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   THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY IN THE CIVIL WAR

BY

JOHN FISKE

Bellum atrox, multiplex, immane, pertinax cui simile nulla usquam narrat antiquitas

John Andes, De Rebus Geticti, xl.

BOSTON AND NEW YORK houghton, mifflin and company

1900

 
   COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY JOHN FISKE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
   TO

MY OLD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE

MARSHALL SOLOMON SNOW

PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE    WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AT ST. LOUIS THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 
    
   PREFACE

In the course of my annual visit to St. Louis, in the spring of 1886,1 gave four lectures in the great theatre of the Exposition Building, in aid of the fund for erecting a monument to General Grant. These lectures touched upon many of the points treated in chapters i.   viii. of the present work, ending with the battle of Chattanooga. It is pleasant to remember the warm interest shown in the lectures by General Sherman, who " presided " on each occasion, and enlivened the suppers which followed with his abounding good-fellowship and his flashes of quaint wit. Those were evenings not to be forgotten.

The lectures     illustrated with maps, diagrams, views of towns and fortresses, landscapes and portraits, with the aid of the stereopticon     were given during two years in many cities north of Mason and Dixon's line, from Lewiston in Maine to Portland in Oregon. For illustrating battles a stereopticon is most useful, enabling a lecturer to throw upon the screen his diagrams and his landscapes by turns, so that each helps to elucidate the other. It is desirable, however, to keep a sharp lookout for acci- 
   vi Preface

dents ; as I was once rudely reminded in Buffalo, when my operator's hydrogen unexpectedly gave out, leaving me to expound the battle of Shiloh with nothing but a blackboard and piece of chalk!

After an interval of some years there was a renewed call for these lectures, and in the autumn of 1895 they were given in Sanders Theatre at Harvard University. The interest thus freshly aroused led me to prepare the present volume. It contains a great deal of material that I never put into the lectures, some of it written before 1886, some of it after. The ninth chapter, on the " crowning mercy " of Nashville, has been added quite lately.

The present volume does not belong to the series in which I have for several years been dealing with the history of the United States. Should I ever, in the course of that work, arrive at the Civil War, it will of course be treated on a very different plan from that of this book, which is a purely military narrative, restricted in its scope, and detached from the multitude of incidents which in a general history would form its context.

In preparing this narrative I have had due recourse to the abundant printed sources of information, and owe much besides to personal association with many of the actors. While the war was going on it was, to me as to others, a subject of most intense moment, and its incidents were burnt 
   Preface vii

into the tablets of memory. I kept large maps, and marked the movements of the Union and Confederate forces, as reported from day to day, with blue-headed and red-headed pins. Among the friends of my childhood who gave up their lives for their country, one in the army and another in the navy     General Mansfield and Commander Kenshaw   stand before me with especial vividness. In later years I valued highly the friendship of Sherman, McDowell, and Ericsson; and I had more or less acquaintance     sometimes slight, but unfailingly fruitful in suggestions   with Sheridan, Meade, McClellan, Rosecrans, Garfield, Gibbon, Pope, Geary, Francis Walker, "Baldy" Smith, Hazen, Hancock, Beauregard, Preston Johnston, and one of the noblest Romans of all, Joseph Johnston, whose hand-grip at eighty years of age was like that of a college athlete, and whose shrewd and kindly talk was as delightful as his presence was imposing.

Among those to whom specific thanks are due for valuable counsel must be mentioned Colonel Snead, chief of staff to Sterling Price and member of the Confederate congress, author of that excellent book, " The Fight for Missouri; " Major Hutchinson, chief of staff to General Bowen, whose heroic resistance to Grant is mentioned on page '230; Colonel Samuel Simmons, first on Lyon's staff and 
   viii Preface

later on that of Rosecrans ; Colonel Henry Hitchcock, of Sherman's staff; Colonel Henry Stone, of Thomas's staff ; General Fullerton, chief of staff to Gordon Granger ; General Fry, chief of staff to Buell; General Cullum, chief of staff to Halleck; and especially my dear friends, now passed away, Dr. Eliot, chancellor of Washington University, and Colonel Gantt, sometime of McClellan's staff, whose hospitable house was for many years my home during my visits to St. Louis.

