- Joined
- Apr 4, 2017
- Location
- Denver, CO
As it became a siege, Grant took over the intelligence reports, which meant he began to gather information about food supplies in Richmond and the condition of the Confederate railroads.
Then Farragut and Granger closed Mobile Bay to the blockade smugglers. That made the Confederates dependent on the ports of Wilmington and Charleston to handle such freight as passed through the blockade.
Next in a detailed operation Warren's 5th Corps occupied the Weldon RR. That meant the Confederates had to maintain more track and put more miles on the locomotives that were still operational. Supplies could still get into Richmond, but the roads between North Carolina had already been damaged and most likely were only partially repaired.
The next step was Sherman gaining access to Atlanta. That shut down the roundhouse, and the machine shops there and dispersed the mechanics who had been working there. Like Altoona, PA in the paid labor states, Atlanta was a small town but a very important railroad hub. Locomotives in that era needed considerable maintenance. The Confederates lost Atlanta and there were few places in the Confederacy that perform that task.
That completed the siege, without directly encircling Richmond.
The livestock starves first. But the soldiers lose weight as the rations are restricted.
Then Farragut and Granger closed Mobile Bay to the blockade smugglers. That made the Confederates dependent on the ports of Wilmington and Charleston to handle such freight as passed through the blockade.
Next in a detailed operation Warren's 5th Corps occupied the Weldon RR. That meant the Confederates had to maintain more track and put more miles on the locomotives that were still operational. Supplies could still get into Richmond, but the roads between North Carolina had already been damaged and most likely were only partially repaired.
The next step was Sherman gaining access to Atlanta. That shut down the roundhouse, and the machine shops there and dispersed the mechanics who had been working there. Like Altoona, PA in the paid labor states, Atlanta was a small town but a very important railroad hub. Locomotives in that era needed considerable maintenance. The Confederates lost Atlanta and there were few places in the Confederacy that perform that task.
Then Sheridan occupied the lower and then the middle Shenandoah Valley and concentrated on destroying or confiscating any food and forage located near a road or a railroad. Farms further back in the hills were not valuable, and I think many of those were left alone.
That completed the siege, without directly encircling Richmond.
The livestock starves first. But the soldiers lose weight as the rations are restricted.
Bringing the