Monthly Archives: April 2012

April 30, 1862: Union forces attack Cumberland Gap

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Allen Gathman

General Kirby Smith Union forces under George Morgan attacked the Cumberland Gap, the main route connecting Virginia with the west. Here Confederate general Kirby Smith orders reinforcements to oppose them. From the official record: KNOXVILLE, TENN., April 30, 1862. GENERAL: … Continue reading →

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April 29, 1862: Is not the Negro a man?

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Allen Gathman

A letter from the Kingston Argus, dated April 29, 1862, from a Union correspondent at Fredericksburg. One of the “contrabands” described here would have been John Washington, who crossed Rappanhannock to freedom in the to the Union lines on April … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, Contrabands, Slavery, Virginia | 1 Comment

April 28, 1862: Organization of the Union armies at Shiloh

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Allen Gathman

One thing you can say for Halleck, he was organized. Here he gives orders organizing the army corps at Shiloh for the southward movement, taking into account everything from ammunition to wagons to proper food preparation. From the Official Record: … Continue reading →

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April 27, 1862: Confederates order cotton destroyed

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The repulse at Shiloh pushed the Confederate line entirely out of Tennessee, and the fall of Island No. 10 opposite New Madrid, MO opened the Mississippi to Union gunboats, probably south almost to Vicksburg, MS. Beauregard, via Van Dorn, ordered … Continue reading →

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April 26, 1862: The Dispatch reports Breckinridge’s casualties

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Allen Gathman

John C. Breckinridge The Richmond Daily Dispatch reported casualties in Breckinridge’s “Orphan Brigade,” so called because it was composed of Kentuckians whose state had stayed in the Union, and was under the command of John Cabell Breckinridge, former Vice President … Continue reading →

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April 25, 1862: The distribution of Southern sentiment in Missouri

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Slave Population in Missouri, 1860 The Richmond Daily Dispatch reports strong Confederate sympathies in Missouri, except for the “German and emigrant Yankee population”. It is a peculiarity of Missouri geography that northern (or at least central) Missouri sentiment was more … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, Missouri, Slavery | Leave a comment

April 24, 1862: An incident at Shiloh, from the Richmond Daily Dispatch

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Fame inscribes the deeds of soldiers at Shiloh (Iowa monument designed by Frederick Triebel) The battle at Pittsburg Landing resulted in more American casualties (over 23,000) than all previous wars combined. Such a harrowing experience by so many people naturally … Continue reading →

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April 23, 1862: Buell dithers over Mitchel

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Ormsby M. Mitchel After his “Great Locomotive Chase” escapade (see the Civil War Daily Gazette for details) came to a bad end, General O.M. Mitchel had taken Huntsville, Alabama and was prepared to hold it as a base for further … Continue reading →

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April 22, 1862: Cautiously advancing on Corinth

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Henry Halleck Halleck took over general command after Shiloh, and he was determined not to repeat Grant’s error of being insufficiently cautious. He would take months to advance the 20 miles to Corinth, Mississippi. PITTSBURG LANDING, April 22, 1862. Major … Continue reading →

Posted in Henry Halleck, John Pope, Mississippi, Shiloh, Tennessee, Ulysses S. Grant | Leave a comment

April 21, 1862: Getting the ammunition straightened out

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Allen Gathman

One of the many difficulties encountered by both sides at the battle of Shiloh was the lack of standardization of small arms. Many units had men armed with such a variety of rifles and muskets that it was nearly impossible … Continue reading →

Posted in Shiloh, Ulysses S. Grant, Weapons | Leave a comment