American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

October 12, 1864 Wednesday
Chief Justice of the United States Roger Brooke Taney died in Washington. Although criticized for many of his decisions, and particularly in the Dred Scott case, Taney nevertheless remains one of the major figures in American jurisprudence.

Elements of Hood’s and Sherman’s forces skirmished at Resaca, La Fayette, and on the Coosaville Road near Rome, Georgia. Fighting also occurred at Greeneville, Tennessee and a small cavalry action occurred at Strasburg, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley. Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, with the idea of reducing Fort Fisher near Wilmington, North Carolina. He relieved Acting Rear Admiral S.P. Lee. Farragut was to have had the post but his health did not permit.

U.S.S. Chocura, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Richard W. Meade, Jr., captured blockade running British schooner Louisa off Aransas Pass, Texas, with cargo including iron and tools.

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Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 13, 1864 Thursday
Maryland voters adopted a new state constitution which included abolition of slavery. The vote was very close: 30,174 for and 29,799 opposed, a majority of only 375.

Sherman’s Federal defenders in north Georgia held Resaca Oct 12 and this day, but Hood’s troops seized the important railroad north to Tunnel Hill, including Dalton and Tilton, Georgia. There was considerable isolated skirmishing involved. In Virginia Early’s Confederates were back on their old line at Fisher’s Hill while Sheridan was at nearby Cedar Creek. A skirmish along Cedar Creek resulted from Confederate probing. In the West action near Mullahla’s Station, Nebraska; on Elm Creek, Texas; and a week of scouting in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico Territory pitted Federals against Indians. Federal troops operated until the eighteenth from Pine Bluff to Arkansas Post, Arkansas.

Ranger Mosby and his men took up a section of the Baltimore and Ohio tracks near Kearneysville, west of Harper’s Ferry. They wrecked a passenger train, seized $173,000, largely from two army paymasters, and then burned the train.

President Lincoln, still worried about the election despite the recent victories, made an estimate of the electoral vote, giving the “Supposed Copperhead Vote” 114 electoral votes, the “Union Vote” 120. He also was trying to see that as many soldiers as possible got home to vote, figuring he had strong support in the Army.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 14, 1864 Friday
Action increased in the Shenandoah Valley, where two armies faced each other a few miles apart. Skirmishing took place at Strasburg near Hupp’s Hill, Virginia and at Duffield’s Station, West Virginia. Price continued to move through Missouri with a skirmish near Glasgow. Price made a public plea for the people to join with him to “redeem” Missouri. Confederates attacked Danville, Missouri. Other skirmishing was near Fort Smith, Arkansas; Boca Chica Pass, Texas; and Adamstown, Maryland.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 15, 1864 Saturday
The usual fighting included action at Hernando, Mississippi; Snake Creek Gap, Georgia; Mossy Creek, east Tennessee; Bayou Liddell, Louisiana; and a three-day Federal expedition from Bernard’s Mills to Murfree’s Station, Virginia. Jo Shelby’s men of Price’s command attacked Sedalia, Missouri where citizens and home guards stampeded and the Federal troops put up a losing fight before surrendering. There was also action in Missouri at Glasgow, and Confederates occupied Paris.

In Washington funeral services were held for Chief Justice Taney with the President in attendance. Back in Richmond after his long trip south, President Davis detached Gen Bragg from service at the capital and sent him to take immediate command of Wilmington and its approaches.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 16, 1864 Sunday
Minor fighting in north Georgia between Hood and Sherman continued, this time at Ship’s Gap. The secondary war in the mountains saw a skirmish near Bull’s Gap, east Tennessee. Federal troops from City Point, Virginia moved out for a few days’ reconnaissance into Surry County. Price’s expedition in Missouri seized Ridgely, while Federal troops operated from Devall’s Bluff toward Clarendon, Arkansas. Skirmishing erupted near Morganza, Louisiana.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 17, 1864 Monday
The Army of Tennessee under Hood had practically given up harassing Sherman’s Chattanooga-Atlanta rail line and moved toward Gadsden, Alabama. Gen P.G.T. Beauregard assumed command of the Confederate Military Division of the West, comprising all the operations east of the Mississippi River in the Western region. There was an affair at Cedar Run Church, Virginia, a skirmish at Eddyville, Kentucky. In Missouri Price approached Lexington, in the northwestern part of the state. Fighting increased with Federal troops both in front and behind him. Carrollton, Missouri surrendered and Smithville was burned. Confederate Lieut Gen James Longstreet received orders to resume command of his corps, having recovered from wounds received at the Wilderness.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 18, 1864 Tuesday
Confederate generals clambered around the edges of Massanutten Mountain in the Shenandoah Valley overlooking Federal positions at Cedar Creek, and plotted a full-scale attack on Sheridan’s position by Early’s small but willing force. Otherwise, fighting involved a skirmish near Milton, Florida; Confederate raids on the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad; skirmishes near Summerville, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; Clinch Mountain, east Tennessee; and in Barry County, Missouri. Major General David Bell Birney ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_B._Birney ), USA, dies at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from malaria contracted during the summer of 1864 during Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign through Virginia.

