American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

August 13, 1864 Saturday
For a full week there were serious demonstrations by Federals on the north bank of the James River east of Richmond at Four-Mile and Dutch creeks, Deep Bottom, Fussell’s Mill, Gravel Hill, Bailey’s Creek, White’s Tavern, Charles City Road, and New Market Road. The Federals hoped to divert attention from Petersburg and to probe or take Confederate defenses. Lee was attentive but not too concerned. In the Shenandoah Valley fighting broke out at Berryville and near Strasburg as Sheridan’s Federals met stiffening resistance from Early’s force at Cedar Creek.

Illinois saw some minor operations by pro-Confederates in the Shawneetown area on the Ohio River. Federals operating against Forrest skirmished at Hurricane Creek, Mississippi. Other fighting occurred at Palatka and near Fort Barrancas, Florida. Federal operations in La Fayette, Saline, and Howard counties of Missouri lasted ten days. C.S.S. Tallahassee, under Commander Wood, continued her "depredations", burning schooner Lammot Du Pont, cargo of coal, and bark Glenavon.

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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

August 14, 1864 Sunday
Skirmishing flared near Strasburg in the Shenandoah Valley as Sheridan withdrew from Early’s front toward Berryville. Skirmishing at Lamar, Mississippi marked the long, frustrating Federal drive to halt Forrest. The only action on the Atlanta front consisted of skirmishes near Dalton, at Pine Log Church, and near Fairmount, Georgia. Major General John G. Parke ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parke ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 9th Army Corps. As all-out Union efforts to capture C.S.S. Tallahassee, under Commander Wood, increased, the cruiser seized and scuttled ship James Littlefield with cargo of coal. Rear Admiral Paulding noted in New York: "Our vessels must fall in with her. They strip everybody of everything valuable."

_________________
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

August 15, 1864 Monday
In the Shenandoah Valley there was more skirmishing at Cedar Creek, at Strasburg, Virginia and near Charles Town, West Virginia. Sheridan at night began his withdrawal from Cedar Creek toward Winchester, believing he could not hold the line and could not properly supply his army. North of the James River, east of Richmond, the Federal expedition to Chaffin’s Bluff and the capital’s defenses encountered delays and frustration at the hands of Confederate defenders. In Georgia Sherman’s men moved slowly toward Utoy Creek, southwest of Atlanta, fighting on Peachtree Road, at Buchanan, Sandtown, and Fairburn. Confederate cavalry raided the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad in Tennessee. Federals raided the Florida Railroad near Gainesville, Florida Aug 15-19. A Federal scout in Alabama probed from Triana to Valhermoso Springs. Across the Mississippi River fighting took place at Dripping Spring, Missouri. Minor operations in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas lasted ten days. Federals captured the English-built Confederate cruiser Georgia outside of Lisbon. However, the never too successful Georgia had been sold by the Confederates to an English shipowner and had been disarmed. C.S.S. Tallahassee captured six schooners off New England. Lieut Gen Richard Taylor ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Taylor_(general) ) was assigned to command the Confederate Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. Brigadier General Daniel Phineas Woodbury ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_P._Woodbury ), USA, dies from yellow fever at his headquarters in Key West, Florida. George Washington Gordon, CSA, and William Hugh Young, CSA, are appointed to Brigadier General.

_________________
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

August 16, 1864 Tuesday
Cavalry skirmished at Allatoona, and Kilpatrick’s Federals raided from Fairburn around Atlanta. Sheridan pulled back successfully toward Winchester with little knowledge of the withdrawal reaching Early at Cedar Creek, although there was an engagement at Front Royal or Guard Hill. Federal troops north of the James River unsuccessfully attacked Confederate fortifications near Fussell’s Mill. Northerners under Gen Hancock had erroneous information as to enemy works and the whole expedition finally withdrew to Petersburg and Bermuda Hundred on Aug 20. Federals undertook operations from Mount Vernon, Indiana into Kentucky until Aug 22. Other action was at Columbia, Missouri and near Smoky Hill Crossing, Kansas. C.S.S. Tallahassee took four schooners and a bark off New England.

