Fun Scenario Question
If you had to choose a fortification between Marye's Heights or the Fortification Works at Cold Harbor, which one would you choose?
& another one, if you had to choose between Culps Hill or a Reinforced Pittsburg Landing, which one would you choose?
---Michael
Marye's Heights & Culps Hill, for sure.
I would take Marye's Heights and Culp's Hill primarily due to them being naturally very strong and taking less effort to prepare and maintain. Both of those positions are strong defensive positions still today. Both positions are likely to be able to be held successfully with a manpower disadvantage and some artillery given the natural strength. Pittsburg Landing became a strong position as much because of the situation as the terrain. Generally I would not want to be backed up against a river. The line became stronger as the Federals withdrew due to their line getting shorter and the Confederate line having to get longer as they advanced. The presence of existing heavy artillery and naval guns, as well as moving closer to reinforcements from Wallace on the same side of the river and Buell moving across the river all combined to make that position stronger due to the situation.
Marye's Heights has some additional advantage over Cold Harbor in my opinion because of the presence of the Rappahannock. Any attack against the heights was going to have to cross the river under observation requiring either pontoons or to cross at one of a limited number of fords. Burnside had plenty of difficulty even getting to the position, let alone taking it.
I gotta go with Marye’s Heights by ‘this‘ much.
Culp’s Hill over Pittsburg Landing (primarily due to my affinity for Gettysburg)