American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

June 14, 1864 Tuesday
The Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac under Gen Hancock began crossing the James River in boats from Wilcox’s Landing to Windmill Point. By morning of the fifteenth all the infantry and four batteries of artillery had crossed to the south bank. Meanwhile, W.F. Smith’s Eighteenth Corps had traveled by water from the Peninsula, reported to Butler at Bermuda Hundred, and received orders to move to Petersburg on the fifteenth. Confederate and Federal cavalry skirmished near Harrison’s Landing. Thus the Union army continued to give Lee false evidence that they planned to attack north of the James River. In the Valley of Virginia an affair took place at New Glasgow.

In Georgia Sherman, aided by a lessening of the heavy rain, sent skirmish lines forward toward the well-positioned Confederate works. The Confederate high command, Johnston, Hardee, and Polk, observed the movement from atop Pine Mountain. Noticing Federal artillery aimed in their direction, the generals began to break up their conference when a Federal shell struck Lieut Gen Leonidas Polk ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Polk ), bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church and Confederate corps commander, through his chest and killed him instantly. Historians generally do not rate Polk as a great military leader. However, Polk exerted great personal influence among Confederate ranks in the West, so his death was a serious loss to Johnston.

U.S.S. Kearsarge arrived off Cherbourg, France, to blockade C.S.S. Alabama. In Tennessee fighting broke out near Bean’s Station and in Lincoln County, while in Missouri the action was near Lexington and Melville.

In Richmond, again feeling the threat from east and south, the Confederate Congress adjourned after imposing new taxes on property and income. Hylan Benton Lyon, CSA, is appointed to Brigadier General.

U.S.S. Courier, commanded by Acting Master Samuel C. Gray, ran aground and was wrecked on Abaco Island, Bahamas; the sailing ship's crew and stores were saved.

_________________
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

June 15, 1864 Wednesday
On this day Petersburg ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/petersburg.html ), the back door to Richmond, might well have fallen. W.F. Smith from Bermuda Hundred had Grant’s orders through Butler to move very early to attack Petersburg. Hancock’s Second Corps, which had just crossed the James River as the vanguard of the Federal Army of the Potomac, had farther to go but could have cooperated well. Beauregard’s some 3000 troops, all he had for most of the day, could never have stopped the 16,000 Federals. But an unholy mix-up of orders, lack of rations, poor maps, missed opportunities, and delays by commanders, combined with courageous Southern defense, saved Petersburg and undoubtedly lengthened the war by many months. Grant spent the day on the James River supervising the crossing of other troops at the pontoon bridge. Smith was overly cautious in front of the thin Confederate defenses. Late in the day Smith’s corps did take Battery Five and a mile or more of the outer lines. Hancock, adding considerably to the 16,000, could not get up until 7 P.M. and despite a moonlight night no attack in force was made. Beauregard told Richmond and Lee that the attack would be at Petersburg and asked for troops. Lee still believed Grant’s main army was north of the James River, thus forcing him to protect Richmond. The Federal commander had at least partially deceived him, but had not been able to capitalize on his advantage. North of the James River troops skirmished at Malvern Hill and near Smith’s Store.

George H. Thomas moved his army forward beyond Pine Mountain toward Kennesaw on the Georgia front, with some severe skirmishing. McPherson and Schofield also pressed ahead against Confederate trenches. Fighting occurred near Allatoona, at Noonday Creek, Brush Mountain, and Gilgal or Golgotha Church.

On the other far-flung fronts of the war Confederates attacked Union gunboats at Ratliff’s, Como, and Magnolia landings, Louisiana and fighting occurred at Newport Crossroads June 15-17. Skirmishes flared near Moscow, Tennessee; near White Hare, Missouri; at San Bois Creek, Indian Territory; and Federals evacuated Pass Cavello, Texas. U.S.S. Lexington captured three riverboats at Beulah Landing, Mississippi after reports that steamers Mattie, M. Walt, and Hill, were "in communication with rebel soldiers, openly receiving them on the boats, and trading with them. . . ." Confederate transport J. R. Williams, carrying supplies up the Arkansas River, Oklahoma, from Fort Smith to Fort Gibson, was taken under fire by Union artillery. The steamer was run aground and abandoned by her crew, and Federal forces subsequently destroyed her.

