The Legendary Confederacy: A Chronicle of the Southern War of Independence
- Thread starter Tricky Nicky
- Start date
Chapter One: The Union's Failure in Tennessee and Invading Kentucky
Tricky Nicky
Banned
Taken From “Southern Freedom: The 1st American Brothers War [1]” by Phillipe Joachim (1978) {Chapter 3: The Western Theatre Part I)
...Due to the importance of the Mississippi River to both sides in the war of Southern Independence, [2] The Confederacy was determined to defend the River at any costs. The two most important zones of control was Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee, both having the opportunity for the Union to invade Tennessee, the center of the Confederacy itself, if captured. Originally, the man in charge of the western theatre of the war, Albert Sidney Johnston, had intended for the forts to be a delaying action for him to recruit and prepare as many men as possible. The reason for this was, to Johnston at least, both forts were already lost. This was until Leonidas Polk suggested that he indeed reinforce the two forts with extra troops. Johnston was still a bit hesitant but after a short discussion with P.G.T. Beauregard, Johnson decided to give more aid to Fort Donnelson and ordered Fort Henry to be abandoned due to it's untenable position and 12,100 men to Fort Donnelson [3]. In February, when Union forces arrived at Fort Henry to capture them and when they arrived they saw no Confederate forces at Fort Henry and thus took it immediately. The next fight at Fort Donelson would happen 3 days later but the almost 24,000 men under the command of Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner and they had one goal: Delay the Union for as long as possible to give Albert Sidney Johnston more time to plan and prepare for an invasion of Kentucky as well as fortify Nashville, which was given to Major General John C. Brown with an additional 13,000 Men. [5] For 3 weeks, the Union Army of Tennessee attacked Fort Donelson. On February 7th, a day after Fort Henry's capture, Brigadier General Grant was taken from the western theatre and placed eastwards to aid in the Union Army’s plan to fight in Virginia. [6] On February 28th, the march to Fort Donelson happened with their new commander being named as John Alexander McClernand. Brigadier General McClernand, believing that a victory needed to happen early on to avoid an early siege, ordered an immediate assault on the fort in hopes of quickly taking it. The assault was repulsed like many thought it would be and thus McClernand was forced to settle in for a siege, one which the Confederates would indeed win.
For Johnston, the crucial time given due to the defense of Forts Henry and Donelson had allowed the Army of Mississippi to swell to the size of 45,000 Men, a large force that was truly ready to fight in March and Johnston found the perfect target. On March 6th, The Army of Ohio under General Don Carol had attacked and taken the critical city of Memphis, an important port on the Mississippi river and a city that was deep in Confederate territory. Many question why Buell had done this as his original target was Nashville, though some historians do theorize that because of how well entrenched the Confederate forces were at Donnelson and Henry and the Army of Mississippi expecting an attack from the Northern part of Tennessee, he decided to circumnavigate the way and take Memphis before taking Nashville as a way to split Confederate forces in the region. The only thing that could've prevented this and the ensuring battle was Major General Leonidas Polk's garrison at Columbus. Before the operation began, Polk was transferred to help reform the line for the Army of Mississippi while Grant in November of 1861 had assaulted the Confederate position at Belmont and Columbus under the command of Brigadier General Gideon Johnson Pillow. Columbus would finally fall to the horror of Confederate forces on January 3rd, opening up the Mississippi to a Union incursion. [7]. On March 2nd, due to Columbus, Kentucky being under Union control thus meaning there was no real threat to them, the Army of Ohio and General Don Carlos Buell attacked Memphis due to the more secure position at Donelson and the fortification of Nashville's northern sector convincing Buell that a better and more cautious position would be attacking Nashville from Memphis, though the Army of Mississippi would meet Johnston at Memphis on the 7th of March, two days after Memphis had fallen itself. Johnston did not a feel like a siege would be necessary or would be needed and thus decided to attempt to draw Buell out of the city for a pitched Defensive battle. Johnston would find the perfect position on March 9th at Holly Springs, Mississippi. Reinforcing the position with entrenchments and heavy duty fortifications, Johnston was planning for Buell to attack him in a pitched Defensive Battle on his terms. By March 12th, The entrenchments were ready and Johnston was itching for a battle. At the same time, 2 more attempts to take Fort Donnelson had failed as well as a short 2 hour break in the Union lines allowing 4529 Confederate Militia to enter the fort and help reinforce Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner in defending the force while Nashville had been reinforced by an additional 5,000 recruits as well as the city continuing to receive better and better fortifications. The war in the west, it seemed, was not going to be a quick victory like Union forces had originally thought.
On March 14th, Johnston sent Major General Leonidas Polk to lure Buell out of Memphis and to Holly Springs. Polk did as asked and with his small Corps of 19,000, attacked Memphis at crucial points which drew the attention of Buell. Despite some hesitation from Buell [8], a push from the I Corps under Major General Alexander McDowell McCook. This push led to the I going out of the city and heading to Johnston position, forcing the Army of the Ohio to follow them or lose a Corps to Confederate forces. By the early morning hours of March 15th, Polk had successfully returned to the Army of Mississippi with only 100 wounded and 25 dead due to his assault being short and quick. Taking position to help reinforce P.G.T. Beauregard on the Left Flank, the Confederate Army was ready for battle at 7:25 AM. Finally, at 9:25, the I Corps of the Army of Ohio appeared over the horizon and began to fight with the right flank under the command of William Joseph Hardee and at 10:00 AM, the Army of Ohio had appeared to help reinforce McCook and defeat the Army of Mississippi. For the Entire day, the Army of Ohio would attempt to attack Johnston’s position only to be repulsed again and again. On March 16th, A second Union attempt at a breakthrough was attempted only to be repulsed just like the day prior. The I Corps, under more stress than the rest of the army, was hit by an attack by the II Corps of Tennessee under the command of Brigadier General Daniel Smith Donelson. The 15th Arkansas under Cleburne performed especially well, striking the Flank of the Corps hard enough that it slowly began to route and retreat from the battlefield. With The Union Left beginning to fold under the pressure, Johnston ordered Hardee to push harder on the Union Left as the Tennessee II Corps and the 15th Arkansas began to hammer The Union forces on the left before they began to waver from the Confederate assault.
At 3:15 PM, Hardee pushed the Union Left Flank like he was ordered to and smashed into the center of the Union Left. The III Corps under Charles Champion Gilbert was especially hit hard as Hardee hit the III Corps hard and refused to give on it. Finally, at 4:51 PM, The Union Left routed under the pressure of Hardee’s assault. The Army of Ohio, however, continued to give battle at Holly Springs with an assault on the Confederate Center. The battle would last until 8:12 PM when both forces called it quits and began to retire for the night. The Army of Ohio had indeed been battered roughly but was still on the field and ready for combat and the I Corps had returned in the middle of the night as well as the III Corps while the II Corps continued to remain to fight the battle. At 7:33 AM on March 17th, Buell, in one last desperate attempt to win the battle, ordered the 9th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and 34th Brigades to reinforce his lines after the large gap had opened due to the I Corps severe battering. At 8:40 AM, Buell ordered one desperate attack on the Confederate line in a final try to break them. Buell, a cautious commander, believed that if his attack failed the battle was over. The Union line attempted to march towards the entrenched AoM but was cut down by Confederate Artillery. When the Union line was within musket range, the Confederate infantry opened up with Volley after Volley. At 9:15 AM, the Union line shattered and retreated. At 9:25 AM, 48 Hours exactly to win the battle started, Buell ordered a general retreat, not wanting to risk anymore men. The Battle of Holly Springs was a Decisive Confederate Victory with the Army of Ohio, once a major fighting force of 56,000, had now been devastated while the Army of Mississippi came out on top. It was, at the time, the deadliest Battle of the Civil War with 5230 Union Wounded and 4320 Union dead against the Confederate’s 3000 Wounded and 2250 Dead.
