American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

July 14, 1864 Thursday
The Federals of A.J. Smith were ready at Harrisburg, Mississippi, well posted to defend against the coming Confederates. On the other hand, the object of Smith’s expedition was to defeat Forrest. Stephen D. Lee, commanding Southern forces in Alabama, Mississippi, and east Louisiana, gave a large part of the field command to Forrest. But the Confederate right moved ahead of Forrest’s left wing and headed east against the Federal line. Wave after wave of Confederates attacked but were forced back. The disjointed battle was largely over by noon. Smith held his position but Lee and Forrest were not destroyed. It was a Federal victory on the field but meaningless for them strategically ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/tupelo.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tupelo ). Smith’s 14,000 suffered 77 killed, 559 wounded, and 38 missing for 674, while Confederates, with nearly 9500 in all, had a total loss of 1347. Evidence of the real results of the battle came the next day when Smith’s Union force began its pullback to Memphis, and Forrest was free again to roam.

The Confederates of Jubal Early crossed the Potomac River at White’s Ford and were safely in Virginia at Leesburg. Rear guards fought a skirmish with advancing Federals at Poolesville, Maryland. Northern commander Wright told Washington that Early had crossed before the Yankees could get there and did not advise pursuing into Virginia.

In Virginia a slight action occurred at Malvern Hill. In Missouri skirmishing broke out near Fredericksburg and Bloomfield; and there was action at Bayou des Arc, Arkansas. Skirmishing in Webster and Union counties of Kentucky lasted four days.

President Lincoln moved back to the Soldiers’ Home after the Confederate invasion scare. Personality differences among Cabinet members concerned him and he wrote a memo that as President he would be the judge of how long an official remained in his Cabinet.

_________________
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

July 15, 1864 Friday
In the Harrisburg-Tupelo area of Mississippi the Federal army of A.J. Smith stood its ground until afternoon, when it began a slow retreat toward Memphis. The announced reason was short supplies. Forrest followed up but failed to bring on another major battle. Among the several skirmishes was one at Old Town Creek. The withdrawing Federals did manage to keep Forrest occupied and thus protected the Nashville to Chattanooga lines of Sherman’s Georgia forces. In the east Early’s Confederates remained just south of the Potomac River at Leesburg. The Federals under Wright were just north of the Potomac. Light skirmishing broke out near Hillsborough., Virginia. The Petersburg lines were quiet except for sniper fire and fortifying operations. The roll of action elsewhere included an affair at Accotink, Virginia; an affair at Lindley in Grundy County, and action at Huntsville, Missouri; and a five-day Federal expedition from Jacksonville, Florida.

In Washington President Lincoln was unhappy that Early’s Confederates had got away freely from Washington.

_________________
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

July 16, 1864 Saturday
Gen Early left Leesburg, Virginia near the Potomac River, and headed back toward the Shenandoah Valley, unimpeded except for action near Purcellville and at Wood Grove, Virginia. Elsewhere in Virginia there was fighting at Four-Mile Creek and Malvern Hill. A.J. Smith’s and Forrest’s men skirmished at Ellistown, Mississippi as Federals continued their retreat from Tupelo. In Missouri skirmishing erupted on Clear Fork near Warrensburg and on the Fayette Road near Huntsville; and in South Carolina on James Island near Charleston.

Sherman’s major move across the Chattahoochee River and out around the north side of Atlanta toward Decatur on the east got under way, though not without delays. Johnston and the Confederates planned to attack as Sherman moved around the city, when the wings of his army might be separated from the center. Meanwhile, Johnston continued work on fortifications extending from near the Chattahoochee south of Peachtree Creek around to the Atlanta and Decatur Railroad. During the various movements there was skirmishing at Turner’s Ferry.

President Davis sent a firm wire to Gen Johnston in Georgia: “… I wish to hear from you as to present situation and your plan of operations so specifically as will enable me to anticipate events.” Johnston replied somewhat ambiguously, “As the enemy has double our number, we must be on the defensive. My plan of operations must therefore, depend upon that of the enemy. It is mainly to watch for an opportunity to fight to advantage. We are trying to put Atlanta in condition to be held for a day or two by the Georgia militia, that army movements may be freer and wider.”

President Lincoln, still cautiously interested in possible contacts by Confederate representatives looking to peace, sent Sec John Hay to New York to consult with those involved.

Daniel McCook, Jr., USA, was appointed to Brigadier General, one day before he dies from battle wounds.

