell was also too slow to act or depend on. He replaced Buell with the Democrat General William S. Rosencrans. Rosencrans had the orders to attack the forces of Confederate General Braxton Bragg. If successful, the South could lose Tennessee.


When was Military of Northern Cyprus created?

Military of Northern Cyprus was created in 1976.


Why was Chattanooga Tennessee an important military objective for the Union?

Chattanooga, Tennessee was a key railhead and control of the city was considered a major part of the Union's campaign to dominate the Confederate state of Tennessee. Holding Chattanooga and breaking the siege around it by Confederate Major General Braxton Bragg, would lead the way into Georgia and the pivotal City of Atlanta, Georgia. In the Fall of 1863, Union General Rosencrans had just been defeated by General Bragg at the Battle of Chickamauga, and Rosenscrans was under siege as he took refuge in Chattanooga.