American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

September 12, 1864 Monday
Both Grant and Lincoln were disturbed over what the President called “a dead lock” in the Shenandoah Valley. Neither Sheridan nor Early seemed to be making any progress around Winchester. To the fighting list were added a skirmish near Memphis, Tennessee; one at Caledonia, Missouri; and a Federal scout from Fayetteville to Huntsville, Arkansas. Alexander Brydie Dyer, USA, and Joshua Blackwood Howell, USA, 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

September 13, 1864 Tuesday
Skirmishing increased in the Shenandoah Valley with action at Bunker Hill, near Berryville, and at Locke’s and Gilberts’ fords on Opequon Creek. Skirmishes also broke out near Searcy, Arkansas and Longwood, Missouri. A five-day Federal expedition moved from Morganza to Fausse River, Louisiana. Joseph Roswell Hawley, USA, and William Henry Seward, Jr., USA, are appointed to Brigadier General.

Rear Admiral Farragut's sailors continued to clear the main ship channel at Mobile Bay of torpedoes such as the one that had sunk U.S.S. Tecumseh on 5 August. He reported to Secretary Welles that 22 torpedoes had been raised. He added: "This part of the channel is now believed to be clear, for, though beyond doubt many more were originally anchored here, report says they have sunk over one hundred to the bottom." Despite the Admiral's efforts, Union ships would be destroyed in the vicinity of Mobile Bay by torpedoes in the months to come.

_________________
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

September 14, 1864 Wednesday
For the second time R.H. Anderson’s corps started from the Shenandoah Valley to join Lee at Petersburg, where the men were badly needed to face Grant’s spreading siege lines. The return of Anderson to Lee seriously depleted Early’s force opposing Sheridan. Grant had ordered Sheridan’s defensive measures but there was great pressure on the Federal Army to break Early’s hold on the Shenandoah Valley and threat to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The day’s struggles included skirmishes near Centerville, West Virginia; near Weston, Kentucky; at Bullitt’s Bayou, Louisiana; and at Thomasville, Missouri. Brigadier General Joshua Blackwood Howell ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_B._Howell ), USA, dies from injuries suffered from a fall from his horse near Petersburg, Virginia, on September 12, 1864.

_________________
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

September 15, 1864 Thursday
Grant headed north from the fairly quiet Petersburg siege lines to discuss future action in the Shenandoah Valley with Sheridan. A Federal reconnaissance toward Dinwiddie Court House involved a skirmish. In Georgia skirmishes broke out at Snake Creek Gap on Sherman’s supply line and in Lumpkin County. For five days Federals operated in Randolph, Howard, and Boone counties, Missouri. Basil Wilson Duke, CSA, is appointed to Brigadier General.

Though the Union forces dominated Mobile Bay, the South still possessed a number of ships at Mobile itself. Farragut informed Welles that C.S.S. Nashville, an ironclad which, he said, had been waiting for her plating for at least 12 months, was now ready for service. Farragut described her as mounting "six of their heaviest rifles and has heavier backing and greater speed than the Tennessee." Referring to the battle of Mobile Bay the month before, the Admiral added: "If she had gotten out fully equipped, the rebels would have made a stronger fight on the 5th day of August. . . ." The Mobile defenses also counted on the casemated ironclads Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, "covered with 4 inches of iron, but, I understand, very unmanageable", and three gunboats. "I have them guarded," Farragut wrote, "by the two ironclads, the Winnebago and Chickasaw, and four of our gunboats."

_________________
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

September 16, 1864 Friday
With about 4500 men, Forrest, so greatly feared at the North, began operating against Sherman’s communications in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee. His expedition left from Verona, Mississippi and would continue until mid-October.

Grant and Sheridan conferred at Charles Town, West Virginia. Sheridan had learned that Kershaw’s division and other units of Anderson’s corps had been sent to Petersburg, thus weakening Early’s force. Grant approved Sheridan’s proposal to cut Early’s supply and retreat lines south of Winchester. Meanwhile, there was a skirmish at Snicker’s Gap, Virginia and about ten days of Union operations near Morganza, Louisiana.

