Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[BigPrune]

Good to see another'en. I was startin to think you'd forgotten bout this. Do you live in TN?

[ole]

Larry not only lives in Tennessee, he dominates it. Rumor has it that he's suing to have his birth certificate changed to show that he was born there.

ole

[larry_cockerham]

I'm what's known as a minority in Tennessee in most all respects. Tarheel born and tarheel bred. When I die, I'll be tarheel dead, just not necessarily within it's boundaries.

[ole]

And, when you go Larry, I will see to it that your head stone reads Tar Heel. (Will apologize for that. Have been arguing with another NCarolinian of some note who insists that it is two words--both capitalized.) What? Me worry?

ole

[larry_cockerham]

I've fortunately never encountered a discussion about the spelling of tarheel. Usually that's the home version. Or if you are talking about fans of the 'other' university at Chapel Hill, there are far more descriptive and fitting words for them, which even this censor wouldn't tolerate. (NC State, class of 1970).

Actually Tennessee was part of North Carolina for about a hundred years, so maybe I'm still in North Carolina? The mountains were just too big a barrier and few folks seemed to care about the Indian territory anyway, except of course the Indians, who had the good sense to respect the land.

As for these posts, I try to bring them in as close to the actual dates as possible. There's always been something about the weather on an actual date, the temperature, snow cover, rain, etc. that somehow helped to gain a feeling of what might have happened at a particular place. Freezing our butts off marching with flags unfurled on Franklin on or about November 30 each year just seems to create a feeling for the battle that can't be achieved otherwise.

[larry_cockerham]

October 29th, 1864

The advance of Hood's army drove back Croxton's cavalry at Florence, Alabama.

Croxton, heading one of the divisions of Wilson’s growing cavalry, was able to antagonize the AOT on their path north from Florence. Forrest and Wheeler simply didn’t have sufficient numbers to contain both Croxton and Hatch.

Croxton and Hatch under Wilson were to continue to confront Forrest, time and time again for the next few months. A long fight to the surrender.

[larry_cockerham]

October 30th, 1864

Johnson's division of Lee's corps crossed over the Tennessee river and threw up a line of works and Croxton fell back behind Shoal Creek.

This crossing was over the bridge connecting Tuscumbia to Florence. Girls sitting on the roof of the local academy waved to the passing Confederates, many of whom were on a march to their death. The others, merely another brutal winter before they were to return home.

Shoal Creek was a reference point east of Florence. Providing a bit of security during high water, it also offered several routes of escape to the north and northeast. The Lauderdale mill at the military highway crossing provided much needed shelter and the large brick building offered some security. The building was used by both Hatch and Forrest during the late fall of 1864 and is just a 'memory' today.

[BigPrune]

Sorry Larry I haven't been around. I just started a new job and the early morning is wearin at me. Appreciate the updates. I'm currently living in Cookeville, you near?

[larry_cockerham]

B. Prune, I'm in Nashville near Brentwood. I'm a member of Sam Davis Camp 1293 SCV. I'd join the SUVCW as well, but we have yankees without a SUV camp! I'm a little different from most of these guys in that I have little bias relative to the war itself. Sometimes I get frustrated with current yankee notions, but alas, these gentlemen are first rate and have obviously studied hard and long about the conflict we call Northern Agression. The postings you will see here are updates from my "book" tracking a couple of ancestors through middle Tennessee in 1864, one Union, one Confederate.

[larry_cockerham]

November 2, 1864

Gen. Stephen D. Lee’s Corps crossed the river on pontoons. This action is often referred to as the second battle of Florence.

The army of Tennessee at this date numbered a little over 25,000 men. Three corps were attempting to cross the rapidly rising Tennessee River as quickly as possible. In 2007 there is still only one bridge across the river linking Tuscumbia to Florence. The current one would have been a mighty big help in 1864. The rising water along this area of the shoals made crossing quite hazardous. Winter was upon middle Tennessee and Hood was fighting severe odds at best.