Pro-Southern ladies of Britain held a benefit for Confederate soldiers at St George’s Hall in Liverpool.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 19, 1864 Wednesday
Working their way carefully around the base of Three-top Mountain by a concealed pathway, and hidden by early morning fog, the three main forces of Gen Jubal Early struck the Federal encampment at Cedar Creek or Belle Grove. The Northern positions crumpled and some still-sleeping soldiers were rudely awakened. As the sun rose and the fog lifted, the Confederates of Joseph B. Kershaw and John Brown Gordon had full possession of the camps and earthworks of the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps of Sheridan’s army and had taken many prisoners, considerable artillery, camp equipment, and trains. Next Early attacked the Federal Sixth Corps, which had just returned to the army. Sixth Corps commander Horatio Wright was in charge of the entire army due to Sheridan’s absence. Sheridan had been in Washington part of Oct 17 and hurried back toward the Valley by special train the same night. On Oct 18 he went from Martinsburg, West Virginia to Winchester, arriving in midafternoon. Instead of leaving directly for Cedar Creek, Sheridan paused to survey the defenses of the town.

The Sixth Corps did manage to make brief stands against Early’s thrusts, withdrawing to a post north and west of Middletown, supported by the other slowly rallying Federals. Some of the Confederates looted the Cedar Creek camps as Early halted the drive. About ten-thirty in the morning Sheridan arrived from Winchester, helped inspire the Federals, strengthened the lines, and about 4PM attacked. He drove Early back to Fisher’s Hill with heavy losses in men and materiel. The Confederates were badly beaten but they had made a gallant showing. Sheridan’s return became the theme of the famous poem of T. Buchanan Read, “Sheridan’s Ride,” which perhaps exaggerated the Federal commander’s role. Out of more than 30,000 engaged, the North lost 644 killed, 3430 wounded, and 1591 missing for 5665 casualties. Confederate figures are disputed, with estimates of numbers engaged ranging from 8800 infantry to 18,000. Losses were possibly 320 killed, 1540 wounded, and 1050 missing for 2910. Confederate Maj Gen Stephen D. Ramseur ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Dodson_Ramseur ); Brigadier General Daniel Davidson Bidwell ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_D._Bidwell ), USA; and Brigadier General Charles Russell Lowell ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Russell_Lowell ), USA; were mortally wounded. Cedar Creek marked the last major battle of the war in the Shenandoah Valley. Early’s remnant continued to be a nuisance, but Federals controlled the Valley until the end ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cedar_Creek and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cedar_Creek ).

War came to Vermont. Confederate Lieut Bennett H. Young and about 25 Confederate soldiers descended upon St Albans, Vermont some 15 miles from the Canadian border. Young, operating from Canada, planned to burn and loot several towns. The Southerners robbed three banks of over $200,000 at St Albans. The citizens began to resist; one was mortally wounded and others hurt. In half an hour the Confederates were gone, pursued over the border, where Young and 12 others were arrested. About $75,000 was recovered ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Albans_Raid ).

Gen Forrest led his cavalry force out of Corinth, Mississippi toward Jackson, Tennessee on a new raid designed to cooperate with Hood’s move toward Alabama and Tennessee. Meanwhile, the skirmishing continued in Georgia at Turner’s and Howell’s ferries and Ruff’s Station. Action in Missouri increased as Price’s men pushed James G. Blunt’s Federals at Lexington back to the Little Blue River. There also were skirmishes near Montevallo, Missouri; and in Crawford County, Arkansas; and a five-day Federal reconnaissance from Little Rock to Princeton, Arkansas with skirmishing at Hurricane Creek on Oct 23. C.S.S. Shenandoah was officially received into the Confederate Navy after fitting out in the Madeira Islands. Alfred Gibbs, USA; Rutherford Birchard Hayes, USA; Charles Russell Lowell, USA; and William Henry Powell, USA; are appointed to Brigadier General.

U.S.S. Mobile, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Giraud, captured schooner Emily off San Luis Pass, Texas, with cargo of 150 bales of cotton.

Marylanders in Washington serenaded the President, who responded, “I am struggling to maintain government, not to overthrow it. I am struggling especially to prevent others fro overthrowing it.” He was referring to charges and rumors that the Democrats reportedly would seize the government immediately if their nominee were elected.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 20, 1864 Thursday
Although Price was at Lexington, far up in the state of Missouri, his invasion was far from a total success. He had not picked up the expected recruits and skirmishing became heavier and more frequent. In fact, the invader was nearly penned in, with the Missouri River on his right, Alfred Pleasonton’s heavy cavalry force behind him, a strong infantry corps under A.J. Smith moving up on the left, and in front of him the Army of the Border under Maj Gen Samuel R. Curtis. The expedition had caused disruption of some Federal supply lines, diversion of Smith’s force from going to Nashville, and a great deal of local uproar, but it did not seem of any material advantage to the Confederacy.

