The Chiefs are in the next Super Bowl. It is an incredible feat. If the Chiefs managed to clinch another victory, I might rank Patrick Mahomes alongside Tom Brady. A three-peat was never achieved, not even under Brady. I am disappointed there would not be a rally in Kansas City, but I understand that safety is more critical than celebration. Meanwhile, Liberty basketball has been fun to watch. Liberty is on a three-win streak and is ranked second in their conference. They have an important game against Jacksonville State, which is currently first in Conference USA. A win over Jax State would put Liberty first in conference play and make them 18-4.
Recently, I came across an interesting episode in Grant's military career. Following his victory at Chattanooga, Grant was focused on multiple objectives across the Confederacy. He suggested an attack on Mobile, considered an attack on Shreveport, and ordered General William T. Sherman to attack Meridian, Mississippi. Sherman was successful in destroying the city, but Grant also wanted General George Thomas to occupy Dalton, Georgia.
George Thomas commanded the Army of the Cumberland and was positioned across the border near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Joseph E. Johnston occupied Dalton with the Army of Tennessee. In conjunction with Sherman's movement against Meridian, Grant ordered Thomas to move against Dalton, Georgia, on 12 February 1864. This movement was a heavy reconnaissance from which this movement would determine if they could take Dalton to build a railroad into the city to supply the army. Therefore, it was Grant's intention to hold the city. Grant knew that Johnston would have difficulty reinforcing smaller Confederate garrisons across the South. Johnston struggled to reinforce Leonidas Polk from Dalton because he barely had enough men to defend Dalton and prevent a Union advance to Atlanta. Between February 14-17, Sherman made good progress to Jackson, Mississippi, but Thomas had yet to move from his position.
Grant again ordered Thomas to move on 17 February after having done anything to prepare for an advance. Grant had to explain to Thomas that his movement would coordinate with Sherman and that Johnston could not reinforce all these places simultaneously. Thomas presented Grant with a variety of excuses. First, the Chickamauga has not been fordable since 14 February due to the rain. Second, he did not possess enough horses for his artillery. Furthermore, he did not know if he should move against Dalton or reinforce John Schofield, as Schofield requested. The weather was still relatively bad, and Thomas was finally too sick for duty. As army group commander, Grant was indeed disgusted with this response. The Chickamauga was fordable between 12-13 February; Thomas never mentioned he lacked cavalry, Grant outranked Schofield, no winter storm would prevent the movement of soldiers, and if Thomas was too sick for duty, then he should have handed his command over.
There clearly was a lack of communication between Thomas and Grant. Despite all of this, Thomas began preparing, but at a pace all too slow for success. Thomas did not move until 22 February. However, by this point, the Confederate high command began realizing the weakness of Johnston's position at Dalton, and reinforcements began moving to support Johnston. Two of Hardee's divisions returned from Polk's command, and President Jefferson Davis ordered P.G.T. Beauregard to send another 10,000 to reinforce Johnston. These 10,000 never got to Johnston, but Davis also ordered cavalry from the Army of Tennessee to rejoin Johnston's command.
Thomas made good progress against initial Confederate resistance but could not take Dalton due to fierce Confederate resistance at Buzzard Roost. Furthermore, Thomas did not possess the supply lines to continue his advance or hold his position. Had Thomas moved out in the days following Grant's original order on 12 February, then Thomas could have likely at least occupied Dalton and destroyed material supplies. It could have been a more significant part of Grant's raiding strategy if Thomas could not hold it. Unfortunately, Thomas was too slow and methodical, which prevented him from taking advantage of an early initiative. Thomas learned about Snake Gap Creek's importance from this early expedition. It is the only time Thomas suffered a tactical defeat in the war, but it removes the title of "undefeated." It should be unsurprising that Grant would later find more significant difficulties with Thomas during the Nashville Campaign for eerily similar reasons.
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