To that profound student of military history, the late John Codman Ropes, my obligations are greater than I can express, not so much for any specific suggestions intended for this book, as for the liberal education which came from knowing him. During a peculiarly intimate friendship of thirty years, the cosy midnight hours that we spent in discussing his favourite themes were many and full of profit.

It may be observed that this book sometimes alludes to the Confederates as "rebels." I have been surprised to find how generally people seem* to think that some sort of stigma is implied by that word. For my own part, I have sympathized with so many of the great rebellions in history, from the revolt of the Ionian cities against Darius Hystaspes down to the uprising of Cuba against the Spaniards, that I am quite unable to conceive of " rebel " as a 
   Preface ix

term of reproach. In the present case, it enables one to avoid the excessive iteration of the word " Confederate," while it simply gives expression to the undeniable fact that our Southern friends were trying to cast off an established government. In England, to this day, Cromwell's admirers do not hesitate to speak with pride of the Great Rebellion. While my own sympathies have always been intensely Northern, as befits a Connecticut Yankee, I could still in all sincerity take off my hat to the statue of Lee when I passed it in New Orleans. His devotion to the self-government which seemed to him in mortal peril was no more reprehensible than the loyalty of Falkland to the prerogative of, Charles I., though in both cases the sentiments were evoked under circumstances which made them dangerous to the nation's welfare.

In treating such a subject as the present one, the difficulties in ensuring complete accuracy of statement and perfect soundness of judgment are manifold. If my opinions are sometimes strongly expressed, they are always held subject to revision.

Cambridge, February 24, 1900. 
    
   CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

FROM ST. LOUIS TO BELMONT

Scope of the present narrative......1

Importance of the border states in 1861   .... 2

Of Virginia..........3, 4

Of Maryland.........4,5

Of Kentucky and Missouri.......5, 6

Position of Missouri in the causal sequence of events . 6, 7 Some account of Francis Preston Blair and his family . . 8, 9 Claiborne Jackson and his schemes ..... 10 Nathaniel Lyon, and Blair's " Home Guards" . .10

Plots and counter-plots ; " rebellion against Missouri" . 11 President Lincoln, through General Scott, authorizes certain

gentlemen to act as a Committee of Safety . . .12 Lyon removes the arms from the arsenal and guards the

neighbouring hills .......13

The state troops select a camping - ground on Lindell's

Meadow and enclose it       ....... 13

Camp Jackson, its avenues and its denizens      ... 14 Why Blair and Lyon deemed prompt action necessary .      . 14 Arrival of arms from Baton Rouge   ..... 15

Hospitalities at Camp Jackson; a visitor in bombazine .     15, 16

A lady with spurs........16

Lyon summons the Committee of Safety      .      .      . .17

Replevin vs. capture   ........ 18

Camp Jackson surrenders to Lyon        .      .      .      . .19

A secessionist flag in Pine Street is hauled down . . 20 Colloquy on a street-car.......20 
   xii

Contents

The governor appoints Sterling Price to command his seces-

sionist militia.........21

Lyon and Blair have a conference with Jackson and Price

at the Planters' Hotel.......22

Lyon takes possession of Jefferson City . . . .22 And routs the secessionists at Booneville .... 23

Sigel's fight at Carthage......24, 25

Appointment of Fremont to command the Department of

the West.........25

Battle of Wilson's Creek, and death of Lyon     .     .     26, 27

His great qualities........28

Causes of Fremont's popularity.....28, 29

His " emancipation proclamation ".....29

His military incapacity .      .      .      .      . . .30

Fate of Mulligan's detachment at Lexington    .      .      .31, 32 Fremont is superseded by Hunter        ..... 33

