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  • AR,

    Teh problem was...in 1864 there were not 40,000 men sitting in the defenses of Washington...they had been stripped bare.

    Read about the battle of Fort Stevens
    weren't they only stripped bare because Grant wanted to maximize his force prior to the Overland Campaign? he pretty much stripped out those 40-50K men to buff up the AOP, so by the time he moved against Lee he had some 120K men, and not just Halleck's mentioned 70K.

    he was looking at only 60K men for his wilmington operation after all.

    in the end going through the Wilderness was the least risky COA, but that COA was ultimately a very nasty meatgrinder where the defensive had a lot of advantages. as i said earlier, reduces the chances for an upset victory by Lee but man, that cost was high.
    There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

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    • Originally posted by astralis View Post
      AR,

      weren't they only stripped bare because Grant wanted to maximize his force prior to the Overland Campaign? he pretty much stripped out those 40-50K men to buff up the AOP, so by the time he moved against Lee he had some 120K men, and not just Halleck's mentioned 70K.

      he was looking at only 60K men for his wilmington operation after all.

      in the end going through the Wilderness was the least risky COA, but that COA was ultimately a very nasty meatgrinder where the defensive had a lot of advantages. as i said earlier, reduces the chances for an upset victory by Lee but man, that cost was high.
      They were stripped bare mostly during the very beginning campaign from what I recall. The Harris Farms engagement at the end of Spotsylvania features the first heavies from the DC forts, and you see more meet the elephant during the initial assault on the Dimmock Line after crossing the James. They fight with more reckless abandon compared to the veterans in these battles as they have not yet become trench shy. The differential in men is due to bring folks back out east, to include good ol' Burnsides' corps.

      Both sides are able to "replenish" their losses throughout the campaign. The AOP does so through the heavies and then through the addition of Baldy Smith's corps. The ANV does so through pulling units from the Valley and Bermuda Hundred after the peripheral campaigns fail in both places. The difference, of course, is that bucket is empty by the end of the campaign for the Confederacy, while the Union still had others sources they could pull from.
      Last edited by Shek; 15 May 14,, 00:29.
      "So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3

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      • 1861 Robert Anderson promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers.

        Captain Nathaniel Lyons occupie Jefferson City, capital of Missouri

        1862 Battle of Drewry's Bluff/Battle of Proctor Creek, Virginia.

        Drewry's Bluff - Richmond National Battlefield Park (U.S. National Park Service)

        Benjamin Butler endears himself to the denizens of New Orleans and issues Order Number 28, directing his troops to treat any woman who insults them as they would a woman "plying her avocation (a prostitute)." It was this order that led to his title, the Beast of New Orleans.

        These became big sellers in the aftermath.





        1863 A portion of the Tredegar Iron Works and a nearby flour mill burn.


        Joe Johnston orders John Pemberton to break out of Grant's tightening noose around Vicksburg. Pemberton refuses the order.

        1864 Battle of New Market Major General John Breckinridge, using a ragtag force that included VMI cadets attacked Franz Sigel's line near the north fork of the Shenandoah River. Sigel eventually withdrew to Strasburg.

        The Battle of New Market Summary & Facts | Civilwar.org
        Attached Files
        “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
        Mark Twain

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        • In Dr. B. Franklin Cooling's book Mr. Lincoln’s Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington he lio=sted the defenses of Washington in in FEB 1864 as having had 60 forts, 93 batteries and 837 guns together with 23,000 garrisoned men in position to defend her.

          Of those, approxiamtely 11,000 were pulled out and sent to the field. Much of the remaining force was 100 day, 9 month and 1 year regiments raised to specifically guard the city. There were also a fair number of US Regulars manning the forts.

          And why were the Regualrs manning the forts and not on campaign? The War Department began to realize in late 1863 that if the Regular regiments stayed in combat into 1864, there would be nothing left of the Regular Army once the war ended. So a concious decision was made to pull the longest serving Infantry units out of active campaigning and placing them in fixed points to recruit and build back their strength.

          The War Department calculated the need for infantry garrisons numbering 25,000 men, plus 9,000 trained artillerists, a cavalry force and an additional 25,000-man maneuver force — all separate from the campaigning Army of the Potomac. That was never going to happen.

          So in reality Grant culled the Washington defenses of about half of its effective manpower.
          “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
          Mark Twain

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          • 1860 Republican Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois are the leading contenders from a field of 12 candidates. Lincoln wins on the third ballot. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, an outspoken, long-time abolitionist is chosen for vice-president.

            1863 The Battle of Champions Hill, the largest and bloodiest of the battle sof the Vicksburg Campaign. Pemberton agrees to attack the federal line with Johnston. The focal point of the attack, Champion Hill, will change hands three times, but the Confederate forces fail to meet. Pemberton withdraws to Vicksburg. Confederate BG Lloyd Tilghman is killed while leading the rear guard.

            The Battle of Champion Hill Summary & Facts | Civilwar.org

            (NOTE: For years Champion’s Hill proper was the most difficult land to visit of all fo the Vicksburg battle fields. I visited the area again in 2012 and a massive logging operation was going on. I was able to walk all over the hill….and finally was able to understand the ebb and flow of the battlefield. The dense woods previously had made it almost impossible to understand how the battle had gone.

            This is one of the positive aspects of the restoration of many battlefields’ viewscapes. The interpretation of Vicksburg has improved dramatically with clearing efforts as have Gettysburg & Petersburg.)


            Judge H. H. Leavitt denies a motion for habeas corpus in the Vallandigham case


            1864 Grant begins repositioning Wright’s and Hancock’s Corps to the northern end fo the Spotsylvania line in preparation for a last final assault.