Clement L. Vallandigham returned to Dayton, Ohio from Canada to add to the election turmoil. The Federal House voted 95 for to 66 against a joint resolution abolishing slavery, but a two-thirds majority was needed as this was really a vote on the Thirteenth Amendment.

At this time President Lincoln in Washington was greatly interested in the army on the James River; he wired Grant, “… I begin to see it. You will succeed. God bless you all.”

C. G. Memminger resigns as Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, to be replaced by George A. Trenholm.

_________________
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

June 16, 1864 Thursday
Beauregard stripped his Bermuda Hundred defense line facing Butler to a mere thousand and pulled in all the troops he could to the Petersburg line, which even then numbered only 14,000. More Federal troops came up after crossing the James River. Burnside’s Ninth Corps arrived at 10 A.M. and by midnight Warren’s Fifth Corps came in; only the Sixth Corps of Wright had yet to arrive. Federal attackers captured a redan in the morning and about 6 P.M. assaulted heavily and, despite severe losses, captured three redans and some trenches. Confederates failed to recover the works, and had to take up temporary entrenchments farther back. On the Bermuda Hundred front Federals hit the weakened Confederate lines and took them. Lee, still not convinced that Grant was in force south of the James River, felt compelled to send two divisions to reoccupy the Bermuda Hundred positions. Pickett’s division drove the Federals out about 6 P.M.

Farther west in the Valley of Virginia Federals under Hunter invested Lynchburg and the Confederates under Breckinridge, but Early came up rapidly ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lynchburg ). Skirmishes flared near Lynchburg on Otter Creek, near Liberty, and at New London, Virginia.

Gen Joseph E. Johnston’s left had been weakened by Federal advances and he made readjustments around Gilgal Church, retiring to a new line near Mud Creek.

Major General Joseph J. Reynolds ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_J._Reynolds ), USA, is assigned command of the forces being assembled at Morganza, Louisiana, to operate against Mobile, Alabama. Other action included a skirmish at West Point, Arkansas; an affair near Preston, Missouri; and a foray by Federals from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In West Virginia there was a scrap at Spencer. The Confederate War Department authorized Lieut Bennett H. Young to organize raiders in Canada to dash into New England. A small army-navy expedition by Federals took five small enemy schooners near the mouth of Pamlico River, North Carolina.

President Lincoln traveled to Philadelphia for the Great Central Fair. The President made several speeches and in the main address at the Sanitary Fair ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... oln7%3A878 ) he said, “War, at the best, is terrible, and this war of ours, in its magnitude and in its duration, is one of the most terrible…. We accepted this war for an object, a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained.”

Captain Semmes, C.S.S. Alabama, wrote Flag Officer Barron in Paris: "The position of Alabama here has been somewhat changed since I wrote you. The enemy's steamer, the Kearsarge, having appeared off this port, and being but very little heavier, if any in her armament than myself, I have deemed it my duty to go out and engage her. I have therefore withdrawn for the present my application to go into dock, and am engaged in coaling ship." Semmes noted in his journal "The enemy's ship still standing off and on the harbor."

Commander Catesby R. Jones, commandant of the Confederate Naval Gun Foundry and Ordnance Works at Selma, Alabama, wrote Major General Dabney H. Maury at Mobile that the submersible torpedo boat Saint Patrick, built by John P. Halligan, would be launched "in a few days." He added: "It combines a number of ingenious contrivances, which, if experiments show that they will answer the purposes expected, will render the boat very formidable. It is to be propelled by steam (the engine is very compact), though under water by hand. There are also arrangements for raising and descending at will, for attaching the torpedo to the bottom of vessels, etc. Its first field of operation will be off Mobile Bay, and I hope you may soon have evidence of its success." Although the South hoped to take Saint Patrick against the blockading forces off Mobile as the submarine H. L. Hunley had operated earlier in the year off Charleston, delay followed delay in getting her to sea and it was not until January 1865 that she went into 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

