Author: Ned B.

  • Return to Snake Creek Gap – October 1864

    Several times in the past (here, here, here, and here) I have posted  about the movement of the Army of the Tennessee through Snake Creek Gap, Georgia in May 1864. In discussions about that event, I have often seen it said “if only Johnston had defended the gap”. The opposing armies returned to the area later […]

  • Grant & The Red River Campaign, Part 7

    Picking up where I left off a while back in Part 6… As the end of April approached, Grant became more focused on the main offensives in Virginia and Georgia. As a result his interest in the Red River campaign decreased and his frustration increased. Halleck, using his position as intermediary, pushed his own ideas. […]

  • Grant & The Red River Campaign, Part 6

    Continued from Part 5. In previous posts I wrote about Grant’s orders to Banks on March 15 and March 31, 1864.  Grant continued to be anxious about the situation in Louisiana so in mid April he sent another set of orders to Banks.  This time he tasked Gen. Hunter with hand delivering the message and […]

  • Grant & The Red River Campaign, Part 5

    Continued from Part 4. Grant’s first order to Banks reached him on March 26 at Alexandria, Louisiana, where the forces for the campaign had concentrated. Though delayed by the navy’s effort to get the boats over the rapids, Banks still hoped he could reach Shreveport around April 10 and return Sherman’s troops after that.1   […]

  • Grant & The Red River Campaign, Part 4

    Continued from Part 3. During the first week of March, 1864, Grant traveled from Nashville TN to Washington DC to meet President Lincoln for the first time. He was promoted to Lieutenant General on March 9th and the next day assigned to be general-in-chief of all US armies. He made a quick visit to the […]

  • Grant & The Red River Campaign, Part 3

    Delayed a couple weeks, but picking up where Part 2 left off… The planning of the Red River campaign involved multiple proponents; multiple motives; and multiple goals. Previously I discussed how Grant had been drawn into it because of Sherman’s interest. He also was involved because of Halleck, who was general-in-chief until Grant’s promotion in […]

  • Grant & The Red River Campaign, Part 2

    Continued from Part 1. In testimony before Congress’s Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, Admiral Porter boasted that “The Red River expedition was originally proposed by General Sherman and myself.”1 Porter’s statement is presumptuous — there was an earlier plan by Halleck2 — but Sherman did raise the idea to Grant’s Chief of […]