| The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors affecting military commanders' campaign decision-making processes. Specifically, I examine four factors- operational-level logistics, the individual mental capacities of commanders, the "living reaction" of the enemy commander, and the uncertainty of intelligence inherent to battle- to determine which most significantly affects commanders' decisions. Though I initially treat the above as four competing hypotheses for explaining commander decision making, using two Civil War campaigns- General George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign and General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign- as case studies, I find that depending upon a commander's mental individualities, operational-level logistics can either serve as a constraint or enabling factor in campaign decision making, while enemy reactions and uncertain intelligence may be seen as either insurmountable obstacles or minor issues to be overcome. I conclude with policy recommendations. |
