Today in the American Civil War

[Albany Rifles]

I am not sure historians agree on that point. Most do agree (and I admit my sample size is small so it may be skewed) that Hood was the wrong choice.

Jeff Davis was trying to get his friend John Pemberton into the fight...he even suggested he replace Bragg the previous OCT to no avail.

My belief is William Hardee would have been the best choice...but I don't know if he would have been ultimately successful.

[Albany Rifles]

1861 Engagement at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia

1863 Assault on Battery Wagner. Despite popular history it was not a solo attack by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. They were the led regiment in a brigade assault column.

Second Battle of Fort Wagner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1864 Battle of Cool Spring, Virginia. The stage is about set for the start of the Valley Campaign.

Federal Pursuit Halted at Cool Spring | Civil War Daily Gazette

Battle of Cool Spring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Shek]

frankly i'm uncertain how crucial Lincoln's re-election would be to winning the war (huge difference for the post-war!). Lincoln was already working under the assumption that he would not win, and IIRC in the event he lost the election, he would have urged his generals to prosecute the war even more severely to ensure that the new POTUS wouldn't give it up.

and McClellan ran as a War Democrat anyways.

it might have mattered if it pushed more people to Vallandingham, but given how the CSA was so clearly on the ropes by Jan 1865 i'm not sure Congress would have countenanced letting the South go even if the new POTUS was so inclined.

the truly ghastly post-war scenario is if the Radical Republicans had their way, and had all the Southern leaders (including Lee) hung. or alternatively, the South deciding that with a wobbly President, guerilla warfare might succeed. Harry Turtledove did an excellent short-story riff on the former scenario in "Must and Shall", which looks at a world where Lincoln was killed by a stray bullet during Early's raid. guerilla warfare punctuated by round-ups, hostage-taking by both sides, and a never-ending military occupation.

Blind Memorandum Signed By Cabinet:

Blind Memorandum (August 23, 1864) | Lincoln's Writings

[Albany Rifles]

1864 The Battle of Peachtree Creek. Hood's assault is thrown off by Hardee & Cheatham's delay...as well as his own dalliance in explaining the plan. In executing what was originally Johnston's plan, Hood is branded as a reckless commander.

Battle of Peachtree Creek - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

‘I Determined to Strike the Enemy’ – Hood Attacks at Peachtree Creek | Civil War Daily Gazette


The Battle of Rutherford Farm. The Union finally wins one over Early's forces. Begins the Shenandoah Campaign.

Battle of Rutherford's Farm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Albany Rifles]

1861 The Slaughter of the Innocents. About 25 miles southwest of Washington around Wilbur McLean’s house along on the heights above Bull Run Creek, the first major battle of the Civil War pits Irvin McDowell against P. G. T. Beauregard and the timely arrival pf Joe Johnston’s forces from The Valley.

The Battle of Bull Run Summary & Facts | Civilwar.org

1862 In a tersely worded telegram, Braxton Bragg informs Jefferson Davis that he will move his army in force from Tupelo, Mississippi to Chattanooga, Tennessee

1868 Georgia ratifies the 14th Amendment

[Albany Rifles]

1861 George B. McClellan ordered to Washington to take command of the Army of Northern Virginia following the defeat of McDowell’s army at 1st Bull Run.

In a proclamation, Jefferson Davis accepts Tennessee as a member of the Confederacy

1862
President Lincoln presents his Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet. William Seward recommends waiting until a victory to present it to the public.

1864 Battle of Atlanta/Hood's Second Sortie

Major General William Hardee hits James McPherson's Army of the Tennessee line from the south while Major General B. F. Cheatham attacks his corps along its wide front. In spite of McPherson's death the Union wins the battle and a siege develops at Atlanta.

Grant & Sherman were both reported to have wept unashamedly when told of the loss of their friend McPherson. McPherson would be the senior Union comamnder killed during the war.

The Death of James McPherson | Civil War Daily Gazette

[Albany Rifles]

1861 Major General John Dix ordered to take command of the Department of Maryland; Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans ordered to take command of the Department of the Ohio

1862 Moving his men by railroad from Tupelo, Mississippi, Braxton Bragg reappears in Chattanooga, Tennessee after a journey of more than 770 miles. It was the largest troop movement by rail during the war for the Confederates.