Who in turn is superseded by Halleck     .... 34

Halleck's incapacity........34

Curtis defeats Van Dorn at Pea Bidge .... 35-37 Importance of these early campaigns . .     . .38 Affairs in Kentucky; attempt to preserve an attitude of

neutrality.........39, 4Q

Previous career of Leonidas Polk ; he enters Kentucky and

fortifies the bluffs at Columbus......41

Zollicoffer advances through Cumberland Gap ... 41

Kentucky declares for the Union......42

Previous career of Ulysses Simpson Grant ... 43 He is made brigadier-general of volunteers . . . .44 He seizes Paducah ; importance of the movement . . 45 Oglesby goes in pursuit of guerrillas . . . . .46 Grant defeats Pillow on the flats of Belmont ... 47 His troops disperse for pillage, but are with difficulty set in

order...........48

The Confederates attempt unsuccessfully to cut off their

retreat..........48,49 
   Contents xiii

Comments on the Belmont affair.....49-51

Grant's own comment.......51

CHAPTER II

FORT DONELSON AND SHILOH

The first Confederate line of defence.....52

Albert Sidney Johnston.......53

George Henry Thomas........54

He destroys Zollicoffer's force at Mill Spring ... 55 Grant captures Fort Henry   ..... . 56

Position of Fort Donelson.......57

Its commanders,     Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner . . .58 Grant moves upon Fort Donelson and invests it . . 58, 59 Artillery battle between fort and gunboats . . . .60 Sortie of the Confederate garrison ..... 61 Ferguson Smith storms the Confederate entrenchments . 62 While Lew Wallace seizes the Charlotte road and cuts off

their retreat........62,63

Escape of Floyd and Pillow....... 63

Grant's only terms: " Unconditional surrender "  .      . .63

Importance of the victory .......64

It completely shattered the first Confederate line of defence 65 Halleck's injustice toward Grant ..... 66-69 Strategic importance of Corinth       ..... 69

The assembling of forces at Corinth.....70

Arrival of Braxton Bragg......70, 71

Importance of Pittsburg Landing......71

Opinion of the Count of Paris   ...... 72

The position at Pittsburg Landing       .... 72-74

Arrangement of the Federal forces at Shiloh ... 73 The open front between Owl and Lick creeks . . .74 The eve of battle; difference of opinion between Johnston

and Beauregard........75

ow far were the Federals surprised at Shiloh ?  .      . .76 
   xiv

Contents

Grant was not expecting any attack on Sunday morning, nor

was Sherman......... 77

The Federals were surprised        ...... 78

The opening attack on Prentiss's division . . . 78, 79 Grant hastens up from Savannah Landing and meets Lew

Wallace at Crump's Landing......79

How Wallace's march was delayed ..... 80 Grant's order should have been more specific      .      . .81

Johnston's plan of attack.......81

The slow pushing back of Prentiss       ..... 82

And of MeClernand and Sherman.....82, 83

Glorious stand of Prentiss in the " Hornet's Nest," supported

by Hurlbut and William Wallace.....84

Heath of Johnston........ 84

Victory was not within his grasp ; grave mistake in his

tactics..........85

The long stoppage at the Hornet's Nest was fatal to the Confederates .........85, 86

Prentiss is captured and William Wallace mortally wounded 86 Failure of the Confederates to take Pittsburg Landing . 87 Difference of opinion between Bragg and Beauregard . 88 The fundamental facts in the case       .      .      .      . .89

Arrival of Nelson and Lew Wallace.....90

Buell's arrival at Savannah on Saturday evening . . .91 Nelson's report of Grant's expectations on that evening . 91 Grant's letter to Buell written Sunday noon . . . .92 How Buell and Grant spent the remainder of the day     . 92

A cold bivouac in the rain.......93

Arrival of Crittenden and McCook.....94

The opposing forces on Monday ..... 94, 95 Conditions of Monday's battle ; defeat of the Confederates . 96 Why was there no pursuit after Shiloh ? . . . . 97, 98 Sherman's humorous explanation   ...... 99

Terrible slaughter     .      .         .....99

Significance of the battle.......100 
   Contents

XV

CHAPTER IH

THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS

The second Confederate line of defence       .... 101

Island Number Ten........101

Pope captures New Madrid   ....... 102

How the Federal army sawed out a channel through the submerged forest        ........ 103

How the Carondelet ran past the batteries   .      .      . 104, 105 Surrender of the garrison; results of the victory     .      . 106 Importance of rivers and of the river fleets in the Civil War   .     .     .      .     .     .     .     .     '.     . 107,108