_________________
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

August 17, 1864 Wednesday
Jubal Early’s Confederates pushed northward from Cedar Creek after Sheridan’s withdrawing army. Sheridan had moved on to the Berryville area, leaving a rear guard at Winchester. In a sharp fight near Winchester Federal cavalry held well, protecting the main column. Skirmishes broke out in Georgia at South Newport, and in Mississippi in Issaquena County. On the Arkansas River near Pine Bluff, Arkansas Confederates captured the Federal steamer Miller.

General Robert E. Lee, attempting to consolidate his position on the James River below Richmond, turned to the ships of Flag Officer Mitchell's squadron for gunfire support. "The enemy is on Signal Hill, fortifying," he telegraphed. "Please try and drive him off. Our picket line is reestablished with the exception of Signal Hill." Ironclads C.S.S. Virginia II, Lieutenant Johnston, and C.S.S. Richmond, commanded by Lieutenant J. S. Maury, promptly steamed to a position above Signal Hill where they took the Union position under fire. Shortly thereafter scouts reported that Union forces had fallen back and that Lee's troops now commanded the hill.

President Lincoln told Grant, “… Hold on with a bull-dog gripe [sic], and chew & choke, as much as possible.” Grant had indicated his desire to continue the siege of Petersburg without weakening his army.

Running short of coal, Commander Wood headed C.S.S. Tallahassee for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he hoped to refuel in order to continue his devastating attack on Federal commerce. Enroute, Tallahassee destroyed schooners North America and Josiah Achom and released brig Neva on bond.

_________________
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

August 18, 1864 Thursday
The Federal Fifth Corps under G.K. Warren from the Petersburg lines moved out to the west or left of the Federal siege positions and occupied over a mile of the vital Weldon Railroad running south from Petersburg. After taking the area around Globe Tavern, Yellow House, and Blick’s Station, Warren turned northward toward Petersburg. Terrain and Henry Heth’s men halted them in the woods south of the city for the night. Despite the heat and heavy rain the Federals had made the first important move since the crater to penetrate toward Petersburg or extend the lines significantly ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Globe_Tavern and http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/pe ... nsive.html ). It cost 544 killed and wounded, plus 292 missing. In the Shenandoah Valley Sheridan pulled out of Berryville, Virginia and headed toward Charles Town, West Virginia. Early, learning this, headed toward Bunker Hill, north of Winchester. Skirmishing was along Opequon Creek.

In Georgia Judson Kilpatrick’s ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/pe ... nsive.html ) Federal cavalry began its raid to Lovejoy’s Station which lasted until Aug 22. Their efforts to destroy the Macon and Western Railroad were largely frustrated. Meanwhile, Schofield’s Army of the Ohio pushed forward along Utoy Creek. This point southwest of Atlanta was to provide the pivot for Sherman to swing east in his efforts to cut off the south side of the city. There was combat at Camp Creek in addition. In Arkansas fighting broke out at Benton and near Pine Bluff; and in Tennessee a skirmish took place at Charleston. Eli Long, USA, is appointed to Brigadier General. C.S.S. Tallahassee, under Commander Wood, put into Halifax to replenish coal supply.

For the second time Gen Grant refused to exchange Confederate prisoners of war; he had expressed a belief that such exchange would prolong the war. The Confederates urged exchange for humanitarian reasons and because they could use their men now in Federal hands, and were sorely strained to feed, house, clothe, and guard Federals in their control.

Attesting to the effectiveness of the patrol maintained on the Mississippi River by Union gunboats, Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, CSA, wrote General E. Kirby Smith, CSA, regarding the impossibility of crossing the river with large bodies of troops: "I have dispatched the War Department to the effect that I consider the crossing of any considerable body of troops impossible. Accurate observations have been made of the enemy's gunboats between Red River and Vicksburg, and from the strictness of the guard maintained no success can be anticipated." The original Northern strategy of splitting the Confederacy along the Mississippi River under the efforts of Rodgers, Foote, Farragut, and Porter continued in widening influence to war's end.

_________________
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

August 19, 1864 Friday
During the afternoon troops of A.P. Hill’s Confederate corps hit Warren’s Federal infantry in the dense woods south of Petersburg, Virginia. The Union forces suffered severely and Warren had to pull back toward Globe Tavern, seized the day before in his operations against the Weldon Railroad. But the Northerners still held the important railroad. Warren lost 382 killed and wounded, but 2518 were missing, many of whom were captured from S.W. Crawford’s broken division. Confederate casualties are uncertain.

