"We are being conquered by the splendor of our own victories!"
So wrote a member of Longstreet's staff to his wife shortly after the terrible actions fought in the vicinity of Spotsylvania Court House. In the twelve days ending with the sharp action of May 19, 1864, the Army of Northern Virginia repelled all of Grant's attempts, inflicting roughly 18,500 casualties at the cost of slightly more than half of that, with several general officers killed or badly wounded. Simply put, Grant was bleeding the smaller ANV to death.
But as Confederate organizations became smaller because of losses, did they also not became more manageable? At least that is my question on this period of the war. Confederate divisions were being reduced by then to around 2,000 to 3,000 men, figures that two years previously would have equalled those of brigades! And while both sides underwent this winnowing from combat losses, it seems as if it were the Confederate forces that reaped a better effect in command management, even though they were losing valuable, experienced commanders in proportion. The ANV certainly became a smaller force, but did it not also become a more reactive and cohesive instrument of war as a result. As the huge Northern bear lumbered about, looking to hug the Southern badger to death, did not the wily, quick instincts of the badger prove an even more formidable obstacle at this time relative to the earlier periods of the war in the East.
Who among us would have then exercised the outrageous choice of sending one third of the ANV's force, Jubal Early's II Corps, against Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley in mid-June of that year? No doubt there were a number of valid strategic, operational and logistical reasons to take such a dangerous gamble. But did not Lee, as he pondered the possibilities, also take note of the higher ratio of command influence within his formations, believing in part that Northern numbers could be offset with a smaller, quicker reacting and combat savvy force? Do you believe that such intangibles were actually in play for both sides during this particular time?
_________________ General Jos. C. Meyer, ACWGC Union Army Chief of Staff Commander, Army of the Shenandoah Commander, Army of the Tennessee (2011-2014 UA CoA/GinC)
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