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... After Selma, the remnant of that small army headed toward Citronelle with Edward Hatch still in pursuit. West Point would have been somewhat of an "abandoned" site by April seems to me. All Confederate eyes in the western theater were on Sherman? I'll do some more reading, or as Ole says, 'time to hit the books'.
West Point, in spite of it's crucial rail and river links, was NEVER garrisoned except for militia. Stout had set up hospitals there and all the way up the rail line toward Atlanta. But, otherwise West Point got no attention from the regular army.. so you could say it had always been abandoned. But Bragg, after leaving the AOT, noted several times to many that if we lost it, it would be a major blow to our supply chain... especially toward the end of the Atlanta campaign.
Bragg and Tyler were fairly close. It is my opinion that:
Bragg knew Tyler was in LaGrange (12 miles from West Point) recovering from his wound and amputation. Bragg stressed to Hood the importance of West Point. Bragg noted to Hood that Tyler was in LaGrange, newly promoted to Brig Gen and that Tyler was proven in combat, had served Bragg and the AOT as both Provost and Quartermaster Generals and was looking for assignment. Hood could have cared less that Tyler had lost a leg cause by then Hood was even in worse shape, so Tyler was posted to West Point.
But, how/when he got sent to Carolina to take Bate's division and for how long he kept it... well who the heck knows yet?
Wilson, however, also knew or was told of the importance of West Point and Columbus, to the south of WP; as immediately after taking Selma and then Montgomery, they moved on the two cities splitting up in Auburn Al with Wilson heading to Columbus and Oscar LaGrange heading to West Point with instructions to take West Point, destroy the rails and bridges and then to proceed to Macon via LaGrange, Ga. (Wonder how LaGrange felt having the city of LaGrange surrendered to him?)
Perhaps as things developed so badly for us in the Carolinas, Tyler was sent back to West Point in anticipation of Wilson's movements???
What would it have been like to move from command of a division of regulars one month and the next (and previous) be in command of a militia post with less than 50 actives?
Who's Who in the Civil War, Sifakis, has this to say about Robert Charles Tyler:
... Returning to duty [after being wounded at Chickamauga], he led a brigade at Chattanooga where he lost a leg on Missionary Ridge. [You'd think someone would have helped him find it. ;-)] Promoted to brigadier general early the next year, he never rejoined the main army and appears to have spent the next year and a half in the hospital at West Point, Georgia. He may have engaged in some light duty there, as a local fortification was named for him. It was at Fort Tyler he was killed on April 16, 1865...
Exra J. Warner, in Generals in Gray, says much the same thing (and includes your photo, jkeith):
...While convalescing the following spring he was commissioned brigadier general to rank from February 23, 1864, although he does not seem ever to have rejoined the main army. Posted to Duty at West Point, Georgia, Tyler was present there during most of the winter of 1864-65. On April 16, 1865, with a handful of extra-duty men, militia, and soldiers en route to rejoin their commands, he defended a small earthwork against a full brigade of Federal cavalry, part of the corps of Major General James H. Wilson. In the course of the storming of the work, called Fort Tyler, he was killed by a sharpshooter, and was buried at West Point.
The letter places him, in February, on the South Carolina side of Augusta. His death places him just this side of the Alabama border about 2 months later. So we have a mystery indeed. Larry is likely the most knowledgeable person I know on the AoT after Nashville, but as Tyler was apparently not with the Army, his movements have dropped through the cracks.
I suspect that the powers knew where he was and that he was idle. Then, they likely dispatched him across Georgia to take charge of whatever forces there were.
Keep lookin' and reportin'.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
"Despite his rise in the Confederate army, Tyler's prewar life remains shrouded in mystery. Ezra J. Warner, author of the classic Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders, once commented, "Tyler is by all odds the most enigmatic figure of the 425 generals of the Confederacy.""
We're learning more and more about the man except why he was encamped outside of Augusta in February.
jkeith, where did you find that letter?
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Once Ezra Warner used the word "enigma" referencing Tyler, just about everyone that has written about him since has also done the same. It fits very well into the story. However we are learning more all the time and making progress.
This letter was found in The Confederate Veteran at the archives in the Columbus Ga library by the editor of my hometown newspaper just doing some casual research. It was indexed in an old reference guide (but somehow in subsequent and current indexes the referral apparently has been omitted). He had no idea at the time it was significant. Since it had been so "easy" for him to find, he'd assumed that everyone already had it.
