During the Civil War, when the North had the most to lose, a crucial decision was made to attack the Deep South by way of the Tennessee Valley.

And the plan worked. And for that winning strategy, the history books credit Ben Wade.

But someone else deserved the credit. In fact, many successful Civil War strategies were conceived by an unsung strategist, a civilian

advisor whom President Lincoln kept in the closet. Welcome to Darren Daly on demand, your most

trusted resource to help you become better every day. Here's your success mentor, Darren Hardy.

During the Civil War, when the North had the most to lose, a crucial decision was made to attack the Deep South by way of the Tennessee Valley.

And the plan worked. And for that winning strategy, the history books credit Ben Wade, chairman of the

committee on the conduct of the war. But the credit is misplaced. Now on another front,

the capture of Vicksburg seemed an impossible objective for the Union Army. That was because

Vicksburg was a river port, an attack from the water was seriously considered. But in the end,

Vicksburg fell by a land attack, and Grant was praised for the plan. But again, someone else

deserved the credit. In fact, many successful Civil War strategies were conceived by an

unsung strategist, a civilian advisor whom President Lincoln kept in the closet,

a southerner, in fact. You see, the summer of 1861 was a difficult season for the Union Army,

and by November, the Confederacy's defense position was superb. The North was in big trouble,

and it was then when President Lincoln enlisted the aid of an old friend,

a southerner whose sympathies rested with the North and who would serve as the Union as a war counselor.

Evaluating the North's desperate situation, the advisor rejected the Mississippi River as an avenue of attack

to heavily fortified. On the other hand, it appeared

the Confederate Fort Henry along the Tennessee River had dropped its guard. So the Tennessee

Valley seemed to be the South's Achilles Hill. The plan used the Tennessee River as a means of

reaching the vital Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Well, the tactician apprised Lincoln, and Lincoln informed Ben

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