The Titanic work done by the navy  .... 10S-110

Naval inferiority of the South.....110, 111

Military importance of New Orleans.....112

Need for prompt action ....... 113

Views of President Lincoln and Commander Porter .      . 114 Benjamin Franklin Butler, his military qualifications   .      . 115 Previous career of David Farragut; he is appointed to command the fleet.......115, 116

Character of the fleet    ........ 117

Forts Jackson and St. Philip......118

The chain of anchored schooners, and the Confederate rams 119

A difficult task for wooden vessels.....120

Porter bombards Fort Jackson ...... 121

Difference of opinion between Farragut and Porter      . 121, 122 The gunboat Itasca breaks the chain of schooners    .     122, 123 The fleet advances up the Mississippi river   .      .      . 123, 124 Farragut's flag-ship in danger   ...... 125

Destruction of the Confederate fleet; fate of the ram Manassas ...........126

Farragut's arrival at New Orleans     ....     127, 128 Surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip    .      .      . 12S, 129 Arrival of Butler; the selection of such a man to govern New Orleans was an insult to the people of the city .      . 129 
   xvi Contents

Opinion of the Count of Paris as to the execution of Mum-ford ...........130

The notorious " woman order ; " " Beast Butler " . 131, 132 Value of prompt action in warfare.....132

CHAPTER IV

FROM CORINTH TO STONE RIVER

Halleck takes the armies of Pope, Grant, and Buell, and

advances against Corinth....... 133

Which Beauregard forthwith evacuates    .... 134

Much cry and little wool.......135

Breaking of the second Confederate line of defence .      . 130

Naval battle at Memphis.......137

Van Dorn begins to fortify Vicksburg      .... 138

The Confederate ram Arkansas     ...... 139

Destruction of the Arkansas; Van Dorn fortifies Port Hudson       .     .'* . > "'.  .   *   '."'''. i       " . 140 A melancholy tale of lost opportunities        .... 141

Military and political importance of Chattanooga     .     142, 143

Mitchel's brilliant raid in Alabama.....143

Why Buell was " slow; " because he had an Old Man of the

Sea, yclept Halleck, bestriding his shoulders . . 144 Halleck's innocent hope that the enemy would do what he

desired him to do........145

Beauregard is superseded by Braxton Bragg, who leaves Van Dorn to cover Vicksburg, while he himself seizes

Chattanooga.........145

How Halleck frittered away a golden opportunity . . 146 How the said Halleck was called to Washington as general-in-chief, because of Grant's victory at Fort Donelson, Grant's and Buell's at Shiloh, and other western successes 147 How he forthwith proceeded to do as the enemy wished by removing McClellan's army from the James river, and thus exposing the northern states to invasion    .... 148

38 
   Contents

xvn

Bragg is emulous of Lee, and prepares the way by great

cavalry raids......... 149

Meanwhile Buell is " slow " because the government will give him no help in getting cavalry, but expects him to chase

cavalry with infantry ........ 149

Kirby Smith defeats Nelson at Richmond, in Kentucky   . 149

Bragg invades Kentucky      ....... 150

Panic throughout the northern states        .... 151

Defect in the Confederate strategy; Kirby Smith's movements should have been distinctly controlled by Bragg;

too many cooks......... 152

Battle of Perryville........ 153

Battle of Iuka......... 154

Rosecrans defeats Van Dorn at Corinth    .... 155

Van Dorn is unwisely superseded by Pemberton   .      .      . 155

Buell is made a scapegoat for Halleck .... 156 How Buell incurred the enmity of Oliver Morton and Andrew