Within 24 hours, Johnston would chase Buell out of Holly Springs and right into Memphis, where a 5 hour siege began. Buell, realizing there was still a chance to escape a possible surrender via using Union gunboats on the Mississippi, decided to evacuate as many soldiers as possible, which turned out to be almost 17,000 men before the transports could take no more. He left the rest of the army behind as a rearguard, wishing them great luck in attempting to hold Memphis. When dawn broke, The confederates attack and after several hours, at 3:00 PM, the rearguard for Buell's escape surrendered. Johnston would send a message to President Davis in Richmond on the Telegraph saying “Memphis is in our hands once more but more importantly, I have an even greater prize: The Entire Army of Ohio.” While there was joy and jubilation across the South, in the North, it became a bitter pill to swallow that they had lost a large army and a key port within a matter of Days. Peace protests began to appear in Ohio, New York, and Michigan seeing as it was their boys that were dying in the war to quell the southern states. For President Lincoln in Washington, The news made him begin to realize how long the war might truly be due to the fact that no Union force had prepped for a large scale Confederate defensive of Tennessee, especially Forts Henry and Donelson.
The Battle of Holly Springs would be a key turning point in the Western Theatre in 1862 [9]
For Donelson, the Fort had remained strong during the siege and was still holding strong on March 22nd, the day Johnston was marching north to help reinforce Nashville after leaving Breckenridge in charge of 13,000 men to garrison Memphis for the time being. On April 2nd, Johnston arrived at Nashville and began to help Major General John C. Brown prepare for the inevitable Union Assault to take the city. On April 4th, Johnston ordered that All Confederate forces withdraw from Fort Donelson and help defend Nashville from a Union Attack. General Bolivar listened to the order and retreated once it was clear the Union Army wouldn’t see them escaping. When the Union Army awoke, there were 7500 Pro-Southern Germans and 2500 Militiamen in the fort who had taken the place of Donelson’s original defenders. For another 5 days, the Union attacked until they were finally able to capture the Fort on the 9th of April, ending over a month long siege and bringing a short rest for the Union Army of Tennessee. The Union Suffered 9540 wounded and 5310 dead while the Confederate’s suffered 2700 wounded and 1230 Dead. The delaying force would suffer 1000 wounded and 250 dead before surrendering, showing how badly the Union wanted the forts and how fiercely the Confederacy would defend them.
This rest did not last long, however, as on the 13th, General McClernand ordered the army to Nashville to strike at the very heart of Tennessee in an attempt to defeat Johnston and end the threat to the Midwest for good. On April 15th, McClernand would be forced to deal combat with a heavily entrenched enemy at Nashville with a Confederate Army numbering around 65,000+ while his force numbered 23,000 but he thought that the majority of Confederate Forces were still behind Nashville marching up to it and that they wouldn’t be at the city for a few more days. Despite the better judgement of his officers saying it would be wiser to retreat, McClernand ordered a full on attack. It was a full on bloodbath with the Union suffering 7,000 wounded, 1400 Captured and 3200 dead to the Confederate’s 500 wounded and 250 dead to how badly outnumbered the Union during the Battle. In just 30 minutes, General The Union Army was surrounded and destroyed in what many call the Confederate Canne Mk I due to there being 4 more later on. The battle of Nashville effectively ended any and all Union Military capabilities in the Western Theatre for the time being due to the destruction of the Army of Tennessee with General McClernand being among the captured, though an Army of Indiana and Army of Illinois was being trained for combat. [10]
The Battle of Nashville was a disaster for the Union that saw the effective end of their military offensives in the west [11]
In the South, the second great victory within 3 weeks was celebrated and the finished threat to Tennessee and Mississippi made many in the Western Theatre sigh in relief. For Lincoln, this second defeat was a big humiliation and a large slap in the face for the Union to be ready for a long war. On April 17th, the Army of Mississippi resecured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, placing the original forces in those forts and securing the pre-war positions in the Western Theatre. After 2 weeks of planning, Johnston would invade Kentucky in a bid to bring the war to the Union, His first main target being Perryville.
Taken From “Cleburne: Legend of the the Iron General” by Arnold Hanssen (2003) {Chapter 1}
“The story of the Confederate States’ best and most important General who helped them win the War of Southern Independence. The Man known as Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was born in 1824 but not in the Confederate States, but in Ovens, County Cork, Ireland on March 16th, 1824. The son of a middle class physician, Patrick's mother would die when he was 18 months old and he became an orphan at age 15. In 1846, he would try to follow his father's legacy but would fail his entrance exam to Trinity College of Medicine. In response to this failure, he enlisted in the 41st Regiment of Foot of the British Army, subsequently rising to the rank of corporal. 3 years later, Cleburne bought his discharge and emigrated to the United States with two brothers and a sister. After spending a short time in Ohio, he settled in Helena, Arkansas, where he was employed as a pharmacist and was readily accepted into the town's social order. In 1856, Cleburne was wounded by gunshots during a street fight in Helena with members of the Know-Nothing Party following a debate. Cleburne was shot in the back, turned around and shot one of his attackers, killing him. The attackers hid until Cleburne collapsed on the street and then left. By 1860, he was a naturalized citizen, a practicing lawyer, and very popular with the local residents.
When the issue of secession reached a crisis, Cleburne sided with the Southern states. His choice was not due to any love of slavery, which he claimed not to care about, but out of affection for the Southern people who had adopted him as one of their own. As the crisis mounted, Cleburne joined the local militia company (the Yell Rifles) as a private soldier. He was soon elected captain. He led the company in the seizure of the U.S. Arsenal in Little Rock in January 1861. When Arkansas left the Union, the Yell Rifles became part of the 1st Arkansas Infantry, later designated the 15th Arkansas, of which he was elected Colonel. He was promoted to brigadier general on March 4, 1862. In the battle of Holly Springs, he proved himself well after attacking the left flank of the Union Army and being perhaps the major reason for the Union’s Left retreating the a crucial point during that battle.. At the battle of Richmond on May 5th-6th, 1862, Cleburne led his Brigade to great effect.
At one moment, a bullet whizzed past Cleburne but not a single bullet struck him. [12] Following immediately on the Success of his fellow Confederates, Cleburne turned his division to hit the Union force in the rear, a move that could've been disastrous but Cleburne was able to prove himself and strike the Union lines from behind in a heavy hitting motion, causing what many have called “The Southern Cannae Mk II”. The leader of the Union Army of Kentucky, Major General William Nelson, would effectively surrender to Confederate forces. The Confederate leader during the battle, Major General Kirby Smith, stated “It was Cleburne, who so brilliantly flanked the Union Force in battle, were able to capture the whole of the Union Army of Kentucky. For this, I request his promotion to Major General as a Division Commander so he has more men that he can lead and help win more battles for us.” General Johnston of Tennessee, who had requested that Smith be promoted to Corps Commander for the Army of Mississippi, was somewhat reluctant to do the same for Cleburne due to how young he was and being a non-graduate of west point but after a discussion with William J. Hardee and Leonidas Polk, both of whom agreed that Cleburne deserved a Division command due to a stellar performance at Holly Springs and Richmond, he decided to give Cleburne the promotion but rejected Smith’s due to the issue of seniority. Had it not been for the earlier defenses of both Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February as well as the battle of Holly Springs and Nashville in March, more Confederate resources could have been focused on Tennessee, forcing the Army of Mississippi to fight in two states.
A.P. Stewart was given command of the III Tennessee Corps and Cleburne was given command of the 3rd Division of the II Corps. Under Cleburne’s command was the 15th and 7th Arkansas Infantry, the 3rd Tennessee and Marmaduke’s Cavalry, and finally Withers' Light Artillery as well as the Marion Rangers [13], a Platoon of 30 men from Missouri, which was incorporated into the 15th Arkansas Infantry, giving Cleburne 5 regiments that he could work with. After quick preparation, Cleburne’s Division was thrust into Combat at Perryville. The II Tennessee Corps was put directly on the left flank where William Joseph Hardee led the Confederate force. Immediately, the battle began when the 7th Arkansas began to combat the 10th Michigan Infantry at Doctor's Creek. At the same time, the Fight for Peter's Hill began but both were Confederate Successes due to Cleburne's successful use of Withers' Light Artillery as well as much needed aid from the rest of the III Tennessee Corps, allowing the Confederates to hold those key positions in the early hours of the battle. As well as Peter’s Hill being successfully taken by the II Tennessee Corps under Hardee.
