Month: June 2012

  • Further thoughts on the move through Snake Creek Gap

    In a previous post I wrote about the impact of movement on the organization and strength of a force and used the advance of the Army of the Tennessee through Snake Creek Gap and to Resaca Georgia on May 9, 1864 as an example.  There is another aspect of that movement I wish to explore.  […]

  • The Other Western Siege – Port Hudson Part 9

    Pursuit and Destruction Having failed to capture or destroy Taylor’s small army at Fort Bisland and Irish Bend Banks had to content himself with taking up the pursuit and secondary objectives. A vigorous rear guard action by Colonel Thomas Green “keeping almost within gunshot distance of the enemy’s advance” successfully retarded the Federal chase until […]

  • The Other Western Siege – Port Hudson Part 8

    Irish Bend I As they landed Grover’s forces easily pushed back the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry skirmishers and marched toward Franklin. The possibility of having his escape route close Taylor had no choice but to weaken his already inadequate force. The 4th Texas Cavalry and two 6lb guns from the St. Mary’s Cannoneers covered the nineteen […]

  • Short Takes

    A large group of scholars and enthusiasts are gathering Tuesday at UNC Wilmington for a symposium on the remnants of the blockade runner Modern Greece. Sorry, it’s sold out. From the archives of the Manchester Guardian comes an editorial from 1861 about the impending “war to the knife” in the US. Like most of the […]

  • The Other Western Siege – Port Hudson Part 7

    Fort Bisland II The Federal advance continued on the 12th. When Banks learned that Grover was on the move he ordered a harder push against the cavalry skirmishers. Weitzel’s brigade with Ingraham’s (1st) brigade of Emory’s division on his right advanced toward the fort. The lead elements of Weitzel’s brigade arrived before Fort Bisland at […]

  • DE ARAGON, The Chronicle of a Confederate Surgeon – Part 12

    Author’s note: Part twelve of the sory of Major Ramon T. de Aragon. After the fall of Atlanta, French’s Division is sent to capture Allatoona Pass and fill up the railroad cut. Hood’s Tennessee Campaign The Battle of Allatoona Pass   Abraham Lincoln declared September 4, 1864 a day of thanksgiving in the North in honor of the occupation […]

  • Fredericksburg: The Left

    FREDERICKSBURG: THE LEFT Once the town of Fredericksburg was secured, Burnside inexplicably waited a full day to attack. If he attacked on December 12th instead of the 13th he might have caught Jackson out of position and won the battle. But the troops plundered and vandalized and the union pattern again was one of indecision […]