In the process of posting the finished TL. Please visit The Union Forever: A TL for the active timeline.
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The Union Forever
January-May 1862
Union fortunes were looking up in the early months on 1862. After a largely lackluster performance for most of 1861, Federal troops scored a series of impressive victories against the South. Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured the Confederate Forts Donnellson and Henry on February 6 and 16, opening up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. Nashville, then the capital of Tennessee, fell by the end of the Month. The Union even managed a costly victory at the Battle of Shiloh on April 7. On the Mississippi River, Brigadier General John Pope captured Island Number 10 and over 7,000 prisoners on April 8. These successes earned Grant and Pope promotions to Major General. Further south New Orleans, the largest port in the Confederacy, fell to Admiral Farragut and General Butler on May 1 crippling the Confederate’s use of the Mississippi. Union forces were also making impressive headway by capturing points along the Confederate coastline.
Confederate reverses had severely dampened Confederate spirits. When Jefferson Davis was formally installed as the President of the Confederate States of America, previously he had just been provisional president, on a rainy day in Richmond an onlooker asked one of Davis’s footmen why he and President Davis were dressed in black suites. The footman responded with “Well Ma’am this is how we always have done in Richmond for funerals and such.” And with the large Army of the Potomac hovering north of the city many in the Confederacy were wondering whether their secessionist experiment might soon unravel.
The Beginning of the Peninsula Campaign and McClellan’s Accident
With these successes in the west, Lincoln naturally pressed for similar results in the east. Unfortunately President Lincoln and his eastern generals differed as to the preferred method. Lincoln desired the obvious choice of an overland campaign from Washington to destroy Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Northern Virginia and capture the Confederate capital. The President however eventually bowed to General McClellan’s plan to land the Army of the Potomac on the Virginia coast and then move onto Richmond.
The Union had been making steady but painfully slow progress up the Peninsular between the James and York Rivers since March capturing Yorktown, the former colonial capital of Williamsburg, and the vital naval base of Norfolk. At Norfolk, the Confederates destroyed the ironclad CSS Merrimack to prevent her from falling into Union hands.
On May 12, Major General McClellan must have been feeling very pleased with himself after the recent capture of Norfolk against what he consistently believed to be “vastly superior rebel numbers.” Whether this sense of overconfidence helped McClellan not see the shard of metal in the road on that spring morning however is lost to history. Around 8:00 AM after a light breakfast with some of his lieutenants, McClellan mounted his horse Baldy to inspect the camp and make his rounds amongst the troops. Sadly for McClellan, while trotting at a good pace along a fence line near Headquarters, Baldy picked up 6 inch sliver of metal that was protruding from the road. Whether this piece of metal was placed there intentionally has never been proven. Because of the speed at which Baldy was traveling the shard went through the forward right hoof. McClellan, despite being a confident horseman, was thrown when Baldy came to an abrupt and jerking stop. McClellan would in all probability have been fine if it was not for the fence that ran alongside the road. As McClellan fell the fence caught him in the lower back breaking his spine. Captain Jeremiah O’Connor, one of McClellan’s aids was the first to reach McClellan. McClellan’s first words to O’Connor after realizing that he could not move his legs were “Who will save the Union now?”
Major General George McClellan
Army of the Potomac
Commander: July 26, 1861-May 13, 1862
General Sumner Takes Command
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After being examined, Army surgeon Charles Hoffmann stated what McClellan already knew, that he was paralyzed from the waist down. News quickly spread of McClellan’s incapacitation. The soldiers of the Army of the Potomac were needless to say devastated by the news of their commander's fall especially in the middle of a campaign. When President Lincoln heard the news, Lincoln is reported to have sighed, hung his head, and muttered “the one time the General takes my advice to move quickly he breaks his back.” To many this seems to have come at the worst time while Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was making himself a profound nuisance in the Shenandoah Valley and the Army of the Potomac was tied up on the Virginia Peninsula. Although despite cables from McClellan that he could still command from his HQ, Lincoln and Halleck both agreed that he would need to be evacuated and a new commander appointed.