South of the James River Wade Hampton’s ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Hampton_III ) Confederate cavalry and Federal soldier-herders skirmished at little-known Coggins’ Point, Virginia and around Sycamore Church. Hampton (who started his raid Sept 11) succeeded in bagging some 2400 cattle, plus 300 prisoners, at the cost of 61 casualties to the Confederates. More fighting ensured on the seventeenth, but Hampton and his “cowboys” brought the desperately needed animals back to Petersburg.

Commander Bulloch wrote Secretary Mallory from Liverpool: "The loss of the Alabama occurred just at a time when the financial condition of the Navy Department began to improve and . . . I took immediate steps to look up a successor. I have now the satisfaction to inform you of the purchase of a fine composite ship, built for the Bombay trade, arid just returned from her first voyage. She is 1,160 tons builder's measurement, classed A-1 . . . frames, beams, etc., of iron, but planked from keel to gunwhale with East Indian teak. . . . My broker has had her carefully examined by one of Lloyd's inspectors, who pronounced her a capital ship in every respect. . . . The log of the ship shows her to be a fast sailor under canvas, for with screw up she has made 330 miles in 24 hours by observation." Bulloch was describing the steamer Sea King, a ship which would shortly become renowned as the raider C.S.S. Shenandoah.

_________________
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

September 17, 1864 Saturday
John C. Fremont informed a committee of the Radical Republicans of his “intention to stand aside from the Presidential canvass.” He pledged support to the “radical Democracy.” Fremont said later he withdrew to prevent the election of McClellan, as election of a Democrat would mean either “separation or re-establishment with slavery.” He still considered Lincoln a failure, but he urged a united Republican party to save emancipation. Sen Chandler and other politicians had also urged a bargain with Fremont in order to help the Lincoln cause. Part of the arrangement was reported to be the retirement of Montgomery Blair from the Lincoln Cabinet, possible removal of Stanton, and an active command for Fremont. Fremont apparently refused these inducements.

Instead of placing his numerically weakened army in a better defensive position with adequate lines of retreat against Sheridan, Early began an advance against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from Stephenson’s Depot north of Winchester toward Martinsburg, some twenty-two miles north of Winchester. At this time Early had about 12,000 men to Sheridan’s total field force of more than 40,000 troops. For the rest of the month, minor operations occurred around Buckhannon, West Virginia. An affair took place at Limestone Ridge, Virginia. Charles Miller Shelley, 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

September 18, 1864 Sunday
Early moved a portion of his force in the Shenandoah Valley from Bunker Hill north to Martinsburg. He drove away Federal cavalry but by evening had pulled back toward Bunker Hill. Nevertheless, his four small divisions were perilously spread out. Sheridan, learning of this, changed his plans and moved directly upon Winchester, hoping to hit Early’s divisions separately. Elsewhere, there was a skirmish near Lexington, Missouri. Federals scouted until Oct 5 on the Cimarron River in northeastern New Mexico Territory, and a Federal expedition operated from Barrancas to Marianna, Florida until Oct 4.

President Davis, still somewhat optimistic, at least in writing, told a Confederate congressman that he thought Atlanta could be recovered and that “Sherman’s army can be driven out of Georgia, perhaps be utterly destroyed.”

_________________
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

September 19, 1864 Monday
North and east of Winchester Sheridan’s superior Union army of about 40,000 hit Early’s separated force of about 12,000. Federal cavalry crossed the Opequon north of the city and headed west toward the Martinsburg Pike and Stephenson’s Depot. Meanwhile, the main force of infantry came in along the Berryville Pike and headed west to strike the highway running north out of Winchester. Maj Gen S.D. Ramseur’s Confederate division was forced to retire along the Berryville Pike and Early called in his three other divisions from the north. The Confederates hit a gap in the Union line. Southern Gen Robert E. Rodes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Rodes ) was mortally wounded. Brigadier General Archibald Campbell Godwin ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_C._Godwin ), CSA, is killed instantly by a Federal artillery shell fragment and Brigadier General David Allen Russell ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Allen_Russell ), USA, is killed instantly by a Confederate artillery shell fragment through his heart while leading his command during the Battle of Winchester III, Virginia. The Federals held and slowly drove the Confederates back. Breckinridge’s Southern division withdrew from north of town in face of Northern cavalry and then formed the left of a new Confederate line east and still north of Winchester. Late in the afternoon the Federals advanced again and Early was forced to order a general retreat up the Valley Pike. The losses were heavy: Federal, 697 killed, 2983 wounded, and 338 missing for 4918; Confederate, estimated at 276 killed, 1827 wounded, and 1818 missing or captured for 3921. A mix-up in movement may have cost Sheridan an even more successful battle, but Early was badly beaten ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/th ... ester.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Opequon ).

