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

[larry_cockerham]

March 4, 1865 Salisbury (written to Robert E. Lee)

I am on my way to Hardee via Fayetteville. Lee’s Corps will start today by rail by the same route and Stewart and Cheatham from Chester tomorrow. General Beauregard will bring them on.

– J.E. Johnston, Gen.

[larry_cockerham]

March 5, 1865 Charlotte

Three brigades of Stewart’s Corps left Chesterville today. The rest of his and Cheatham’s will arrive here today in time to follow remnant of Stevenson’s Corps from here – G.T. Beauregard, Gen.

From the History of the 33rd Mississippi:

They then marched to Chester, S.C., reaching it on 5 March.

[larry_cockerham]

March 6, 1865 Cheatham’s Corps in Chester, South Carolina

Note: Chester was on the route of the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Railroad which was used to transport much of the Army of Tennessee from Augusta to Charlotte. Towns on the rail were Graniteville, Batesville, Lexington, Columbia, Winnsboro, Youngsville, Chester, Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Charlotte.

[whitworth]

In 1865, this army existed in name only. It was destroyed in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, losing many troops in wounded, killed and captured. It lost most of its wagons and artillery. It was an army in name only, after its retreat from Nashville to Alabama.
Sam Watson would write that when his regiment surrendered in North Carolina, in April, 1865, there were only 65 soldiers left from a total of 3,200 who had served in the First Tennessee Regiment and the regiment combined with it during the war. Of the 120 soldiers that marched off to war with Watson from Columbia, Tennessee, only seven were left at war's end.

By 1865, the proud Confederate Army of Tennessee was a paper army, that was a mere skeleton, that effectively had ceased to exist as an army.

[ole]

Hats off to the "paper army" which, after having been stomped repeatedly from Chattanooga to Nashville, still had the 'nads to crawl to NC from AL and manage to do some creditable fighting.

Ole

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by whitworth

In 1865, this army existed in name only. It was destroyed in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, losing many troops in wounded, killed and captured. It lost most of its wagons and artillery. It was an army in name only, after its retreat from Nashville to Alabama.
Sam Watson would write that when his regiment surrendered in North Carolina, in April, 1865, there were only 65 soldiers left from a total of 3,200 who had served in the First Tennessee Regiment and the regiment combined with it during the war. Of the 120 soldiers that marched off to war with Watson from Columbia, Tennessee, only seven were left at war's end.

By 1865, the proud Confederate Army of Tennessee was a paper army, that was a mere skeleton, that effectively had ceased to exist as an army.

I wouldn't recommend telling that to the ghosts of the 20,000 or so men who tried to kick Sherman's butt at Bentonville. The war was fought in shifts. As the first wave was killed off, new recruits took over. The boys in the field in 1864 weren't nearly the name guys who were there in 1862. I'm not writing here with my less than nimble fingers that the AOT of 1865 was the same as the fresher boys in 1864. I ain't that naive or dumb. Just trying to give a little credit to the men who walked off the field at Bentonville and headed toward Durham, Salisbury and home. Were you referring to Sam Watkins? Watson was illiterate. By the way, thanks to all of you for reading this stuff. Any more or less positive suggestions or additions are eagerly received.

[richard]

It is so sad that the writers of National Geographic could not take the time to research the Army of Tennessee. They state that the Army of Tennessee never fought another battle after Franklin and Nashville. I guess their book is another attempt to rewrite history. Or maybe just sloppy research by people who do not care.

[larry_cockerham]

March 8, 1865

On March 8-10, 1865 the 63rd Virginia met the Federals in another rear guard action at Wilcox's Bridge near Kinston, North Carolina. This would cost the still dwindling Army of Tennessee 1500 more casualties.

[larry_cockerham]

March 9, 1865

Confederate Army began leaving Charlotte for Raleigh via rail. At Charlotte the Army of Tennessee boarded the North Carolina Railroad for Concord, Salisbury, Lexington, Greensboro, Graham, Hillsborough, and Raleigh.

From the History of the 33rd Mississippi:

At Chester they "took to the cars" northward to Charlotte, North Carolina, and on through Salisbury, Greensborough, Raleigh and Smithfield to reach Goldsboro. They arrived on 9 March 1865 and were marched to Kinston, North Carolina, that same day. These movements were in response to Gen. W. T. Sherman's march northward from Savanna, Georgia, into South Carolina, and his campaign to link up with other Federal forces. The problem for Gen. Johnston was that he did not know exactly where Gen. Sherman was heading. Gen. Sherman had divided his forces into two columns. This caused Gen. Johnston to keep his forces divided also.

[larry_cockerham]

March 10, 1865 The 10th TN Cavalry (US) was at Natchez, Mississippi

From the History of the 33rd Mississippi:

The 33rd Mississippi had withdrawn from Kinston on 10 March and transferred to Smithfield, North Carolina.