American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

November 12, 1863 Thursday
A new bombardment which would last four days opened against Fort Sumter. Skirmishing broke out near Cumberland Gap, Tennessee; at Corinth, Mississippi; Roseville, Arkansas; Greenleaf Prairie, Indian Territory; and there were more operations about St Martinsville, Louisiana in the Bayou Teche country. At Little Rock, Arkansas, unionists conferred on means of restoring the state to the Union. Lieutenant General James Longstreet, CSA, and his Confederate Corps, along with Major General Joseph Wheeler's Confederate cavalry command, arrive at Loudon, Tennessee, for a combined assault on Major General Ambrose E. Burnside's Federal forces at Knoxville, Tennessee.

The daughter of Federal Sec of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase was married in Washington. President Lincoln attended the wedding of Kate Chase and Rhode Island senator William Sprague.

_________________
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

November 13, 1863 Friday
As the Federal guns still thundered in Charleston Harbor, Federal cavalry reached Charleston, West Virginia in the expedition from Beverly. Other action occurred at Mount Ida, Arkansas; near Winchester, Virginia; Blythe’s Ferry on the Tennessee River; and at Palmyra, Tennessee. A Federal reconnaissance operated around the entrances of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. In California Union troops skirmished with Indians near the Big Bar, on the south fork of the Trinity River. Brigadier General Carnot Posey ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnot_Posey ), CSA, dies at Charlottesville, Virginia, from the infection which set in from the wound inflicted on October 14, 1863, during the Battle of Bristoe Station, 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

November 14, 1863 Saturday
All was quiet on the major fronts in Virginia and at Chattanooga, but the bombardment continued at Charleston. Cavalry fought at Huff’s Ferry, Tennessee and in east Tennessee at Maryville, Little River, and Rockford. In Virginia fighting broke out at Tyson’s Cross Roads, and small affairs occurred on the eastern shore. Other action included a five-day Federal scout from Martinsburg, West Virginia; a Federal expedition from Helena, Arkansas; skirmishing at Danville, Mississippi; and Union operations from Maysville to Whitesburg and Decatur, Alabama. In an important Confederate command change, Brig Gen N. B. Forrest was assigned to Federally controlled west Tennessee. The Confederate government said force and confiscation should be used if necessary to collect the tax in kind from reluctant farmers in North Carolina.

U.S.S. Bermuda, commanded by Acting Lieutenant J. W. Smith, recaptured schooner Mary Campbell after she had been seized earlier the same day by Confederates under command of Master Duke, CSN, whose daring exploits five months before (see 8 June 1863) had resulted in the capture of a Union ship near New Orleans. Bermuda also took an unnamed lugger which the Confederates had used to capture Mary Campbell. The captures took place off Pensacola after the ships had come out of the Perdido River under Duke's command. Lieutenant Smith reported that ". . . the notorious James Duke' . . . also captured the Norman, with which vessel he, with 10 of his crew., had made for the land upon my heaving in sight, and I have reason to believe that he beached and burned her. . . ."

U.S.S. Dai Ching, commanded by Lieutenant Commander James C. Chaplin, captured schooner George Chisholm off the Santee River, South Carolina, 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

November 15, 1863 Sunday
Four divisions of Gen Sherman were at Bridgeport on the Tennessee River, while the general himself went into Chattanooga to confer with Grant and look over the ground before moving his troops closer to the city. The bombardment of Fort Sumter slowed, with 2328 rounds fired since Nov 12. Only two men were killed and five wounded. Skirmishing occurred in Newton County, Arkansas; Pillowville, near Loudon, and at Lenoir’s Station, Tennessee; and on John’s Island, South Carolina near Charleston. Federal cavalry operated for four days from Charles Town, West Virginia to Woodstock, New Market, Edenburg, and Mount Jackson, Virginia.

Federal authorities in west Tennessee and north Mississippi tightened prohibitions against trading with the enemy or war profiteers, and consorting with guerrilla bands. Federal occupation of the area had become a difficult problem, with much winking at rules and regulations.

U.S.S. Lodona, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Brodhead, seized blockade running British schooner Arctic southwest of Frying Pan Shoals, North Carolina, 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

November 16, 1863 Monday
Confederates under Gen James Longstreet ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Longstreet ) moving north from Chattanooga were nearing Knoxville, Tennessee. In an engagement at Campbell’s Station Longstreet failed to cut off Burnside’s retreat line ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... 7s_Station ). Burnside withdrew to Knoxville. The city was now besieged for all practical purposes. Other fighting was about Kingston, east Tennessee. Federal troops of Gen Banks’ command entered Corpus Christi, Texas in their continuing campaign to gain a base on the Texas coast. At Charleston 602 rounds were fired. Federal monitors engaged the batteries on Sullivan’s Island, with U.S.S. Lehigh aground under fire and badly damaged before getting off. In Louisiana a Union expedition operated from Vidalia to Trinity; in West Virginia a skirmish broke out near Burlington; in Virginia an affair occurred at Germantown.