_________________
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

July 17, 1864 Sunday
“… as you failed to arrest the advance of the enemy to the vicinity of Atlanta, far in the interior of Georgia, and express no confidence that you can defeat or repel him, you are hereby relieved from the command of the Army and Department of Tennessee, which you will immediately turn over to General Hood.” So read the message received by Gen Joseph E. Johnston at Nelson’s House on the Marietta road three miles from Atlanta. Johnston and Davis had misunderstood each other since the war began. Richmond could not ignore the loss of so much territory, whereas Johnston believed he had adopted the only strategy possible in view of Federal numbers and he had preserved the Army of Tennessee, not only intact but in excellent condition.

John Bell Hood, impetuous and a fighter, would now take over in place of the cautious, careful Johnston. Many in the Confederate Army protested the move, but others cheered. Historians have disputed the wisdom of the change ever since. Most Federal officers, believing they could trounce the Confederates in the expected fight, also cheered.

Early’s Confederates took post near Berryville in the Shenandoah Valley. At Snicker’s Ferry or Parker’s Ford they engaged Federals of Hunter and Crook who had moved in from the north and west. Federal units scattered throughout West Virginia and the Valley were at last joining together.

The Federal armies in Georgia continued to build pontoon bridges across the Chattahoochee River and partially to invest Atlanta. Skirmishing occurred at Vining’s Station, Georgia and at Herring Creek, Virginia. Other action took place at Fredericksburg in Ray County, Missouri and at Davison’ Ford near Clinton, Louisiana. Federals scouted from Columbus to Hickman, Kentucky, and on the South Platte River in Colorado Territory. Brigadier General Daniel McCook, Jr. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_McCook,_Jr. ), USA, dies, in Steubenville, Ohio, from wounds received while leading his command in a charge against a Confederate position during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia, June 27, 1864.

President Lincoln, apparently disturbed over the uproar attending Federal casualties in the Virginia Campaign, wrote Grant that he was glad to hear he planned to make a desperate effort to get a position at Petersburg but hoped “you may find a way that the effort shall not be desparate [sic] in the sense of great loss of life.”

_________________
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

July 18, 1864 Monday
President Lincoln issued a call for 500,000 volunteers, thus emphasizing the need to refill army ranks after the severe fighting in Virginia. Editor Horace Greeley traveled to Niagara Falls to speak with those said to represent Confederate peace feelers. The effort came to nothing, since the Confederacy still demanded independence. In Washington this was emphasized when J. R. Gilmore, who had talked with President Davis, told President Lincoln that any terms must be based on recognition of the Confederacy. On the other hand, President Lincoln had given a document to Greeley which said that any proposition must include restoration of the Union and abandonment of slavery. This, for all intents and purposes, ended the flurry of peace overtures.

In Georgia Joseph E. Johnston moved into semiretirement and John B. Hood took over. Near Peachtree Creek, north of Atlanta, skirmishing at Buckhead presaged more severe action to come. Other skirmishing broke out at Campbellton and along the Chattahoochee River.

Otherwise things were fairly quiet, with an affair at Kabletown, West Virginia near the Shenandoah; Union scouting from Falls Church, Virginia; Federal scouting in Shannon County and southwest and southeast Missouri. In Arizona Territory a Yankee expedition to the Pinal Mountains against Indians was under way.

At Richmond President Davis named George A. Trenholm, a wealthy Charleston merchant, Secretary of the Treasury, replacing Christopher Memminger. Trenholm reluctantly accepted – the job was certainly not one anyone would wish on himself.

_________________
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

July 19, 1864 Tuesday
Northern troops seeking Early located him near Berryville and engaged in a series of skirmishes at Ashby’s Gap and Berry’s Ford, Virginia and Darkesville, Charles Town, and Kabletown, West Virginia. The engagement at Berry’s Ford on the Shenandoah River was particularly sharp ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/cool-spring.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cool_Spring ); Early threw a major portion of his force toward Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley.

Sherman’s men, mainly the Army of the Cumberland under George H. Thomas, pushed forward along Peachtree Creek, north of Atlanta. John M. Schofield’s Army of the Ohio, farther east, also moved toward the city. East of Atlanta, James B. McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee was in the Decatur area where there was skirmishing. Hood prepared to attack, against the Army of the Cumberland while it was separated from the Army of the Ohio and the Army of the Tennessee. (It is uncertain whether this was Johnston’s plan or Hood’s).

