The Impulse of Victory: Ulysses S. Grant at Chattanooga

How Grant secured a Tennessee victory and a promotion
Union soldiers in the Army of the Cumberland, who were trapped and facing starvation or surrender in the fall of 1863, saw the arrival of Major General Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee as an impetus to reverse the tides of war. David A. Powell's sophisticated strategic and operational analysis of Grant's command decisions and actions shows how his determined leadership relieved the siege and shattered the enemy, resulting in the creation of a new strategic base of Union operations and Grant's elevation to commander of all the Federal armies the following year.

Powell's detailed exploration of the Union Army of the Cumberland's six-week-long campaign for Chattanooga is complemented by his careful attention to the personal issues Grant faced at the time and his relationships with his superiors and subordinates. Though unfamiliar with the tactical situation, the army, and its officers, Grant delivered another resounding victory. His success, explains Powell, was due to his tactical flexibility, communication with his superiors, perseverance despite setbacks, and dogged determination to win the campaign. Through attention to postwar accounts, Powell reconciles the differences between what happened and the participants' memories of the events. He focuses throughout on Grant's controversial decisions, showing how they were made and their impact on the campaign. As Powell shows, Grant's choices demonstrate how he managed to be a thoughtful, deliberate commander despite the fog of war.


Author: David Alan Powell
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
Published: 12/10/2020
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780809338016

About the Author
David A. Powell, an expert on the battle of Chickamauga, is the author of nine books on the Civil War, including The Chickamauga Campaign trilogy as well as Battle above the Clouds: Lifting the Siege of Chattanooga and the Battle of Lookout Mountain, October 16-November 24, 1863. He is vice president of Airsped, Inc., a specialized delivery firm.