June 17, 1864 Friday
Federal troops of the Ninth Corps made a surprise attack at the Shand House on the Petersburg lines, but with only limited results. In fact, Beauregard’s Confederates launched a successful counterattack late in the day. After midnight the Southerners pulled back to a shorter, more defensible prepared position. Beauregard was still trying to convince Lee that the bulk of the Army of the Potomac had moved south of the James River. Lee, finally convinced, ordered A.P. Hill’s and R.H. Anderson’s corps to Petersburg ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Petersburg ). Meade ordered an assault readied for the next day. David B. Birney ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_B._Birney ) took over temporary command of the Second Corps because of the reopening of Hancock’s war wound.

In the Valley of Virginia Early’s Confederates joined Breckinridge in the defense of Lynchburg against Hunter’s Federals. There was a skirmish at Diamond Hill nearby.

Sherman’s right wing troops vigorously attacked the new Confederate lines along Mud Creek in front of Marietta, Georgia and made some progress against Hardee’s corps of Johnston’s army. Elsewhere, skirmishes erupted near Columbia, Missouri and on the Monticello Road near Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

President Lincoln returned to Washington in the morning from his Philadelphia trip. At 8:30 A.M. a blast, followed by fire, rocked the cartridge-making building of the Washington Arsenal; eighteen were killed or fatally injured and fifteen to twenty injured.

C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Morris, at 30º N, 62º40' W, captured and burned brig W. C. Clarke bound from Machias, Maine, to Matanzas with cargo of lumber.

_________________
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

June 18, 1864 Saturday
Gen Grant arrived at a decision – Petersburg could not be carried by assault; it would have to be invested and the railroads cut off. The decision came after Meade’s Army of the Potomac moved in against the new Confederate lines. However, with the arrival of Lee and his main army, the defense stiffened. Morning and afternoon attacks failed to gain the works. Losses were heavy in gaining positions near the basically intact Confederate lines. But at least the Northerners were entrenched and the siege of Petersburg was under way. The Federals held two of the five railroads into the city and several roads. The four days at Petersburg cost about 8150 Federal killed and wounded. Confederate losses are uncertain. More than six weeks of movement and battle from the Rapidan River to Petersburg were over and a new style of warfare undertaken. There would be approximately 50,000 Confederates against over 110,000 Federals.

In the Valley of Virginia Hunter made light attacks against Early at Lynchburg. He then began to withdraw northward, knowing he could not take Lynchburg in the face of the reinforced Confederates. Cavalry fought at King and Queen Court House, Virginia; Confederate raiders descended on Laclede, Missouri; and Federals scouted from Kansas City. William Lindsay Brandon, CSA, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, USA, were appointed to Brigadier General.

On the Georgia front Joseph E. Johnston moved his Army of Tennessee back again to still another line of defense – this time closer to Marietta in a semi-circle. His men skirmished at Acworth and Allatoona. The new line ran mainly along Big and Little Kennesaw mountains. It was a strong position, perhaps impregnable to direct assault.

_________________
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

June 19, 1864 Sunday
For many months the Federal Navy had sought the elusive, strikingly successful Confederate raider Alabama ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Alabama ). At last they cornered her in Cherbourg, France. Raphael Semmes, whose commands had taken 82 Federal merchantmen, 65 with Alabama, had been forced to take his worn-out ship into the French harbor for a refit. Having arrived June 11, Alabama was awaiting permission for overhaul when off the coast came U.S.S. Kearsarge under Capt John A. Winslow. Knowing he faced combat, Semmes readied his 8-gun ship with its 360-pound total projectile weight. In midmorning Semmes sailed out of Cherbourg Harbor in fine weather. Kearsarge, with 7 guns, having a projectile weight of 430 pounds, lay off the three-mile limit. The English yacht Deerhound watched the action, and onshore throngs of people lined the cliffs. Shortly before 11 A.M. Alabama opened fire, and then Kearsarge took the offensive. Circling rapidly, the vessels exchanged broadsides, gradually drawing closer. Soon the sides of Alabama were wrecked by shells, and casualties mounted. By noon Alabama ceased firing and withdrew toward shore, filling rapidly. Semmes was forced to strike his colors. (There were charges later that Kearsarge fired on a white flag.) Deerhound took off some survivors of the fight, including Semmes. This also sparked dissension. Semmes reported 9 killed and 21 wounded for a total of 30 on Alabama, while there were only 3 wounded on Kearsarge. Superior gunnery is generally credited for the Federal victory. In the greatest ship-to-ship combat of the war in open seas, the most famous commerce raider of its time went down, far from the Confederacy it represented.