Far off to the west, a rather desperate column under Sterling Price entered Missouri in the last significant Trans-Mississippi invasion by the Confederates ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price%27s_Raid ). An affair at Doniphan, Missouri marked the beginning. Brig Gens Stand Watie ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_Watie ) and Richard M. Gano ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Montgomery_Gano ) successfully attacked a Union wagon train at Cabin Creek, in northeastern Indian Territory. Federals reported losses of 202 wagons, 5 ambulances, 40 horses, and 1253 mules, valued at $1,500,000. Later in the same day action occurred at Pryor’s Creek not far from Cabin Creek.

Off Charleston desultory firing on Fort Sumter by the Federals lasted the rest of the month and totaled 494 rounds. On the Mississippi River Union expeditions from Natchez lasted several days. A skirmish is recorded for Culpeper, Virginia. Matthew Calbraith Butler, CSA, and James Lawson Kemper, CSA, are appointed to Major General.

In a daring, somewhat farfetched adventure, Confederate agents under John Yates Beall captured the steamer Philo Parsons on Lake Erie and then captured and burned Island Queen. Beall was to sail near Johnson’s Island, where U.S.S. Michigan guarded Confederate prisoners. Meanwhile, Capt Charles H. Cole, C.S.A., was to capture Michigan. The two vessels would then release the prisoners and carry out operations on the lake. However, near Sandusky the commander of Michigan had discovered the plot and arrested Cole, a passenger. Beall was forced to burn Philo Parsons at Sandwich, Canada.

On behalf of Indiana's Republican Governor Oliver Morton, President Lincoln writes to General William T. Sherman seeking the temporary release of some soldiers. Lincoln refers to Indiana's upcoming election and explains, "Indiana is the only important State, voting in October, whose soldiers cannot vote in the field. Any thing you can safely do to let her soldiers, or any part of them, go home and vote at the State election, will be greatly in point. . . . This is, in no sense, an order, but is merely intended to impress you with the importance, to the army itself, of your doing all you safely can." Indiana was a pivotal state to the Republicans and Lincoln in the coming election.

President Davis wrote the governors of South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida that “harmony of action between the States and Confederate authorities is essential to the public welfare.” He was referring to state proclamations requiring aliens to serve in the military or leave the South. He pointed out that such a policy deprived the Confederacy of needed skilled workmen and asked that such aliens be encouraged to serve in non-military capacities.

_________________
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

September 20, 1864 Tuesday
Sheridan’s men followed rapidly on the heels of Early’s retiring Confederates, with fighting at Middletown, Strasburg, and Cedarville in the Shenandoah Valley. By evening the Federals were fortifying on the high land north of Strasburg. The Confederates were south of the town on Fisher’s Hill. Early had escaped disaster; he later said that Sheridan should have crushed him at Winchester.

In Georgia Sherman was suffering some at Atlanta from Confederate cavalry in his rear. A skirmish at Cartersville threatened the vital railroad to Chattanooga. In northern Alabama Forrest, at work again, headed north toward Tennessee.

In Missouri Price and 12,000 (8,000 armed) men were on the move. There was action at Ponder’s Mill on the Little Black River, and Keytesville, Missouri surrendered to Price. Until Oct 17 Federals raided from Kentucky and east Tennessee into far southwestern Virginia.