President Lincoln sent his familiar query: “What is the news?”, this time to Burnside in Knoxville, Tennessee who replied that Longstreet had crossed the Tennessee River and that the Federals had slowly retired to Knoxville.

_________________
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

November 17, 1863 Tuesday
The siege of Knoxville, Tennessee was under way ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoxville_Campaign ), the partial siege of Chattanooga continued, and bombardment at Charleston roared on. Near Corpus Christi, Texas Federals captured a Confederate battery at Aransas Pass. There were skirmishes at Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, and near Willow Creek on the Trinity River, California. Averell’s Federal cavalry reached New Creek, West Virginia; and Union scouts probed around Houston, Missouri for ten days.

In Washington President Lincoln had apparently composed a portion of the remarks he was to give at the dedication of the new military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on the nineteenth.

_________________
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

November 18, 1863 Wednesday
A special train of four cars left Washington for Gettysburg. Although depressed because Tad was ill and Mrs Lincoln very upset, the President related a few stories en route. Upon arrival at Gettysburg President Lincoln spoke briefly to a crowd outside the Wills House, where he was staying, and retired to work on his remarks. Just what President Lincoln wrote that night or exactly what version he used the next day remain subjects of debate by scholars.

Military operations included skirmishing near Germanna Ford, Virginia; at Trenton, Georgia; Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana; and on Shoal and Turkey creeks, Jasper County, Missouri. For several days Confederates operated against U.S. gunboats and transports near Hog Point, Mississippi, and there were lengthy explorations by Federals from Vienna toward the Blue Ridge in Virginia and from Skipwith’s Landing to Roebuck Lake, Mississippi.

_________________
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

November 19, 1863 Thursday
On horseback the President of the United States rode in a procession to the military ceremony newly established for those who fell in the Battle of Gettysburg. After a detailed, colorful, two-hour address by the orator of the day, Edward Everett, the President rose and in a few words commented on the task at hand – that of officially dedicating the cemetery ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address and http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lin ... ysburg.htm ). Some of the audience appeared moved, others just respectful. Some newspapers commented favorably; others gave it normal or passing coverage. President Lincoln himself felt that perhaps the brief talk had fallen flat. Stories that the President’s words were ignored are not substantiated, but it seemed to excite few at first. Somewhat ill, the President returned that night to Washington, his task complete; but the message was never to be forgotten.

As President Lincoln spoke, the guns echoed at Dr Green’s Farm near Lawrenceville, Arkansas and near Grove Church, Virginia. Federals scouted from Memphis, Tennessee to Hernando, Mississippi. In Tennessee the action was at Meriwether’s Ferry near Union City, at Mulberry Gap, and at Colwell’s Ford. In Charleston Harbor one man was wounded as 694 shells were fired; 200 Federals in small boats attempted to assault Fort Sumter, but withdrew after being discovered. President Davis wrote officials in the Trans-Mississippi of his distress over the loss of a large part of Arkansas, and suggested what might be done.

_________________
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

November 20, 1863 Friday
Firing intensified at Charleston, with 1344 rounds. Three men died, and eleven were wounded. Light skirmishing occurred at Camp Pratt, Louisiana and Sparta, Tennessee. President Davis asked Gen J.E. Johnston for more help for Gen Bragg at Chattanooga. President Lincoln received a note from orator Edward Everett commenting on how near the President had come “to the central idea of the occasion” the day before at Gettysburg. In reply President Lincoln said, “I am pleased to know that, in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure.”

_________________
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

November 21, 1863 Saturday
At Chattanooga Grant prepared for action. Sherman was moving up to cross the Tennessee River at Brown’s Ferry and march to the right flank of the Confederates before recrossing the Tennessee River and striking them at the north end of Missionary Ridge. Thomas was also to attack Missionary Ridge in the center. Hooker was to move from Lookout Valley to Chattanooga Valley and hit the Confederate left. Rains were delaying the movement, however.

Other action included an affair at Jacksonport, Arkansas; another at Liberty, Virginia; a Federal scout near Fort Pillow, Tennessee; a Federal expedition from Island No 10 to Tiptonville, Tennessee; and a Union expedition from Bealeton toward Thoroughfare Gap, Virginia.

At the White House President Lincoln was ill with varioloid, a mild form of smallpox.

