Scapegoat of Shiloh
The Distortion of Lew Wallace’s Record by U.S. Grant
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About the Book
A great controversy surrounds General Lew Wallace at the Battle of Shiloh. General U.S. Grant blamed Wallace for the huge number of casualties the Union suffered, citing a dilatory march and poor choice of route to the battlefield. Wallace was obsessed with these accusations his entire life and wrote Ben-Hur as much to work through the injustice of being labeled a scapegoat as for literary aspirations.
This book asserts that something entirely different may be at fault for the astonishing number of men lost. Overlooked in the history of the battle is Grant’s own choice of a specific man to carry battle orders to Wallace, a mistake that might have made all the difference. This assertion is supported by newly discovered documents written by an obscure Wisconsin quartermaster as well as evidence in official records. The implications of this choice of messenger virtually vindicate Wallace. By also juxtaposing certain Confederate actions, this book explores the behind-the-scenes struggle during the Battle of Shiloh and its aftermath for the participants.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Kevin Getchell
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 288
Bibliographic Info: 34 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7209-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0223-3
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Foreword 1
Preface 5
1. Before the Fame Came 9
2. The Hard Foot of Uncle Sam in Hardin County, Tennessee 16
3. Steaming Situations That Shaped the Battle 22
4. The Problem with Napoleon 41
5. Precursors and Premonitions 49
6. Forrest’s Movements 59
7. While Waiting for Grant 65
8. “I smell the blood,” said an Englishman 81
9. Setting the Stage for a Scapegoating 88
10. The Need for a Cover-up 98
11. Critical Decisions 121
12. For Want of a Horse 129
13. No Arrangements for Supply 138
14. Cutting Off the Head of the Supply and Transportation Corps 148
15. A Tangled Web 163
16. The Cost 178
17. Elephants 189
18. The Ongoing Battle of Shiloh 196
Appendix A: The Derickson Documents 209
Appendix B: Pertinent Complete Reports from The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 222
Chapter Notes 255
Bibliography 263
Index 269
