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Union Generals Alexander M. McCook and Thomas Crittenden lose their commands and are ordered to Indianapolis, Indiana, to face a court of inquiry following the Federal defeat at the battle of Chickamauga in Georgia.
Eight days before, the Union Army of the Cumberland, commanded by General William Rosecrans, had retreated from the Chickamauga battlefield in disarray. On the battle’s second day, Rosecrans mistakenly ordered a division to move into a gap in the Federal line that did not exist, creating a real gap through which the Confederates charged, thus splitting the Union army. One wing collapsed, and a frantic retreat back to Chattanooga, Tennessee, ensued. The other wing, led by General George Thomas, remained on the battlefield and held its position until it was nearly overrun by Confederates.
The search for scapegoats began immediately, and fingers soon pointed to McCook and Crittenden. Their corps had been part of the collapsed flank, so Rosecrans removed them from command. Crittenden’s removal stirred anger in his native Kentucky, and the state legislature sent a letter to President Abraham Lincoln demanding a reexamination of the firing. In February 1864, a military court cleared McCook and Crittenden, but their careers as field commanders were over. By quickly removing McCook and Crittenden, Rosecrans had been trying to save his own job. Within weeks after firing the generals, Rosecrans was himself replaced by Thomas.
Eight days before, the Union Army of the Cumberland, commanded by General William Rosecrans, had retreated from the Chickamauga battlefield in disarray. On the battle’s second day, Rosecrans mistakenly ordered a division to move into a gap in the Federal line that did not exist, creating a real gap through which the Confederates charged, thus splitting the Union army. One wing collapsed, and a frantic retreat back to Chattanooga, Tennessee, ensued. The other wing, led by General George Thomas, remained on the battlefield and held its position until it was nearly overrun by Confederates.
The search for scapegoats began immediately, and fingers soon pointed to McCook and Crittenden. Their corps had been part of the collapsed flank, so Rosecrans removed them from command. Crittenden’s removal stirred anger in his native Kentucky, and the state legislature sent a letter to President Abraham Lincoln demanding a reexamination of the firing. In February 1864, a military court cleared McCook and Crittenden, but their careers as field commanders were over. By quickly removing McCook and Crittenden, Rosecrans had been trying to save his own job. Within weeks after firing the generals, Rosecrans was himself replaced by Thomas.
Union generals blamed for Chickamauga defeat
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Posted 6 y ago
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Thank you for sharing my friend TSgt Joe C. and reminding us that Union Generals Alexander M. McCook and Thomas Leonidas Crittenden lost their commands and were ordered to Indianapolis, Indiana, to face a court of inquiry following the Federal defeat at the battle of Chickamauga in Georgia.
Both Generals were vindicated by the court of inquiry and both generals distinguished themselves in 1864.
Images: 1863 MG Alexander McDowell McCook; MG Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Background on Alexander M. McCook who was vindicated at the Court Martial:
On July 17, 1863 McCook was promoted to major general for his actions in Tennessee. He was given command of the I Corps of the Army of the Ohio, and commanded them at the Battle of Perryville, where his corps suffered heavy losses. His command was reorganized into the XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland, and he suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Stones River. The army was again reorganized into the XX Corps, and McCook commanded the corps during the Union disaster at the Battle of Chickamauga. McCook and Union general T.L. Crittenden were blamed for the defeat at Chickamauga. He received a court-martial hearing for his actions at the battle, but was not found guilty of any wrong-doing. McCook was, however, relieved of command. He did not receive orders again until Confederate General Jubal Early threatened Washington, DC. McCook was placed in charge of defense forces around the capital, and commanded his men during the Battle of Fort Stevens.
Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Crittenden's forces were redesignated the Left Wing of the Army of the Cumberland and were heavily engaged at the Battle of Stones River. (He received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army in 1867 for his service at Stones River.) The Army of the Cumberland was reorganized and Crittenden's corps was once again renamed, this time the XXI Corps. He led the corps through the Tullahoma Campaign and at the Battle of Chickamauga. Crittenden and fellow corps commander Alexander McDowell McCook were blamed for the defeat and relieved of command, but both were later exonerated and acquitted of any charges. During the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864, Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Stevenson was killed leading the 1st Division, IX Corps. Stevenson's successor was Col. Daniel Leasure. The decision was made to replace the colonel with a more experienced commander. and General Crittenden was chosen to take command of the division. He assumed command on May 12 and led it during the final days of Spotsylvania and through the Battle of Cold Harbor, before resigning on December 13, 1864.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SGT (Join to see)
Both Generals were vindicated by the court of inquiry and both generals distinguished themselves in 1864.
Images: 1863 MG Alexander McDowell McCook; MG Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Background on Alexander M. McCook who was vindicated at the Court Martial:
On July 17, 1863 McCook was promoted to major general for his actions in Tennessee. He was given command of the I Corps of the Army of the Ohio, and commanded them at the Battle of Perryville, where his corps suffered heavy losses. His command was reorganized into the XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland, and he suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Stones River. The army was again reorganized into the XX Corps, and McCook commanded the corps during the Union disaster at the Battle of Chickamauga. McCook and Union general T.L. Crittenden were blamed for the defeat at Chickamauga. He received a court-martial hearing for his actions at the battle, but was not found guilty of any wrong-doing. McCook was, however, relieved of command. He did not receive orders again until Confederate General Jubal Early threatened Washington, DC. McCook was placed in charge of defense forces around the capital, and commanded his men during the Battle of Fort Stevens.
Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Crittenden's forces were redesignated the Left Wing of the Army of the Cumberland and were heavily engaged at the Battle of Stones River. (He received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army in 1867 for his service at Stones River.) The Army of the Cumberland was reorganized and Crittenden's corps was once again renamed, this time the XXI Corps. He led the corps through the Tullahoma Campaign and at the Battle of Chickamauga. Crittenden and fellow corps commander Alexander McDowell McCook were blamed for the defeat and relieved of command, but both were later exonerated and acquitted of any charges. During the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864, Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Stevenson was killed leading the 1st Division, IX Corps. Stevenson's successor was Col. Daniel Leasure. The decision was made to replace the colonel with a more experienced commander. and General Crittenden was chosen to take command of the division. He assumed command on May 12 and led it during the final days of Spotsylvania and through the Battle of Cold Harbor, before resigning on December 13, 1864.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SGT (Join to see)
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SFC Shirley Whitfield COL Lee Flemming PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell Alan K. MSgt Stephen Council Sgt Trevor Barrett MSG Andrew White SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth Cpl Scott McCarroll LTC John Shaw SGT Jim Arnold SPC Margaret Higgins CWO3 Dennis M. Susan Foster (Join to see) SGT Elizabeth Scheck SGT Michael Thorin
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