Hood and Sherman in NE Alabama

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On Oct 1, 1864, General John Bell Hood moves his army north from Atlanta in an attempt to cut railroad lines between Chattanooga and Atlanta, thereby forcing Union Major General William T. Sherman’s armies to abandon Atlanta. Hood marches to the northwest, drawing Sherman in pursuit.

By October 17, 1864, Hood abandons further efforts to disrupt rail traffic between Chattanooga and Atlanta, instead moving his army toward Gadsden in northeast Alabama. Hood believes Sherman’s army will continue to follow, leading them further away from Atlanta.

On October 10, 1864 from Summerville, GA, Sherman reports to Gen. Grant that Hood is crossing the Coosa River above Cedar Bluff, headed west.

On October 19, 1864, General John B. Hood, commanding the Dept. of Tennessee and Georgia for the Confederate Army, makes his headquarters in this house, located in the Little River Community, Cherokee County, AL.
John B Hood Headquarters Daniel House.jpg

http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com...cle_07c4b8db-1497-54e3-b484-b1f1baf8ea38.html

On the morning of Oct. 20, 1864, an advance detachment of the 8th Alabama Cavalry crossed the Coosa River by ferry and set up camp in downtown Gadsden, AL. The following morning, pontoon bridges were thrown across at Gadsden and at Hokes Bluff.

By nightfall, an army of more than 33,000 men under the command of John Bell Hood had arrived in Gadsden, AL. In his official report, General Hood would report that Joe Wheeler's cavalry joined his army before they arrived at Gadsden. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard joined them in Gadsden where the three generals would meet to discuss plans to invade Tennessee. The total combined Confederate force of nearly 40,000 men would encamp in Gadsden for two days.
Hoods Route.jpg


While the Confederate generals met, Gen William T. Sherman and his 70,000 troops were advancing toward Gadsden. Sherman's intention was to attack Hood before he could reach TN. At Summerville, GA on October 19, 1864, Sherman ordered all armies to move on Gaylesville. On October 20th he personally arrived and issued Special Field Orders No. 99 which were briefly as follows:
  1. Gen. Cox to take a strong position at Cedar Bluff.
  2. Maj. Gen. Howard to take position at Blue Pond and Little River.
  3. Maj. Gen. Stanley's corps and the 17 army corps under Maj. Gen. J. A. Mower to remain in position at Gaylesville.
  4. Brig. Gen. Elliot, Department of the Cumberland (cavalry) to reconnoiter road to Rome and well toward Gadsden through Blue Pond.
  5. All the armies to get up their trains and forage liberally on the country side.
The Union armies advanced to nearby Cedar Bluff (less than 40 miles from Gadsden) before Sherman ended the pursuit, allowing Hood to be dealt with in Tennessee. Forrest's Cavalry would join up with Hood at Florence, AL and Hood's army would make its way toward Franklin, TN.
Hood Sherman.PNG
 
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On Oct 1, 1864, General John Bell Hood moves his army north from Atlanta in an attempt to cut railroad lines between Chattanooga and Atlanta, thereby forcing Union Major General William T. Sherman’s armies to abandon Atlanta. Hood marches to the northwest, drawing Sherman in pursuit.

By October 17, 1864, Hood abandons further efforts to disrupt rail traffic between Chattanooga and Atlanta, instead moving his army toward Gadsden in northeast Alabama. Hood believes Sherman’s army will continue to follow, leading them further away from Atlanta.

On October 10, 1864 from Summerville, GA, Sherman reports to Gen. Grant that Hood is crossing the Coosa River above Cedar Bluff, headed west.

On October 19, 1864, General John B. Hood, commanding the Dept. of Tennessee and Georgia for the Confederate Army, makes his headquarters in this house, located in the Little River Community, Cherokee County, AL.
View attachment 78248
http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com...cle_07c4b8db-1497-54e3-b484-b1f1baf8ea38.html

On the morning of Oct. 20, 1864, an advance detachment of the 8th Alabama Cavalry crossed the Coosa River by ferry and set up camp in downtown Gadsden, AL. The following morning, pontoon bridges were thrown across at Gadsden and at Hokes Bluff.

By nightfall, an army of more than 33,000 men under the command of John Bell Hood had arrived in Gadsden, AL. In his official report, General Hood would report that Joe Wheeler's cavalry joined his army before they arrived at Gadsden. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard joined them in Gadsden where the three generals would meet to discuss plans to invade Tennessee. The total combined Confederate force of nearly 40,000 men would encamp in Gadsden for two days.
View attachment 78250

While the Confederate generals met, Gen William T. Sherman and his 70,000 troops were advancing toward Gadsden. Sherman's intention was to attack Hood before he could reach TN. At Summerville, GA on October 19, 1864, Sherman ordered all armies to move on Gaylesville. On October 20th he personally arrived and issued Special Field Orders No. 99 which were briefly as follows:
  1. Gen. Cox to take a strong position at Cedar Bluff.
  2. Maj. Gen. Howard to take position at Blue Pond and Little River.
  3. Maj. Gen. Stanley's corps and the 17 army corps under Maj. Gen. J. A. Mower to remain in position at Gaylesville.
  4. Brig. Gen. Elliot, Department of the Cumberland (cavalry) to reconnoiter road to Rome and well toward Gadsden through Blue Pond.
  5. All the armies to get up their trains and forage liberally on the country side.
The Union armies advanced to nearby Cedar Bluff (less than 40 miles from Gadsden) before Sherman ended the pursuit, allowing Hood to be dealt with in Tennessee. Forrest's Cavalry would join up with Hood at Florence, AL and Hood's army would make its way toward Franklin, TN.
View attachment 78259
This is an interesting and exciting time to read about, did not know his headquarters was still standing, thanks for all the info and picture!
 