On land the two major Federal offensives seemed stalled, facing defiant Confederate defenders. Grant’s army got its breath on the Petersburg lines, while Lee’s army dug in. In Georgia Sherman’s Federals discovered Johnston had moved into a new line and, despite continuing rains and mud, went forward to test their opponents. Skirmishing broke out at Noonday Creek and Noyes’ Creek. Lesser fighting occurred at Bayou Grossetete, Louisiana; Eagle Pass, Texas; Hahn’s Farm near Waldron, Arkansas; and Iron Bridge, Indian Territory. A six-day Federal scout began from Mount Vernon, Missouri.

From the Valley of Virginia Hunter’s Federals continued their withdrawal, Early’s Confederates in pursuit. By heading into the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia, Hunter left the Shenandoah open to the Confederates, but he felt he could not retire that way. A skirmish took place at Liberty, Virginia.

_________________
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

June 20, 1864 Monday
Sherman’s forces in Georgia continued to press toward Johnston’s new Kennesaw defenses. Often the Confederates countered and skirmishing broke out in many places, with action at Cassville, Noonday Church, Noyes’ Creek, Powder Springs, Lattimer’s Mills, and Noonday Creek.

In Virginia Petersburg remained quiet as two mighty armies stared at each other across growing entrenchments. To the north, Sheridan’s cavalry skirmished at White House and at King and Queen Court House. In the Valley of Virginia retreating Federals fought at Buford’s Gap. Under brisk Federal fire the Confederate flagstaff on Fort Sumter was replaced, one of several such incidents. Scouts by Federals occurred around Lewisburg, Arkansas and Cassville, Missouri; there were Union operations on the White River, Arkansas; a skirmish at White’s Station, Tennessee; and a Federal expedition from Batchelder’s Creek, North Carolina. William Francis Bartlett, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

President Lincoln left to visit Grant’s army on the James River. Before he left he wrote the governor of Ohio to watch Copperhead Vallandigham closely, and if he should see any danger to the military, “arrest all implicated.”

_________________
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

June 21, 1864 Tuesday
Grant and Meade got a cavalry operation under way against the railroads into Petersburg. Orders were also issued to the Second and Sixth Corps to extend the siege lines to the left toward the Appomattox River west of Petersburg. The goal was to form a semicircle south around Petersburg from the Appomattox River on the east to the Appomattox River on the west. Farther north fighting broke out near White House and at Black Creek or Tunstall’s Station, part of the remainder of Sheridan’s Trevilian Raid. To the west, pursuing Confederates and retreating Federals from the Valley of Virginia engaged at and near Salem and at Catawba Mountains. Johnston, in Georgia, faced heavy pressure on his left from Sherman, and shifted the corps under Hood from his right to the left of the defensive lines. Action was mainly at Noonday Creek. The only other fighting recorded was in Decatur County, Tennessee.

