I seriously underestimated the logistics mess that Hooker left for Meade. The Army of the Potomac was not only scattered and on the wrong approach routes to stop the Army of Northern Virginia, but they had supply issues across the board, fodder for their draft animals and shoes and rations for the men. That bunch of wagons Jeb Stuart stole was part of the emergency logistics Meade needed to rectify his supply crisis as he maneuvered to face Lee.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Already known to me, but I will toss it on the barbie, was the situation that neither his staff nor Meade had topographic maps. The road maps they had were incomplete. Their only advantage of terrain awareness, was that the Union cavalry was better trained than the Confederates in field survey and scout work. Plus, the Pennsylvanians provided impromptu guides and local information on where everyone, Union and Confederate, was.
Did I mention that Stuart's bandits cut the telegraph lines and burned the two main bridges across Meade's landline of retreat, communications, and supply?
C.
statistics: Posted by Carbon1234 — 1:37 AM - 1 day ago — Replies 2 — Views 83