Major General Henry Halleck becomes commanding general of the United States Army

1885 President U.S Grant dies of throat cancer at a rented cottage on Mount McGregor, NY just days after completing his brilliant memoir. His pallbearers included Union generals Sherman and Sheridan, Confederate generals Simon Bolivar Buckner and Joseph E. Johnston, Admiral David Dixon Porter, and John A. Logan, the head of the Grand Army.

[Albany Rifles]

1864 At the Second Battle of Kernstown, Jubal Early defeats George Crooks Army of West Virginia. Crook pulls back to Maryland openinig the way for Early to return northward and burn Chamberburg, PA, in retaliation for Hunter's actions in the Valley. It would be Early's last victory. In response Grant sent the VIth & XIXth Corps back to the Valley and appointed Phil Sheridan as commander of the newly recreated Department of the Shenandoah.

[Albany Rifles]

1861 With his troops enlistment expiring, Robert Patterson is relieved of duty in the Shenandoah Valley. He had failed to hold Joseph Johnston in Winchester to prevent Johnston from moving east to support Beauregard at Bull Run.

The U. S. Congress approves the use of volunteers to put down the rebellion

The Crittenden Resolution passes in Congress. This states the Preservation of the Union is the reason for the Civil War

1863 Department of East Tennessee, comprised of 17,800 men under Simon Bolivar Buckner, is merged into Braxton Bragg's Department of Tennessee. Major General Buckner is assigned command of a corps.

1866 Congress establishes "general of the armies" and Ulysses S. Grant is immediately promoted to 4-star General and put in this position. William Tecumseh Sherman assumes the rank of Lieutenant. General.

1866 Congress creates the rank of Admiral. David Farragut is appointed to that rank

[Albany Rifles]

1861 Federal forces evacuate Fort Fillmore. NM

George McClellan takes command of the forces to be named the Army of the Potomac.

1863 John Crittenden dies.

John Hunt Morgan is captured in Salinasville, OH. Most of his command were already prisoners.

1864. Sherman appoints O. O. Howard commander of the Army of the Tennessee to replace the late James McPherson.

George Stoneman's cavalry leaves Kennesaw Mountain to raid Macon, GA.

[JAD_333]

1864. Sherman appoints O. O. Howard commander of the Army of the Tennessee to replace the late James McPherson.

I've always wondered how McPherson's career would have gone had he not been killed.

[Albany Rifles]

Well, he certainly had powerful sponsors! He would have been one of the Regular Army major generals after the war....and probably would have followed Sheridan as general in chief.

[Albany Rifles]

1861 Union Maj. Isaac Lynde surrenders command at San Augustine Springs, NM Territory.

1864 In an attempt to influence Lee to send forces north of the James prior to the igniting of a mine at Colquitt's Salient, Grant launches Sheridan & Kautz's cavalry along with Hancock's IInd Corps north of the James River at the Confederate defenses near New Market Heights/Malvern Hill. This starts the 3 day battle of First Deep Bottom.

First Battle of Deep Bottom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stoneman's raiding force crosses the Cumulgee (Yellow) River on the way towards Macon.

[Albany Rifles]

1854 The first settlers arrive in Kansas under the New England Emigrant Society charter. They set up tents on the Kansas River, west of its confluence with the Missouri.

1862 Railroads introduce the mail car, allowing mail to be sorted as a train travels.

1864 The Federal Fugitive slave laws are abolished.

Battle of Ezra Church. O. O. Howard’s right flank holds, unlike at Chancellorsville 16 months prior.

Beat Their Brains Out – the Battle of Ezra Church | Civil War Daily Gazette

1866 The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan

1868 The Secretary of State certifies that the 14th Amendment has been approved by the required 28 of the 37 states.

[Albany Rifles]

1859 The Wyandotte Constitution is adopted by the Kansas convention.

1862 Naval assault on Ft. McAllister.

Belle Boyd was arrested as a Confederate spy. She was released a month later on lack of evidence.

1864 Meade, with Grant’s consent, changes Burnsides’ plan for a mine under Colquitt’s Salient with disastrous results.

‘No, General. The Order is Final.’ – Meade Changes Burnside’s Plans at the Last Possible Moment | Civil War Daily Gazette