On the morning of October 18th, the Army of Tennessee crossed the state line into Alabama. A hard four days march took them to over the mountains to Gadsden. Stewart’s corps crossed Coosa River on the 21st—followed by Lee’s corps. The next morning, Cheatham’s corps crossed the pontoon bridge arriving at Gadsden. Meanwhile, the main army supply train had moved to Jacksonville, Alabama where it remained for eight days. It met up with the rest of the army at Gadsden about the same time. General Cheatham, whose health was rarely a factor during the course of the war, was somewhat unwell when he mounted his horse on the 22nd, but stated that he would “strap myself to my saddle before they shall leave me behind!” The boys’ attitudes toward General Hood had—by now—changed quite dramatically. Although they were aware of his aggressive nature around Atlanta, it appeared that their commanding general had adopted a new formula for winning a campaign. The whole of the army generally appreciated the commencement of this new campaign and the fruits that it had reaped thus far. When a large crowd gathered at his headquarters at the Baptist church in Gadsden, Hood “congratulated us on the prospects before us; said our advantages are better now than during the old campaign in Georgia; said there have been great accessions to the army from the hospitals, the convalescent camps, and men on furlough; that they would all move off the next morning for the Valley of the Tennessee.” This brought about great excitement for the boys in the ranks.

While in Gadsden, Hood met with General P. G. T. Beauregard who had been placed in departmental command. There, the two went over the upcoming operations, and a practical plan was determined upon that could likely bring success for the coming campaign. Although the army was in high spirits, it was clear that the army’s supply system was still at a serious disadvantage. It was reported in one Southern paper that “it was to be regretted” that the army was so poorly supplied for such an “extraordinary movement.” “Whole regiments are barefooted, while blankets with any of the men is rather an exception than the rule.” The article stated that “hundreds of men” that were left in camp at Blue Mountain “for want of proper outfits.” The article continued that, “They are full of enthusiasm, and anxious to join the advancing army; but are kept back by the cause indicated.”

Clearly, by October 25th, the decision to cross the Tennessee River at Tuscumbia and Florence had been made; however, the route to that place would take the army past Decatur. Federal General Gordon Granger commanded a force of nearly five-thousand men at that point protected by gunboats and strong fortifications. The Army of Tennessee invested the place to protect its vital supply trains as it passed by on the way to Tuscumbia on the 26th of October. The last of the army withdrew from in front of Decatur on October 29th after the army’s supply train had safely passed, and they resumed the movement to Tuscumbia.
 
Thanks for the informative narrative about the movements of Hood's Army of Tennessee after the battle of Atlanta into Alabama and Tennessee. The battles of Franklin and Nashville seem to command most of the attention as far as that army is concerned.
 
The army's route took them straight to Decatur actually.
@gunny Thank you for posting the additional info and answering @Delhi Rangers question. This all happened basically in my backyard. For some reason, I thought that Hood actually went to Guntersville, but finding the Tennessee River too high to cross, continued to Decatur and eventually Florence. Thanks for raising that question @Delhi Rangers otherwise, I guess I would have just continued to think that was true. :smile:

The History Channel's "Today in History" segment says:
"Oct 22, 1864 - On this day in 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood pulls his battered army into Guntersville, Alabama, but finds the Tennessee River difficult to cross. Plotting another attack against the Yankees, he continues traveling westward with his defeated army." http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hood-at-guntersville-alabama

But in his memoirs, Advance and Retreat: Personal Experiences in the United States and Confederate Armies, John Bell Hood would personally say:

"With twenty days rations in the haversacks and wagons, we marched, on the 22d of October, upon all the roads leading from Gadsden in the direction of Guntersville, on the Tennessee river, and bivouacked that night in the vicinity of Bennetsville. (See map below)

I here received information that General Forrest was near Jackson, Tennessee, and could not reach the middle portion of this State, as the river was too high. It would, therefore, be impossible for him to join me, if I crossed at Guntersville; as it was regarded as essential that the whole of Wheeler's cavalry remain in Georgia, I decided to deflect westward, effect a junction with Forrest, and then cross the river at Florence. General Beauregard sent orders to him to join me without delay; also dispatched a messenger to hasten forward supplies to Tuscumbia. [271]

The succeeding day, the movement was continued toward Florence, in lieu of Guntersville as I had expected. Lieutenant General Lee's Corps reached the Tennessee, near Florence, on the 30th; Johnson's Division crossed the river, and took possession of that town. My headquarters were during the 27th and 28th at the house of General Garth, near Decatur, where also stopped General Beauregard." http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2001.05.0056:chapter=16

Bennetsville, AL, referenced by Hood as the place he camped Oct 22, 1864, no longer exists, but this map shows its historical location.

Hood camp on way to Gville.PNG
 
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