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What if the largely forgotten yet critically important Union General George H. Thomas, a Southerner who decided to side with the Federal forces at the beginning of the American Civil War, had followed the other Southerners and had offered his sword to the new government?
What if, in 1863, instead of being led by a competent but quarrelling General Bragg, the Army of Tennessee had been led by a highly competent AND beloved General Thomas?
This is the answer I believe would be more probable : instead of wasting the best chance any Confederate Army had in the whole war, as the arguing between generals historically led to, Thomas would have destroyed the Army of the Cumberland without a hitch. I don't know if that would have led to a different outcome to the conflict, but it would have gained some more glory for him.
The Union was very lucky that Thomas stood loyal to Washington D.C., yet never properly honoured him as he deserved. What a shame.
What if, in 1863, instead of being led by a competent but quarrelling General Bragg, the Army of Tennessee had been led by a highly competent AND beloved General Thomas?
This is the answer I believe would be more probable : instead of wasting the best chance any Confederate Army had in the whole war, as the arguing between generals historically led to, Thomas would have destroyed the Army of the Cumberland without a hitch. I don't know if that would have led to a different outcome to the conflict, but it would have gained some more glory for him.
The Union was very lucky that Thomas stood loyal to Washington D.C., yet never properly honoured him as he deserved. What a shame.
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Thomas is one of those generals that only Civil War afficionodos and scholars realize were better than most people are aware of. It was more than his stand as the "Rock of Chickamauga" that saved Rosecrans' army. It was his victory at Mill Springs / Logan's Cross Roads in January 1862 (arguably the North's first impressive victory of the war, his firm support of Rosecrans at Murfreesboro / Stone's River in December 1862 - January 1863, his men's work at Missionary Ridge (at Chattanooga) against Bragg's position in November 1863), and his annihilation of the remainder of Hood's army at Nashville in December 1864. One can make the claim he was the best Northern General to hold an independent command in the war (either including Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, or without those three). Unfortunately Grant and Sheridan disliked him (he may have shown both up) and John Schofield resented how his victory at Franklin "softened up " Hood's army for Thomas's final blow.
Fortunately, George Thomas had a fine character, and did not publicly show any reaction to any of this neglect. Which adds to posthumous praise for him.
Interestingly, if one wishes to note historical irony, only the same afficioinados and scholars recognize that Bragg's retreating army after Missionary Ridge were saved by the fierce stand of General Pat Cleburne, who could be called "the Rock of Chattanooga". He too was a really fine general, unfortunately sacrificed (needlessly) with eight other Confederate generals at Franklin.
Fortunately, George Thomas had a fine character, and did not publicly show any reaction to any of this neglect. Which adds to posthumous praise for him.
Interestingly, if one wishes to note historical irony, only the same afficioinados and scholars recognize that Bragg's retreating army after Missionary Ridge were saved by the fierce stand of General Pat Cleburne, who could be called "the Rock of Chattanooga". He too was a really fine general, unfortunately sacrificed (needlessly) with eight other Confederate generals at Franklin.