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The Power of Decisive Action

The Battle of Shiloh was a significant Union victory that propelled Ulysses Grant to early fame. Yet, the battle could have very easily gone the opposite way. Grant’s camp at Shiloh lacked fortifications, outposts, regular patrols, and any semblance of protection from a Confederate force camped within miles of the Union lines. William T. Sherman was leading the poorly defended Union position, while Grant was miles away preparing for his own offensive. Little thought was given to a Confederate attack when Grant heard the sounds of artillery the morning of April 6, 1862, and moved toward Shiloh to command the battle. 

Upon his arrival, Grant was met with a battlefield in chaos. His army was barely holding on, and victory seemed out of sight. Grant, however, was not deterred. Riding around the battlefield, he directed his subordinate commanders to repel the Confederate avalanche attacks. The Confederate strategy, akin to sending waves of troops aimed at overwhelming Union lines, was a formidable challenge. Grant’s decisive actions and quick thinking prevented the Union army from being routed into the river, a testament to the importance of decisive action in leadership. 

Grant attacked the Confederates after receiving a healthy dose of reinforcements from the Army of the Ohio and won the battle the next day, April 7, 1862. The victory was short and sweet. The Union Army forced a quick retreat by late afternoon. Grant opted not to pursue, a decision that history has not been kind to. Yet, all of Grant’s battlefield decisions in the heat of battle were praised, and there were cheers for Grant all over the country. 

While decisive action may have saved the day, Grant’s lack of leadership skills in other areas cost him his ability to lead troops in battle immediately following the events at Shiloh. Instead, he was promoted to second in command of the Union Army under General Halleck, a position that did not involve leading troops into battle. This was seen as a demotion in Grant's eyes. No official reason was given, but the lasting impression of Grant’s lack of battlefield preparation and organization played a significant role in the decision, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach to leadership. 

The ability to make decisive actions is a critical tool for leaders; it should be used more sparingly than one is led to believe. Slow, methodical work is almost always better than rushed work. Planned, organized events, projects, and tasks are always better than spur-of-the-moment projects. Chaos exists, and uncertainty thrives in the real world. Decisive action is the best way to combat chaos and uncertainty. It is not a substitute for a plan, but it can be the difference between a plan surviving chaos rather than being destroyed by it. 

Do not use decisive action to overcompensate for a lack of planning. You can take decisive action to adapt your plan to the changing environment. A well-thought-out defensive line would have saved thousands of Union lives while still achieving a critical victory. Decisive action is a tool to help manage chaos, not a strategic approach to accomplishing a goal. Decisive action will help you attain a goal, but only if you have a roadmap to guide your actions.

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