One explanation for Grant's lack of prepared works is his preference for an offensive campaign. Fortified positions slowed movement and could discourage an enemy from offering the field battle Grant wanted. The approach depended on patrols, warning posts, trained troops, and enough time to form a defensive line if attacked. In this reading, the open camp was a calculated invitation to fight in the field, where Grant could defeat the Confederate army without paying the time and casualties of a siege. Drill, shooting practice, and hot meals also prepared troops to fight without the exhaustion of digging extensive works.
Notable Point · 1:06:11-1:13:18
Grant's camp philosophy: readiness without entrenchment
Grant relied on drill, patrols, sentries, and mobility at Pittsburg Landing rather than building a heavily entrenched camp.