Union fortunes were looking up in the early months on 1862. After a largely lackluster performance for most of 1861, Federal troops scored a series of impressive victories against the South. Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured the Confederate Forts Donnellson and Henry on February 6 and 16, opening up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. Nashville, then the capital of Tennessee, fell by the end of the Month. The Union even managed a costly victory at the Battle of Shiloh on April 7. On the Mississippi River, Brigadier General John Pope captured Island Number 10 and over 7,000 prisoners on April 8. These successes earned Grant and Pope promotions to Major General. Further south New Orleans, the largest port in the Confederacy, fell to Admiral Farragut and General Butler on May 1 crippling the Confederate’s use of the Mississippi. Union forces were also making impressive headway by capturing points along the Confederate coastline.
Confederate reverses had severely dampened Confederate spirits. When Jefferson Davis was formally installed as the President of the Confederate States of America, previously he had just been provisional president, on a rainy day in Richmond an onlooker asked one of Davis’s footmen why he and President Davis were dressed in black suites. The footman responded with “Well Ma’am this is how we always have done in Richmond for funerals and such.” And with the large Army of the Potomac hovering north of the city many in the Confederacy were wondering whether their secessionist experiment might soon unravel.
The Beginning of the Peninsula Campaign and McClellan’s Accident
With these successes in the west, Lincoln naturally pressed for similar results in the east. Unfortunately President Lincoln and his eastern generals differed as to the preferred method. Lincoln desired the obvious choice of an overland campaign from Washington to destroy Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Northern Virginia and capture the Confederate capital. The President however eventually bowed to General McClellan’s plan to land the Army of the Potomac on the Virginia coast and then move onto Richmond.
The Union had been making steady but painfully slow progress up the Peninsular between the James and York Rivers since March capturing Yorktown, the former colonial capital of Williamsburg, and the vital naval base of Norfolk. At Norfolk, the Confederates destroyed the ironclad CSS Merrimack to prevent her from falling into Union hands.
On May 12, Major General McClellan must have been feeling very pleased with himself after the recent capture of Norfolk against what he consistently believed to be “vastly superior rebel numbers.” Whether this sense of overconfidence helped McClellan not see the shard of metal in the road on that spring morning however is lost to history. Around 8:00 AM after a light breakfast with some of his lieutenants, McClellan mounted his horse Baldy to inspect the camp and make his rounds amongst the troops. Sadly for McClellan, while trotting at a good pace along a fence line near Headquarters, Baldy picked up 6 inch sliver of metal that was protruding from the road. Whether this piece of metal was placed there intentionally has never been proven. Because of the speed at which Baldy was traveling the shard went through the forward right hoof. McClellan, despite being a confident horseman, was thrown when Baldy came to an abrupt and jerking stop. McClellan would in all probability have been fine if it was not for the fence that ran alongside the road. As McClellan fell the fence caught him in the lower back breaking his spine. Captain Jeremiah O’Connor, one of McClellan’s aids was the first to reach McClellan. McClellan’s first words to O’Connor after realizing that he could not move his legs were “Who will save the Union now?”
Major General George McClellan
Army of the Potomac
Commander: July 26, 1861-May 13, 1862
General Sumner Takes Command
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After being examined, Army surgeon Charles Hoffmann stated what McClellan already knew, that he was paralyzed from the waist down. News quickly spread of McClellan’s incapacitation. The soldiers of the Army of the Potomac were needless to say devastated by the news of their commander's fall especially in the middle of a campaign. When President Lincoln heard the news, Lincoln is reported to have sighed, hung his head, and muttered “the one time the General takes my advice to move quickly he breaks his back.” To many this seems to have come at the worst time while Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was making himself a profound nuisance in the Shenandoah Valley and the Army of the Potomac was tied up on the Virginia Peninsula. Although despite cables from McClellan that he could still command from his HQ, Lincoln and Halleck both agreed that he would need to be evacuated and a new commander appointed.
