Such a little day did not last two days, because Ulysses. Grant is coming.

Guan Zhuofan was stunned when he first met Grant.

The man in front of him, small, wrinkled, and stubble, was wearing a private's shirt underneath, a fur vest with numerous fur balls, and a crumpled cotton coat on the outside—he had no military uniform at all.

Looking down, the pants and boots were stained with mud and mottled.

This is the generation of famous generals of the Civil War, the current commander-in-chief of the Western Theater of the Union, and the eighteenth president of the United States of America.

Commander Guan wore a straight tweed military uniform and shiny riding boots, and muttered in his heart: I have heard that this guy is unkempt, but it is still a little far from the photo.

Saluted and shook hands, at this time, Guan Zhuofan found that this little man had a calm expression and a resolute gaze.

Guan Zhuofan couldn't help but sigh in his heart: three years ago, this battle-hardened soldier was still reduced to working as a partner in a small leather shop, tormented by debt and alcohol; Now, he commands hundreds of thousands of troops, and a single word can decide the life and death of tens of thousands of people.

It is really the times that create heroes.

He noticed that Grant was limping and asked with concern if the commander-in-chief was in poor health?

Grant smiled wryly, don't mention it, I was turned upside down by the mount.

This is big news -- you must know that the commander-in-chief is so talented that he was able to train horses at the age of nine to make money, and now he is actually folded in the hands of an animal.

Grant said, yes, yes, the people who drowned were all self-righteous haode.

The two laughed a few words, and Guan Zhuofan felt that this person who was known for being sensitive, introverted, and unsociable was not so boring.

Get to the point. Grant began by expressing strong support for the Tennessee theater's handling of McCook and Crittendon. Then ask about the enemy.

Guan Zhuofan introduced. According to reconnaissance, the Southern Army received reinforcements, about a division. At present, the total strength of the Southern Army should be about 85,000.

After resting and replenishing, the movement of the Southern army was rather strange, taking two steps, stopping two steps, two steps to the left, two steps to the right, and always maintaining a safe distance from Chattanooga. There is no big movement, just a shake like this from time to time.

Guan Zhuofan judged that the southern army was not suspicious, but had not yet thought about what to do, wanted to drink hot porridge, and was afraid of being burned, so he was indecisive and hesitated. Even, there may have been some kind of disagreement within the High Command.

Grant listened quietly to his analysis, not uttering. After a while, he nodded: "I agree with your judgment." What is the situation of our army? ”

The situation is good.

The Kumbran Corps has largely regained its combat effectiveness.

The artillery regiment of the Songjiang Corps was already created. Formation of initial combat power.

Located east of the city, the missionary heights that were thought to have been lost at the time of the Battle of Chickmoga are still in their hands.

"But I have a special idea about Missionary Heights. ”

Kwan Cheuk-fan's suggestion was: give up the missionary heights.

Grant's brow furrowed.

It's a really special idea.

Mission Heights has always been regarded as the eastern part of Chattanooga, and if lost, there is no danger to the east of Chattanooga. The enemy erected cannons on the top of the hill, and the shells could be fired directly into the city of Chattanooga. It's really called "condescending, like a bamboo".

But this is only a "theoretical statement".

Kwan Cheuk-fan and Tom of the Artillery Training Team. Major Anderson repeatedly surveyed the terrain of Mission Heights, and Anderson believed that most of the area at the top of Mission Heights was not suitable for artillery positions.

There are various special requirements for the erection of cannons, and the larger the caliber and the longer the firing range, the more demanding the requirements.

There should be basically level land, there should be a suitable distance between the gun emplacements, and the soil on the ground should be neither too soft nor too hard...... Wait a minute. The missionary heights are low in the north and high in the south, and the height of the ridges is constantly changing with the trend, and it is almost impossible to find a place that is really suitable for the large-scale erection of artillery. The ground was fragmented, and a reasonable spacing of the gun emplacements could not be guaranteed. The distance between the two guns was too long to carry out the command to fire a salvo; It's too close, and they shake each other first.

In addition, the artillery body of that era could not rotate freely like the artillery of later generations, and there were special requirements for firing angles, etc., and the complex terrain would also greatly limit the erection of artillery.