The fight for Doctor’s Creek was a short but critical skirmish for the rest of the battle that determined who would win Perryville
The Defensive position had allowed the Arkansans to dig in. Had Bragg been in charge of the army, he would've fallen for a diversion that Union commander Sills attempted at Frankfort but thanks to Albert Sidney Johnston leading the Army effectively, he didn't believe that it would be the main thrust of the Army of Indiana (under the command of Joseph Jones Reynolds) would be there but instead at Perryville. Thus, his order was very simple “Do not engage, Defend until you can defend no more. Wear them out and attack only if preferable.” which Cleburne followed as well as the left flank and right flank, which was under the command of Leonidas Polk. By 11:40 AM, the rest of the Army of Indiana had arrived, making them at 49,000 Strong while the Army of Mississippi stood at 36,000 due to Johnston having to leave some extra reinforcements in Tennessee for Forts Henry and Donelson. At 1:00 PM, the Union attacked the Confederate Left in an attempt to dislodge them. Under the command of John Charles Frémont, a well respected Union Major General from California, the I Corps as well as the 13th Wisconsin Infantry, 9th Michigan Infantry, 3rd California Infantry, 1st Ohio Cavalry, and the 3rd New York Cavalry brigades in a bid to dislodge Cleburne from Doctor’s Creek and Peter’s Hill. It was at this Crucial moment during the battle where the defensive capabilities of Cleburne’s would shine.
Taken From “Serving under the Iron General: A Memoir of Sgt. Samuel L. Clemens [14] during the Southern War of Independence” by Samuel Clemens (1881) {Chapter 3: Fight for Perryville}
“It was at Perryville where General Cleburne really showed how resilient he was in defending a position. It was when the Sun was at its hottest when the Yanks started to charge us across the Creek, their muskets gleaming with Bayonets and Their Cavalry brandishing glinting silver swords. I tell you, it was a sight lesser men would be afraid of but Mister Cleburne was no lesser man. Nor was he just a man, He was an Iron General. He was on his horse when the Yanks charged at us and he simply looked at us and said, “Look at ‘em Yanks! They look ripe for the Minie Ball, aye? They seem all big and menacing but in reality they are nothing more than pathetic sheep being ordered into the slaughter by their commanders. Better yet, these men are not trained well enough or experienced to face the 3rd Division of the III Tennessee Corps and it’s leader is a Republican, the same style of man who is threatening our great Confederacy! Lads, remember, we have faced worse at Holly Springs and we crushed them there! We have some Missourians who haven’t seen combat before so I think this will be a proper introduction for all of them. Faugh A Ballagh!” and as if we weren’t being charged by ‘em Yanks, We shouted Faugh A Ballagh as well and aimed our muskets directly at the Yankee line. I did know it was Irish but I did not know what it meant until after Perryville. Clear the Way. [15]. Short, but Clever and effective, just like Mister Cleburne.
When the Yank Infantry and Cavalry slowly began to approach us, Withers’ Artillery began to open fire upon them. Poor bastards never saw it coming until it hit them. *BOOM* The first Cannonball smashed into the line of the 13th Wisconsin, which I know who they were as they waved the flag of Wisconsin to and fro. *BOOM* Another Cannonball stroke a Cavalry brigade in the center, causing several horses to rear up and their riders fall off, practically dead already. A few minutes into the bombardment, however, and the Yankee infantry had gotten rather close to us. We got off a few volleys from our muskets, a fresh Yank going down with every *Crack* of a musket shot before they finally reached where we were and got up close and personal with us. I began to tangle with a young wisconsinan man no older than 25. Using my rather large knife, I tried to slice his throat only for him to dodge and smack me down with the butt of his rifle.Just before he could impale me with his bayonet, I rolled away and used my knife to slice his eg, it cutting the skin and causing violent bleeding. The Young man, screaming in anger and pain, brought his bayonet down on me again. I was barely able to dodge the attack but I was caught by the Bayonet via a piece of my shirt. Looking up, I saw the young man brandish a knife of his own which he attempted to stab down into my heart. I closed my eyes, waiting for the sudden release of death to encircle me, only for nothing to happen. I felt a warm, metallic-tasting liquid splashing on my face and heard the sound of someone gurgling before a revolver shot ring out, ending the gurgling.
When the Yank Infantry and Cavalry slowly began to approach us, Withers’ Artillery began to open fire upon them. Poor bastards never saw it coming until it hit them. *BOOM* The first Cannonball smashed into the line of the 13th Wisconsin, which I know who they were as they waved the flag of Wisconsin to and fro. *BOOM* Another Cannonball stroke a Cavalry brigade in the center, causing several horses to rear up and their riders fall off, practically dead already. A few minutes into the bombardment, however, and the Yankee infantry had gotten rather close to us. We got off a few volleys from our muskets, a fresh Yank going down with every *Crack* of a musket shot before they finally reached where we were and got up close and personal with us. I began to tangle with a young wisconsinan man no older than 25. Using my rather large knife, I tried to slice his throat only for him to dodge and smack me down with the butt of his rifle.Just before he could impale me with his bayonet, I rolled away and used my knife to slice his eg, it cutting the skin and causing violent bleeding. The Young man, screaming in anger and pain, brought his bayonet down on me again. I was barely able to dodge the attack but I was caught by the Bayonet via a piece of my shirt. Looking up, I saw the young man brandish a knife of his own which he attempted to stab down into my heart. I closed my eyes, waiting for the sudden release of death to encircle me, only for nothing to happen. I felt a warm, metallic-tasting liquid splashing on my face and heard the sound of someone gurgling before a revolver shot ring out, ending the gurgling.
Cleaning the blood out of my eyes and face, I looked up to see General Cleburne standing over him, a revolver smoking in his hand. I looked beside me to see the young yank dead, one shot in his throat and one in his skull. I looked up again to see Cleburne offering his hand to me. “You aren’t any use to me lying down there, aren’t ye?” he said before I accepted his hand and he pulled me up. He then turned and yelled “FAUGH A BALLAGH!!!” before he went into the thick of the fight, me trailing him to help this Irish general of mine win this battle here at a small creek. Finally, as the Sun was setting I heard a Yankee yell “RETREAT!” and saw each one of them running for the hills as we took shots at them with our muskets, drenched in the blood of our fallen foes. I tell ya, I never thought I would see Cleburne so happy again but I would.”
Sgt. Samuel Clemens would be a key advisor and friend of Cleburne’s during and after the War of Southern Independence.
Taken From “Tales of the Western Guardian - The Legend of Albert Sidney Johnston’s Battles” by Joseph Heklam (1972) {Chapter 3}
...The fight for Doctor’s Creek was a pivotal part and it would end with Cleburne’s Division standing strong on the first day of Perryville. The Union Army of Indiana had bet everything on taking Doctor’s Creek on the first day of the battle only to be denied the victory. At Peter’s Hill, A.P. Stewart’s Corps was able to successfully hold the Hill and because of this Success, the first day of the Battle of Perryville was what many would consider a success with only the right flank under Polk collapsing after being hit from an attack by Charles Ferguson Smith [16] and his III Corps, the only success the Union had on the field at Perryville on the First Day. As Day turned to Night, Johnston's called for a position reform and strategically withdrew to have Polk serve as the Center, Hardee to serve as the Right and Stewart to serve as the Left for the army, due to how exposed his position was with just the 2nd Mississippi and 4th Alabama serving as the core the battle for the first day. The Division under Smith was traded for the Division under Cleburne with Smith, who helped hold the Center on the first day with the two brigades, now holding Doctor's Creek and Cleburne now defending the Center with Polk for the Army of Mississippi.
Johnston's strategy was the same as the day prior: Only Defend; Attack only when Victory is within reach. As Night turned to Day, the Confederate Army entrenched deep in their new position and was ready for a Union assault at 2:00 AM on May 11th, though the Union attack was delayed for reasons not known for the Confederates…
Taken From “The Real Battleground: The Western Theatre during the Southern War of Independence” by Newt Gingrich [17] (1965) {Chapter 2: The 1862 Kentucky Campaign and the Battle of Perryville}
The Battle of Perryville from May 10th-May 11th was the Battle that would decide the 1862 Kentucky Campaign. If the Confederates won, the invasion of Kentucky would Continue but if they lost, they would be forced to restart in Tennessee. May 10th, the first day of the battle, had gone off as a draw with Neither side having the advantage as the Confederate Army of Mississippi still held the strategic points of Doctor's Creek and Peter's Hill but the Army of Indiana’s III Corps under the command of C. F. Smith attack on the Right Flank of the Army of Mississippi was a blow that damaged the Army for the first day of the battle. The position switch under Johnston was tactical in that it made sure the Army of Mississippi could not be outflanked and the III Corps under A. P. Stewart could not be encircled and destroyed. The Attack from Major General Fremont's 2nd Division of the I Corps of the Army of Indiana on Doctor's Creek and Major General Daniel Adams Butterfield's II Corps attack on Peter's Hill had both been failures for the Union Army, so they hoped that the Second Day would be easier.