Additional events included a skirmish on the Benton Road near Little Rock, Arkansas; a Confederate attack on Webster, Washington County, Missouri; a Federal scout to Taos, Missouri; a week of Confederate guerrilla operations along the White River, Arkansas; and a skirmish at Iron Bridge, Indian Territory. Major General William F. Smith ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Farrar_Smith ), USA, is relieved of command of the Federal 18th Army Corps.

_________________
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

July 20, 1864 Wednesday
The Federal Army of the Cumberland under George H. Thomas crossed Peachtree Creek, heading toward the fortifications of Atlanta from the north. Hood decided to attack, but there were delays of over three hours, for which Hood blamed Gen Hardee, perhaps unjustly. After some success the fierce Southern assaults failed. Gen Thomas and his men again steadfastly held off the frantic Confederates, who charged for about two hours ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/pe ... creek.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peachtree_Creek ). Something over 20,000 Federals were engaged, with about 1779 killed, wounded, and missing. Nearly the same number of Confederates were in the charges with losses totaling 4796. Hood, who was not present, had failed in his first big test in command. Brigadier General Clement Hoffman Stevens, CSA, is mortally wounded while leading his command, dying five days later on July 25, 1864. Unlike Johnston, Hood opened battle, but little had been accomplished. Sherman’s Federals controlled almost half the perimeter of Atlanta and the only open routes were to the south and southwest. Hood tried to make Hardee a scapegoat both for the delays and because, he alleged, Hardee’s men did not attack vigorously enough. The Battle of Peachtree Creek showed that the fight for Atlanta would continue and that the only hope for the Confederates probably lay in further efforts to make their lesser numbers effective against a portion of the Federals. Also in the Atlanta area, there was an engagement at Bald or Leggett’s Hill, skirmishing near Decatur and at Flint Hill Church, and an action around Howard House.

Federals pressed harder against Early’s Confederate force in the Shenandoah Valley. The two forces skirmished at Newtown and near Berryville, and fought a heavy engagement at Stephenson’s Depot, just north of Winchester ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... d%27s_Farm ). Federal infantry and Averell’s cavalry defeated a Confederate division under Stephen D. Ramseur in a milling fight around the little red brick depot. A Confederate brigade broke, and over 250 Confederates were captured. The main body of Early’s troops continued to withdraw southward toward Strasburg.

Other action for the day was at Philomont, Virginia; in Blount County, Tennessee; in La Fayette and Johnson counties and at Arrow Rock, Missouri. A long Federal expedition from Fort Boise to Boonville in Idaho Territory began, and lasted until Aug 17. At Fort Sumter the current major bombardment continued. During 14 days the Federals had thrown 4890 rounds at the fort and once more battered the already nearly wrecked work.

_________________
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

July 21, 1864 Thursday
Gen Hood sent Hardee’s reinforced corps out of Atlanta on a fifteen-mile night march to the south and then east, to attack the flank and rear of McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee between Atlanta and Decatur. Hood drew the Peachtree Creek line defenders into the breastworks. McPherson had meantime turned from Decatur and come west toward Atlanta and the entrenchments. In fact, from the north and east all three of Sherman’s armies were closing in on the city. Federal forces, under Maj Gen Francis Preston Blair, Jr of McPherson’s army, assaulted enemy positions on Bald or Leggett’s Hill (so named later for Federal Brig Gen M. D. Leggett, who led a division). After furious fighting, Federals took the position, despite a valiant defense by Patrick Cleburne and his men, and intense heat. From the hill the Northerners had a full view of Atlanta ( http://www.americancivilwar101.com/batt ... -hill.html ).

Otherwise the record includes a skirmish at Atchafalaya, Louisiana; a Confederate attack on Plattsburg, Missouri; and a five-day expedition by Federals from Barrancas, Florida with several skirmishes. U.S.S. Prairie Bird, commanded by Acting Master Thomas Burns, seized steamer Union on the Mississippi River for violation of revenue laws and giving "aid and comfort to the enemy".