Major General Edwin Sumner
Army of the Potomac, Commander
With only limited discussion they both decided that Brig. General Edwin Vose Sumner, then the commander of the Army of the Potomac’s II Corps, would take command. Sumner was the logical choice being the senior general officer on the Peninsula. When word reached General Sumner of his appointed as commander along with his pending promotion to Major General he remarked “Leave it to General McClellan to hand me a situation like this.” Sumner however, as events would soon prove, more than up to the task
Meanwhie, the Union was suffering some staggering reverses in the Shenandoah Valley. Confederate Major General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson had, with his few thousand troops, been scoring a series of victories against the North since March in an effective effort to divert Union reinforcements from reaching McClellan on the Peninsula. Union forces had been largely unsuccessful in stopping Jackson despite their superior numbers.
The Death of Stonewall Jackson
Jackson’ impressive skill and luck did eventually run out. Confederate Major General Richard S. Ewell’s division was ordered to withdraw from the Valley to reinforce Richmond on May 20, 1862. Robert E. Lee pleaded to leave Ewell in the Valley to assist Jackson, but Jefferson Davis ordered Ewell’s redeployment because he believed that with the removal of McClellan a move against the supposedly weekend Army of the Potomac should take priority. Two days later Jackson and the few remaining thousands of his "foot cavalry" were engaged by General Banks’ forces near the city of Strasbourg, Virginia. The battle seemed to be going well for the Confederates until Jackson, who was standing as did “Like a stone wall”, was struck from his horse by a Union bullet to the neck. Jackson bleed out within minutes and the sorrow and confusion surrounding his death led to the Union emerging victorious, capturing the bulk of the late Stonewall’s men.
Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
January 21, 1824-May 22, 1862
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Sumner Advances
General Sumner upon inheriting command of the Army of the Potomac wasted no time in continuing to drive up the Peninsula towards Richmond. Reports of Stonewall Jackson’s death at Strasbourg, Virginia was welcomed news as this meant that the Union Army of Virginia under Major General John Pope was now free to press the Confederates from the north.
The Confederates were in a bind. Richmond was in serious danger of becoming encircled with Sumner’s Army of the Potomac advancing up the Peninsular in the east and Pope’s Army of Virginia heading south, placing it in a position to envelope the city and cut Richmond’s supply lines. Furthermore, Southern morale was plummeting and desertions rose as a result of the Yankees advancing ever closer to the Confederate capital in addition to the death of Stonewall Jackson.
Jefferson Davis along with his military aid General Robert E. Lee met with General Johnston at his headquarters on May 25. Davis, with Lee’s encouragement, felt that Johnston should move offensively against Sumner on the Peninsula. They felt that if the Army of the Potomac suffered a serious reversal it would retreat down the Peninsula allowing Confederate forces to then turn against Pope in the north. Johnston however, largely due to his numerical inferiority, believed in a more defensive strategy. He hoped that Sumner would grind his army to a pulp as the Army of Northern Virginia fell back to Richmond. Johnston also suggested that Ewell’s troops, bolstered by some reinforcements from his own army, could hold Pope’s force in check. Davis for now agreed to Johnston’s defensive strategy but stated that if an opportunity to move against Sumner appeared Johnston should take it.
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Battle of the Chickahominy
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The Battle of the Chickahominy, known as the Four Days Battle to the South, started with Major General Sumner leading a general advance against the Confederate defensive positions outside of Richmond on June 1, 1862. Although Johnston had diverted troops to prop up his northern defenses the Confederates managed to hold their works against Union attacks for most of June 1 and 2. On the evening of June 2, in light of apparent Southern success, President Davis ordered Johnston to counterattack the Army of the Potomac in the morning. Although Johnston was wary of switching to the offensive, he realized the significance that a successful attack would have. Historians have also debated whether Johnston feared being relieved by Davis if he refused to attack. On June 3 Johnston ordered a counterattack against the Union’s left flank south of the Chickahominy River. The resulting Confederate attacks pushed the Federal's IV Corp under Brigadier General Erasmus Keyes back almost a mile. However around 4:00 p.m. the Confederate forces, who had suffered heavy casualties, ran out of steam as they encountered Union entrenchments anchored a few hundred yards from the Chickahominy River. By 6:45 p.m. General Johnston was forced to call off the advance.