Moreover, the cannon with the largest caliber, the longest range, and the most powerful was too heavy to be moved; The only guns that can be moved are some small and medium-caliber guns, and they have to be disassembled first, and then reassembled after being transported, which is very time-consuming and laborious.

Therefore, if the Southern Army had taken the missionary heights, it would have to erect artillery on the top of the hill, but Major Anderson judged that "our army is completely capable of bearing these artillery," that is, it could not cause substantial damage to the Northern Army at all.

Even if a few shots occasionally land in Chattanooga City, it is the limit of the range, and there is no accuracy at all.

As for the loss of the missionary heights, there is no danger to defend in the east of the city, this is a fact, the problem is that the strategic goal of our army is not to defend, but to attack, is to use Chattanooga as bait to gather and annihilate the main force of the western front of the southern army under the city.

Now 85,000 Southern troops have been assembled near Chattanooga, which is the largest force of the Confederacy on the Western Front, and this piece of fat must not be let go! The southern army does not dare to advance now, but is afraid of long-term delays, so why not use the missionary heights as bait among bait to catch this big fish of 85,000 people?

The missionary heights were no more than six miles long, which was not very large for an army of 85,000 men, and the Confederate troops would find that they were trapped in their hands and feet for the sake of location. As a result, the Northern Army gained a relative superiority in strength, and it was expected to reap the benefits of gathering and attacking it.

It's just that this "attack" is an attack from the bottom.

It sounds difficult to attack the high ground on the back, but Guan Zhuofan thinks that this can give full play to the advantages of the Northern Army, especially the Xuan Army.

The proportion of breech guns in the northern army was higher than that in the southern army, and the Xuan army was even more equipped with breech guns. Compared with breech guns, breech guns are not only faster to reload, which means greater fire density, but also have the biggest advantage of being able to reload in a low position, including a crouching position or even a lying position, so that soldiers can choose more obstacles to protect themselves and greatly reduce casualties.

Because the breech gun has to be loaded from the muzzle, the gun must be erected, and with the length of the rifle, the soldier can only stand and load, and the probability of casualties is much greater.

This difference is not particularly obvious in areas with open and gentle conditions with fewer obstacles, and in areas with complex terrain and many obstacles, this advantage of breech guns is very prominent.

The missionary heights, especially its steep slopes, with its abundance of trees and raised rocks, belong to this zone.

Also, it is now the rainy season, and the valleys of the missionary heights are full of fog at every turn, and the view is very impaired, which is very difficult for defense.

Therefore, Guan Zhuofan is confident enough that he can successfully capture the high ground.

As for whether the Southern Army will swallow this bait, Guan Zhuofan thought he was 100% sure. Because it was too tempting, even if the Southern Army knew that it was poisonous, they would eventually have to swallow it.

It's just that the timing of abandoning the heights must be very particular. Guan Zhuofan believed that it was necessary to choose when reinforcements were about to arrive, so that the southern army would not be afraid to fight because the northern army had already gathered, and our army would not have lost the high ground but would not be passive because of insufficient troops to launch an attack as soon as possible.

Grant's eyes burned when he heard this, and then he said, "Sherman's reinforcements are coming......"

The next day, an order was given to retreat from the missionary heights.

Except for Wall and Thomas, everyone didn't know what the two commanders were crazy about, but they had to obey.

Soon, there were more spies from the Southern Army around the missionary heights, and Guan Zhuofan said hello: Try not to disturb people.

Guan Zhuofan asked the commander-in-chief to be stationed in the Tennessee Theater Command, Grant said that he understood it, but it will definitely interfere with your work, it is not appropriate. In addition, he found a small house to live in, dragged an injured leg every day, and reported to the Tennessee Theater Command, or was accompanied by Guan Zhuofan to inspect the barracks and survey the terrain.

Guan Zhuofan nodded secretly, this person is extraordinary.

Soon the Confederate army began to move towards the missionary heights.

Guan Zhuofan ordered: The outer defense line shrank inward.

The battalions are talking, what is this for? Are we afraid of the rebels?

On this day, Guan Zhuofan and Grant were studying the map in the office, and the guards came to report: General Sherman has arrived.

Both of them were a little stunned, so fast? The Confederates have not yet entered the missionary heights.

*(To be continued......)