Johnson.........157, 158

Buell is superseded by Rosecrans .... 159, 160 The battlefield of Stone river or Murfreesboro, and the

arrangement of the Confederate troops      .     ..      .      . 161

e arrangement of the Union troops at Stone river.      . 162

osecrans's plan of attack....... 163

ragg's plan of attack....... 164

aulty position of the Union right wing       .      .      . 165, 166

cCook's want of vigilance      ...... 167

he Confederate attack, and rout of two Union divisions 167, 168

he Union army thrown upon the defensive     .      .      . 169

heridan's magnificent fighting     ...... 170

homas stands invincible, while Rosecrans forms a new battle-

;front    ..     .     .                   .     .    ' .       \ 171

ailure of Bragg's original plan    ...... 172

erriflc but fruitless attacks upon Palmer, who holds the

Round Forest......... 173

he Confederates baffled....... 174 
   xviii

Contents

Results of the day's fighting ..... 175

Renewal of the battle ; retreat of the Confederates . . 176 Comments .     .     .      .      .     .      .     .     .     177, 178

CHAPTER V

THE VICKSBURG PROBLEM

Physical characteristics of the Mississippi river    .      .      . 179

The bayous.........180

The bluffs..........181

Mutual relations of Vicksburg and Port Hudson      .     182, 183 Unapproachableness of Vicksburg from the South       .      . 184 And from the north   ........ 185

How Halleck lost the opportunity in 1862    .... 186

Grant's position and forces at Corinth       .... 187

Grant's first movement against Vicksburg by way of the Mississippi Central railroad        ..... 188, 189

The outflanking strategy......189, 190

The task of supplying an army; difficulties and dangers

attendant upon lengthening the line of communications 191,192 Rivers more secure than lines of railroad  .      .      .     193, 194 Insecurity of Grant's position at Oxford        .      .      . 194, 195 Sherman moves down the Mississippi river against Vicksburg ..........196

Mr. Davis's mistake in reinforcing Vicksburg from Tennessee, rather than from Arkansas        ...... 197

Forrest's raid upon the railroads and telegraph lines in Tennessee     .      .      ...      .      .     '.      .      .      . 198

Van Dorn captures Holly Springs, and Grant is thus compelled to retreat upon Grand Junction      .... 199

Sherman is defeated at Chickasaw bayou  .      .      . 200-202

McClernand's ambitious schemes..... 202-205

Capture of Arkansas Post.......205

McClernand and his " star ".......206

Evils of amateur generalship......207 
   Contents xix

Why Grant moved to the west hank of the Mississippi . . 208 His first plan, thus abandoned, was the correct one, had he

been properly supported by the government . . . 209 The situation in front of Vicksburg ; various alternatives 210, 211

" Grant's big ditch "........212

The Lake Providence experiment.....213, 214

The Yazoo Pass experiment ..... 214-217 Fort Pemberton proves an insuperable obstacle . . 217, 218 The Big Sunflower experiment.....218-220

CHAPTER VI

THE FALL OF VICKSBTJBO

The armoured gunboats Queen of the West and Indianola 221,222 Moral effect of a dummy monitor ..... 222 Farragut's fleet runs past the batteries of Port Hudson . . 224 Complaints against Grant; a gloomy outlook . . 224, 225 Grant's dogged determination      ...... 225

Fresh alternatives........226

The great southward movement to Bruinsburg . . 227, 228 Grant crosses to the east bank of the Mississippi       .     228, 229

First victory ; at Port Gibson..... 229, 230

The Confederates evacuate Grand Gulf     .... 230 The critical moment in a great career   ..... 231 A situation bristling with difficulties        .... 232 Grant's sublime audacity ; he cuts loose from his communications ......... 233, 234

Grierson's extensive cavalry raid ..... 234 Grant moves eastward toward the city of Jackson .      .      . 235

Second victory; at Raymond......236

Third victory; at Jackson.......236

Pemberton completely hoodwinked ; Grant turns westward 237 Fourth victory ; at Champion's Hill; decisive . . . 238 Fifth victory; at Big Black river . . . 239 Fall of Haines Bluff........240 
   XX

Contents

A marvellous campaign.......241

Vicksburg is invested    ........ 242

Two unsuccessful assaults ; why the second one was made 243 Dismissal of McClernand for insubordination       .      .      . 244 The siege of Vicksburg ; mule meat in demand       .      . 245 Surrender of Vicksburg        ....... 246

The turning point of the Civil War.....247

CHAPTER VII

CHICK AMAUGA

Importance of Chattanooga   ....... 248

The loyal mountaineers of the Alleghanies      .      .      . 249 The upper Tennessee river not a good line of communications ...........250