A joint Confederate Army-Navy long-range bombardment opened on the Union squadron in the James River at Trent's and Varina Reaches. The Confederate ships, commanded by Flag Officer Mitchell in the ironclad flagship Virginia II, included: ironclad ram C.S.S. Fredericksburg, Commander Rootes; 166-ton gunboats Hampton, commanded by Lieutenant John S. Maury, Nansemond, commanded by Lieutenant Charles W. Hayes, and Drewry, commanded by Lieutenant William H. Hall; small steamer Roanoke, commanded by Lieutenant Mortimer M. Beton, and 85-ton tug Beaufort, commanded by Lieutenant Joseph Gardner. Ironclad ram C.S.S. Richmond, commanded by Lieutenant W. H. Parker, initially intended to join in the bombardment, suffered a casualty getting underway and had to be towed upriver to a position near the obstructions below Richmond. An engine failure in Virginia II could not be repaired until afternoon, when it was too late to move farther downstream to engage at more effective range. The Union gunboats and monitors concentrated their fire on the Army shore batteries during the exchange; neither fleet suffered serious damage.

President Lincoln arrives at City Point, Virginia about noon. Gen Grant and his staff board the steamer to welcome the President, who has an upset stomach. President Lincoln refuses champagne because too many fellows get "seasick ashore from drinking that very stuff." He rests briefly at headquarters, then mounts Grant's horse "Cincinnati" and visits lines before Petersburg, Va. Grant rides "Jeff Davis." President reviews Negro troops under Gen Edward W. Hinks and receives hearty cheers. He sits with Grant and his staff in front of Grant's tent in the evening for a spell of story-telling. President Lincoln sleeps on the steamer.

President Davis reluctantly accepted the resignation of Christopher G. Memminger as Secretary of the Treasury. He told Memminger, “I knew the extreme difficulty of conducting the Treasury Department during the pending struggle.” Memminger had long been aware of the severe criticisms of his operation of the Confederate Treasury, criticisms on matters that in most cases were undoubtedly unavoidable.

_________________
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

June 22, 1864 Wednesday
General Lee was cognizant of the move planned by Grant to extend the siege lines to the south and west of Petersburg. A.P. Hill’s corps moved out and struck the Federal Second Corps, which was heading for its new position. (The Second Corps was now under David B. Birney, as Hancock’s war wound had forced him to take sick leave.) The Second Corps was driven back, losing 1700 prisoners in an engagement on the Jerusalem Plank Road ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... Plank_Road and http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2006 ... road-maps/ ). Grant’s drive against the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad had been halted. The plan to extend lines to the west was given up for a while. Meanwhile, James Harrison Wilson and two Union cavalry divisions started toward Burkeville to break the South Side Railroad. A skirmish at Reams’ Station marked the raid, which ended at Light House Point July 2. The raid did destroy considerable railroad, quickly repaired by the Confederates. Wilson’s men fought a number of skirmishes, losing severely and several times barely escaping annihilation. W.H.F. Lee’s Confederate cavalry was diligent and effective in pursuit ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson-Kautz_Raid ).

At White House north of the James River, Sheridan, pressed by Hampton’s cavalry, broke up the supply depot and then headed toward the James River with 900 wagons. In North Carolina a brief Federal scout probed from Piney Green to Snead’s Ferry and Swansborough. Brig Gen John Hunt Morgan ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hunt_Morgan ), his raiding about over, assumed command of the Confederate Department of Western Virginia and Eastern Tennessee.

On the James River President Lincoln, Grant, and others steamed upriver to visit the navy squadron and talk with Gen Butler. In the afternoon the President left for Washington.

In Georgia Hood’s corps, now on the Confederate left, made a strong attack near Zion Church and Culp’s Farm ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kolb%27s_Farm and http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/ke ... rmmap.html ). But the Federals, prepared for the move, repulsed the Southern drive.

Joseph Holt, USA, and Elliott Warren Rice, USA, were 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

June 23, 1864 Thursday
In the Valley of Virginia Jubal Early’s command was advancing from Lynchburg toward the Shenandoah as Hunter’s Federals had withdrawn into West Virginia. The last fights with Hunter occurred at New Castle, Virginia and Sweet Sulphur Springs and Cover Gap, West Virginia. Sheridan, with the immense wagon train, was en route to the Army of the Potomac from White House. As he crossed Jones’ Bridge over the Chickahominy River there was skirmishing. Wilson’s cavalry, raiding against the South Side Railroad near Petersburg, fought near Nottoway Court House. The Federal Second and Sixth Corps recovered some of the ground lost the day before and took position west of the Jerusalem Plank Road at Petersburg. However, they did not control the Weldon Railroad. A Confederate attack drove off Union cavalry that briefly held a section of the railroad.