President Davis left Richmond for Georgia to see what could be done to retrieve Confederate fortunes. Simon Bolivar Buckner, CSA, is appointed to Lieutenant General; Edwin Gray Lee, CSA; Patrick Theodore Moore, CSA; and William Henry Wallace, 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

September 21, 1864 Wednesday
Philip H. Sheridan was assigned to permanent command of the Middle Military District, including the Shenandoah Valley. At Strasburg Sheridan positioned his large army preparatory to attack on the Confederates under Early at Fisher’s Hill. There was a skirmish in the town, another near Fisher’s Hill, and a third at Front Royal, where Confederates tried to prevent Federal cavalry from occupying the Luray Valley.

Forrest was moving in northern Alabama across the Tennessee River and was about to threaten Athens, Alabama. Sept 21-26 there were Federal expeditions north from Vicksburg to Deer Creek and Rolling Fork.

President Lincoln continued his interest in the political campaign, obtaining information from various sources and using members of the Administration to feel the pulse of the politics and the people.

_________________
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

September 22, 1864 Thursday
Skillfully using his large force, Sheridan held the heights at Strasburg and threatened Early’s Confederates posted on Fisher’s Hill and along Tumbling Run. Meanwhile, George Crook ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Crook ), with one of Sheridan’s three corps, moved during the night of Sept 21-22 and the morning of the twenty-second to the right and beyond the Confederate left. With a wild shout, Crook advanced late in the afternoon and seized the Confederate entrenchments in rear and flank. As Crook advanced, the two other Federal corps attacked in front into the Tumbling Run ravine and up Fisher’s Hill. For four miles the pursuit continued before Early could rally. Crook lost only 8 killed, 153 wounded, and 1 missing, while the whole Union army suffered 528 casualties. Early put his losses at 1235, including almost 1000 men missing, plus 12 guns and numerous small arms ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/fisher-s-hill.html ).

Price’s Confederates moved deeper into Missouri with skirmishing at Patterson and Sikeston. Fighting also broke out at Carthage and near Longwood, Missouri. A seven-day Yankee scout probed from Helena to Alligator Bayou, Arkansas.

President Lincoln was still involved in lining up support for reelection. Victories at Atlanta and in the Shenandoah Valley helped his cause.

Quite unexpectedly President Davis arrived in Macon, Georgia by train. To a refugee relief meeting, the President said, “Friends are drawn together in adversity.” He added, “Our cause is not lost. Sherman cannot keep up his long line of communication, and retreat, sooner or later, he must.” President Davis said he would confer with Gen Hood about recovering Georgia. He called for army absentees to return, and concluded, “Let no one despond.”

Upon learning that Farragut's health prevented him from accepting command of the forthcoming operations against Wilmington, Secretary Welles paid eloquent tribute to the Admiral and his accomplishments: "In accordance with the view of the Department and the universal wish of the country, the orders of the 5th instant were given to you; but a life so precious must not be thrown away by failing to heed the monitions which the greatest powers of physical endurance receive as a warning to rest. The country will again call upon you, perhaps, to put the finishing blow to the rebellion." The distinguished Admiral's service in the Civil War was over, but not before he had achieved a permanent place among the great naval heroes of all time. From New Orleans to Port Hudson to Mobile Bay, David Glasgow Farragut, first Admiral in the U.S. Navy, had shown the leadership, courage, intelligence, and devotion to duty which have ever since been shining examples for all who are privileged to serve the Nation at sea.

_________________
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

September 23, 1864 Friday
Early’s battered forces were moving back to New Market and beyond in the Shenandoah Valley. Nevertheless, his cavalry fought at Front Royal, Woodstock, near Edenburg, and at Mount Jackson. Sheridan did not push his pursuit. Victories at Winchester and Fisher’s Hill seemed enough. Meanwhile, a Federal expedition operated for the rest of the month in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia.

To the west Forrest’s troops in northern Alabama skirmished at Athens, and Price’s Confederates fought near Rocheport, Missouri. For the Federals, Maj Gen S.A. Hurlbut ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Hurlbut ) assumed command of the Department of the Gulf. Small side-wheeler U.S.S. Antelope, commanded by Acting Master John Ross, struck a snag and sank in the Mississippi River below New Orleans.