How the opportunity was lost in 1862     .... 251

The cavalry raids of 1863 ....... 252

Their diligence in the destruction of railroads . . . 253 Why Rosecrans was so long in starting ..... 254 How Halleck tried to hasten matters, and how Rosecrans

snubbed him........ 254, 255

Comparative " slowness " of Rosecrans and Buell .      .      . 255

Rosecrans decides to move......256

By skilful manoeuvres he drives Bragg back upon Chattanooga  .......... 256, 257

Description of the difficult mountainous approaches to Chattanooga ......... 258-260

In moving over the mountains Rosecrans greatly extends

his front..........281

Bragg evacuates Chattanooga and moves to Lafayette     . 262 Seeds of disaster in the extension of the Union lines     .      . 262 Two alternatives presented to Rosecran3   .... 263

He chooses the wrong one     ...... 263, 264

An appalling situation      .      .      .      .      .      .      . 264

Bragg loses the golden opportunity.....265 
   Contents

xxi

Rosecrans slowly concentrates his forces; McCook's delay,

and its evil results........266

Arrival of Longstreet with his corps.....267

The problem at Chickamauga   ...... 268

First day of the battle........269

Morning of the second day ; the fatal order     .      .      . 270 The dire catastrophe ; rout of the Federal right wing   . 271, 272 An appalling crisis    ........ 272

Thomas, with the left wing, retreats to Horseshoe Ridge . 273 Some of the most desperate fighting recorded in history  . 274

The " Rock of Chickamauga "......275

osecrans and Garfield misinformed.....276

brave man stunned by sudden calamity .... 277 e battle was lost, but Thomas saved the army . . 278 "ul slaughter........ 279, 280

CHAPTER VIII

CHATTANOOGA

ragg seizes Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and lays siege to Rosecrans in Chattanooga     .      .      . 2S1, 282 Joseph Wheeler attacks the supply trains, and the rain proves even a worse enemy    ...... 283

Hooker arrives upon the scene with two corps     .      .      . 284 Grant is placed in command of all the forces west of the Alleghanies, and supersedes Rosecrans by Thomas      . 285 efferson Davis utters a prophecy from Pulpit Rock    .      . 286

Grant arrives at Chattanooga......287

A happy thought occurs to " Baldy " Smith .... 287 The scheme for opening a new line of communications

through Brown's Ferry......2S8, 289

Its complete success........290

Hooker occupies Lookout valley and repels a midnight

attack by Longstreet.......291

The siege of Chattanooga was thus raised    .      .     . 292 
   xxii

Contents

Bragg sends Longstreet into eastern Tennessee to crush

Burnside.........293

What could have induced him thus to -weaken his army ?    . 294 A possible explanation     ....... 295

Sherman starts from Vicksburg for Chattanooga, and shows that, while weighted with Halleck, he can move as slowly

as Buell......... .296

But a despatch from Grant frees him, and he arrives      . 297

Importance of Chickamauga station.....298

Sherman's stealthy advance toward it 298, 299

Thomas captures Orchard Knob and the adjacent hills    . 300 Breaking of the bridge at Brown's Ferry     .... 301

Sherman reaches the north end of Missionary Bidge .     301, 302 His disappointment       ....... 302, 303

Effect of the broken bridge upon Hooker's movements 303, 304 Geary leads the way up Lookout Mountain . . . 305 Hooker follows; storming of the mountain ; the " battle

above the clouds "........306

The stars and stripes hoisted over Pulpit Rock . . 307 Absurdity of the notion that the battle of Chattanooga was

fought as Grant originally planned it ... 307, 308 Progress of Sherman's attack upon Bragg's right . . 308 Hooker moves against Bragg's left by way of Rossville . 309 Bragg weakens his centre to strengthen his right . . 310 Grant decides to threaten Bragg's centre, in order to aid

Sherman's attack........ 310

The orders to the storming line.....311

Magnificent bayonet charge of Thomas's four divisions       . 311 Without orders they continue the charge up the slope of Missionary Ridge.........312