_________________
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

July 22, 1864 Friday
After their tiring, hot, night march, the Confederates of William Hardee hit the flank of McPherson’s Federals between Decatur and Atlanta. Hood was making his second effort to defeat a portion of Sherman’s force and so restore the balance of numbers. Hardee was to get in flank and rear and crumple McPherson, while Cheatham’s corps, facing east, was to continue the action as Hardee attacked. By partial coincidence two Federal divisions of Grenville Dodge’s corps had been sent out to extend McPherson’s left flank during the night, thus filling the space for which Hardee was driving. Once more Hood said Hardee failed to move out far enough and get in the Federal rear and that he was late. But Hardee’s men fought extremely hard, as did Cheatham’s. Confederate Maj Gen W.H.T. Walker ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H.T._Walker ) died, and then Federal Maj Gen James B. McPherson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_B._McPherson ) also fell. Brigadier General Samuel Benton, CSA, is mortally wounded, struck near the heart by an artillery shell fragment and losing his foot to an amputation, dying six days later on July 28, 1864. At nightfall the Confederates retired to their entrenchments. Hood, again not present on the field, had failed a second time; his policy of hard fighting at whatever cost was not paying off. For the Federals casualties included 430 killed, 1559 wounded, and 1733 missing for a total of 3722 out of more than 30,000 engaged. For the Confederates, of nearly 40,000 engaged, estimates of casualties run from 7000 to as high as 10,000 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Atlanta ).

Sherman and the Federal armies mourned at the loss of McPherson. Maj Gen John A. Logan ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan,_John_Alexander ), the “Blackjack” Logan whose action that day was ferocious and able, took over on the field as commander of the Army of the Tennessee. On the fringes of the gigantic battle, fighting occurred near Decatur, at Beachtown, and along the Chattahoochee River. Kenner Garrard and Federal cavalry spent three days on a raid to Covington, Georgia. But in the main the Confederates still held Atlanta and the Federals still ringed it with unrelenting force. The siege of Atlanta may be said to have begun.

Elsewhere, skirmishes broke out near Pine Bluff, Arkansas; in Wright County, near Camden Point and Union Mills, Missouri; at Coldwater River, Mississippi; Clifton, Tennessee; and Vidalia and Condordia, Louisiana. In the Shenandoah Valley the Federal pursuers and Early’s men skirmished at Newtown and near Berryville, Virginia. Federal forces at Winchester were building up. Early had fallen back with his main force to the Strasburg area but covered the Winchester roads. Meanwhile, Grant and Washington tried to decide just how to deal with Early. Wright and the Federal Sixth Corps returned to Washington, leaving the defense of the Valley to Hunter. Major General Edward O. C. Ord ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Ord ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 18th Army Corps.

_________________
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

July 23, 1864 Saturday
President Lincoln wired Gen David Hunter at Harper’s Ferry, “Are you able to take care of the enemy when he turns back upon you, as he probably will on finding that Wright has left?” President Lincoln was correct. Early had turned and, from Strasburg, marched north on the Valley Turnpike toward Kernstown, just south of Winchester. The Federals deployed to meet him and sharp skirmishing ensued. At Atlanta both armies rested and repaired damage, caring for the dying and wounded after the battle the previous day, although a skirmish did occur near Sweetwater, Georgia. In western Missouri there was a skirmish at Liberty, and for six days a Federal column operated from Jacksonville toward Baldwin, Florida. Action took place in Randolph County, Missouri; until Oct 10 Federal troops carried out desultory operations in southwest New Mexico Territory against the Indians. Gen A. J. Smith and his beaten Federals returned to Memphis after their failure against Forrest and S. D. Lee near Tupelo. Major General David B. Birney ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_B._Birney ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 10th Army Corps.

The Louisiana Constitutional Convention adopted a constitution which included an end to slavery, one of the several steps in restoring Louisiana to the Union. It was ratified by the unionists on Sept 5, at least by those taking the loyalty oath.

Army transport B. M. Runyan, with some 500 military and civilian passengers on board, sank in the Mississippi River near Skipwith's Landing, Mississippi, after hitting a snag. U.S.S. Prairie Bird, commanded by Acting Master Thomas Burns, rescued 350 survivors and salvaged part of the cargo ( http://www.nytimes.com/1864/07/27/news/ ... -lost.html ).

_________________
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

July 24, 1864 Sunday
Marching north on the Valley Pike, Jubal Early’s entire army headed toward Kernstown, south of Winchester, where George Crook’s Federal force was in position on the same ground Jackson had struck in 1862 at the First Battle of Kernstown. Ramseur’s Confederates went to the left, or west, to get around the Union right. Breckinridge, on Early’s right, hit the Federal left, throwing it into considerable confusion. With further pressure from Early’s center and left the Federal line broke. The pike filled with troops, trains, and equipment; and back through Winchester they went. By evening the Yankees reached Bunker Hill, West Virginia on the way toward Harper’s Ferry. The total Federal loss numbered about 1200 and the Confederate casualties were light ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kernstown_II and http://www.shenandoahatwar.org/The-Hist ... -Kernstown ). Early’s men followed northward once more. Skirmishes broke out at Falling Waters, West Virginia; Whitesville, Florida; Collierville, Tennessee; and Cartersville, Georgia on Sherman’s communication line. Confederate guerrillas captured and burned steamer Kingston, which had run aground the preceding day between Smith's Point and Windmill Point on the Virginia shore of Chesapeake Bay.