On the night of June 3 both sides stopped to mull over the situation. Davis and Johnston were relatively pleased with the day’s results. The Federals had been pushed back and Davis believed that Sumner would atleast withdraw his troops to the north side of the Chickahominy to consolidate his forces. Sumner however, had different plans. Sumner believed, correctly as events would show, that Johnston’s center must have been stretched dangerously thin and that he probably did not expect the North to resume the battle the next day. That night Sumner ordered Brigadier General John Sedgwick’s II Corps to prepare pontoon bridges for use the next morning. At a council of war Sumner convened that night, his generals were surprised to hear that despite the day’s losses the Army of the Potomac would again attack the Confederates who were now exposed outside of their defenses.
Around 7:30 a.m. on June 4, the Union line exploded by launching one of the heaviest artillery barrages of the war. Within an hour the Union’s left and center were surging against the weakened Confederate lines. The Union’s right under General Porter was also making considerable headway and was threatening to turn the Confederate left. By 1:00 p.m. the Confederate right was in danger of being cut off by Sedgwick’s advance and began a headlong retreat west towards Richmond. The Union continued to advance the rest of the day and although casualties were high on both sides the Confederates, due to their inferior numbers, were forced to fall back to within only a few miles of Richmond itself.
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The Fall of Richmond
On the night of June 4 President Jefferson Davis was forced to listen to the advice of Johnston and Lee who informed him that Richmond must be abandoned. There decision to evacuate Richmond was also influenced by an erroneous report that Major General Ewell had been defeated by Major General Pope at Gordonsville, Virginia the same day. In reality Pope had been checked by Ewell and had fallen back. Regardless, much of the Confederate governments records and treasury had already been packed and was ordered shipped to Greensboro, North Carolina. Jefferson Davis and most of the other members of the Confederate Government left Richmond in the predawn hours of June 5, 1862.
The Battle of Richmond was anticlimactic as Confederate forces fighting a regard action moved through the city heading south. Attempts to burn the city to prevent its infrastructure and munitions falling into Yankee hands were only partially successful. Nevertheless several fires destroyed swaths of the city. On the morning of June 6, 1862 Union forces entered the capital of the Confederacy. When the Stars and Stripes was raised over the Virginia Capitol building a Union private yelled to Major General Sumner “If only Little Mac could see us now!”
Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
January 21, 1824-May 22, 1862
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Sumner Advances
General Sumner upon inheriting command of the Army of the Potomac wasted no time in continuing to drive up the Peninsula towards Richmond. Reports of Stonewall Jackson’s death at Strasbourg, Virginia was welcomed news as this meant that the Union Army of Virginia under Major General John Pope was now free to press the Confederates from the north.
The Confederates were in a bind. Richmond was in serious danger of becoming encircled with Sumner’s Army of the Potomac advancing up the Peninsular in the east and Pope’s Army of Virginia heading south, placing it in a position to envelope the city and cut Richmond’s supply lines. Furthermore, Southern morale was plummeting and desertions rose as a result of the Yankees advancing ever closer to the Confederate capital in addition to the death of Stonewall Jackson.
