HTST 489 Lecture Notes - Meeting Engagement, Union Pass, Situation Awareness
11 Feb 2014
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Document Summary
Northern commanders in the washington area become highly cautious. Commander mclelland uses intel service based around the pinkerton detective agency. Pinkerton reported estimates of southern strength are vastly overstated, around twice their strength. Mclelland is reporting to lincoln that union forces in the east are outnumber and thus he should be cautious in his use of forces. If we believe that pinkerton agency is one cog in an intellectual process that stems from mclelland"s own views, then it becomes a failure of command. Northern commanders are extremely cautious, uncertain, which causes them to act ineffectively, and even the best of them are caught by surprise. Best are grant and sherman, nonetheless, at the battle of. First 18th months of the war, southern edge from traditional intel sources better scouting, cavalry, commanders who take risks. Around end of 1862-3, things start to change, including intelligence.