In the early morning hours of May 11th, The Confederate Army was expecting an attack, an attack which never came. Unbeknownst to the Confederates, the I Corps of the Union Army and the III Corps were both still hurting from the day prior and could not be able to Attack until 3:00 PM, though Smith's was ready to attack, he didn't feel it tactically smart to attack the Confederate Army until the rest of the Army was ready. This was the only moment that the Army of Mississippi, which had defeated the Union Armies of Tennessee and Ohio, and thus at least keep Kentucky safe for the rest of 1862. While Tactically smart, the wait wasted crucial Time which allowed the Confederates to be the best readiness as possible when the Union Attack began. During the 2nd Day, Cleburne's Division yet again proved itself as it kept the Morale of the Center and halted the attack of Butterfield's II Corps very effectively. A. P. Stewart had warded off an attack from Major General James Abram Garfield's I Corps on Peter's Hill. Smith's attack on the Confederate Right Flank was faced with a tough defense that saw Major Kirby Smith's Division Defend Doctor's Creek Tooth and Nail but Smith was able to secure the position. Despite this well-needed capture, the Union Army of Indiana was beginning to buckle under the stress of fighting the Confederate Army of Mississippi.
Finally, at 6:33 PM, A. P. Stewart charged at the crippled I Corps and forced it to route within minutes. Cleburne's Division led a Charge that, while foolish, convinced the rest of the Corps under Polk to charge as well, leading to the Army of Indiana's II Corps route from the field. While this was happening, the II Corps under Hardee was finally pulling back after 3 hours of fighting since Doctor's Creek fell under Union Control but it was too little, too late. Before C. F. Smith could push further, a messenger rode up to him with a message from General Joseph Jones Reynolds. It was simple: “Retreat. The Battle is lost.” Despite wanting to not accept the retreat order, Smith saw the position he was in and relented, though we know from his memoirs that that decision still haunts till the day he died and he wondered what could he have done differently to change the outcome of the battle as Rebel Yells screamed behind him.
The Battle of Perryville would be the 3rd Bloodiest Battle in the War of Southern Independence and Bloodiest Battle in the Western Theatre with the Union, numbering an Army of 49,000 at the start of the battle, had received 9000 Wounded and 6000 Dead as well 1600 Captured and 400 Missing, bringing the total casualties for the Union at 17,000. The Confederate's casualties were: 8000 wounded, 4500 dead, and 500 missing, bringing the total for the Army of Mississippi to 13,000 and bringing the Battle’s casualties at a total of 30,000. Despite the large loss in life and Manpower, the Confederates had secured their goal and now held a real position in Kentucky, which they could Exploit when ready. For now though, the Army of Mississippi wanted to rest and lick their wounds for the next big Battle in the 1862 Kentucky Campaign.
The Battle of Perryville was one of the bloodiest battles in the war but it allowed for the Confederates to make Headway into Kentucky.
Footnotes
[1] - What other countries call the Civil War
[2] - What the South calls the Civil War ITTL
[3] - This is the Main POD. In OTL, Johnston wanted to use Henry and Donelson to delay for As Long as Possible but here he doesn't. He gets the recruits from all over the CSA, though most were from Tennessee.
[4] - in OTL, the fort had very muddy ground the Grant just let the Gunboats pound it into submission. Here, the Fort's ground is hard and level due to the recent weather being dry and no flooding from the Mississippi river.
[5] - This another POD. Nashville wasn't ready for an Attack so it being fortified would prep it for War
[6] - What? You didn't think I would end Grant’s career before he fights the main character.
[7] - In OTL, Columbus doesn't surrender but because Grant puts more emphasis on it and Belmont due to Donelson being a tougher nut to crack than OTL, thus meaning Columbus does fall but it won't be in Union hands for much longer as after Perryville, Johnston sends Kirby Smith's division to retake both Belmont and Columbus, undoing Grant's successes.
[8] - Buell smelled a trap and didn't want to spring it but he had no real choice as the I Corps could've been destroyed.
[9] - OTL Shiloh.
[0] - McClernand had suffered a lot and after a failure to be a good General for his men, he decided that surrendering him was a good idea rather than retreat in disgrace from Tennessee with very foolish decisions and high Casualties. At least there are two other armies being trained. Also, Halleck ordered that he did not do the attack on Nashville but McClernand, seeing month old reports, believed that the city had just 13,000 Men defending the city and attacked anyways. After the war, he is court martialed for disobeying orders.
[11] - OTL Fort Donelson. ITTL, it depicts the attack on a small Confederate brigade.another POD.
[12] - IOTL, the bullet struck him in the jaw and took him out of action...does it really matter here after the big POD? No, but it's still important.
[13] - Yes, it is those guys, though they're an actual Platoon.
[14] - Yes, it's Mark Twain.
[15] - This is true for this who doesn't know Irish Battle Cries.
[16] - Like Johnston, no Shiloh means he is still around.
[17] - In case you're wondering, No, not the same guy. Different TLs = Different Personalities
Finished with the first update. If you think this will be a Confederate Wank, the next will have the Eastern Theatre and it'll pretty much have only a few things different. Till then, tell me your thoughts.
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As interesting as this timeline was, I’m afraid that this feels like a Confederate wank.
I do hope that I am not coming off as rude and insincere, but there are a lot of flaws of this timeline. While I do think it is possible for ASJ to be the potential turning point for the Confederates, a lot of the details are simply implausible.
Where does Johnson get these troops from? Johnson’s Department is stretched to cover 400 miles and none of the garrisons were adequate enough to properly defend their locations.
Why would James G. Spears replace Grant? Spears is miles away from the Army of the Tennessee at the time and would be an impractical replacement at the time of the campaign. Grant’s immediately replacement would have been BG McClernand. Halleck would have probably tried to get Smith or Sherman to take over, considering Halleck’s distaste for McClernand. In addition, Spears is from Buell’s Department, it was very rare to see cross-Department promotions.
Why is the Army of Ohio in Memphis? Nashville had yet to fall and it was Buell’s primary target. If ASJ sends that many troops to Forts Henry and Donelson then nothing is left to defend Nashville from an advance by Buell.
How does the Fort Henry garrison escape? If there are 2 weeks of combat, Lew Wallace’s Division would have arrived and Grant would have the strength to cut off all of Fort Henry’s escape routes, which isn’t difficult when one considers that there are only two routes of escape.
The issue is that Buell’s supply line is in no peril whatsoever and Buell knows it. Union gunboats completely dominated the river and provides Union forces refuge as gunboats and their fire was feared by soldiers. Buell could use the gunboats to cover his army as they evacuated Memphis (though it is probable that a significant amount of the army would have to act as rearguard).
This seems to forget the fact that Spears would be reporting to Halleck, who would definitely be very cautious after the destruction of an entire Union army.
21,200 casualties out of an army that numbered 23,000 is completely bonkers! Especially in just 30 minutes! Never has that occured in ACW history, Cold Harbor’s 7000 in 30 minutes was a lie, Pickett’s charge suffered 6,000 casualties, a 50% loss rate and not even the Battle of Franklin managed to top that!
I do hope that I am not coming off as rude and insincere, but there are a lot of flaws of this timeline. While I do think it is possible for ASJ to be the potential turning point for the Confederates, a lot of the details are simply implausible.
Tricky Nicky
Banned
I confess, I wanked thimgts a bit but I was a little tired from writing this last night and didn't look it over for a few wankish things before I posted it. I also did only a tiny bit of research. I will edit as much as I see necessary from now on until I think it's perfect. I would also mneean editor to help me with this to help correct inconsistencies here onwards
Destroying two Union Armies in the western theater in 1862 seems miraculous beyond all proportion. I think there's a case to be made that the western theater could have been better led and a more effective strategy could have prolonged resistance in the area, but that's a bit too strong on the one southerner can whip ten yankees front.