In the Shenandoah Valley Early attempted to move north from Winchester to Bunker Hill, West Virginia. His men skirmished near Opequon Creek on the Berryville and Winchester Pike and at Franklin, West Virginia. In Georgia Federal reconnaissances continued toward East Point and the Confederate defenses south of Atlanta. There was combat at Red Oak, Flint River, and Jonesborough, Georgia and the usual cavalry action. A five-day Federal Indian scout began on the Republican River in Kansas; and a skirmish erupted on Hurricane Creek, Mississippi.

President Lincoln was quoted in an interview as saying, “I cannot but feel that the weal or woe of this great nation will be decided in the approaching canvas.”

_________________
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

August 20, 1864 Saturday
Despite some skirmishing along the Weldon Railroad near Globe Tavern south of Petersburg, the Confederates suspended temporarily their efforts to dislodge the Federals. Hancock’s forces, unsuccessful in their ill-planned diversion north of the James River, pulled back to Petersburg and Bermuda Hundred. In the Valley the sparring and skirmishing between Early and Sheridan continued, with action at Berryville, Opequon Creek, Virginia and Bulltown, West Virginia.

Combat at Lovejoy’s Station on the Macon and Western Railroad in Georgia marked the Federal cavalry operations; Federals burned Legareville, South Carolina. Skirmishes occurred at Pine Bluff, Tennessee and near Rocheport, Missouri.

President Davis expressed his distress at the presence of Federal troops on the Weldon Railroad.

U.S.S. Pontoosuc, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Stevens, entered Halifax. Stevens learned that Tallahassee had sailed late the night before and that he had failed to intercept her by only seven hours. Pontoosuc departed immediately in pursuit. Based on information reported by Consul Jackson, Stevens steamed north into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while Wood, feeling that he did not have sufficient fuel to actively pursue his raids, had set a course for Wilmington. This date, Tallahassee captured brig Roan and burned her. She was the last prize taken on this brief but most effective cruise.

_________________
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

August 21, 1864 Sunday
Confederates occupied Memphis ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Memphis ). In a daring early morning raid, some 2000 men of Nathan Bedford Forrest entered the Tennessee city, held it for part of the day, nearly captured Federal Maj Gens S.A. Hurlbut and C.C. Washburn, and left with few losses. The raid frustrated, demoralized, and embarrassed the North. As a result, A.J. Smith’s Federal column pulled back, leaving Forrest free to operate against Sherman’s supply lines. Many lives, months of time, and large amounts of materiel had been spent in Federal efforts to bring Forrest to bay and still they were unsuccessful.

A.P. Hill once more assaulted Warren’s Federals south of Petersburg to try to recover the Weldon Railroad. On another hot, rainy day of battle the Confederate attack failed, although Warren lost 301 more killed, wounded, and missing. The new Federal lines held and Lee had to accept the loss of the northern section of the Weldon Railroad, an invaluable supply line for Richmond and Petersburg. Aug 18-21 Union losses for the Battle of the Weldon Railroad or Globe Tavern totaled 198 killed, 1105 wounded, and 3152 missing for 4455 out of something over 20,000 engaged. Southern losses are estimated at 1600 out of about 14,000 engaged. Brigadier General John Caldwell Calhoun Sanders ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._C._Sanders ), CSA, dies after bleeding to death when both his femoral arteries in his thighs were severed by a Federal minie ball while fighting on the Weldon Railroad during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.

In the Shenandoah Valley, Early and R.H. Anderson planned to hit Sheridan in a two-pronged attack. The drive failed for lack of coordination after fighting near Berryville, Virginia; Charles Town, Middleway, and Summit Point, West Virginia. Late at night Sheridan pulled back from Charles Town to Halltown near Harper’s Ferry and the Potomac River, into a virtually impregnable position. Once more the Valley was largely free of Federals, but the area had been too much fought over to be of great value. Otherwise there was action in Loudoun County, Virginia; at Grubb’s Crossroads, Kentucky; and Diamond Grove, Missouri.