In Georgia the weather improved and roads began to dry out. Sherman planned an attack against Johnston’s strong position. For several days Sherman readjusted lines preparatory to the attack. There was considerable skirmishing, such as that at Allatoona. On other fronts fighting took place at Okolona, Mississippi and Collierville, Tennessee.

Late in the afternoon a weary President Lincoln arrived at Washington after his visit to the army in southern Virginia.

Stephen Dill Lee, CSA, and Alexander Peter Stewart, CSA, were appointed to Lieutenant General.

U.S.S. Tecumseh, Commander Tunis A. M. Craven, was ordered to proceed to sea "as soon as practicable" by Rear Admiral Lee. The monitor, departing the James River where she had been on duty since April, was to deploy under secret orders that were not to be opened until "you discharge your pilot." Unknowingly, Tecumseh was beginning her last operation.

Lieutenant Cushing, with Acting Ensign J. E. Jones, Acting Master's Mate Howorth and fifteen men, all from U.S.S. Monticello, reconnoitered up Cape Fear River to within 3 miles of Wilmington, North Carolina. They rowed past the batteries guarding the western bar on the night of the 23rd, and despite three narrow escapes pulled safely ashore below Wilmington as day dawned on the 24th. The expedition had begun as an attempt to gain information about C.S.S. Raleigh, which Cushing was unaware had been wrecked after the engagement on 6 May. He learned that the ram had been "indeed, destroyed, and nothing now remains of her above water."

Cushing also gained much other valuable information. C.S.S. Yadkin, 300-ton flagship of Flag Officer Lynch, "mounted only two guns, did not seem to have many men." Ironclad sloop C.S.S. North Carolina was at anchor off Wilmington; she "would not stand long against a monitor." His report continued: "Nine steamers passed in all, three of them being fine, large blockade runners." The scouting detachment captured a fishing party and a mail courier, gaining valuable intelligence on river obstructions and fortifications. That night, the expedition returned to the blockading fleet, after being detected and hotly pursued in the harbor. Only Cushing's ingenuity enabled the Union sailors to throw the Confederates off the track and cross the bar to safety. As late as the 28th, Confederates were still searching the harbor area for the daring raiders.

_________________
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

June 24, 1864 Friday
At St Mary’s Church, Virginia Confederate cavalry attacked Sheridan and the wagon train heading from White House to the James River. Federal cavalry fell back in considerable confusion ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... 27s_Church ). On the Georgia front a skirmish occurred at La Fayette, where Sherman was protecting his supply lines. Once more the shot-torn flag on Fort Sumter was replaced under fire by Confederates. In Arkansas an affair took place near Fayetteville.

U.S.S. Queen City, commanded by Acting Master Michael Hickey, lying at anchor off Clarendon, Arkansas, on the White River, was attacked and destroyed in the early morning hours by two regiments of Confederate cavalry supported by artillery. The 210-ton wooden paddle-wheeler, taken by surprise, was disabled immediately, and Hickey surrendered her. Lieutenant Bache, U.S.S. Tyler, attempted to retake the ship, but when within a few miles of the location "heard two successive reports, which proved subsequently to have been the unfortunate Queen City blowing up. [Confederate General] Shelby, hearing us coming, had destroyed her." Bache proceeded with wooden steamers Tyler, U.S.S. Fawn, commanded by Acting Master John R. Grace, and U.S.S. Naumkeag, commanded by Acting Master John Rogers, to Clarendon, where he engaged the Confederate battery hotly for forty-five minutes. Naumkeag succeeded in recapturing one howitzer and several crewmen from Queen City as the Confederates fell back from the riverbank.

The Constitutional Convention of Maryland voted to abolish slavery.

_________________
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

June 25, 1864 Saturday
At Petersburg Federal engineers began digging a tunnel toward the Confederate lines for the purpose of blowing apart the Southern earthworks.

