Halleck: Lincoln's Chief of Staff

XII. Responsibility and Odium

CHAPTER TWELVE RESPONSIBILITY AND ODIUM t has been said that you are as inactive as was General Buell," Halleck chastized Rosecrans, "and the pressure for your removal has been almost as strong as it [was] in his case." * Old Brains felt justified in comparing Rosecrans and Buell; Rosecrans had done almost nothing since the first day of the new year. In June, after repeated threats from Halleck, Rosecrans had forced Bragg south of the Tennessee River, but since the brief excursion his army remained immobile. While Grant took Vicksburg, Rosecrans serenely watched and waited and did nothing. Any cooperation that had existed between the two armies was gone—if Halleck could not create some the war in the West would degenerate rapidly into a series of small, independent battles. Other factors made an advance imperative. Control of Chattanooga would give the north a springboard pointing toward the interior of the south; Bragg's army was the second strongest Confederate army and must be crushed; East Tennessee had to be redeemed . The President, Halleck told Rosecrans on July 25, had "repeatedly promised" relief to the citizens of East Tennessee and they must be freed. "The pressure for this movement at this time is so strong that neither you nor I can resist it," he admonished.2 Rosecrans did resist the pressure and moreover took offense at Halleck's tone. With a long, weary sigh Old Brains seated himself 1 O.R.,Set. I,XXIII, Part 2, p. 55 2 Ibid., 554I Responsibility and Odium 151 to explain once again his motives to the exasperating, puerile Rosecrans . "In other words, general," Halleck patiently summed up, "while I am blamed here for not urging you forward more rapidly, you are displeased at my doing so." Then, on August 4, Halleck threw the whole weight of his position behind an order to Rosecrans . The general should advance "without further delay," and was to report daily until he had crossed the Tennessee River.8 Remembering Halleck's previous assertions that he would never interfere in local matters, Rosecrans asked if the order were intended to remove his "discretion as to the time and manner of moving." Halleck spat out an answer: "The orders for the advance of your army, and that its movements be reported daily, are peremptory." The object, Halleck explained two days later, was stated in "plain and unequivocal terms"—Rosecrans should execute it. As for "discretion ," Rosecrans was free to employ what means and follow which roads he chose, and if he sincerely desired to implement the wishes of the government he would "not stop to discuss mere details." Halleck did not interfere in "such matters." * Rosecrans tried another dodge—enemies in the War Department prevented him from accomplishing anything. Nonsense, Halleck scoffed. Everyone in the capital admired Rosecrans, although the intensity of his brilliant star was diminishing. War Department officials were irritated with his penchant for writing telegrams and his almost total lack of any other form of activity. Halleck told the general the officials were saying Rosecrans did "not draw straight in the traces," but was "continually kicking out or getting one leg over."5 Eventually yielding to the pressure, Rosecrans dropped his pen, picked up his sword, and moved straight for Bragg. In a series of intricate manoeuvres he proved his ability as a manipulator of troops—at least non-combatant troops—and gained control of Chattanooga without a battle. Highly irritated at Washington's attitude and determined to prove his mettle, Rosecrans hardly paused. 8 Ibid., 592. *Ibid., 592, 597s lbid.,6oi. 152 Henry Wager Hatteck Drawing from a new found source of energy, he pushed after Bragg, who had retreated into Georgia. Satisfied that action had finally come, Halleck tried to help. During the burst of activity he ordered Burnside to start reinforcements to Rosecrans, told Grant to move to Tuscumbia, Alabama, where he could operate on Bragg's flank, and drew men from other fields.6 The reinforcements did not arrive in time. On September 19 at Chickamauga Creek Rosecrans caught up with Bragg, who in fact was waiting in ambush. Bragg was in the process of receiving his reinforcements, almost a corps from Lee's army,and launched his attack at dawn. For one of the few times in the war the Confederates outnumbered the Federals. During the battle Halleck tried to get Burnside to move on Bragg's right from his new...