Maybe you can concoct a scenario where they destroy one while pursuing a more elastic defense strategy along the Mississippi River. I think there's probably a case to be made that defending hard points that were relatively easy to surround made it easy for Grant to score big victories and big surrenders along the Mississippi. Not sure how much this would screw southern logistics but I suspect that the Mississippi River as a supply artery was all but gone by 1863 anyway.
EDIT: I guess I'm including the Cumberland and the Tennessee Rivers here of course.
Maybe you can concoct a scenario where they destroy one while pursuing a more elastic defense strategy along the Mississippi River. I think there's probably a case to be made that defending hard points that were relatively easy to surround made it easy for Grant to score big victories and big surrenders along the Mississippi. Not sure how much this would screw southern logistics but I suspect that the Mississippi River as a supply artery was all but gone by 1863 anyway.
EDIT: I guess I'm including the Cumberland and the Tennessee Rivers here of course.
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The assault on Fort Henry is a little bit odd for Grant. Grant was concerned that the approaches to Fort Henry were too muddy and the artillery guns were lagging behind the infantry. Grant had planned to just cut off Fort Henry and leave the gunboats to make short work of the fort.
The Fort Henry garrison was also a very raw formation with poor training and discipline. The fort itself was starting to get submerged as Fort Henry was situated on a floodplain. Fort Henry was virtually untenable as the waters began to submerge the guns and magazines, rendering it vulnerable to the gunboats.
Is this including the garrisons at Fort Donelson?
Not a very satisfying explanation. If you look at a map, the gunboat and transports will have to run the gauntlet at Columbus. Columbus was occupied by Confederate forces under Polk and was sufficiently armed to prevent Union gunboats and transports from passing them. Buell would never agree to such an idea.
This seems rather uncharacteristic of Buell and most army commanders in the ACW, Buell was certainly a very cautious commander. Considering that the I Corps has been thrashed badly, Buell would most definitely either use the brigades as his reserve or plug the gaps along the line.
A casualty rate is rather unrealistic, it feels like the Lost Cause myth of 5 Yankees to 1 Southern. Given your scenario I would argue that the casualties would likely see roughly equal amount of dead, a few thousand more wounded Union soldiers than the Confederates and a few thousand more Union troops captured (wounded unable to retreat and captured).
I do find it very uncharacteristic of McClernand to surrender the army in 30 minutes. A much more plausible scenario is a Southern Cannae when one considers the extreme disparity in numbers.
How in hell is the Fort Henry garrison so large? Its OTL size was about 3,000+ troops. Adding 1,500 troops to it does not make it 10,000. The Fort Donelson garrison was also buffed to numbers that don’t match up with the reinforcements you wrote.
Tricky Nicky
Banned
I'll continue to edit this until you see it as suitable enough. For Fort Henry, the area wasn't as muddy as it is in OTL, thus Grant has to fight for it. for the second thing, the garrison at Fort Donnelson has already been pulled back. I'll lessen that down to 45,000 if that is reasonable. For the third thing Columbus was abandoned by Polk on February 29th under Johnston's orders to reinforce the Army of Mississippi. For the final bit, I forgot to lessen it when editing. sorry. I'll edit it one final time and ask what you think.
I think you misunderstood my point. The muddy ground was a due to the mother nature; hence, Grant did not intend to throw an assault against the fort and planned for the infantry to just assume a blockading role until the gunboats and artillery reduce the fort. Fort Henry was realistically untenable considering that the fort was flooding at the time of the battle, and, should fighting continue for a week, be completely submerged.
The issue of abandoning Columbus is that the Confederates wanted it desperately. Aside from Vicksburg, Columbus was the considered by the Confederates to be the key to the defense of Mississippi Valley. Its abandonment was unthinkable.
I think a much more suitable premise for your POD is that the Confederate High Command does not surrender or give up hope at Fort Donelson in the aftermath of February 15th. Though beaten, the Confederate garrison could still resist for few more days and use the respite to ferry a few thousand men out of the fort.
Tricky Nicky
Banned
So edit out the piece involving Fort Henry and have a Union force capture Columbus, Kentucky/Columbus Tennessee (I refuse to have Buell think he can't invade Nashville via Memphis if Fort Donnelson is more secure. I think he would be very cautious in doing it but it would be a good way to circumnaviate to Confederate defenses).
Tricky Nicky
Banned
As I might need help with these updates, I would like to know: Would any reader be interested in being my editor to point out things that seem wankish, fallacies, inconsistencies, spelling errors, and what needs to be lenghtened or shortened. If you would like to be my Editor, give me a message as soon as possible.
Chapter Two: In the East - War for Virginia Mk I
Tricky Nicky
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Taken from “Southern Lightning - Battles of Thomas J. Jackson” by Jack Desham (2007) {Chapter 3: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign}
...After the Battle of 1st Manassas [1], The War in the Eastern Theatre had come in full swing with Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson in command of the Army of Northern Virginia and Union General George B. McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac. The War began almost immediately with McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign as he attacked the Peninsula of Virginia in a attempt to secure a region that could be used as a launch site for an amphibious attack on the Confederate Capital at Richmond. However, before the Peninsula Campaign began, Thomas “Stonewall” (as he was known by that nickname at the time instead of Lightning Jackson [2]) Jackson began his own campaign, known as Jackson’s Valley Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Jackson’s Goal and orders was simple: Delay the Union forces in the region from mobilizing for as long as possible. With his division of a little over 4000 men, Jackson set out to distract the Union Army, numbering from the 20-40,000s, for as long as he could.
The first Major Battle of the Campaign was at Kernstown on March 24th, 1862 [3]. The battle began when Jackson’s force met Nathan Kimball’s force of 9,000. At the beginning of the battle, Jackson performed Personal Reconnaissance along with some of his men [4] and spotted a position that would be a good area to hold and sent Turner Ashby and Jesse Burks to gain the position at Valley Turnpike, securing it at 10:16 AM and allowing the Confederate forces to dig in and prepare to battle the Union force in the region. At 11:00 AM, the Union attacked with Kimball sending the 29th Ohio, 110th Pennsylvania, 1st Western Virginia (as the region of Virginia where this battle took place considered leaving Virginia and rejoining the Union at the time), 7th Indiana, 7th Ohio, 8th Ohio, 67th Ohio, 5th Ohio, and 84th Pennsylvania brigades to attack the Confederate Left Flank while he sent Sullivan to attack the Confederate Right Flank with the 13th Indiana and 39th Illinois staying in reserve. Finally, the 8th Ohio was to strike and distract the Confederate center for as long as possible.
In a very easy fashion, The Stonewall Brigade which was under the command of Burks, Ashby’s Brigade and the 42nd Virginia defended Valley Turnpike from the assault of Sullivan’s 62nd Ohio, holding a strong and entrenched position. The Assault on the Confederate Left was indeed yet another stall though with the Union putting most of their forces into it, it was beginning to stress the Confederate line ever so slightly. At 1:32 PM, the Union assault on the Center began to fizzle out before the 37th Virginia, 33rd Virginia, 2nd Virginia, 4th Virginia, and the 27th Virginia brigade slowly began to push forward on Kimball. The Confederate Right Flank was finally able to repulse Sullivan and send him off the field long enough to aid the Center’s attack on Kimball.
As the battle began to turn sourly for Kimball, he ordered the 13th Indiana and the 39th Illinois to join the 8th Ohio and attempt to defend the Center. At 4:24 PM, the Union Center finally broke after a large amount of pressure from the Confederate Right and Center, though Jackson allowed Kimball’s force to retreat simply because his force could fight no longer and were tired after the battle. At the end, the Battle of Kernstown was a major win for the Confederacy but at a cost. 600 Men were wounded and another 200 were dead while the Union suffered 800 Wounded and 300 dead. While there were more losses for the Union, proportionally Jackson’s forces sustained larger losses due to the smaller size of his force. The victory was needed however, and for the next month he would wreak havoc on Union forces at McDowell, Princeton CourtHouse, Front Royal, Winchester, and Cross Keys and with the Confederate invasion of Kentucky and especially Perryville being successful, more resources which were crucial to the Union war effort in the East were sent West to halt Albert Sidney Johnston’s Army of Mississippi before it could cause more havoc on Union forces. Thus, Jackson’s Valley Campaign was going much better than expected as more and more Union forces were being sent into the Shenandoah Valley in an effort to crush Jackson for good. Finally, the battle of Port Republic happened when Nathaniel P. Banks with a force now numbering 24,000 attacked Jackson, who now had a force numbering 12,000 in one final attempt to dislodge Jackson from the Valley and capture the key region for the Union.
