This Date 1865 with the Army of Tennessee (new stuff)

[larry_cockerham]

January 21, 1865 (Saturday) More Union communication:

General Grant informs "Cump" Sherman that, instead of having General Thomas "make a campaign into the heart of Alabama," as Sherman has suggested, he has transferred Schofield's corps to Virginia. "The advance, 6,000, will reach seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps numbers over 21,000 men." Grant explains he reasons; "I was induced to do this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off before spring. His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your campaigns."

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 21, 1865. (Received 29th.) - Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi: When Hood had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it, Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness, and honesty, but he is not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up....Canby has been ordered to act offensively from the sea coast to the interior toward Montgomery and Selma....In the meantime should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps of 30,000 effective men to your support from the troops about Richmond. To résumé: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful. A force of 28,000 or 30,000 men will co-operate with you from New Berne or Wilmington, or both. You can call for re-enforcements. This will be handed to you by Captain Hudson of my staff, who will return with any message you may have for me. If there is anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on shipboard at any point on the sea coast ready for you let me know it. U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

The recent rainy weather in South Carolina and Georgia has slowed Sherman's preparations for embarking on his new campaign. He writes to Admiral Porter, "The weather has been villainous, and all the country is under water, and retards me much. It may be some days yet before I can cast off, as the roads are under water, and my men are not exactly amphibious yet, nor the mules either." However, Sherman remains optimistic. "I shall spare no efforts to be off, and the foul weather of January may be a guarantee for better in February and March." Sherman also gives Porter his opinion of Benjamin Butler. "The best part of the taking of Fort Fisher was the killing of Butler. He has no blood on his skirts, and, judging from the past, it will be long before his blood stains anything. His solicitude for the blood of his men is a moonshine." In addition, Sherman sends a letter to General Grant promising to meet him in Virginia in "April or May." Sherman writes, "I have turned over everything to General Foster, so that nothing now hinders me but water....When I am at Goldsborough and move against Raleigh, Lee will be forced to divide his command or give up Richmond."

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

January 21, 1865 (Saturday) More Union communication:

General Grant informs "Cump" Sherman that, instead of having General Thomas "make a campaign into the heart of Alabama," as Sherman has suggested, he has transferred Schofield's corps to Virginia. "The advance, 6,000, will reach seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps numbers over 21,000 men." Grant explains he reasons; "I was induced to do this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off before spring. His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your campaigns."

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 21, 1865. (Received 29th.) - Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi: When Hood had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it, Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness, and honesty, but he is not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up....Canby has been ordered to act offensively from the sea coast to the interior toward Montgomery and Selma....In the meantime should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps of 30,000 effective men to your support from the troops about Richmond. To résumé: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful. A force of 28,000 or 30,000 men will co-operate with you from New Berne or Wilmington, or both. You can call for re-enforcements. This will be handed to you by Captain Hudson of my staff, who will return with any message you may have for me. If there is anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on shipboard at any point on the sea coast ready for you let me know it. U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

The recent rainy weather in South Carolina and Georgia has slowed Sherman's preparations for embarking on his new campaign. He writes to Admiral Porter, "The weather has been villainous, and all the country is under water, and retards me much. It may be some days yet before I can cast off, as the roads are under water, and my men are not exactly amphibious yet, nor the mules either." However, Sherman remains optimistic. "I shall spare no efforts to be off, and the foul weather of January may be a guarantee for better in February and March." Sherman also gives Porter his opinion of Benjamin Butler. "The best part of the taking of Fort Fisher was the killing of Butler. He has no blood on his skirts, and, judging from the past, it will be long before his blood stains anything. His solicitude for the blood of his men is a moonshine." In addition, Sherman sends a letter to General Grant promising to meet him in Virginia in "April or May." Sherman writes, "I have turned over everything to General Foster, so that nothing now hinders me but water....When I am at Goldsborough and move against Raleigh, Lee will be forced to divide his command or give up Richmond."