_________________
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

November 22, 1863 Sunday
On Missionary Ridge the unsuspecting Confederates under Bragg detached Buckner’s command, sending him to reinforce Longstreet, who was besieging Knoxville, Tennessee. Grant changed his plans again, ordered Gen Thomas to demonstrate next day on his front facing Missionary Ridge. The battle for Chattanooga was about to begin.

On the Texas coast Banks moved against Fort Esperanza ( http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... cles/qcf02 ) and Matagorda Island; by the end of the month he would control the fort, the island, and the nearby area. Skirmishing broke out at Winchester, Tennessee; Fayette and Camp Davies, Mississippi; near Houston, Missouri; and on Lake Borgue, Louisiana.

U.S.S. Aroostook, commanded by Lieutenant Chester Hatfield, captured schooner Eureka off Galveston. She had been bound to Havana with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Jacob Bell, commanded by Acting Master Schulze, transported and supported a troop landing at St. George's Island, Maryland, where some 30 Confederates, some of whom were blockade runners, were captured.

_________________
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

November 23, 1863 Monday
Gen George H. Thomas’ Army of the Cumberland moved forward, with two divisions from Fort Wood, toward Orchard Knob, a Confederate-held eminence about a mile in front of the main enemy position on Missionary Ridge. It marked the first attempt by Grant to break the siege of Chattanooga completely and hit Bragg’s Army of Tennessee. The divisions of Maj Gen Philip H. Sheridan and Brig Gen T.J. Wood drove out Confederates and captured Orchard Knob with few casualties. Grant now lined up his units for the primary thrust. During the night of Nov 23-24, Sherman, north of the Tennessee River, sent a brigade across the river near South Chickamauga Creek to make a foothold and prepare a bridge. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Campaign )

At Knoxville both Federal and Confederate troops tried limited assaults on the siege and besieged lines. The Federals were only partially successful against an enemy parallel and the Confederates drove in Union pickets. Far to the south, skirmishes erupted at Cedar Bayou in the Rio Grande operations, Texas; and at Bayou Portage on Grand Lake in the lengthy Louisiana Teche operations. Until Dec 18 Federal expeditions moved from Springfield to Howell, Wright, and Morgan counties, Missouri.

In Washington an ailing President Lincoln wondered whether or not Burnside could hold Knoxville. He accepts resignation of Gen Schenck ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_C._Schenck ), to take effect December 20, 1863.

_________________
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

November 24, 1863 Tuesday
Three Federal divisions under Joseph Hooker crossed Lookout Creek in the morning and began the difficult climb up Lookout Mountain, hoping to drive the sparse Confederate defenders from the heights. The Confederates offered major resistance at Cravens’ Farm, a bench of fairly level land on the mountainside. Heavy fog enshrouded the crest from view of the Federals in Chattanooga. By the end of the day the Federals held Lookout Mountain and the Confederates had withdrawn to Missionary Ridge. Although there was no fighting on the mountaintop, the engagement became known as the “Battle Above the Clouds,” a misnomer caused by the fog banks ( http://www.civilwarhome.com/lookoutmountain.htm ). Losses were small and fighting relatively light, but the drive did clear the way for the primary effort against Missionary Ridge. At the foot of Missionary Ridge near the Tennessee River, Sherman seized what he thought was the north end of the ridge, only to find that a wide ravine separated him from the main part of Missionary Ridge and Tunnel Hill, site of an important railroad tunnel. But the attack did reveal to the Confederates one direction of the Northern drive.

Action at Kingston, Tennessee marked the Knoxville Campaign. Elsewhere, action occurred at and near Sparta, Tennessee; Woodville and Little Boston, Virginia; Cunningham’s Bluff, South Carolina; and Clarksville, Arkansas. Until the twenty-seventh troops fought during a Union raid on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad with skirmishing at Charleston and Cleveland, Tennessee. In Missouri there were four days of Union scouts from Salem to Bushy and Pigeon creeks, Gladen Valley, and Dry Fork. Some 270 rounds fired against Fort Sumter at Charleston left 3 killed and 2 wounded.

Under cover of U.S.S. Pawnee, Commander Balch, and U.S.S. Marblehead, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Richard W. Meade, Jr., Army troops commenced sinking piles as obstructions in the Stono River above Legareville, South Carolina. The troops, protected by Marblehead, had landed the day before. The naval force remained on station at the request of Brigadier General Schimmelfennig to preclude a possible Confederate attack.

Gov Zebulon Vance of North Carolina told his legislature, “We know, at last, precisely what we would get by submission, and therein has our enemy done us good service – abolition of slavery, confiscation of property, and territorial vassalage.” The Richmond Examiner proclaimed, “Our sole policy and cunningest diplomacy is fighting; our insinuating negotiator is the Confederate army in line of battle.”