In Virginia brief fighting broke out near Fisher’s Hill as Early’s men fell back after their defeat at Cedar Creek. Firing was also heard at Blue Pond and Little River, Alabama; near Memphis, Tennessee; at Waterloo, Louisiana; and Benton County, Arkansas. Indians attacked settlements in the Platte Valley near Alkali Station, Nebraska Territory.

President Lincoln issued a proclamation setting aside the last Thursday in November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 21, 1864 Friday
Price’s Confederates, moving out from Lexington, Missouri fought a successful action on the Little Blue River against the Union defenders as the Federals evacuated Independence. More desperate battling obviously lay ahead as the invasion force faced ever mounting Federal opposition. Fighting elsewhere was limited to skirmishes at Bryant’s Plantation, Florida; Harrodsburg, Kentucky; Leesburg, Alabama; Sneedville, east Tennessee; and another fight with Indians at Alkali Station, Nebraska Territory. Sherman had halted at Gaylesville, Alabama in his pursuit of Hood’s Army of Tennessee and soon would head back for Atlanta. Meanwhile, Thomas at Nashville built up his forces against Hood’s expected invasion. In celebration of the victory at Cedar Creek there was a serenade at the White House. President Lincoln proposed three cheers for Sheridan, Grant, and “all our noble commanders and the soldiers and sailors….”

George Crook, USA, is appointed to Major General and William Badger Tibbits, USA, is appointed to Brigadier General. U.S.S. Fort Jackson, commanded by Captain Sands, captured steamer Wando at sea east of Cape Romain, South Carolina, with cargo of cotton. U.S.S. Sea Bird, Ensign E. L. Robbins, captured blockade running British schooner Lucy off Anclote Keys, Florida, with assorted cargo.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 22, 1864 Saturday
As fighting broke out near Independence, at Mockabee Farm, on the Big Blue River at Byram’s Ford, and at State Line, Confederate Price, now at Westport (today part of Kansas City), prepared to turn on the Federals closing in on him in northwest Missouri. He intended to send his train south and have Jo Shelby and James F. Fagan attack Curtis’ Federal Army of the Border under Maj Gen James G. Blunt in front. Meanwhile, John S. Marmaduke would protect the rear from Pleasonton. It was a desperate gamble, given his inferior numbers, but Price viewed the plan as his only chance to get out of the developing Federal trap ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bat ... dependence ).

To the south Confederate guerrillas attacked a Union transport on the White River near St Charles, Arkansas; Federals carried out a three-day expedition from Brashear City to Belle River, Louisiana; and Indians and Federals skirmished near Midway Station, Nebraska Territory.

Confederates of Hood’s army marched from Gadsden to Guntersville, Alabama intending to head toward Tennessee. At Guntersville Hood found the Tennessee River high, supplies short, and Forrest at Jackson, Tennessee. So the Army of Tennessee continued west across northern Alabama.

Captures of blockade-runners off Charleston and Wilmington were increasing with the Federal Navy becoming more proficient at stopping the illicit trade, while at the same time the trade became ever more lucrative. British blockade running steamer Flora, after being chased by U.S.S. Wamsutta, Geranium, and Mingoe off Charleston, was run ashore and destroyed next day by fire from monitors and the batteries on Morris Island. U.S.S. Eolus, commanded by Acting Master William O. Lundt, captured Confederate blockade running steamer Hope near Wilmington with cargo of machinery.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 23, 1864 Sunday
Along Brush Creek at Westport, Missouri just south of Kansas City, the gunfire of the numerically largest battle in Missouri broke out as Jo Shelby’s Confederates opened the day. “Pap” Price attacked, intending to defeat Curtis’ Federals under Blunt in front of him and then turn on Pleasonton’s troops coming up behind. Shelby’s men charged effectively at first but then met a countercharge of the Federals. After two hours of fighting, Confederates pushed the Northern troops back across Brush Creek. Curtis ordered the Federals to cross Brush Creek again. For two hours more the fighting raged on the plateau. The Federals meanwhile found a small ravine and were able to turn the Confederate left. To the east, at Byram’s Ford on the Big Blue River, Pleasonton launched his attack in mid-morning. Two brigades crossed the ford, charged across an open field, and pushed back Marmaduke’s defending rear guard. Spreading out, Pleasonton’s men pressed on after Marmaduke’s fleeing Confederates. Pleasonton came up to the flank and rear of Shelby’s already frantically occupied fighters. By early afternoon Price was obliged to withdraw his entire army southward down the Missouri-Kansas state line. The last Confederate effort in Missouri of any moment was over, as was all major fighting west of the Mississippi River. The two Federal commands probably numbered 20,000, to about 8000 Confederates. Killed and wounded are estimated at 1500 for each side ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Westport ).

