That role is so important. During Shiloh Grant had the huge number of attempted deserters, stragglers, and people separating during retreats rapidly reformed into new units regardless of their existing ones. Rather than find who they belonged to or send deserters back to their correct unit, he made new ones and reinforced. This helped turn a rout into a victory. And just like the Soviets, he was called a "Butcher". Grant was correct as was Stalin.
The Grant documentary from a few years ago dramatizes this well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6hehVbFYG8
That role is so important. During Shiloh Grant had the huge number of attempted deserters, stragglers, and people separating during retreats rapidly reformed into new units regardless of their existing ones. Rather than find who they belonged to or send deserters back to their correct unit, he made new ones and reinforced. This helped turn a rout into a victory. And just like the Soviets, he was called a "Butcher". Grant was correct as was Stalin.
The Grant documentary from a few years ago dramatizes this well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6hehVbFYG8