Thomas J. Jackson was one of the most important generals during the Southern War of Independence and, along with the results of Albert Sidney Johnston’s campaign in Kentucky, forced the Union to divert critical resources to somewhere other than where the Army of the Potomac was.
Taken From “The Eastern Theatre: Virginia during the War of Southern Independence” by Keith Ol’Derry (2000) {Chapter 3: The Peninsular Campaign and the 1st successful defense of Virginia}
In the Eastern Theatre, both sides were locked in a Stalemate. After the First Battle of Manassas in 1861, Union President Abraham Lincoln was determined to capture the Confederate Capital at Richmond, Virginia, a city that was stupidly too close to the Union to be a safe capital. [5] Lincoln allowed for Major General George B. McClellan to be in command of the Army of the Potomac, which McClellan created himself [6], to find a way around Confederate defenses and to capture Richmond as quickly as possible. Confederate President Jefferson Davis placed General Joseph E. Johnston in command of the Army of Northern Virginia and gave him the order to stop any Yankee advance to Richmond and, if possible, crush the Army of the Potomac.
Due to mighty Confederate fortifications at Manassas, General McClellan planned to launch an invasion by transporting the AotP to Urbanna, Virginia on the Rappahannock River, outflanking the AoNV and then proceed overland to capture Richmond. Before he could implement his plan, however, Johnston had moved out of Manassas and assumed a new position south of the Rappahannock, nullifying the Urbana strategy. Thus, McClellan was forced to restart his plan with his troops disembark at Fort Monroe, Virginia and advance up the Virginia peninsula. On March 17th, the same day the Battle of Holly Springs ended, McClellan began his plan as his army set sail from Alexandria. It was an armada that dwarfed all previous American expeditions, transporting 121,500 men, 44 artillery batteries, 1,150 wagons, over 15,000 horses, and tons of equipment and supplies. An English observer remarked that it was the "stride of a giant." With the Virginia, an Ironclad that was destroying wooden Union ships left and right before the Union’s own Ironclad was able to stop it, still in operation, the U.S. Navy could not assure McClellan that they could protect operations on either the James or the York, so his plan of amphibiously enveloping Yorktown was abandoned, and he ordered an advance up the Peninsula to begin April 4. Just before that, however, the Virginia caught up to the Union Armada and attacked it, sinking several ships, hampering McClellan’s ability to fight greatly as the attack took out 17,000 men, 24 Artillery pieces, 525 Wagons, 3500 horses, and Half of all supplies with the ships that were sunk while the Virginia only suffered light damage from the attack [7]. Despite initial thoughts on abandoning the campaign due to the Ambush from the Virginia, at the urging of Lincoln, he continued the campaign, though it was destined to fail the very moment the Armada was attacked.
The CSS Virginia’s ambush on the Union Armada would change the current situation against the Union the moment McClellan initiated his campaign despite the attack.
Taken From “Little Napoleon’s Faults: The failures of George B. McClellan” by Jim Nekon (2014) {Chapter 2: The Peninsula Campaign and why it failed}
Following the landing in the Virginia Peninsula on April 4th, George B. McClellan’s force had been demoralized from the Ambush though McClellan, being pushed by Lincoln, ordered them to continue. On April 5, the IV Corps of Brig. Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes made initial contact with Confederate defensive works at Lee's Mill, an area McClellan expected to move through without resistance. Magruder, a fan of theatrics, set up a successful deception campaign. By moving one company in circles through a glen, he gained the appearance of an endless line of reinforcements marching to relieve him. He also spread his artillery very far apart and had it fire sporadically at the Union lines. Federals were convinced that his works were strongly held, reporting that an army of 100,000 was in their path. As the two armies fought an artillery duel, reconnaissance indicated to Keyes the strength and breadth of the Confederate fortifications, and he advised McClellan against assaulting them. McClellan ordered the construction of siege fortifications and brought his heavy siege guns to the front. In the meantime, Gen. Johnston brought reinforcements for Magruder. McClellan chose not to attack without more reconnaissance and ordered his army to entrench in works parallel to Magruder's and besiege Yorktown. McClellan reacted to Keyes's report, as well as to reports of enemy strength near the town of Yorktown, but he also received word that the I Corps under Irvin McDowell would be withheld for the defense of Washington, instead of joining him on the Peninsula as McClellan had planned. In addition to the pressure of Jackson's Valley Campaign, President Lincoln believed that McClellan had left insufficient force to guard Washington and that the general had been deceptive in his reporting of unit strengths, counting troops as ready to defend Washington when they were actually deployed elsewhere. McClellan protested that he was being forced to lead a major campaign without his promised resources, but he moved ahead anyway. For the next 10 days, McClellan's men dug while Magruder steadily received reinforcements. By mid April, Magruder commanded 35,000 men, barely enough to defend his line.
Although McClellan doubted his numeric superiority over the enemy, he had no doubts about the superiority of his artillery. The siege preparations at Yorktown consisted of 10 batteries with 40 heavy guns. When fired in unison, these batteries would deliver over 5,000 pounds of ordnance onto the enemy positions with each volley. On April 16, Union forces probed a point in the Confederate line at Dam No. 1, on the Warwick River near Lee's Mill. Magruder realized the weakness of his position and ordered it strengthened. Three regiments under Brig. Gen Howell Cobb, with six other regiments nearby, were improving their position on the west bank of the river overlooking the dam. McClellan became concerned that this strengthening might impede his installation of siege batteries. He ordered Brig. Gen. William F. Smith, a division commander in the IV Corps, to "hamper the enemy" in completing their defensive works. At 3 p.m., four companies of the 3rd Vermont Infantry crossed the dam and routed the remaining defenders. Behind the lines, Cobb organized a defense with his brother, Colonel Thomas Cobb of the Georgia Legion. and attacked the Vermonters, who had occupied the Confederate rifle pits. Unable to obtain reinforcements, the Vermont companies withdrew across the dam, suffering casualties as they retreated. At about 5 p.m., Baldy Smith ordered the 6th Vermont to attack Confederate positions downstream from the dam while the 4th Vermont demonstrated at the dam itself. This maneuver failed as the 6th Vermont came under heavy Confederate fire and were forced to withdraw. Some of the wounded men were drowned as they fell into the shallow pond behind the dam.
For the remainder of April, the Confederates, now at 57,000 and under the direct command of Johnston, improved their defenses while McClellan undertook the laborious process of transporting and placing massive siege artillery batteries, which he planned to deploy on May 5. Johnston knew that the impending bombardment would be difficult to withstand, so began sending his supply wagons in the direction of Richmond on May 3. Escaped slaves reported that fact to McClellan, who refused to believe them. He was convinced that an army whose strength he estimated as high as 120,000 would stay and fight. On the evening of May 3, the Confederates launched a brief bombardment of their own and then fell silent. Early the next morning, Heintzelman ascended in an observation balloon and found that the Confederate earthworks were empty. McClellan was stunned by the news. He sent cavalry under Brig. Gen. George Stoneman in pursuit and ordered Brig. Gen. William B Franklin’s division to reboard the remaining Navy transports, sail up the York River, and cut off Johnston's retreat. As he was beginning to give chase, however, Lincoln took away 13,000 men to be sent West to aid in the defense of Kentucky as well as crucial supplies and equipment to also be sent West as Albert Sidney Johnston prepared for his invasion of Kentucky. This would cause General McClellan to argue with the President to no avail, forcing him to march through Virginia with less supplies, equipment and men than he had before he started the March, making him more cautious [8] and convincing himself that by moving slowly he could be able to outmaneuver the AoNV if it was ever near the chance of encircling the AotP.