Well now, from this latest post, it suggests that you may be documenting both the "army of the T..." and the "army of T..."; as this post is all about the "army of the T" and nothing about the "army of T"

I'd love to see a complimentary chronology of both these armies, but I'm not sure if that is what you are trying to do or not. ??

[ole]

Larry:
Thanks for the post. It illuminates a coupla things not normally included in pupular history. Am waiting for the Thomas people to react to the, He is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness, and honesty, but he is not good on a pursuit. Kinda places "The Rock" in the heirarchy -- eh wot? Like it or not, Thomas was placed in the "reliable" not "quick" category. Which is not to say he didn't contribute greatly to Union success ..... he was used effectively where his talents were most needed.

Ole

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by samgrant

Well now, from this latest post, it suggests that you may be documenting both the "army of the T..." and the "army of T..."; as this post is all about the "army of the T" and nothing about the "army of T"

I'd love to see a complimentary chronology of both these armies, but I'm not sure if that is what you are trying to do or not. ??

Yes and No? What I'm attempting to do here, as a priority is, to track the Army of Tennessee CSA. The catch is that the AOT CSA didn't have much bureauracy left to send reports to at this time. [Hood kept trying to write a report, absolving himself of all blame for his prior disastors, but he couldn't get anyone to read it.] Davis was filing his papers, breaking the hasps on the Confederate treasury and packing his duds for a warmer clime. One way to track an army is to see what the other army is writing about it?? The yanks kept better records at this point in time because their clerks hadn't all been shot or gone home. After January 23 when Hood was relieved of command, confusion seemed to have reigned. Beauregard, best I can figure, was the figurehead of the AOT until Lee re-appointed Johnston. [Remember also that the AOT was split into two segments, one under Taylor and Forrest trying without success to defend Alabama against Wilson and the other on the move to intercept Sherman in South Carolina. Aside for my love of Forrest, I'm more interested in the two Virginia regiments who went east.] Lee became head honcho because things were getting serious for the confederacy and Davis was busy packing. What I would love to see here is more info on the 63rd VA, my mule in the hunt since great Grandpa x 2 was still in the last draw of the game. As you know much re-organization and combination of regiments occurred on the CSA side prior to Bentonville. Lots of men had hit the road, many more had hit the dirt.

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by ole

Larry:
Thanks for the post. It illuminates a coupla things not normally included in pupular history. Am waiting for the Thomas people to react to the, He is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness, and honesty, but he is not good on a pursuit. Kinda places "The Rock" in the heirarchy -- eh wot? Like it or not, Thomas was placed in the "reliable" not "quick" category. Which is not to say he didn't contribute greatly to Union success ..... he was used effectively where his talents were most needed.

Ole

Ole, I believe the truth was approximately in the middle. Thomas was a bit meticulous, but he wasn't dumb. The weather was a p###er, albeit a frozen one. In Nashville, when the ice hits, they still put the cows in the barn and take a seat. Fighting for at least a week would have been nearly impossible from about the 8th till the 15th when the ruckus started. Sherman, sucking on his shrimp down by the sea, hadn't apparently appreciated the weather reports. As you know, when Hatch and Stewart hit the western flank of the AOT along Hillsboro Pike, the southern boys fought briefly, threw down their bloody weapons and scooted for survival down Franklin Pike. I often stop in the Waffle House at Old Hickory and I-65 and wonder what that scene would have brought aside from a bunch of tears.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by ole

Larry:
Thanks for the post. It illuminates a coupla things not normally included in pupular history. Am waiting for the Thomas people to react to the, He is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness, and honesty, but he is not good on a pursuit. Kinda places "The Rock" in the heirarchy -- eh wot? Like it or not, Thomas was placed in the "reliable" not "quick" category. Which is not to say he didn't contribute greatly to Union success ..... he was used effectively where his talents were most needed.

Ole

Hence the sobriquet "Slow Trot".