_________________
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

July 25, 1864 Monday
Early’s Confederates in the northern Shenandoah Valley followed Crook’s retreating Federals in a heavy rain to Bunker Hill, north of Winchester, Virginia. Fighting erupted at Bunker Hill, Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Williamsport, Maryland. The Federals encamped on the Potomac River. There were Federal cavalry operations from Decatur to Courtland, Alabama; a skirmish near Benton’s Ferry on the Amite River, Louisiana; a skirmish at Pleasant Hill, Missouri; and an affair at Benton, Arkansas. In Dakota Territory Federal soldiers carried out an expedition against the Sioux until Oct 8. Grant decided to send the Second Corps and two cavalry divisions to the north bank of the James River to press toward Richmond and to destroy railroads. By this method he hoped to reduce Lee’s grip on Petersburg. Meanwhile, mining operations by Federals and some countertunneling by Confederates were in full swing at Petersburg. Brigadier General Clement Hoffman Stevens ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_H._Stevens ), CSA, dies at Atlanta, Georgia, from wounds received while leading his command during the Battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia, on July 20, 1864. Brigadier General George M. Holt, Arkansas militia, is killed by Federal forces during an affair at Benton, Arkansas (Brig Gen Holt appears to have been a medical doctor in Benton and was shot in the back in a one on one encounter in the street with a Union private who got the Medal of Honor for the affair).

President Lincoln wrote Abram Wakeman (postmaster at New York) that the coming election “will almost certainly be no other than a contest between a Union and Disunion candidate, disunion certainly following the success of the latter.”

Boats from U.S.S. Hartford, Monongahela, and Sebago, commanded by Rear Admiral Farragut's flag lieutenant, J. C. Watson, reconnoitered the Mobile Bay area in an attempt to discover the type and number of water mines laid by Confederates off Fort Morgan. Watson and his men located and cut loose many of the torpedoes; they were aided by the fact that a number were inoperative. This hazardous work was indispensable to the success of the Navy's coming operations against Mobile. Several similar night operations were conducted.

U.S.S. Undine, commanded by Acting Master John L. Bryant, struck a snag and sank in the Tennessee River near Clifton, Tennessee. Bryant immediately set to work raising his small gunboat, while at the same time placing her guns ashore to help defend the city, which was threatened by Confederate troops. On 31 July, after the arrival of pump steamer Little Champion, and under constant danger of attack, Bryant succeeded in raising Undine and returning her to action.

_________________
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

July 26, 1864 Tuesday
Federal cavalry under Gen George Stoneman left on a raid from the Atlanta area toward Macon, Georgia. Skirmishing also flared near Decatur on the Atlanta front. Early’s pursuing Confederates fought withdrawing Federals at Falling Waters, West Virginia and Muddy Branch, Maryland as Crook and his command crossed into Maryland. Early began breaking up the Baltimore and Ohio near Martinsburg, West Virginia. Further fighting occurred at Rapidan Station, Virginia and White’s Station, Tennessee. Confederates attacked Shelbina, Missouri. A three-day Union scout operated to Searcy and West Point, Arkansas; and a Federal scout in Johnson County, Missouri lasted six days. Action took place at Wallace’s Ferry, Big Creek, Arkansas and a skirmish broke out near Haddix’s Ferry, Kentucky. Maj Gen Dabney H. Maury ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabney_H._Maury ) was assigned to command the Confederate Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana.

The following appointments were made to Brigadier General: Robert Houstoun Anderson, CSA; Samuel Benton, CSA, (mortally wounded on July 22, 1864); William Felix Brantley, CSA; George Gibbs Dibrell, CSA; George Doherty Johnston, CSA; Felix Huston Robertson, CSA; and Jacob Hunter Sharp, CSA.