Due to the slow movement of the Army, they were not able to keep at pace with William B. Franklin’s Division as it moved up the river though it was indeed delayed for two weeks before it could move up the river. By May 5th, Johnston's army was making slow progress on muddy roads and Stoneman's cavalry was skirmishing with Brig. Gen. J.E.B Stuart’s Cavalry, Johnston's rearguard. To give time for the bulk of his army to get free, Johnston detached part of his force to make a stand at a large earthen fortification, Fort Magruder, straddling the Williamsburg Road (from Yorktown), constructed earlier by Magruder, though this movement was truthfully not much needed due to how slow McClellan was moving. The Battle of Williamsburg was the first pitched battle of the Peninsula Campaign, in which nearly 36,000 Union and 32,000 Confederates were engaged.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker's 2nd Division of the III Corps was the lead infantry in the Union Army advance. They assaulted Fort Magruder and a line of rifle pits and smaller fortifications that extended in an arc southwest from the fort, but were repulsed. Confederate counterattacks, directed by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet, threatened to overwhelm Hooker's division, which had contested the ground alone since the early morning while waiting for the main body of the army to arrive. Hooker had expected Baldy Smith's division of the IV Corps., marching north on the Yorktown Road, to hear the sound of battle and come in on Hooker's right in support. However, Smith had been halted by Sumner more than a mile away from Hooker's position. He had been concerned that the Confederates would leave their fortifications and attack him on the Yorktown Road. Longstreet's men did leave their fortifications, but they attacked Hooker, not Smith or Sumner. The brigade of Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox applied strong pressure to Hooker's line. Hooker's retreating men were aided by the arrival of Brig. Gen. Phillip Kearny’s 3rd Division of the III Corps. at about 2:30 p.m. Kearny ostentatiously rode his horse out in front of his picket lines to reconnoiter and urged his men forward by flashing his saber with his only arm. The Confederates were able to defend Lee’s Mill and push back Kearny’s division however [9]. Until Late Afternoon, Firefights would continue at Lee’s Mill.
Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock's 1st Brigade of Baldy Smith's division, which had marched a few miles to the Federal right and crossed Cub's Creek at the point where it was dammed to form the Jones's Mill pond, began bombarding Longstreet's left flank around noon. Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill, commanding Longstreet's reserve force, had previously detached a brigade under Brig. Gen. Jubal A. Early and posted them on the grounds of the Lee’s Mill to help further secure the position. Splitting his command, Early led two of his four regiments through the woods without performing adequate reconnaissance and found that they emerged not on the enemy's flank, but directly in front of Hancock's guns, which occupied two abandoned redoubts. He personally led the 24th Virginia Infantry into a successful assault that saw the capture of Wilcox’s guns, which were then turned on the Union line. Following Hancock’s regiments retreating from their guns, the Battle became a rout as the Union force was hammered by the Guns that were captured with Kearny’s division giving the rest of the Union Force ample time to escape before withdrawing themselves.
The Battle of Williamsburg wound end as a Confederate victory with 2567 Wounded and 1798 Dead for the Union to 1289 wounded and 743 Dead for the Confederacy, giving the AoNV even more time to flee from the AotP while also striking yet a demoralizing hit to the AotP who already had Low Morale from the Armada Ambush and repeal of resources to the West. General McClellan would go on to berate Wilcock for leaving the guns behind while praising Kearny and even calling him “Statue Kearny”. The AoNV was however within sight of Richmond and only needed a few more days to be able to arrive due to the delay at Williamsburg.
For Franklin, after McClellan ordered his division to turn Johnston's army with an amphibious operation on the York River, it took two days just to board the men and equipment onto the ships, so Franklin was of no assistance to the Williamsburg action. But McClellan had high hopes for his turning movement, planning to send other divisions (those of Brig. Gens. Fitz John Porter, Sedgewick, and Israel B. Richardson) by river after Franklin's. Their destination was Eltham's Landing on the south bank of the Pamunkey River across from West Point, a port on the York River, which was the terminus of the Richmond and York River Railroad. The landing was close to a key intersection on the road to New Kent Court House that was being used by Johnston's army on the afternoon of May 6. Franklin's men came ashore in light pontoon boats and built a floating wharf to unload artillery and supplies. The work was continued by torchlight through the night and the only enemy resistance was a few random shots fired by Confederate pickets on the bluff above the landing, ending at about 10 p.m.
Johnston ordered Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith to protect the road to Barhamsville and Smith assigned the division of Brig. Gen. William H. C. Whitling and Hampton’s Legion, under Col. Wade Hampton, to the task. On May 7, Franklin posted Brig. Gen. John Newton's brigade in the woods on either side of the landing road, supported in the rear by portions of two more brigades (Brig. Gens. Henry W. Slocum and Phillip Kearny). Newton's skirmish line was pushed back as Brig. Gen. John Bell Hood’s Texas Brigade Advanced with Hampton at his right. As a second brigade followed Hood on his left, the Union troops retreated from the woods to the plain before the landing, seeking cover from the fire of Federal gunboats. Whiting employed artillery fire against the gunboats which had a great effect on the Gunboat, destroying a quarter of them and severely damaging others [10]. The Confederates continued to push the Union line and was able to catch and kill another few hundred Union Troops. A Confederate Victory, the Battle of Eltham’s Landing allowed the AoNV to be able to escape yet again and continue on its path to Richmond unmolested. The Confederate force of 13,400 received 792 Wounded and 420 Dead while the Union Force of 11,300 received 1213 Wounded, 620 Dead, including William B. Franklin himself who was shot when trying to lead his men on a good retreat, and 315 Captured. While this battle had allowed the AoNV to escape yet again, it had also struck yet another blow to the AotP’s Morale as this was the second battle they had lost of an already disastrous campaign.
On May 12th, another Blow to the AotP came when word arrived that the Army of Indiana had lost the Battle of Perryville. General McClellan already knew that more men would be taken away from the AotP to help reinforce the Western Theatre so McClellan sent a Letter begging Lincoln to only take the Minimum required and stated that if this wasn’t to be, the Campaign would effectively end. Lincoln would respond in kind and pulled away only 1,000 men to be sent West. McClellan, already feeling as if the Army was sick of marching, stopped and rested for 3 days on May 14th, which allowed for the AoNV to better prepare and fortify their position at Richmond. It truly seemed to McClellan that the Peninsula campaign was destined to fail and many historians agree that after the Virginia’s attack on the Union Armada, McClellan should’ve called it quits there but Lincoln had pushed him to continue, however. Finally, on the 17th, the same day the 5 day long Battle of Louisville was occuring, the AoTP would finally begin to march towards Richmond and would arrive there on the 25th. For six days, both sides prepared to battle and finally, on May 31st, 1862, the Battle of Seven Pines would begin with an attack on the AotP by the AoNV and it would be here that the Peninsula Campaign would either be seen as the needed victory for the AotP or just another defeat that would see them possibly chased out of Richmond.
A Political Cartoon showing McClellan as nothing more but a snake that was slowly strangling the Union's resources for a fruitless campaign in the Peninsula. [11]
Footnotes
[1] - any Bull Run is called Manassas simply because that is what the South Calls it.
[2] - All will be explained in time
[3] - In OTL, the battle began on a Sunday, a Sabbath which Jackson would usually avoid fighting on. Here, it happens on a Monday, allowing Jackson to be 100% for battle.
[4] - In OTL, he didn’t do this
[5] - It was really idiotic for Davis to do this.
[6] - This is true, for those that don’t know
[7] - This does not happen in OTL but it happens here for a Major POD in the eastern Theatre to go with the Western Theatre’s POD.
[8] - McClellan was very cautious in OTL, so him being even more cautious is very frustrating for Lincoln.
[9] - IOTL, the Confederates failed to do this but due to the lesser amount of troops the Union had at the time, they are able to hold off Kearny’s attack.
[10] - IOTL, they were without sufficient range for the gunboats, a little mistake that is fixed here.
[11] - can we ignore the Gettyimages thing please?
I hoped you enjoyed this update and I have a poll ready to see what you want to see next: Seven Pines, Port Republic, or the Western Theatre again and the Battle of Louisville.