[ole]

Sam:
He was called "Old Slow Trot" by his students at West Point long before the war. The sobriquiet is brought up by CW authors and historians, but I haven't read where any of his contemporaries used it.
Ole

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by ole

Sam:
He was called "Old Slow Trot" by his students at West Point long before the war. The sobriquiet is brought up by CW authors and historians, but I haven't read where any of his contemporaries used it.
Ole

True Ole, and here is an article explaining the origin of that nickname, and also defending Thomas from those who often regaded him as 'slow':

http://www.aotc.net/article3.htm

[larry_cockerham]

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVII/1 [S# 98]
January 1 - 11-April 26, 1865



THE CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS
Summary of Principle Events

Jan. 1-Apr. 26, 1865 The Campaign of the Carolinas.
3-17, 1865. Transfer of the larger portion of the Army of the Tennessee, under Major-General Howard, from Savannah, Ga., to Beaufort, S.C.
8, 1865. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, U. S. Army, resumes command of the Fifteenth Army Corps, relieving Maj. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus.
14, l865. -- Advance of Union forces from Beaufort to Pocotaligo, S.C., and skirmishes.
15, 1865. -- Destruction of the U.S. monitor Patapsco, in Charleston Harbor, S.C.
20, 1865. Reconnaissance from Pocotaligo to the Salkehatchie River, S.C., and skirmish.
25, 1865. -- Reconnaissance from Pocotaligo to the Salkehatchie River, S.C.
26, 1865. -- Skirmish near Pocotaligo, S.C.
27, 1865. -- Skirmish at Ennis' Cross-Roads, S.C.
28, 1865. -- Skirmish at Combahee River, S.C.
29, 1865. -- Skirmish at Robertsville, S.C.
30, 1865. -- Skirmish near Lawtonville, S.C.
31, 1865. -- The Department of North Carolina constituted, to consist of the State of North
Carolina, and Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, U.S. Army, assigned to its command.
Feb. 1, 1865. -- Skirmish at Hickory Hill, S.C.
Skirmish at Whippy Swamp Creek, S.C.
2, 1865. -- Skirmish at Lawtonville, S.C.
Skirmish at Barker's Mill, Whippy Swamp, S.C.
Skirmish at Duck Branch, near Loper's Cross-Roads, S.C.
Skirmishes at Rivers' and Broxton's Bridges, Salkehatchie River S.C.
3, 1865. -- Action at Rivers' Bridge, Salkehatchie River, S.C.
Skirmish at Dillingham's Cross-Roads or Duck Branch, S.C.
4, 1865. -- Skirmish at Angley's Post-Office, S.C.
Skirmish at Buford's Bridge, S.C.
5, 1865. -- Skirmish at Duncanville, S.C.
Skirmish at Combahee Ferry, S.C.
6, 1865. -- Action at Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Little Salkehatchie River,
S.C.
Skirmish at Cowpen Ford, Little Salkehatchie River, S.C.
Skirmish near Barnwell, S.C.
Feb. 7, 1865. -- Skirmish at Blackville, S.C.
Skirmish at the Edisto Railroad Bridge, S.C.
Reconnaissance to Cannon's Bridge, South Edisto River, S.C.
8, 1865. -- Skirmish at Williston, S.C.
Skirmish near White Pond, S.C.
Skirmish at Walker's or Valley Bridge, Edisto River, S.C.
Skirmish at Cannon's Bridge, South Edisto River, S.C.
9, 1865. -- Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore, U. S. Army, assumes command of the
Department of the South, vice Maj. Gen. John G. Foster.
Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Department
of North Carolina.
The advance of the Twenty-third Army Corps arrives at Fort Fisher, N. C.
Skirmish at Binnaker's Bridge, South Edisto River, S.C.
Skirmish at Holman's Bridge, South Edisto River, S.C.
Feb. 10, 1865. -- Skirmish at James Island, S.C.
Skirmish at Johnson's Station, S.C.
11, 1865. -- Action at Aiken, S.C.
Action at Johnson's Station, S.C.
Attack on Battery Simkins, S.C.
Action near Sugar Loaf, N. C.
11-12, 1865. -- Skirmishes about Orangeburg, S.C.
12-13, 1865. -- Skirmishes at the North Edisto River, S.C.
14, 1865. -- Skirmish at Wolf's Plantation, S.C.
Skirmish at Gunter's Bridge, North Edisto River, S.C.
15, 1865. -- Skirmish at Congaree Creek, S.C.
Skirmish at Savannah Creek, S.C.
Skirmish at Bates' Ferry, Congaree River, S.C.
Skirmish at Red Bank Creek, S.C.
Skirmish at Two League Cross-Roads, near Lexington, S.C.
16-17, 1865. -- Skirmishes about Columbia, S.C.
17, 1865. -- Union forces occupy Columbia, S.C.
Confederate forces evacuate Charleston, S.C.
Skirmish near Smithville, N. C.
18, 1865. -- Union forces occupy Charleston, S.C.

