Logistics in Warfare

<p>This is a study of the logistical system that supported the Union armies in the Civil War focusing on the Army of the Cumberland under the command of Major General William S. Rosecrans in 1863. It begins with a description of the logistical bureaus in the War Department in Washington D.C. and the challenges they had in developing the national logistical support structure in the first years of the war. Next the support structure in the Department of the Cumberland is described to include the challenges in maintaining the rail link from Nashville Tennessee back to Louisville Kentucky. Finally the performances of the commanders and logisticians in the field during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga Campaigns are explored with an emphasis on the problems with transportation. This study concludes that the logisticians overcame enormous problems to create a logistical system that allowed the commanders to win the war. In the Army of the Cumberland the support was exceptional when compared to the challenges that were faced. Logistics became a limiting factor because of the senior leaderships poor planning disregarded orders and unrealistic expectations which doomed both the Tullahoma and Chickamauga Campaigns from achieving decisive results even before they had begun. This study attempts to put the rarely explored but extremely significant field of logistics in its proper place of importance in the study of military history. Logistics is inextricably tied with strategy and tactics; without logistics victory is not possible.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>