Vote
Tricky Nicky
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Next update is coming along nicely. What more would my readers like to see in the next update? (If I seem needy, I do apologise. I would just like comments here)
Chapter Three: The 1862 Kentucky Campaign Part I
Tricky Nicky
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Taken From “The Crossover to the Center: Kentucky in the Southern War of Independence” by Steven Olberman (2004) {Chapter 4: Johnston Consolidates}
After the Battle of Perryville, The state of Kentucky was open for a short birth of time for General Johnston. His first major plan was to send Major General Benjamin Franklin Smith and his division which consisted of Blythe’s Mississippi, the 2nd Walker’s Tennessee, the 15th Tennessee, the 154th Senior Tennessee, the Tennessee Battery, the 7th Kentucky, the 1st Tennessee, the 6th Tennessee, the 9th Tennessee and the Mississippi Battery as well as the 1st Mississippi Cavalry to recapture Columbus and secure the Northern Mississippi river once more. Within two days, Smith’s division arrived at the crucial point and recaptured it after only a few hours of fighting with the 7500 Union Defenders fighting until they were out of ammunition. Once Johnston received news of this victory, he began to plan to continue onwards to Louisville.
Before he began this march, however, with President Davis agreeing, Johnston create the Army of Kentucky with a first of 5400 recruits and they were placed under the command under Brigadier General John C. Breckenridge [1] with the three brigades under him being merged with the Army as well. Breckenridge began to recruit an additional 7600 troops to join the Army of Kentucky and help the Army of Mississippi reinforce Kentucky for the Confederates while Johnston marched North to capture Louisville.
While Marching to Louisville, several skirmishes broke out with the most well known being the The Battle of Jeffersontown where Major General Cleburne and his division as well as Major General Kirby Smith and his division faced off against Brigadier General Thomas John Wood’s Division. For three hours, Cleburne and Smith fought to take control of the small town and thus secure the AoM’s path forward to Louisville while Wood fought to buy time for the Army of Indiana to prepare for battle at Louisville. During the fight, Smith was hit by a stray bullet and fell of his horse, forcing Cleburne to take over command of Smith’s division as well but he was able to lead them well and win the battle despite this. The battle of Jeffersontown secured the AOM’s path to Louisville well also alerting the AoIN that their enemy army was approaching. The Confederates had suffered 345 wounded and 120 dead while the union had suffered 400 wounded and 240 dead.
As Johnston approached Louisville, he received that the Army of Kentucky was marching so Breckenridge’s force of 13,000 [2] could aid Johnston’s force of 49,600 anyway they could. On May 17th, the Battle of Louisville would begin and the fate of the western theatre would be decided there.
The Battle of Jeffersontown was a short but brutal affair where Major General Patrick Cleburne proved his worth.
Footnotes
[1] - Due to him being a former Vice President, a respected War Hero, and a firm Southerner, Davis and Johnston both acknowledge that Breckenridge has great worth as a general and thus gives him command, though if a mistake ever happens, the army will be disbanded and Breckenridge will be demoted back to BG.
[2] - This is a relatively small number but it is still a good size and the reason Breckenridge was able to get this much was by basically stating how the Confederacy was fighting for the state and Kentuckians needed to help defend their own rights. Of course, Kentucky, like the other border states, is divided between Unionists and Confederates and thus as many Confederate sympathizers as possible join the AoK, though the army will never exceed 21,000, as per the agreement between Johnston, Breckenridge, and Davis.
Finished with this update. Give me your thoughts and feels on this update and soon, the Battle of Louisville in its entirety will be covered so you can see every detail of the battle. Until Next time, enjoy!
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Chapter Four: The President's Birthplace - Union Perspective at Louisville (Day 1)
Tricky Nicky
Banned
Taken from “The Clumsy Goliath: The Army of Indiana from 1862-1863” by Michael K. Dice (2003) [Chapter 2: Louisville]
The Army of Indiana was the largest army the Union Army had at that time with 75,430 troops ready for battle at Louisville and it was under the command of Major General Joseph J. Reynolds. Their order was to simply stop any and all Confederate forces in Kentucky and send them back into Tennessee. After defeats at both Richmond and Perryville, as well as a loss at Columbus, Reynolds was determined to win here at Louisville. However, word had arrived from the East and it wasn't good. The Army of the Potomac had suffered defeat after Defeat on their March to the Confederate capital Richmond, Virginia and crucial supplies were being depleted from that army to the Western Theatre. Due to that fact, Morale was slowly plummeting in the AoIN.
Major General Reynolds knew that Louisville would be a great defensible position and was prepared to fight to the last man to Defend the city. After the Battle of Jeffersontown, the Confederate Army of Mississippi was marching directly towards the city. In the early hours of May 17th, General Reynolds met with his officers to discuss the plan for the battle.
Taken from “Memoirs of a Californian Yankee: A Biography of John C. Fremont” by John C. Fremont (1877) [Chapter 7: The Battle for Louisville, Kentucky]
In the early morning hours of May 17th, 1862 that Major General Reynolds called us in his tent to help plan for the battle that will happen soon. He first spoke to General Smith. “Smith, you'll be our center for this Battle. I want the III Corps to deploy along Phoenix Hill and Russell and dig in to Defend. If you route, this battle turns to Hell in a handbasket so you must hold Phoenix Hill no matter what.” The order seemed smart, though Smith spoke up a concern of his.
“Wait, General. Us being deployed in those two places leaves the lower sector of Louisville open for capture. Why are you leaving half the city open for capture?” Reynolds held in a finger and pointed it at Smith.
“The city by itself is to big and too large to completely escape and we need a clear path of retreat in the serious case of Defeat. I plan to give the Rebs hell while fighting for it, though. Buell.” He pointed his finger to Major General Don Carlos Buell, who had been disgraced after failing in the Lower Tennessee Campaign earlier in the year. After he was able to retreat to Union Territory, his command, the Army of Ohio, was merged with the Army of Indiana by President Lincoln with the Army of Ohio’s remains, a scant 13,000 men, becoming the IV Corps of the Army of Indiana. Buell stood up, ready for orders. “I want you to deploy at the Church just North of the City and delay the Rebs for as long as you can. Retreat when pushed. Once you're a few feet away from us, the Center will open up and allow the IV Corps to retreat and be our reserves for the battle. Don't lose too many men or our plan could crumble.” Buell thought for a moment and nodded. Reynolds then turned his attention to Butterfield.
“Daniel, I want you to deploy next to the III Corps at Russell and Portland and Serve as our Left Flank. You will be touching the Ohio River so you can only move forward or retreat with no sideways motion. If worse comes to pass, we need the I Corps to cover our retreat and this you will need to be ready to Defend our path of retreat. Expect light to moderate Confederate strength hitting you as I have a feeling that our Left Flank won't be Johnston's main target. In any case, be ready for anything.” Butterfield nodded, approving very clearly that his Corps won't see much fighting until the end. Reynolds finally turned to Garfield.
“Abram, you will be the most important position as our Right Flank. The II Corps will deploy along Cave Hill, Beargrass Creek, and Clifton Heights and hold until you are overwhelmed before you redeploy in Clifton and Irish Hill and hold there. Fully expect a large Confederate assault on your position so retreat when you've realized you're position is no longer safe. Also, Garfield, be wary. Scouts report that Patrick Cleburne will be attacking our right so when his Division attacks, hold and steel your men. If half a brigade break your first defensive line, you retreat to the second one, you hear?” Garfield nodded, though his face showed traces of fear on it. Patrick Cleburne had proven himself a demon at Perryville, Richmond, Holly Springs, and finally Jeffersontown so any force up against him would have a trace of fear with them during the battle.
Reynolds would go on to assign divisions to Corps and positions. John Wood’s Division would be deployed at Cemetery Hill. I prayed for those men. They fought like hell at Jeffersontown and now they were going to fight Cleburne again. My division was given to the Left Flank. I nodded and left to mount my horse so I could get my men deployed in Fashion. I could only hope that this battle would in be a Victory. The Union has had enough defeats in 1862 already.
Thoughts? (Next update will be the Confederate perspective).
Union Corps were individually numbered, not as parts of a singular field army but as corps in the entire union army. Bit of a nitpick but it seems unlikely that these corps would be numbered I, II, III, or IV in the west.
Tricky Nicky
Banned
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