GDG- Re: feeding Lee

[Biggsk at aol.com]

Norman Levitt writes:

>>>>The  standard reason is that there were no longer  adequate resources 
left to feed the ANV (for which fact Grant and Sheridan  would have to get most 
of the  credit).  But as I recall, a number  of analysts believe that there 
were  stores enough at Richmond to feed  and clothe Lee's army that winter, but 
the ANV high command simply did a poor  job of finding and distributing them.  
This isn't the sort of thing  that gets much notice in forums devoted to  
"battles and tactics" but  it's of key importance at times in determining the 
course of wars.  If my  recollection is correct, Lee's logistical failings at 
this point certainly  should count against his reputation.>>>>
 
By 1864, most of Lee's food was coming from Georgia, crossing Jeff Davis'  
departmental lines into that of the Army of Tennessee.  This pushed the  food 
sources for the AOT over along the Alabama-Mississippi border and the  Tombigbee 
River area.  This is why Lee stated in early 1864" without  Georgia, Virginia 
cannot hold."
 
The true problem was not the lack of food - the South had loads of food -  it 
was the collapsing rail system and a terribly run Commissary Department under 
 the inept Lucius Northrop that helped create the inability to get the food 
from  where it was grown to where it was needed.  Lee lobbied quite a bit for  
Northrop's replacement and finally, Davis, never one to admit when he was  
wrong, finally did.
 
By the end of the war, new SecWar John Breckinridge (IMHO the best of the  
several SecWars of the CSA) had established a food depot system for Lee to  
retreat to as well as other supplies.  He performed miracles quite  frankly.
 
Lee was not as good a logistician as Sherman, Grant or Rosecrans, but not  
all of that was his fault.  I lay the blame at Jeff Davis' feet for keeping  
with inept people far longer than prudent and not firing them when needed,  
despite the please of generals he trusted like Lee.
 
Greg Biggs