22, 1865. -- Union forces occupy Wilmington, N. C.
Skirmish near Camden, S.C.
Skirmish near Wateree River, S.C.
General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Army of
Tennessee and all troops in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and
Florida.
23, 1865. -- Skirmish near Camden, S.C.
24, 1865. -- Skirmish at Camden, S.C.
25, 1865. -- Union forces occupy Camden, S.C.
Skirmish at West's Cross-Roads, S.C.
General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, assumes command of the Army of
Tennessee and all troops in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Feb. 26, 1865. Skirmish at Lynch's Creek, S.C.
Skirmish near Stroud's Mill, S.C.
27, 1865. -- Skirmish near Mount Elon, S.C.
Skirmish at Cloud's House, S.C.
28, 1865. -- Skirmish near Cheraw, S.C.
Skirmish near Rocky Mount, S.C.
Mar. 1, 1865. -- Skirmish at Wilson's Store, S.C.
Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, U.S. Army, assumes command of the District of
Beaufort.
2, 1865. -- Skirmish at Chesterfield, S.C.
Union forces occupy Chesterfield, S.C.
Skirmish at Thompson's Creek, near Chesterfield, S.C.
3, 1865. -- Skirmish at Juniper Creek, near Cheraw, S.C.
Skirmish at Thompson's Creek, near Cheraw, S.C.
Affair near Big Black Creek, S.C.
Union forces occupy Cheraw, S.C.
Skirmish near Blakeny's, S. C.
Skirmish near Hornsborough, S.C.
4, 1865. -- Skirmish at Phillips' Cross-Roads, N. C.
4-6, 1865. -- Expedition from near Cheraw to Florence, S.C., and skirmishes.
5, 1865. -- Skirmish near Cheraw, S.C.
6, 1865. -- General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, assumes command of all troops in the
Department of North Carolina.
7, 1865. -- Skirmish at Rockingham, N. C.
Skirmish at Southwest Creek, N. C.
8, 1865. -- Skirmish at Love's or Blue's Bridge, S.C.
8-10, 1865. -- Battle of Kinston, or Wise's Forks, N. C.
10, 1865. -- Engagement at Monroe's Cross-Roads, S.C.
11, 1865. -- Skirmish at Fayetteville, N. C.
Union forces occupy Fayetteville, N. C.
13, 1865. -- Skirmish near Fayetteville, N. C.
14, 1865. -- Reconnaissance from Fayetteville on the Goldsborough road to Black River,
N. C., and skirmish.
Reconnaissance from Fayetteville on the Raleigh road to Silver Run Creek,
N. C., and skirmish.
Union forces occupy Kinston, N. C.
15, 1865. -- Skirmish near Smith's Mills, Black River, N. C.
Skirmish at South River, N. C.
16, 1865. -- Skirmish at Little Cohera Creek, N. C.
Battle of Averasborough (or Taylor's Hole Creek), N. C.
General G. T. Beauregard, C. S. Army, announced as second in command of
Johnston's army.
Lieut. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the
infantry and artillery of the Army of Tennessee.
17, 1865. -- Skirmish at Averasborough, N. C.
Skirmish at Falling Creek, N. C.
18, 1865. -- Skirmish at Mingo Creek, N. C.
Skirmish at Bushy Swamp, N. C.
Skirmish near Benton's Cross-Roads, N. C.
18, 1865. -- Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, U.S. Army, relieved from command of the District of
Beaufort and assigned to command the Provisional Corps.
19, 1865. -- Skirmish at the Neuse River Bridge, near Goldsborough, N. C.

