As the calendar of 2014 turns to May I begin to ponder the events of 150 years ago. While I will concentrate more on the Eastern Theater much was happening across the country. This is meant as an area for greater discussion and in depth analysis on 1864…the year which doomed the Confederacy. Let's use thsi area to share our thoughts and discussions on the seminal events of 1864.
By late April, Sherman had wrapped up his successful Meridian, MS, Campaign and marshalling his forces for a move towards Atlanta. He had organized his Division of the Mississippi forces into 3 field armies: Grant (and Sherman’s) old Army of the Tennessee was under the command of James Birdseye McPherson, a young engineer who had risen fast but had proved equal to the faith placed in him. John Schofield held command of the small Army of the Ohio. The unflappable George Thomas would command the Army of the Cumberland. 2 of the corps of this army would be the newly named IVth Corps and the XXth Corps, led, respectively, by O.O. Howard and Joe Hooker. These were the redesignated XIth & XIIth corps of the Army of the Potomac which had been sent west after Chickamauga to assist. Their shame of Chancellorsville & Gettysburg had been wiped clean by their heroic actions at Chattanooga. Schofield would have the one division of cavalry belonging to the armies under his command.
Opposing Sherman would be Joe Johnston’s tough Army of Tennessee. While not as successful as the more famous Army of Northern Virginia was made up of exceptionally fine troops and leaders. If one knows of the fierce reputation of the Texas Brigade and Barksdale’s Mississippians in the ANV, imagine an entire army made up of such units. This was the AOT. Johnston’s 4 corps commanders were outstanding. Leonidas Polk, the Fighting Bishop, had fought well for the entire war. The brash and aggressive John Bell Hood, recently recovered from the amputation of his leg at Chickamauga, was a controversial but inspired choice as another corps commander. The 3rd corps was commanded by William Hardee, arguably one of the best corps commanders in Confederate service. Finally, the young Joe Wheeler commanded Johnston’s cavalry.
I will submit right now that Johnston had better corps commanders in 1864 than did Lee. And I could say both Thomas & McPherson also enjoyed better corps commanders, overall, to Meade. I would take Logan, Dodge or Blair over Warren any day.
These 2 forces would attack in concert with Meade & Grant with a single objective: Atlanta.
In the TransMississippi, Nathaniel Banks took forces from the Gulf up the Red River, dissipating efforts against Mobile. This would be a backwater affair wioth no reall impact over the strategic impacts to come.
In the Virginia Tidewater, Benjamin Butler would command the newly formed Army of the James. Hios forces would have 2 corps drawn from the Atlantic and Gulf seaboard, the Xth & XVIIIth Corps. These 2 corps were commanded by 2 men Grant saw as good professionals who would offset Butler’s amateur errors; Quincy Gilmore & Charles ‘Baldy” Smith. Butler’s mission was to attack up the Virginia Peninsula, sever the Richmond-Petersburg Rail line, secure a base at the old port of City Point at the confluence of the Appomattox & James Rivers, and draw forces away from Lee’s main army.
He would be opposed by one of the most famous an quixotic figures of the Confederacy, P.G.T. Beauregard and the 18,000 men of Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. His best troops were the 5,000 Virginians of George Pickett’s division at Petersburg.
In the Shenandoah Valley, Franz Sigel was pulled off the trash heap due to political reasons and given command of a force which was to head up the Valley (read march south…it was to go upstream) and destroy any Confederate forces he found and remove the Valley as Lee’s Breadbasket.
His opponent would be John C. Breckenridge, former US Vice President, Presidential candidate in 1860 and Confederate general.
Tomorrow I will write about the main avent.
Things were about to get very real.
By late April, Sherman had wrapped up his successful Meridian, MS, Campaign and marshalling his forces for a move towards Atlanta. He had organized his Division of the Mississippi forces into 3 field armies: Grant (and Sherman’s) old Army of the Tennessee was under the command of James Birdseye McPherson, a young engineer who had risen fast but had proved equal to the faith placed in him. John Schofield held command of the small Army of the Ohio. The unflappable George Thomas would command the Army of the Cumberland. 2 of the corps of this army would be the newly named IVth Corps and the XXth Corps, led, respectively, by O.O. Howard and Joe Hooker. These were the redesignated XIth & XIIth corps of the Army of the Potomac which had been sent west after Chickamauga to assist. Their shame of Chancellorsville & Gettysburg had been wiped clean by their heroic actions at Chattanooga. Schofield would have the one division of cavalry belonging to the armies under his command.
Opposing Sherman would be Joe Johnston’s tough Army of Tennessee. While not as successful as the more famous Army of Northern Virginia was made up of exceptionally fine troops and leaders. If one knows of the fierce reputation of the Texas Brigade and Barksdale’s Mississippians in the ANV, imagine an entire army made up of such units. This was the AOT. Johnston’s 4 corps commanders were outstanding. Leonidas Polk, the Fighting Bishop, had fought well for the entire war. The brash and aggressive John Bell Hood, recently recovered from the amputation of his leg at Chickamauga, was a controversial but inspired choice as another corps commander. The 3rd corps was commanded by William Hardee, arguably one of the best corps commanders in Confederate service. Finally, the young Joe Wheeler commanded Johnston’s cavalry.
I will submit right now that Johnston had better corps commanders in 1864 than did Lee. And I could say both Thomas & McPherson also enjoyed better corps commanders, overall, to Meade. I would take Logan, Dodge or Blair over Warren any day.
These 2 forces would attack in concert with Meade & Grant with a single objective: Atlanta.
In the TransMississippi, Nathaniel Banks took forces from the Gulf up the Red River, dissipating efforts against Mobile. This would be a backwater affair wioth no reall impact over the strategic impacts to come.
In the Virginia Tidewater, Benjamin Butler would command the newly formed Army of the James. Hios forces would have 2 corps drawn from the Atlantic and Gulf seaboard, the Xth & XVIIIth Corps. These 2 corps were commanded by 2 men Grant saw as good professionals who would offset Butler’s amateur errors; Quincy Gilmore & Charles ‘Baldy” Smith. Butler’s mission was to attack up the Virginia Peninsula, sever the Richmond-Petersburg Rail line, secure a base at the old port of City Point at the confluence of the Appomattox & James Rivers, and draw forces away from Lee’s main army.
He would be opposed by one of the most famous an quixotic figures of the Confederacy, P.G.T. Beauregard and the 18,000 men of Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. His best troops were the 5,000 Virginians of George Pickett’s division at Petersburg.
In the Shenandoah Valley, Franz Sigel was pulled off the trash heap due to political reasons and given command of a force which was to head up the Valley (read march south…it was to go upstream) and destroy any Confederate forces he found and remove the Valley as Lee’s Breadbasket.
His opponent would be John C. Breckenridge, former US Vice President, Presidential candidate in 1860 and Confederate general.
Tomorrow I will write about the main avent.
Things were about to get very real.
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