            1868 The Senate votes 35 guilty, 19 not guilty in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. It is one vote shy of the necessary 2/3rds majority.
            “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
            Mark Twain

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            • Originally posted by Albany Rifles View Post
              (NOTE: For years Champion’s Hill proper was the most difficult land to visit of all fo the Vicksburg battle fields. I visited the area again in 2012 and a massive logging operation was going on. I was able to walk all over the hill….and finally was able to understand the ebb and flow of the battlefield. The dense woods previously had made it almost impossible to understand how the battle had gone.

              This is one of the positive aspects of the restoration of many battlefields’ viewscapes. The interpretation of Vicksburg has improved dramatically with clearing efforts as have Gettysburg & Petersburg.)
              That's one of the things that really struck me in my studies of Gettysberg; I had initially just assumed that the battlefield is more or less the same as it was back in 1863, but that is not the case. If you look at old tintypes of the battlefield from the 19th century, the landscape is vastly different than what it is 150 years later. It is almost unrecognizable unless you know what to look for; there are places where there were trees and bushes in 1863, but not today, and vice versa.

              And, yes, it makes the interpretation of Civil War battlefields MUCH more meaningful when you can actually see them!
              "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

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              • 1864 A massive assault by 18,000 of the combined 2nd & 6th Corps attack Ewell's 2nd Corps in a replay of the assualt of the 12 May Bloody Angle attack...except this time the Confederate artillery had not been withdrawn. As with all assualts thsi oen too would fail.

                The first heavy artillery regiments arrive at Fredericksburg, VA and are assigned to the 2nd Corps with orders to move forward on 19 May.
                “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                Mark Twain

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                • 1864 Brig. Gen. Robert O. Tyler five regiments – 1st Maine, 1st Massachusetts, and the 2nd, 7th and 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiments form as Hancock's 4th Division. The 4th New York is added to Warren's corps. The rookies are bivouacked on the Harris & Alsop farms when Ewell's Corps appears from the west on a reconnaissance in force. The Heavies fight Ewell's veterans to a standstill while taking heavy casualties in their first combat of the war.

                  http://www.nps.gov/frsp/photosmultimedia/harris.htm
                  “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                  Mark Twain

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by Albany Rifles View Post
                    1864 Brig. Gen. Robert O. Tyler five regiments – 1st Maine, 1st Massachusetts, and the 2nd, 7th and 8th New York Heavy Artillery Regiments form as Hancock's 4th Division. The 4th New York is added to Warren's corps. The rookies are bivouacked on the Harris & Alsop farms when Ewell's Corps appears from the west on a reconnaissance in force. The Heavies fight Ewell's veterans to a standstill while taking heavy casualties in their first combat of the war.

                    http://www.nps.gov/frsp/photosmultimedia/harris.htm
                    The conversion of artillerymen to infantry in Iraq in 2003 was not the first time that the US Army had taken soldiers and anointed them as infantry.

                    What is interesting about Harris Farm is to talk about how much Lee had been bled. In just two weeks of fighting, Ewell's Corps had dwindled from 20,000 to 6,000. After the engagement at Harris Farm, he would be down to just over 5,000.
                    "So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3

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                    • 1861 Richmond, Virginia is named the new Confederate capital

                      Kentucky declares its neutrality.

                      North Carolina votes to secede.


                      1862 Lincoln signs the Homestead Act

                      Homestead Acts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
                      “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                      Mark Twain

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                      • Originally posted by Shek View Post
                        The conversion of artillerymen to infantry in Iraq in 2003 was not the first time that the US Army had taken soldiers and anointed them as infantry.

                        What is interesting about Harris Farm is to talk about how much Lee had been bled. In just two weeks of fighting, Ewell's Corps had dwindled from 20,000 to 6,000. After the engagement at Harris Farm, he would be down to just over 5,000.
                        Shek, So despite all of the missteps and errors Grant was accomplishing his objective.

                        Much hard fighting remained, though.
                        “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                        Mark Twain

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                        • Trivial question: How prone were bronze artillery to rusting/oxidation on the field?
                          All those who are merciful with the cruel will come to be cruel to the merciful.
                          -Talmud Kohelet Rabbah, 7:16.

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                          • Originally posted by Triple C View Post
                            Trivial question: How prone were bronze artillery to rusting/oxidation on the field?
                            Not much.

                            They cleaned them daily...a point of pride.
                            “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                            Mark Twain

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                            • 1861 Missouri declares its neutrality in the Civil War

                              Confederate Congress votes to move its capital from Montgomery to Richmond

                              Sterling Price signs an agreement with William Harney, essentially handing Missouri over to federal forces.

                              1863 Battle of Plains Store, LA. Banks cuts of Port Hudson Battle of Plains Store - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                              1864 One of the most famous officers call of all times at the intersection of Massaponax Road and Telegraph Road south of Fredericksburg in the yard of Massaponax Baptist Church.



                              And a little more about that photo.

                              http://npsfrsp.wordpress.com/2011/02...-on-the-march/
                              Attached Files
                              Last edited by Albany Rifles; 21 May 14,, 19:43.
                              “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                              Mark Twain

                              Comment


                              • 1856 Preston Brooks attacks Charles Sumner in the well of the Senate.

                                1863 Grant's second assault on the works of Vicksburg. John McClernand's self-serving post battle report sent behind Grant's back to Washington would spell his doom.

                                Darius Couch is offered command of the Army of the Potomac. He declines and recommends George G. Meade instead.

                                1865 Jefferson Davis is imprisoned at Fortress Monroe, VA.
                                “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                                Mark Twain

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