_________________
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

August 22, 1864 Monday
Early demonstrated toward Harper’s Ferry, with a skirmish at Charles Town, West Virginia. Globe Tavern and the Weldon Railroad were quiet. Sputtering cavalry skirmishes broke out at Jonesborough and Caton, Georgia. Other fighting took place at Canton and Roaring Spring, Kentucky; in Yell County, Arkansas; and Cove Point, Maryland. Federals scouted from Helena to Mount Vernon, Arkansas. John Dunovant, CSA; Lucius Jeremiah Gartrell, CSA; and Joseph Barnes, USA; are appointed to Brigadier General. Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis, USA, assumes command of the Federal 14th Army Corps.

The members of the 166th Ohio Regiment assemble in front of the White House, where President Lincoln remarks, "It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives...I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am a living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has. It is in order that each of you may have through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence...It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright...The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel."

_________________
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

August 23, 1864 Tuesday
After fierce bombardment on Aug 22 by land batteries, three monitors, and other Union naval vessels, Fort Morgan, the last major Confederate post at the entrance to Mobile Bay, fell to the Federals. Brigadier General Page surrendered Fort Morgan, the last Confederate bastion at Mobile Bay. "My guns and powder had all been destroyed, my means of defense gone, the citadel, nearly the entire quartermaster stores, and a portion of the commissariat burned by the enemy's shells," he reported. "It was evident the fort could hold out but a few hours longer under a renewed bombardment. The only question was: Hold it for this time, gain the eclat, and sustain the loss of life from the falling of the walls, or save life and capitulate?" Since Aug 17 it had been besieged by troops in the rear and completely shut off from Mobile. The fall of Fort Morgan gave Federals control of the port, although the Confederates still held the city itself. With the surrender of Fort Morgan, Wilmington, North Carolina remained the only significant port partially open to Confederate blockade-runners.

Early continued to demonstrate against Sheridan at Halltown in the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. At Petersburg Hancock’s Federal corps destroyed portions of the Weldon Railroad on the left of the Union siege lines. Brief action flared on the Dinwiddie Road near Reams’ Station during this work of destruction, and there were indications that the Confederates would attempt to halt this breakup of the railroad. President Davis expressed his apprehension over loss of the Weldon Railroad and other supply lines.

Other action included a skirmish at Abbeville, Mississippi; an affair at Webster, Missouri; and a skirmish at Kearneysville, West Virginia. Union scouts operated Aug 23-26 from Ozark, Missouri to Dubuque Crossing and Sugar Loaf Prairie; Aug 23-29 from Clinton, Louisiana to the Comite River; and Aug 23-28 from Cassville, Missouri to Fayetteville, Arkansas.

At a Cabinet meeting President Lincoln asked members to sign, without reading, a memo: “This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will by my duty to so co-operate with the President elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he can not possibly save it afterwards.” A pessimism over possible defeat in the election and a feeling that a new President, supposedly Gen McClellan, would not carry out the war aims apparently weighed upon Mr Lincoln ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... ln7%3A1124 ).

_________________
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

August 24, 1864 Wednesday
On the Petersburg front Federals realized that Confederate infantry was building up near the Union troops who were destroying large sections of the Weldon Railroad. In fact, skirmishing broke out near Reams’ Station and on the Vaughan Road nearby. Elsewhere, skirmishing flared at Annandale, Virginia; Huttonsville, and Sutton, West Virginia; while at Halltown, West Virginia Early’s Confederates continued demonstrating against Sheridan’s forces on the Potomac River. Skirmishes took place at Claiborne, Georgia; on Gunter’s Prairie, Indian Territory; and there were actions at Ashley’s and Jones’ stations near Devall’s Bluff, Arkansas.

President Lincoln wrote politician and editor Henry J Raymond that Raymond might seek a conference with Jefferson Davis to discuss peace, and to tell him hostilities would cease “upon the restoration of the Union and the national authority.”

U.S.S. Keystone State, under Commander Crosby, and U.S.S. Gettysburg, commanded by Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, captured blockade running steamer Lilian, off Wilmington with cargo of cotton. Both Union ships fired on Lilian; when she finally hove to she was in a sinking condition. Crosby managed to repair the damage and sent her to Beaufort. She was subsequently purchased by the Navy and assigned to the squadron under the same name.