Mar. 19-20, 1865. -- Skirmishes at and near Cox's Bridge, Neuse River, N. C.
19-21, 1865. -- Battle of Bentonville, N. C.
20, 1865. -- Skirmish near Falling Creek, N. C.
21-Apr. 25, 1865. -- Stoneman's Raid in East Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and Western North
Carolina
21, 1865. -- Union forces occupy Goldsborough, N. C.
Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer, U. S. Army, assumes command of the District of
Beaufort.
22, 1865. -- Skirmish at Mill Creek, N. C. Skirmish at Hannah's Creek, N. C.
Skirmish at Black Creek, N. C.
23, 1865. -- Skirmish at Cox's Bridge, Neuse River, N. C.
24, 1865. -- Skirmish near Moccasin Creek, N. C.
27, 1865. -- The Tenth Army Corps reorganized and Maj. Gen. Alfred H. Terry, U.S. Army,
assigned to its command.
28, 1865. -- Skirmish near Snow Hill, N. C.
29, 1865. -- Skirmish near Moseley Hall, N. C.
31, 1865. -- -Skirmish at Gulley's, N. C.
Skirmish at Hookerton, N. C.
Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Twenty-third
Army Corps.
Apr. 1, 1865. -- General Sherman's army reorganized.
Skirmish near Snow Hill, N. C.
2, 1865. -- Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Mower, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Twentieth
Army Corps.
Skirmish near Goldsborough, N. C.
5-7, 1865. -- Destruction of U.S. transports on Neuse River; N. C.
5-15, 1865. -- Expedition from Charleston to the Santee River, S.C.
5-25, 1865. -- Expedition from Georgetown to Camden, S.C., and skirmishes at
Dingle's Mill, near Sumterville (9th), near Statesburg (15th), at Bradford Springs
and Boykins' Mill (18th), at Denkins' Mill (19th), and at Beech Creek, near
Statesburg (19th).
10, 1865. -- General Sherman's army moves from Goldsborough toward Raleigh, N. C.

Skirmish at Boonville, N. C.
Skirmish at Moccasin Swamp, N. C.
Skirmish near Nahunta Station, N. C.
11, 1865. -- Skirmish near Smithfield, N. C.
Skirmish near Beulah, N. C.
Union forces occupy Smithfield, N. C.
Affair near Pikeville, N. C.
12, 1865. -- Action at Swift Creek, N. C.
Action near Raleigh, N. C.
13, 1865. -- Union forces occupy Raleigh, N. C.
Skirmish near Raleigh, N. C.
Skirmish at Morrisville, N. C.
14, 1865. -- Skirmish near Morrisville, N. C.
Affair near Saunders' Farm, N. C.
15, 1865. -- Skirmish near Chapel Hill, N. C.
18-26, 1865. -- Hostilities between the armies of Generals Sherman and Johnston suspended.
26, 1865. -- Surrender of the Confederate Army in North Carolina at Bennett's House, near
Durham Station, N. C.

[larry_cockerham]

January 23, 1865

John Bell Hood relieved of command of Army of Tennessee.

His replacement was Lt. General Richard Taylor. See later. (Yes, for what it’s worth Richard was Zachary’s son.) Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, however, was the ‘official’ link from the Confederate presidency and remained in factual command of the AOT until Lee was to re-appoint Johnston on February 22,1865. Taylor, as it happened, remained in Alabama with Forrest while the AOT moved on to Georgia and South Carolina to meet Sherman.

January 24, 1865

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest wrote his official report of the Tennessee Campaign, preserved in the Official Record.