I've seen A. S. Johnston's ability disputed, I don't know with how much truth and fairness. But had he not been shot, his critical task was to carry the last line of defense and drive Grant's troops off Pittsburg Landing by the close of daylight, which the Confederates failed to do in part because of the delay created by Prentiss, then the delay caused by the fighting for the Hornet's Nest, and also the further delay caused by the command reorganization entailed in Johnston's death.
Johnston's and Beauregard's troops just had a long, long way to go to carry their objective. I've often thought that if they could have stolen a march by advancing through the woods by the river bluff and thus stayed out of sight while they flanked Prentiss to the east, they might not have had so far to go......but I'm sure there are arguments why that would have been a very bad thing to do -- it would have exposed them to the gunboats on the river, for one thing, and to flanking for another.
‘I’ve seen A. S. Johnston’s ability disputed, I don’t know with how much truth and fairness. But had he not been shot, his critical task was to carry the last line of defense and drive Grant’s troops off Pittsburg Landing by the close of daylight, which the Confederates failed to do in part because of the delay created by Prentiss, then the delay caused by the fighting for the Hornet’s Nest, and also the further delay caused by the command reorganization entailed in Johnston’s death.
Johnston’s and Beauregard’s troops just had a long, long way to go to carry their objective. I’ve often thought that if they could have stolen a march by advancing through the woods by the river bluff and thus stayed out of sight while they flanked Prentiss to the east, they might not have had so far to go......but I’m sure there are arguments why that would have been a very bad thing to do — it would have exposed them to the gunboats on the river, for one thing, and to flanking for another.’
All very good points. Prentiss did save the day for Grant and company, no denying it.
I’ve seen some criticism directed towards A S Johnston myself. I think its telling it doesn’t seem to be related to anyone that knew him, or faced him...and I think its revealing the criticism doesn’t stem from his Union counterparts.
The South lost Albert Sidney, the North lost John Reynolds at Gettysburg, both hurt, but AS hurt the south more for the obvious reason there wasn’t anyone to replace him.