U.S.S. Narcissus, commanded by Acting Ensign William G. Jones, captured schooner Oregon in Biloxi Bay, Mississippi Sound.

_________________
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

August 25, 1864 Thursday
Striking sharply against Federal infantry destroying the Weldon Railroad south of Petersburg at Reams’ Station, A.P. Hill’s beefed-up Confederate corps defeated Hancock’s Second Corps in a surprise attack ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/re ... ation.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bat ... 7s_Station ). Federal losses totaled 2372 and Confederate casualties are put at 720. Over 2000 of the Northern losses were captured or missing. Hancock’s men withdrew somewhat and Hill’s men returned to the Petersburg defense line. The Southern victory did not deter destruction or the build-up of the new westward extension of the Union siege lines around Petersburg.

With Sheridan in an unassailable position near the Potomac River, Early sent part of his force to Williamsport, Maryland on the Potomac, left another at Halltown, West Virginia to face Sheridan, and personally moved with a third unit to Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Thus he threatened a new invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Fighting did occur near Kearneysville, West Virginia; Shepherdstown; and at Halltown; but the fords but the fords of the Potomac were well guarded by Federals and nothing came of the whole move. C.S.S. Tallahassee ran the blockade into Wilmington, North Carolina after a successful three-week cruise in which she captured thirty-one Northern ships.

In Georgia Sherman began his principal movement to cut off Atlanta completely. Troops marched toward the south side of the Atlanta area, in the general direction of Jonesborough. Otherwise there were skirmishes at Morgan’s Ferry and on the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana and scouting in Jackson, Platte, and Cass counties of Missouri.

_________________
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

August 26, 1864 Friday
Threatening East Point, Georgia south of Atlanta, Schofield’s Federals massed and demonstrated as other units of Sherman’s army came into position, endangering Hood’s last entry lines into and out of Atlanta. Skirmishes took place along the Chattahoochee River and at Pace’s and Turner’s ferries, Georgia. At Halltown, West Virginia near Harper’s Ferry, the Confederates found it impossible to attack Sheridan and decided to move back to west of the Opequon toward Bunker Hill and Stephenson’s Depot, Virginia. Skirmishing took place at Halltown, and near Charles Town, West Virginia and at Williamsport, Maryland. In Louisiana there was skirmishing near Bayou Tensas.

_________________
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

August 27, 1864 Saturday
Sherman’s army was ready. Much of it was in position southwest of Atlanta on the Sandtown Road, ready to push farther south and swing east toward Jonesborough to cut Hood’s last railroads into the city. Hood and the Confederates had not been able to interfere with the preparations to any extent. Fighting broke out at Farmer’s Ferry and Fairburn, Georgia.

Early, back at Bunker Hill, West Virginia with one division at Stephenson’s Depot, Virginia had given up attacking Sheridan’s strong positions around Harper’s Ferry. Fighting occurred at Nutter’s Hill and Duffield’s Station, West Virginia. For much of the fall Union troops carried out an expedition against Indians from Fort Boise to Salmon Falls, Idaho Territory with several skirmishes. There was action at Backbone, Indian Territory; fighting at Owensborough, Kentucky; and Federals carried out an expedition from Little Rock and Devall’s Bluff to Searcy, Fairview, and Augusta, Arkansas until Sep 6. Major General Henry W. Slocum, USA, assumes command of the Federal 20th Army Corps.

In failing health and with the assault on the city of Mobile delayed indefinitely awaiting adequate troops, Rear Admiral Farragut wrote Secretary Welles requesting to be relieved of his duties: "It is evident that the army has no men to spare for this place beyond those sufficient to keep up an alarm, and thereby make a diversion in favor of General Sherman. Now, I dislike to make of show of attack unless I can do something more than make a menace, but so long as I am able I am willing to do the bidding of the Department to the best of my abilities. I fear, however, my health is giving way. I have now been down in this Gulf and the Caribbean Sea nearly five years out of six, with the exception of the short time at home last fall, and the last six months have been a severe drag on me, and I want rest, if it is to be had." Two months later the great leader set course to the North for a well earned leave.

_________________
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