15 Responses to Question of the Week: What was the biggest military blunder from 1865?
Not sure this is a military blunder, but Jefferson Davis insisting Richmond be protected at all costs tied Lee’s forces to Petersburg’s siege lines much longer than necessary….
Lee’s attack on the Fort Stedman sector of the Union siege line at Petersburg’s on 25 March … this attack — the ANV’s last offensive action — was a disaster … by 0800, Lee’s pre-dawn attack was thrown back with 4000 casualties — pretty big blunder.
The famous or infamous fish fry dinner at Five Forks. The blunder was Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee not informing their staffs of their location while they enjoyed their meal. So, the fighting began without proper Confederate leadership. As a result was a huge Federal victory and the beginning of the end of the ANV.
Sherman’s decision, as part of a military convention, to sign a comprehensive peace treaty with Johnston at the Bennett Farm. If enacted (obviously it was not), Sherman’s treaty would have, inter alia, preserved slavery, recognized existing Confederate state governments, and effectively let the CSA soldiers keep their guns, including artillery. Look for an upcoming blog post discussing this in depth.
Sherman could have crushed Johnston’s army after the first day at Bentonville, but he held back. If he was more aggressive the fighting might have ended sooner.
There were tons of mistakes and plenty blame to go around, the Shad Bake, Richmond and all above are great observations but this is one that could have ended the war and Lincoln may not have been assassinated. Post-war Sherman admitted his oopsie. Had he allowed Howard to support Mower (or, imo, had Slocum been ordered to be aggressive that day) Sherman could have potentially bagged his foe’s whole bravely fighting outnumbered army. Just now reading Moore’s Historical Guide to The Battle of Bentonville.
The mixup with expected rations not arriving for Lee at Amelia Court House during the retreat from Petersburg. It was hardly the first time he was let down by the sorry state of Confederate logistics, but I think that may have been the final nail in what was already a mostly sealed coffin.
The failure of the Confederate Army to be allowed to get boxed in at Little Sailor’s Creek led to the disastrous Battle of Sailor’s Creek. Lee lost a portion of his army, 8000 soldiers; 8 generals , and Lt General Ewell either killed, wounded, or captured! Lee’s words said it all, “ A few more Sailor’s Creek and it will be over”. Another is the failed attempt to use biological weapons (Yellow Fever) by Dr Luke Blackburn with the aid of Confederate Colonel Jacob Thompson! A plot hatched in Canada that included sending trunks full of contaminated clothes with Yellow Fever from stricken Bahamas to locations in the north. That included one to the White House as a special present for Lincoln. The plot foiled, Blackburn charged, but evades captured being in Canada! Eventually goes back to Kentucky and becomes Governor in 1879!
I think I shall say Van Dorn leaving all his supplies behind and then advancing to Pea Ridge. While visiting there couldn’t believe the arrogance of Van Dorn. No soldier ever trusted him again. He was shot 18 months later by a jealous husband. While touring the battlefield another name popped into my head – an arrogant Lieutenant-Colonel who, despite several warnings against it, led his entire command to their doom on a ridge in Montana. I will assume we all know who I am talking about.
Not sure this is a military blunder, but Jefferson Davis insisting Richmond be protected at all costs tied Lee’s forces to Petersburg’s siege lines much longer than necessary….
I think that infamous “shad bake” ranks up there.
Lee’s attack on the Fort Stedman sector of the Union siege line at Petersburg’s on 25 March … this attack — the ANV’s last offensive action — was a disaster … by 0800, Lee’s pre-dawn attack was thrown back with 4000 casualties — pretty big blunder.
The famous or infamous fish fry dinner at Five Forks. The blunder was Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee not informing their staffs of their location while they enjoyed their meal. So, the fighting began without proper Confederate leadership. As a result was a huge Federal victory and the beginning of the end of the ANV.
Sherman’s decision, as part of a military convention, to sign a comprehensive peace treaty with Johnston at the Bennett Farm. If enacted (obviously it was not), Sherman’s treaty would have, inter alia, preserved slavery, recognized existing Confederate state governments, and effectively let the CSA soldiers keep their guns, including artillery. Look for an upcoming blog post discussing this in depth.
Agree with the two previous posts – Pickett’s and Lee’s shad bake at Five Forks.
Sherman could have crushed Johnston’s army after the first day at Bentonville, but he held back. If he was more aggressive the fighting might have ended sooner.
There were tons of mistakes and plenty blame to go around, the Shad Bake, Richmond and all above are great observations but this is one that could have ended the war and Lincoln may not have been assassinated. Post-war Sherman admitted his oopsie. Had he allowed Howard to support Mower (or, imo, had Slocum been ordered to be aggressive that day) Sherman could have potentially bagged his foe’s whole bravely fighting outnumbered army. Just now reading Moore’s Historical Guide to The Battle of Bentonville.
The mixup with expected rations not arriving for Lee at Amelia Court House during the retreat from Petersburg. It was hardly the first time he was let down by the sorry state of Confederate logistics, but I think that may have been the final nail in what was already a mostly sealed coffin.
Federal loss at Palmetto Ranch skirmish on May 13, 1865 after all Confederate forces east of the Mississippi River had already surrendered
The failure of the Confederate Army to be allowed to get boxed in at Little Sailor’s Creek led to the disastrous Battle of Sailor’s Creek. Lee lost a portion of his army, 8000 soldiers; 8 generals , and Lt General Ewell either killed, wounded, or captured! Lee’s words said it all, “ A few more Sailor’s Creek and it will be over”. Another is the failed attempt to use biological weapons (Yellow Fever) by Dr Luke Blackburn with the aid of Confederate Colonel Jacob Thompson! A plot hatched in Canada that included sending trunks full of contaminated clothes with Yellow Fever from stricken Bahamas to locations in the north. That included one to the White House as a special present for Lincoln. The plot foiled, Blackburn charged, but evades captured being in Canada! Eventually goes back to Kentucky and becomes Governor in 1879!
The shad bake.
In the western theater, General Van Dorn leaving his ammunition wagons behind at The Battle of Pea Ridge
Braxton Bragg”s inability to defend Fort Fisher.
I think I shall say Van Dorn leaving all his supplies behind and then advancing to Pea Ridge. While visiting there couldn’t believe the arrogance of Van Dorn. No soldier ever trusted him again. He was shot 18 months later by a jealous husband. While touring the battlefield another name popped into my head – an arrogant Lieutenant-Colonel who, despite several warnings against it, led his entire command to their doom on a ridge in Montana. I will assume we all know who I am talking about.