Laid-back Sherman

[wilber6150]

Of course the Confederates fired first. That's a pretty good CYA order. Thanks for posting it. I hadn't found it yet.

It's been mentioned that the city of Vicksburg was bombarded as well. Does anyone know if Grant had any communications with Pemberton prior to the bombardment? I'm weak on alot of the western battles.

dvrmte

Ummmm dont fire into town unless fired from the town...Looks like a pretty valid order, would you have your troops just standing there being shot at and not fire back....

 

[dvrmte]

At the risk of commandeering the thread, one last post concerning "Went with the Wind" starring Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Dinah Shore...for our younger viewers who may not have ever seen it.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/a1...-show-part-of-2-from-greatest-comedy-sketches

Thanks for the flash from the past! I would cry if she rolled down that staircase one more time.

 

[wilber6150]

This wasn't just Sherman with his artillary ringing the city ordering them to fire.. July 20, was the day they started ongoing operations with all the Corps to take the city. This puts the situation into a new perspective...In fact, I cant seem to find any other orders from this day that is related to artillary being fried into the city...Even July 21, there was heavy fighting all along that area but nothing directed at the city itself...

 

[Baggage Handler #2]

Of course the Confederates fired first. That's a pretty good CYA order. Thanks for posting it. I hadn't found it yet.

It's been mentioned that the city of Vicksburg was bombarded as well. Does anyone know if Grant had any communications with Pemberton prior to the bombardment? I'm weak on alot of the western battles.

dvrmte

I'm unaware of any city in recorded history that did not suffer with one army holed up in it (or immediately around it) and another army closing in.

It's hard to imagine. I wouldn't expect Bragg to notify the citizens of Chattanooga before lobbing shot off Lookout Mountain. There's an army around; there's going to be violence. It isn't a cute game.

 

[dvrmte]

What is this in response to? I just saw it going through the OR's.


NEAR ATLANTA, July 21, 1864.
(Received 1 p. m. 22d.)
His Excellency President LINCOLN:
Your dispatch is received. I have the highest veneration for the law, and will respect it always, however it conflicts with my opinion of its propriety. I only telegraphed to General Halleck because I had seen no copy of the law, and supposed the War Department might have some control over its operations. When I have taken Atlanta and can sit down in some peace I will convey by letter a fuller expression of my views in relation to the subject.
With great respect,
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.

 

[K Hale]

What is this in response to? I just saw it going through the OR's.


NEAR ATLANTA, July 21, 1864.
(Received 1 p. m. 22d.)
His Excellency President LINCOLN:
Your dispatch is received. I have the highest veneration for the law, and will respect it always, however it conflicts with my opinion of its propriety. I only telegraphed to General Halleck because I had seen no copy of the law, and supposed the War Department might have some control over its operations. When I have taken Atlanta and can sit down in some peace I will convey by letter a fuller expression of my views in relation to the subject.
With great respect,
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.

It's a reply to something Lincoln wrote about recruiting stations being set up near Sherman's camps.

http://books.google.com/books?id=05...icts with my opinion of its propriety&f=false

(You have to scroll back a page.)

 

[K Hale]

It's been mentioned that the city of Vicksburg was bombarded as well. Does anyone know if Grant had any communications with Pemberton prior to the bombardment? I'm weak on alot of the western battles.

I don't know about Vicksburg, but since the subject has been brought up, I should say that when Stuart shelled Carlisle, he sent three messages telling Baldy Smith to get the women and children out, and Smith refused to do it.

I'll also add that no one was hurt.

 

[wilber6150]

The Plot Thickens

HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
July 21, 1864-7.30 p. m.

Received since my return to quarters and forwarded.
This report confirms the impression I entertain my line is safe to the road to Atlanta. I have just had a conversation with "Tippen," who says the rebel guns were fired from the high hill which overlooks Atlanta. The prisoners say that fell into Atlanta on yesterday, producing great consternation. They also that General Stevens, commanding a brigade, was killed yesterday, and not Stevenson.
J. M. PALMER, Major-General.

Confederate artillary fire landing in Atlanta ?......So whos to say where the shells came from that killed the father and daughter that were described earlier in this thread.. Union overfiring or Confederates undershooting or using bad muntions....

http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=076/0217

 

[wilber6150]

The battle continues and we start to see orders relating to artillary being used on the city...

SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS,
HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISS., In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., Numbers 40.
July 21, 1864.
The operations of the enemy to-morrow, July 22, will be as follows:
I. Major-Generals McPherson, Schofield, and Howard will open a careful artillery fire on the town of Atlanta, directing their shots so as to produce the best effect, and each commander will endeavor to advance his line if it can be done without a direct assault on the enemy's parapets if held in force. They will keep their men well in hand to repel assault, or to follow to the enemy's main line of entrenchments.
II. Major-General Thomas, will put the whole or a part of General McCook's cavalry to watch the peninsula between Peach Tree Creek and the Chattahoochee, and will press his lines forward close upon the enemy, endeavoring to advance his right so as to extend across the railroad and main road from Marietta.
By order of Major General W. T. Sherman:
L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp.

http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=076/0222

 

[dvrmte]

I guess the Confederates had already fired first, you reckon? Hood had just attacked.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
Near Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864-12.30 p.m.

Major-General STANLEY:
GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you place all of your guns in position on your line for the purpose of firing into Atlanta and the forts around the same. Open fire at 3 p. m. All of the batteries on your left will open at the same time. Fire southwest, or on the prolongation of the roads upon which you marched toward the town. General Sherman wishes you to pass word along the lines to your right, to Wood, Newton, Hooker, Thomas, &c., that you and the forces to your left will fire, and explain to them the cause of it.


By order of Major-General Howard:
J. S. FULLERTON, Assistant Adjutant-General.

 

[wilber6150]

If anyone has the time and wants to read a thrilling account of the battle of Atlanta as it happens and described in dispatches please follow the links to the Or's I posted.. They are great and show how the battle is flowing back and forth, it also really shows Sherman as a great commander as he seems to really have a good grasp on how he wants to use his units to capture the city and Hood's army..I would say start around July 19th and just browse thru...Really good stuff...

 

[dvrmte]

I quit for tonight. We've got the grandkids over.

It's been informative.

dvrmte

 

[wilber6150]

I guess the Confederates had already fired first, you reckon? Hood had just attacked.

It seems like there was a series of very severe battles and desparate fighting all along the front, as the Union forces closed in on the city..The Union forces weren't in a set seige, at this point..They were maneuvering around trying to find a weak point in Hood's defenses..So this account of a general cannonaiding of the city on that date doesn't really jive with or's.. Seems more likely that the city at this point was getting the occasional errant shells from both sides hitting it.. Otherwise, it wouldnt be worth nothing that the city was hit by artillary fire if it was happening all the time.

 

[dvrmte]

If anyone has the time and wants to read a thrilling account of the battle of Atlanta as it happens and described in dispatches please follow the links to the Or's I posted.. They are great and show how the battle is flowing back and forth, it also really shows Sherman as a great commander as he seems to really have a good grasp on how he wants to use his units to capture the city and Hood's army..I would say start around July 19th and just browse thru...Really good stuff...

I've been reading right along with you. I want to read more from the Confederate side now.

It flows well with the battle so far.

dvrmte

 

[wilber6150]

Im wondering, but haven''t seen yet what targets he wanted his artillary to hit..He mentions a "careful artillary attack on the ground", careful to hit what and to avoid what?