Skirmishing flared again at Allatoona and Spring Place, Georgia. There were skirmishes at Roanoke Station, Virginia; Morganfield, Kentucky; Ashwood, Mississippi; Point Pleasant, Louisiana; Rancho Las Rinas, Texas; and operations on the Yellow River, Florida. The main fronts were relatively quiet. Edward Stuyvesant Bragg, USA, was 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

June 26, 1864 Sunday
Sheridan’s cavalry and wagon trains completed the crossing of the James River by ferry at Couthard’s Landing, and moved to join the main army. Fighting broke out at Olley’s Creek, Georgia and yet again the flag of Fort Sumter was replaced under fire. In Arkansas, in operations on the White River, Federals pursued Confederates near Clarendon to Bayou De View. Other fighting took place at Wire Bridge, Springfield, and Smithfield, West Virginia, and on the Sedalia and Marshall Road, Missouri. Early reached Staunton, Virginia with about 14,000 men after a hard march. U.S.S. Norfolk Packet, commanded by Acting Ensign George W. Wood, captured sloop Sarah Mary off Mosquito Inlet, Florida, with cargo of cotton.

_________________
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

June 27, 1864 Monday
The armies of the Cumberland and of the Tennessee moved forward against Big and Little Kennesaw near Marietta, Georgia. The Army of the Ohio threatened the left of the Confederate army. It was a day of tragedy for the Federals as they rushed head on against Johnston’s well-entrenched positions. In the biggest battle of the campaign thus far Northern losses totaled 1999 killed and wounded and 52 missing for over 2000. The Confederates suffered possibly 270 killed and wounded and 172 missing for 442, though the total may have been over 500. Federals rushing pell-mell up the slopes seized outpost positions but could not break the main lines. Some did manage to dig in and hold some of the territory gained. Retreat would have been even more disastrous in the face of Johnston’s carefully planned lines, which took every advantage of the rocky terrain ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... w_Mountain and http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/ke ... ntain.html ). Sherman, often criticized for the assault, undoubtedly had Missionary Ridge in mind, but this time he faced a veteran force under an able commander. Three major drives made on very narrow fronts and the subsidiary movements by the Federals got nowhere. It was a serious defeat for Sherman but could not affect his ultimate goals of Atlanta and Johnston’s army. For the Confederates it was a victory indeed, but another defensive one. Brigadier General Daniel McCook, Jr. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_McCook,_Jr. ), USA, is mortally wounded while leading his command in a charge against a Confederate position during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia, dying on July 17, 1864, in Steubenville, Ohio. Brigadier General Charles Garrison Harker ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Garrison_Harker ), USA, is killed on horseback by a Confederate sharpshooter while leading his command in a charge against a Confederate position during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia.

The day was pretty quiet at Petersburg. Yet another flag was replaced at Fort Sumter. There were affairs at Crittenden, Kentucky; Big Cove Valley, Alabama; near Dunksburg, Missouri; and Federals scouted around Brownsville, Arkansas. Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, USA, resumes command of the 2nd Army Corps, Federal Army of the Potomac.

President Lincoln formally accepted the nomination for President.

U.S.S. Proteus, Commander Robert W. Shufeldt, seized British blockade running steamer Jupiter northwest of Man-of-War Cay, Bahamas. Her cargo had been thrown overboard.

U.S.S. Nipsic, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Alexander F. Crosman, captured sloop Julia off Sapelo Sound., Georgia, with cargo of salt.

_________________
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

June 28, 1864 Tuesday
Large-scale fighting seemed over for a time. Only skirmishes at Tunnel Hill, Georgia and Howlett’s Bluff, Virginia broke the quiet. Early and his Confederates left Staunton for the Shenandoah Valley, arousing concern in Washington. In the capital President Lincoln signed a bill repealing the fugitive slave acts. In Georgia Johnston, who seemed to be ready for all eventualities, prepared new defensive positions along the Chattahoochee River, back of the Kennesaw line. Bradley Tyler Johnson, CSA, is 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