Ever since its stunning success, there has been debate: Who was responsible for concocting the scheme to move the Union Army up the Tennessee River? General U.S. Grant said it was "his idea, initially labelled as 'ridiculous' when presented to Henry Halleck in early January 1862." In his Memoirs, page 220, William Tecumseh Sherman claims: "I was with Henry Halleck when he came up with the idea to advance up the Tennessee River." But, what if they both are wrong; what if the real developer and promoter of the move up the Tennessee River, bypassing and turning Fort Columbus... was Anna Ella Carroll ?
Have a read of the attached book, A Military Genius: the Life of Anna Ella Carroll, (especially Chapter 4 -- Goes to St. Louis: inception of the plan of the Tennessee Campaign) and tell me what you think: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21909/21909-h/21909-h.htm#page031
Cheers
Ozzy