Westport has sometimes been lost in the light of more spectacular battles farther east, but it was, like all the fighting in Missouri, rugged and desperate. Skirmishes also broke out at King’s Hill, Alabama and Dry Run, Virginia.

Blockade runner Flamingo, aground off Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, was destroyed by shell fire from Forts Strong and Putnam, Battery Chatfield, and ships of Rear Admiral Dahlgren's South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 24, 1864 Monday
Federal discussion delayed the pursuit of Price’s retreating Confederates in Missouri. Price himself seemed in no great hurry as he moved south along the Kansas state line, protecting his long and valuable wagon train, which included much plunder. However, although slow in starting, Curtis pushed the pursuit under Blunt and Pleasonton. Otherwise, the fall day was marked by a skirmish near Magnolia, Florida and another near South River, Georgia. Federal operations from Pine Bluff toward Mount Elba, Arkansas lasted several days; and those in Issaquena and Washington counties, Mississippi continued for most of the rest of the month.

Brigadier General James Jay Archer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_J._Archer ), CSA, dies in Richmond, Virginia, from deteriorating health which developed while a Federal prisoner of war after being captured July 1, 1863, with most of his brigade, during the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was exchanged during the summer of 1864, but his health never improved after his release.

In light of the increased difficulty of manning his ships and mounting danger from Union torpedoes in the James River, Flag Officer Mitchell considered withdrawal of his squadron upriver closer to Richmond. In response to the Flag Officer's request for his views on the subject, General Robert E. Lee wrote: "If the enemy succeeds in throwing a force to the south bank [of the James River] in rear of General Pickett's lines, it will necessitate not only the withdrawal of General P.'s forces, but also the abandonment of Petersburg and its railroad connections, throwing the whole army back to the defenses of Richmond. . . . I fully appreciate the importance of preserving our fleet, and deprecate any unnecessary exposure of it. But you will perceive the magnitude of the service which it is thought you can render, and determine whether it is sufficient to justify the risk. . . . As I said before, I can forsee no state of circumstances in which the fleet can render more important aid in the defense of Richmond at present than by guarding the river below Chaffin's Bluff."

President Lincoln told the 189th New York volunteers, “While others differ with the Administration, and, perhaps, honestly, the soldiers generally have sustained it; they have not only fought right, but, so far as could be judged from their actions, they have voted right….”

U.S.S. Nita, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Robert B. Smith, captured schooner Unknown off Clearwater Harbor, Florida, after her crew had escaped.

U.S.S. Rosalie, commanded by Acting Ensign Henry W. Wells, captured an unidentified blockade running sloop off Little Marco, Florida, with cargo of salt and shoes.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 25, 1864 Tuesday
Pursuing Federals caught up with Price’s retreating Confederates south of Westport, Missouri. Pleasonton attacked in a heavy engagement at the Marais des Cygnes and Mine Creek, Kansas. Two Confederate divisions broke, and the wagon train was damaged. Shelby’s men, some miles away, came up to aid the other Confederates, forming near the Little Osage River. They held for a while before falling back to protect the remaining wagons, with more fighting near the Marmiton River. Price was forced to burn about a third of his train and hurry on south with the remnant of his command ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mine_Creek ).

Meanwhile, in Alabama, fighting erupted near Round Mountain, at Turkeytown, and on the Gadsden Road between outposts of Hood’s army and defending Federals. A Union expedition operated for four days up Blackwater Bay, Florida. There was a minor skirmish near Memphis, Tennessee. Skirmishing occurred at Milford, Virginia and near Halfway House between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Rear Admiral George F. Pearson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Pearson ) assumed command of the Pacific Squadron relieving Rear Admiral C. H. Bell ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H. ... al_officer) ).

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

October 26, 1864 Wednesday
The Army of Tennessee at Decatur, Alabama demonstrated against the Federals holding the position, and they proceeded westward, giving up any idea of crossing the Tennessee River at Decatur. Skirmishing near Glasgow and Albany, Missouri marked Price’s continuing retreat. By now Pleasonton believed the pursuit had gone far enough and took his two brigades to Fort Scott, Kansas. A squabble over command seriously hindered the follow-up. But Curtis continued marching against Price. Confederate guerrilla Bloody Bill Anderson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Anderson ) was killed in an ambush near Richmond, Missouri.

Small affairs took place in Scott County, Virginia and at Winfield, West Virginia. Federal expeditions operated from Vidalia to the York Plantation, Louisiana; from Little Rock to Irving’s Plantation, Arkansas; and from Brownsville to Cotton Plant, Arkansas.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00