President Lincoln wrote Gen Sherman his “profoundest thanks to you and your whole Army for the present campaign so far.” ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... ln7%3A1016 )

_________________
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

July 27, 1864 Wednesday
Having decided to lay at least partial siege to Atlanta, Sherman sent out several cavalry expeditions to cut the railroads south of Atlanta and otherwise harass the Confederates. McCook raided the Atlanta and West Point and Macon and Western railroads until the end of the month and engaged in several skirmishes. Garrard was raiding to the South River, also with skirmishing. Stoneman raided toward Macon, again with considerable fighting, and not much success. Maj Gen Oliver Otis Howard ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_O._Howard ) assumed command of the Federal Army of the Tennessee, succeeding Maj Gen John A. Logan, who had earlier succeeded the slain McPherson. Major General David S. Stanley ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_S._Stanley ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 4th Army Corps, left vacant by Major General Oliver Otis Howard's promotion. Maj Gen Hooker ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hooker ), as a result of Howard’s promotion, resigned his command of the Twentieth Corps, feeling he ranked Howard. Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpheus_Starkey_Williams ), USA, assumes temporary command of the Federal 20th Army Corps, after the resignation of Major General Joseph Hooker. Many supporters of Logan, both a politician and a general, felt Sherman had been unfair. Thomas reportedly had opposed Logan as a permanent commander.

Early carried out various rail-wrecking operations in the northern Shenandoah Valley and prepared once more to cross the Potomac River. There was a skirmish at Back Creek Bridge, West Virginia. Maj Gen Halleck took command of the departments around Washington concerned with the defense of the area.

The Second Corps of Gen Hancock and two cavalry divisions under Sheridan moved across the James River from Grant’s army preparatory to brief diversionary operations toward Richmond from north of the river. Advancing by the New Market and other roads, the Federals fought several brief skirmishes. The main fighting, until the twenty-ninth, was at Deep Bottom, also known as Darbytown, Strawberry Plains, and New Market Road. The Federals, not intending to assault but mainly to bring pressure on Lee, faced heavy opposition.

Elsewhere, action occurred at Whiteside on Black Creek in Florida and at Massard Prairie near Fort Smith, Arkansas. Severe bombardment continued against Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. A skirmish flared at Snapfinger Creek, Georgia and a Federal expedition operated from Norfolk, Virginia into North Carolina. Skirmishing also broke out on the Blackwater Creek and on Big Creek, and Federals scouted in Charlton County, Missouri. Boat crew commanded by Lieutenant J. C. Watson made daylight reconnaissances of the Mobile Bay channel. Watson and his men, towed into the bay by the small tug Cowslip, sounded the outer channel and marked the outside limits of the Confederate torpedo fields with buoys for the coming attack on the defenses of the bay.

_________________
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

July 28, 1864 Thursday
With several cavalry raids under way near Atlanta, Sherman also sought to extend his own siege lines by sending infantry down the western borders of the city toward the important railroad outlets on the south. Howard, with the Army of the Tennessee, had shifted from the eastern to the western side of the city and was moving south toward the railroads. Gen Hood sent Gen Stephen D. Lee and A. P. Stewart to halt Howard. The forces met at Ezra Church ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ezra_Church ), where Confederate attacks for the third time failed to overcome a segment of the Federals placed in a good defensive position. From early afternoon to dark they fought, and then the Confederates withdrew into the fortifications of Atlanta. The Federals lost a little under six hundred and the Confederate losses were estimated as high as five thousand. Hood’s policy of attack proved even less successful than Johnston’s policy of withdrawal and preservation of his army.

Other fighting in Georgia was at Flat Rock Bridge, Lithonia, and near Campbellton. Along the Potomac River Federals made some command changes in order better to oppose Early’s new threat. North of the James River, Hancock and Sheridan found that the Confederates had reinforced their positions. After some reconnaissance and minor fighting along Four-Mile Creek, the Federal expedition virtually ended. Other action included a skirmish at Long’s Mills near Mulberry Gap, Tennessee; a four-day Federal expedition from New Berne to Manning’s Neck, North Carolina; a two-day Federal scout around Cedar Bluff, Alabama; a skirmish on the Morgan’s Ferry Road near Morganza, Louisiana; and an action against Sioux Indians at Tahkahokuty Mountain in Dakota Territory. Major General Lewis Wallace ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Wallace ), USA, is reassigned to command of the Federal Middle Department, and to command of the Federal 8th Army Corps. Major General Edward O. C. Ord ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Ord ), USA, is assigned command of the Federal 18th Army Corps. Brigadier General Samuel Benton ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Benton ), CSA, dies from wounds received during the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia, on July 22, 1864, when he was struck near the heart by an artillery shell fragment and had his foot amputated. Tinclad U.S.S. Whitehead, commanded by Acting Ensign Barrett, joined with Army steamers Thomas Colyer and Massasoit in an expedition up the Chowan River, North Carolina, to confiscate contraband. Steamer Arrow was captured at Gatesville with cargo of cotton and tobacco.

_________________
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