A moment of anxiety for Grant and Thomas       .      .      . 312 The four divisions reach the crest of the ridge and crush Bragg's centre       ........ 313

While Hooker routs his left wing; total defeat of the Confederates .........313,314 
   Contents

xxiii

Greatness of the Union victory . Grand scenery of the battlefield The Mississippi valley recovered

314

315

316

CHAPTER IX

NASHVILLE

At the beginning of 1864 each of the four cardinal victories

in the West had been won under the leadership of Grant . 317 But Lee, in the East, still maintained as bold a front as ever 317

Grant is made lieutenant-general and placed in command of all the armies of the United States    .... 318, 319

In his first Virginia campaign he was outgeneralled by Lee 320 The popular notion that Grant was averse to manoeuvring   . 321 In fact his manoeuvres were frequent and skilful      . 321,322 After three months of alternate hammering and manoeuvring, Grant's problem was reduced to detaining Lee at Petersburg until the whole Confederacy should be knocked away from behind him      ....... 323

The latter part of the work was done by the army with

which Sherman started from Chattanooga for Atlanta . 323 Sherman, having succeeded Grant in the chief command of the West, unites its three armies under McPherson,

Thomas, and Sehofield      .......324

Bragg is superseded by Joseph Johnston         .      .      . 324 Sherman's object is secondarily to take Atlanta, but primarily to destroy Johnston's army.....325

How the golden opportunity was lost at Resaca . 325, 326 Johnston, having been slowly pushed back upon Atlanta, is

superseded by Hood........327

Hood's previous career.......328

What the Union generals thought of his appointment . . 329 Finding it impossible, after hard fighting, to save Atlanta,

Need for unity of operations

318 
   xxiv

Contents

Hood evacuates it, and thus creates a difficult situation for

Sherman........ 330

Hood assumes the offensive and strikes at Sherman's communications .........331

He makes up his mind to invade Tennessee . . . 332 His dreams of glory, and his fatal delay at Tuscumhia . 333 Sherman marches to the sea-coast, leaving Thomas to dispose

of Hood..........334

Ought not Sherman to have left more men with Thomas ? . 335 Thomas's forces, present and prospective . . . 336, 337 Hood crosses the Tennessee river at Florence, and marches

northward..........337

Schofield's retreat through Spring Hill to Franklin .      . 338 Hood loses an opportunity     ....... 339

Position of the Federal army at Franklin .... 340

Further retreat upon Nashville ordered by Thomas . . 341 Furious charge of the Confederates upon the Federal lines at

Franklin......... 341, 342

They are defeated with terrible slaughter . . . 343, 344 Wilson defeats the Confederate cavalry .... 343 Sehofield effects a junction with Thomas at Nashville . . 344 Hood follows and entrenches himself close by . . 344, 345 Why Thomas was not ready to attack Hood .      .      . 345, 346

Grant's impatience........ 347

He sends Logan on a needless journey to Louisville, and going himself to Washington, is barely saved from committing a gross act of injustice   ...... 348

Grant's unsatisfactory account of this affair in his " Memoirs " 349 Position of Thomas's army at Nashville    .... 350

Position of Hood's army        ....... 351

Hood's imminent peril      ....... 352

Splendid tactics of Thomas...... 353, 354

Advance of the Federal right wing .... 354, 355 Outposts taken ; Hood's left wing broken .... 355 Hood's new position next day ; the salient at Shy Hill    . 356 
   Contents

xxv

The assault upon Overton Hill      ...... 357

The assaults upon Shy Hill; total rout of the Confederates 358 A pursuit of ten days, and annihilation of Hood's army . 359 Results of Thomas's great victory        .... 359, 360

MAPS

(All from    sketches by the author) The Campaigns in Tennessee and Kentucky Frontispiece The Strategic Position of Missouri    .      .      . Facing page 24

Fort Donelson, February 13-16, 1802 ..... 56

Shiloh, April 6, 1862, morning  ...... 74

Shiloh, April 6, 1862, evening......86

Shiloh, April 7, 1862, morning.......94

New Madrid and Island Number Ten, March 3-April 7,1S62 102 Stone River, December 31, 1862, morning .... 162 Stone River, December