Buell and Grant Surprise the Rebels at Shiloh

Civil War Daily Gazette ^ | April 7, 2012 | Eric

[Upstate NY Guy]

April 7, 1862 (Monday) Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee

General Grant tried to sleep, first under a tree near his men and then in a cabin that he found already occupied with the wounded. Through the night, Union transports and reinforcements arrived at Pittsburg Landing, bringing 25,000 much-needed men. Grant was certain that his line could withstand a Confederate attack. In fact, he was so certain, that he wanted to go on the offensive.

Meanwhile, General Beauregard, now the sole commander of the Confederate Army of Mississippi, slept in General Sherman’s tent, the former owner vacating it as the Rebels attacked the previous day. He had reported to President Davis a “complete victory,” but gave no clue as to how he would follow it up come morning. He had no idea that Union General Buell’s Army of the Ohio had joined Grant’s Army of the Tennessee. His army was scattered, disassociated and worn out. His plan must have been to attack as he took no precautions to defend against a Union assault. He believed he had Grant exactly where he wanted him. And he was wrong.

As the rains fell over friend and foe alike, Grant arrayed his men. He did not, however, command the entire Union force...

[central_va]

“Libtards” who denied you your God-given right to own slaves? I can see why you are upset. That labor is cheap.

It does get confusing, you are the slave labor lover and Free Trader. You never met a coolie that you didn't like.

[1rudeboy]

You are not thinking very clearly.

[jmacusa]

Nah, didn’t have to. I just let the moderator know. Haven’t seen the guy here since.

[BroJoeK]

BJK: "They both did it.

central_va: "A distortion... More reconstructed history nothing more, nothing less."

We're talking about

1. Armies that "live off the land", leaving trails of pillage and destruction in their wakes, and
2. Deliberate acts of destruction of enemy homes and facilities.

Here are comments on the subject from two more sites:

• "Most armies were forced at some point to live off the land.
  The Confederates, who fought mostly on home ground, tried harder to curb pillaging, preferring to request donations from townspeople rather than steal supplies or take them by force."

• "The list of brilliant Southern generals is extensive, while even at the highest command the North struggled to find a competent leader for most of the Civil War.
  What’s more, between fighting the Mexican-American War and knowing how to live off the land, many Southern soldiers were just better equipped with the skills necessary to survive a war of attrition."

So, Confederate armies "lived off the land", even within the Confederacy, where they made efforts to "ask nicely" before taking what they needed.

When those armies left the Confederacy and invaded Union states or territories, they were not quite so "nice" about it, they took what they needed and destroyed whatever they deemed appropriate.

See examples cited in post #85 above.

[TexConfederate1861]

Amen to that!

[TexConfederate1861]

We would rather YOU leave ditmeister :}
We were here first.

[TexConfederate1861]

Well, I know what he believes. He is no traitor, nor is it Traitorous to honor the Confederacy, Jeff Davis OR The Battle Flag of the ANV.

And since most of us have proved our loyalty to this country by serving IN THE RANKS of it’s armed forces, maybe you should take a valium and retire before you are verbally b*TCH slapped!

[Ditto]

We would rather YOU leave ditmeister :} We were here first.

Who's 'We' Tex? You got fleas or something?

[TexConfederate1861]

You know who.

[TexConfederate1861]

Since for the most part, the Confederates didn’t “Invade” Northern territory, that “dog won’t hunt”.....

[Ditto]

You know who.

No, I really don't. Please tell me who 'We' is? Are your their official spokesman -- woman -- person or whatever?

[jmacusa]

You take the valium,Reb and since this is an anonymous web-site I could be a four-star general. And if you did serve, which flag was it you served under?

[Partisan Gunslinger]

The PEOPLE of the south are the most rock ribbed conservatives in the country and to deny that relieves you of any credibility you had, which was none anyway, so no loss there.

Bull. FDR never lost a southern state. They still sing FDR's praises in the south, see "Song of the South" for an example.

Our divide today is between rural and urban. The Northern states have bigger cities so that's why the vote tips more liberal in some cases. Look at Wisconsin, that's the epicenter of the fight against the commies, not any southern state. Compare a group of rural northerners with a group of rural southerners and there won't be much difference.

[TexConfederate1861]

The United States Navy. You figure it out genius. You have a big mouth for someone who hides behind a computer........

[jmacusa]

Me, a big mouth? I could say the same about you Reb.

[TexConfederate1861]

I’ve been a Freeper long enough to have earned that right. YOU on the other hand........

[TexConfederate1861]

“We” being those who believe the South had a just cause.

[Ditto]

“We” being those who believe the South had a just cause.

Those who 'believed' that after the Civil War moved to Brazil. ;~))

[rockrr]

Compare a group of rural northerners with a group of rural southerners and there won't be much difference.

That's been my experience, pretty much anywhere I go in the US. Of course it isn't often that you come across a rock-ribbed Lost Causer wherever you travel ;-)

[TexConfederate1861]

or Mexico! :)

But some stayed.