They were HUGE mistakes If the battle of Chattanooga had followed Grant s plan of depending on Sherman to win it would have been much longer bloodier Had Thomas plan at Snake Creek Gap been followed Johnston s army would have been trapped destroyed within a week Union forces could have been shifted to Virginia that campaign ended before election day Grant Sherman DID have a somewhat bizarre personal relationship but it is also a fact that the polilitcal power of Ohio played a large role in choosing western commanders It didn t hurt that Sherman s brother was a powerful US Senator What else had Sherman done during the war to warrant such a promotion Have a nervous breakdown Achilles 04 27 7 Oct 2005