Sec Seward confers with President Lincoln relative to warning Spain not to interfere in Santo Domingo.

_________________
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

November 25, 1863 Wednesday
Gen U.S. Grant ordered Sherman to move against Tunnel Hill and the north end of Missionary Ridge. Hooker was to move from Lookout Mountain to try to cut off a Confederate retreat into Georgia or to follow the enemy. Thomas was to move in the center when Sherman reached the ridge. On the ridge itself the Confederates were strongly dug in but weakened by the loss of Longstreet and other troops. Soon after sunrise Sherman attacked, but without success, as Gen Patrick Cleburne’s ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Cleburne ) men stubbornly resisted. Heavy fighting continued until mid-afternoon with Sherman making little or no progress. The Confederates still held Missionary Ridge. Hooker, too, ran into difficulties because the bridge over Chattanooga Creek was burned and it was late afternoon before his men ascended the southern end of Missionary Ridge. That left only Thomas in the center.

In the afternoon Grant ordered Thomas to move toward the lower Confederate breastworks near the foot of steep, ravine-broken Missionary Ridge. Four Federal divisions overwhelmed the emplacements on the lower slopes and charged on up the two hundred to four hundred feet of rock- and bush-incrusted incline. Confederates on top could not fire readily for fear of hitting their own retreating men. There is argument even yet whether it was a spontaneous advance after taking the first position or simply the result of somewhat confusing orders. At any rate, it was done. With the Confederate line on Missionary Ridge cut in several places, Bragg’s beaten army staggered back toward Chickamauga Creek. Sheridan’s division pursued, but Confederate Gen Hardee held firmly before withdrawing in the darkness. Cleburne’s division also covered the retreat. The Confederate army crossed Chickamauga Creek during the night. Though badly defeated, Bragg had rescued most of his army. Grant issued orders for the follow-up. Chattanooga and the surrounding area were now entirely in Union hands. Yankees screamed, “Chickamauga! Chickamauga!” as they won their revenge. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Missionary_Ridge )

Despite the sometimes desperate fighting on Missionary Ridge, casualties were relatively low for a major battle: Federal engaged are put at more than 56,000 (and others available), with 753 killed, 4722 wounded, and 349 missing for a total of 5824; Confederate engaged around 46,000, with 361 killed, 2160 wounded, and 4146 missing for a total of 6667, many of these prisoners. The road into Georgia was at least partially opened for the Federals.

There remained the siege lines at Knoxville, where Burnside was daily becoming more hard pressed. On this day and the twenty-sixth, 517 rounds were thrown against Fort Sumter at Charleston, South Carolina. Skirmishes broke out in Crawford County, Arkansas; near Houston on the Big Piney and near Waynesville and Farmington, Missouri; at Camp Pratt and near Vermillion Bayou, Louisiana; Sangster’s Station, Virginia; Greenville, North Carolina; and Yankeetown, Tennessee. From Britain the unfinished C.S.S. Rappahannock sailed to France to avoid probable detention by the British. U.S.S. Fort Hindman, commanded by Acting Lieutenant John Pearce, captured steamer Volunteer off Natchez Island, Mississippi.

_________________
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

November 26, 1863 Thursday
The major fight for Chattanooga was over, but Sherman and Thomas pursued Bragg through Chickamauga Station toward Graysville and Ringgold. The Federals ran into Cleburne’s rear guard near Ringgold, and engaged in fairly severe fighting at Chickamauga Station, Pea Vine Valley, and Pigeon Hill, Tennessee and Graysville, Georgia. Then the Federals halted and Bragg pulled together his wounded army. At Knoxville Longstreet was preparing an assault.

The front on the Rapidan River in Virginia was coming to life. Gen George Gordon Meade and the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan, attempting to turn Lee’s right flank and carry out the oft-repeated urgings from Washington to take offensive action. Skirmishing flared at and near Raccoon Ford and Morton’s Ford, as Lee’s outposts carried the word to the Army of Northern Virginia. Meade had hoped to maneuver Lee out of his position and to force him to fall back toward Richmond. Again it was a campaign of marching and maneuver. Meade had some 85,000 troops to Lee’s 48,500.

In other action there was skirmishing near Woodson, Missouri; Brentsville, Virginia; Plymouth and Warm Springs, North Carolina; as well as a Union scout from Columbia, Kentucky to the south side of the Cumberland River.

U.S.S. James Adger, Commander Patterson, seized British blockade runner Ella off Masonboro Inlet, North Carolina, with cargo of salt.

U.S.S. Antona, commanded by Acting Master Zerega, captured schooner Mary Ann southeast of Corpus Christi with cargo of cotton.

President Lincoln was still confined to his room with varioloid.

_________________
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