The letter was written to, and later submitted to CV by W.J. Slatter. Slatter was an exile newspaperman... editor of the Winchester Tn paper who had moved to Newnan, and then West Point Ga after middle Tennessee fell. Slatter and Tyler had been acquaintances while in West Point. Slatter has also submitted other pieces re: Tyler and his contribtion to the subject has been the cornerstone of most Tyler biographies, including Warner's. Slatter later returned to Winchester, continued the paper and even was elected mayor of the city... a prominent citizen of Tennessee.
Best authority on Tyler now, in my opinion, is Bruce Allardice (More Generals in Gray, ...in Blue, and also published in several periodicals). I'm not sure though if he's ever used the word "enigma" re: Tyler... unless he was quoting Warner.
It's a fascinating subject! The guy was all over the place, rocketed from private to Brig Gen, fought in every big battle in the West thru Missionary Ridge (except for Murfreesboro when he was serving as QM-General and his regiment was held in reserve),held many prominent/visible positions, etc... but still we don't even know for sure where he came from, his pre-war life nor much about his actual service. Maybe "enigma" is about as tightly as he can be defined!
Keith, can you send your e-mail address to me at lcoc@bellsouth.net? I'll send my file for your use. I need to take time to look up these dates. Travel between West Point, GA and Augusta would have been relatively easy for Tyler since the railroad wouldn't have been shut down, if that happened at, all until Wilson's arrival. And apparently that was too late for the good general. Sherman stayed apparently somewhat on a direct 'path' from Atlanta to Savannah. Sherman was intent on linking with Grant. He had ceased to worry about Hood months before. Johnston was to re-appear at Lee's insistence in North Carolina. They gave a creditable effort at Bentonville, but it was the consolation game. Any additions you can make to the notes in my file will be greatly appreciated. This may at least help you track some of the activity during that period. I haven't found many references, pickin's are scarce.
Seems that Allardice and Sifakis would be very interested in that letter. I'll bet they'd go more nutzoid than we have.
Is it logical to assume that Tyler's services went to Augusta when Sherman threatened, and back to West Point when Sherman headed north? Curses on the lack of late-war Confederate Official Records!
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Seems that Allardice and Sifakis would be very interested in that letter. I'll bet they'd go more nutzoid than we have.
Is it logical to assume that Tyler's services went to Augusta when Sherman threatened, and back to West Point when Sherman headed north? Curses on the lack of late-war Confederate Official Records!
Ole
I've already brought it to Allardice's attention. Don't know Sifakis. If there's any trail to be found, Bruce'll be on it soon.
Tyler had previously been noted operating out of Augusta where he sent a letter to Gov Brown reporting on expedition leading militia troops down into South Alabama to stop Federal mauraders who were raiding in the Blakeley / Tensas area. Not sure of the date on that letter/action but will check my files to see if the dates are anywhere close to Feb '65. Could tie in.
I personally feel that Tyler's presence there was a "honorary" concession on Bragg's part... possibly temp fill-in for Bate for some reason. Tyler had pled with Bragg to find him some spot back in the regular army... even as a private back on the line. Tyler was an extremely open and loyal supporter of Bragg (why?, I'll never understand.) and Bragg owed him a favor for that loyalty if nothing else.
Maybe something in Bate's record to explain why Tyler was sitting in his chair at this time.
I love finding new paths and following to see where they lead!
I've already brought it to Allardice's attention. Don't know Sifakis. If there's any trail to be found, Bruce'll be on it soon.
Of course, you'll fill us in on his response free of charge, won't you? OK $1.50 and that's my final offer.
Quote:
Tyler had previously been noted operating out of Augusta where he sent a letter to Gov Brown reporting on expedition leading militia troops down into South Alabama to stop Federal mauraders who were raiding in the Blakeley / Tensas area.
That's a whole bunch of travelling for a man who disappeared to recuperate -- especially given the discomfort he must have been having. I'm guessing that he was overlooked by history because his "commands" were, although valuable in the final days, not significant enough to catch the attention of historians. Kinda like the dirt that gets moved around in a mopping up operation.
He should at least be the subject of an article in one of the CW magazines. Why don't you ....
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Of course, you'll fill us in on his response free of charge, won't you?
He should at least be the subject of an article in one of the CW magazines. Why don't you ....
Ole
Certainly! - Y'all have been kind enough to show interest. It would be the minimum I could do to return the favor!
Regarding article... Bruce Allardice did one 5 years or so ago and then there was the one just referenced here by samgrant: http://www.historynet.com/mhq/bl-robert-tyler/ from recent Military History Quarterly.
Neither include recent developments and finds, much less this one, and the MHQ contains some suppositions and inaccuracies; but Allardice's is/was pretty much spot-on for what was known at the time. He's so good he makes the research and organization seem effortless. I make it look harder than manhandling a 32-pounder uphill alone.
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