President Lincoln asked Postmaster General Montgomery Blair to resign and Blair formally tendered his resignation. Blair had offered to step out when President Lincoln thought best and now the President said, “the time has come.” Blair had long been unpopular with the Radical Republicans, many of whom had demanded his ouster as the price of supporting Lincoln’s reelection.

_________________
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

September 24, 1864 Saturday
Two major Confederate raiding expeditions were pressing now. Forrest captured Athens, Alabama after a fight ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... ek_Trestle ), and in Missouri Price’s troops attacked Fayette and skirmished at Jackson and Farmington. Magnolia, Florida also experienced a skirmish. In the Shenandoah Valley fighting occurred at Mount Jackson, New Market, Luray, Forest Hill or Timbersville. Mainly, however, the defeated forces of Early – badly needing reorganization, rest, and, most of all, reinforcements – were retiring further. Sheridan’s infantry and cavalry began burning barns, crops, and other property in response to Grant’s orders that the Valley cease to be a granary and sanctuary for the enemy. A Union naval force destroyed four small Confederate vessels, captured five others, and leveled a fishery at Milford Haven, Virginia in the Rappahannock River area. Isaac Hardin Duval, USA, and John Edwards, USA, are appointed to Brigadier General.

President Lincoln named former Ohio governor William Dennison Postmaster General. A leading Republican and businessman, Dennison would, it was hoped, be less controversial than Blair, who had resigned at the President’s request. President Lincoln also approved congressional authorization for the Union purchase of products from states “declared in insurrection.”

_________________
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

September 25, 1864 Sunday
Sheridan’s large Federal army moved forward slowly toward Staunton and Waynesborough, Virginia, destroying railroads and other property and eventually forcing Early back to Brown’s Pass in the Blue Ridge. In the West Forrest continued raiding railroads, taking Sulphur Branch Trestle in Alabama. Price fought at Farmington and Huntsville in Missouri. Skirmishes erupted near Henderson, Kentucky; near Johnsonville, Tennessee; and at Walnut Creek, Kansas. Federals operated an expedition from Little Rock to Fort Smith, Arkansas until Oct 13.

President Davis visited Gen Hood’s headquarters at Palmetto, Georgia to confer on the military situation. Hood had been asking the removal of Gen Hardee from his army.

U.S.S. Howquah, commanded by Acting Lieutenant John W. Balch, U.S.S. Niphon, commanded by Acting Master Edmund Kemble, and U.S.S. Governor Buckingham, commanded by Acting Lieutenant John MacDiarmid, chased ashore and destroyed blockade running steamer Lynx off Wilmington with cargo of cotton. The three Union screw steamers were fired upon by Lynx and by shore batteries; Balch reported: ". . . one 30-pounder percussion shell struck the main rail on the starboard bow cutting it through, also striking the forward end of the 30-pounder pivot carriage, cutting the breech in two and disabling the carriage, glancing over, striking the main rail on the port side, and falling on the deck (I have the shot now on board). Fortunately this shell did not explode." Lynx sustained several close range broadsides and was run ashore in flames, where she continued to burn throughout the night until consumed.

_________________
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

September 26, 1864 Monday
Sheridan’s cavalry clashed with Early’s horse and infantry around Port Republic, Weyer’s Cave, and Brown’s Gap, Virginia before the Federals pulled out and left Early to restore his chaotic army. Meanwhile, in Richmond and elsewhere, news of Early’s defeat gave rise to severe criticism. Minor fighting broke out near Roswell, Georgia; at Vache Grass, Arkansas; and Osage Mission, Kansas. Expeditions by Federals moved from Natchez to Waterproof, Louisiana and from Napoleonville to Grand River, Louisiana. Forrest skirmished with the Union garrison at Richland Creek near Pulaski, Tennessee. Price and his Confederates fought in Arcadia Valley, Shut-in-Gap, and Ironton, Missouri as the Army of Missouri also headed north toward St Louis. C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Morris, captured bark Mondamin off the northeastern coast of South America.

_________________
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