Okay, I am going to throw a little something out about one of the most controversial generals of the US Civil War, Benjamin Butler.
For those of you who are unaware of him, Ben Butler was a Massachussetts Congressman who, because he was a War Democrat, had a lot of power. He was one of the political generals the US was saddled with during the war. He was known mostly for his ineptness....a guy who could make Burnside look good!
Okay, here is my question and it involves the Bermuda Hundred campaign of May 1864. Butler was given 3 missions to accomplish
a. To seize a deep water port on the James River east of Richmond to support army operations against Richmond area
b. To interdict the Richmond-Petersburg Railway
c. To cooperate with the Army of the Potomac against the Army of Northern Virginia
These were the results
A. Butler captured City Point and turned it into a huge supply base
B. Butler destroyed over 10 miles of tracks during various forays
C. Once the AOP moved south Butler cooperated and worked succesfully with the AOP during the Petersburg campaign.
Bermuda Hundred Campaign - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Okay, we know what has been written and folks opinions.
Now you decide....was Butler's Bermuda Hundred Campaign the complete failure historians often say it was? Or did he accomplish the missions assigned him and any expecatations he would accomplish more just unrealistic?
Talk amongst yourselves, show all work and no looking at your neighbors paper. :)
For those of you who are unaware of him, Ben Butler was a Massachussetts Congressman who, because he was a War Democrat, had a lot of power. He was one of the political generals the US was saddled with during the war. He was known mostly for his ineptness....a guy who could make Burnside look good!
Okay, here is my question and it involves the Bermuda Hundred campaign of May 1864. Butler was given 3 missions to accomplish
a. To seize a deep water port on the James River east of Richmond to support army operations against Richmond area
b. To interdict the Richmond-Petersburg Railway
c. To cooperate with the Army of the Potomac against the Army of Northern Virginia
These were the results
A. Butler captured City Point and turned it into a huge supply base
B. Butler destroyed over 10 miles of tracks during various forays
C. Once the AOP moved south Butler cooperated and worked succesfully with the AOP during the Petersburg campaign.
Bermuda Hundred Campaign - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Okay, we know what has been written and folks opinions.
Now you decide....was Butler's Bermuda Hundred Campaign the complete failure historians often say it was? Or did he accomplish the missions assigned him and any expecatations he would accomplish more just unrealistic?
Talk amongst yourselves, show all work and no looking at your neighbors paper. :)
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