Jefferson Davis along with his military aid General Robert E. Lee met with General Johnston at his headquarters on May 25. Davis, with Lee’s encouragement, felt that Johnston should move offensively against Sumner on the Peninsula. They felt that if the Army of the Potomac suffered a serious reversal it would retreat down the Peninsula allowing Confederate forces to then turn against Pope in the north. Johnston however, largely due to his numerical inferiority, believed in a more defensive strategy. He hoped that Sumner would grind his army to a pulp as the Army of Northern Virginia fell back to Richmond. Johnston also suggested that Ewell’s troops, bolstered by some reinforcements from his own army, could hold Pope’s force in check. Davis for now agreed to Johnston’s defensive strategy but stated that if an opportunity to move against Sumner appeared Johnston should take it.
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Battle of the Chickahominy
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The Battle of the Chickahominy, known as the Four Days Battle to the South, started with Major General Sumner leading a general advance against the Confederate defensive positions outside of Richmond on June 1, 1862. Although Johnston had diverted troops to prop up his northern defenses the Confederates managed to hold their works against Union attacks for most of June 1 and 2. On the evening of June 2, in light of apparent Southern success, President Davis ordered Johnston to counterattack the Army of the Potomac in the morning. Although Johnston was wary of switching to the offensive, he realized the significance that a successful attack would have. Historians have also debated whether Johnston feared being relieved by Davis if he refused to attack. On June 3 Johnston ordered a counterattack against the Union’s left flank south of the Chickahominy River. The resulting Confederate attacks pushed the Federal's IV Corp under Brigadier General Erasmus Keyes back almost a mile. However around 4:00 p.m. the Confederate forces, who had suffered heavy casualties, ran out of steam as they encountered Union entrenchments anchored a few hundred yards from the Chickahominy River. By 6:45 p.m. General Johnston was forced to call off the advance.
On the night of June 3 both sides stopped to mull over the situation. Davis and Johnston were relatively pleased with the day’s results. The Federals had been pushed back and Davis believed that Sumner would atleast withdraw his troops to the north side of the Chickahominy to consolidate his forces. Sumner however, had different plans. Sumner believed, correctly as events would show, that Johnston’s center must have been stretched dangerously thin and that he probably did not expect the North to resume the battle the next day. That night Sumner ordered Brigadier General John Sedgwick’s II Corps to prepare pontoon bridges for use the next morning. At a council of war Sumner convened that night, his generals were surprised to hear that despite the day’s losses the Army of the Potomac would again attack the Confederates who were now exposed outside of their defenses.
Around 7:30 a.m. on June 4, the Union line exploded by launching one of the heaviest artillery barrages of the war. Within an hour the Union’s left and center were surging against the weakened Confederate lines. The Union’s right under General Porter was also making considerable headway and was threatening to turn the Confederate left. By 1:00 p.m. the Confederate right was in danger of being cut off by Sedgwick’s advance and began a headlong retreat west towards Richmond. The Union continued to advance the rest of the day and although casualties were high on both sides the Confederates, due to their inferior numbers, were forced to fall back to within only a few miles of Richmond itself.
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The Fall of Richmond
On the night of June 4 President Jefferson Davis was forced to listen to the advice of Johnston and Lee who informed him that Richmond must be abandoned. There decision to evacuate Richmond was also influenced by an erroneous report that Major General Ewell had been defeated by Major General Pope at Gordonsville, Virginia the same day. In reality Pope had been checked by Ewell and had fallen back. Regardless, much of the Confederate governments records and treasury had already been packed and was ordered shipped to Greensboro, North Carolina. Jefferson Davis and most of the other members of the Confederate Government left Richmond in the predawn hours of June 5, 1862.
The Battle of Richmond was anticlimactic as Confederate forces fighting a regard action moved through the city heading south. Attempts to burn the city to prevent its infrastructure and munitions falling into Yankee hands were only partially successful. Nevertheless several fires destroyed swaths of the city. On the morning of June 6, 1862 Union forces entered the capital of the Confederacy. When the Stars and Stripes was raised over the Virginia Capitol building a Union private yelled to Major General Sumner “If only Little Mac could see us now!”
The Virginia State Capitol in Union occupied Richmond
June 6, 1862
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