Chronological History of the American Civil War

P a g e | 205

over 1,294 dead, wounded, and captured and Early a direct road to Washington less than 40 miles away. But the advance of the South was crucially delayed for a day – enough time to better organize the defenses of Washington. Sunday, July 10, 1864: General Sherman (U.S.) took the decision not to make a full-frontal assault on Atlanta, as he has lost too many men that way in the past. Now nearing Washington, D.C., General Jubal Early (CSA), having fought his way pass General Wallace (U.S.) has approached the outer suburbs. Lincoln telegraphs General Grant (U.S.) on present emergency to send more troops to defend Washington. President and family leaves the "Soldiers’ Home" (The President's nearby retreat from the White House like Camp David is today.) and return to White House, on recommendation of Sec. Stanton, who believes them in danger. At Wellington, Missouri, two of William Quantrill’s men, Albert Estes and Jefferson Wilhite are attending Warden’s Church when attacked by Union soldiers. When the smoke clears both are dead; Wilhite has 28 bullets through him. Monday, July 11, 1864 : Fighting breaks out near Pontotoc,

Mississippi, with Major General Andrew J. Smith’s (pictured) (U.S.) 14,000 Union troops as they go deeper into the state looking for General Forrest (CSA). Forrest was in nearby Okolona, Mississippi with about 6,000 men, but his commander, Lt. General Stephen D. Lee (CSA), told him he could not attack, until he was reinforced. Jubal Early’s exhausted Confederate forces did what no other Southern men accomplished during the entire War: he invaded at least the suburbs of Washington, D.C., in Silver Spring, Maryland. President Lincoln (U.S.) witnesses the fighting first hand with General Early’s (CSA) troops in front of Fort Stevens. President Lincoln's

(U.S.) tall body frame made him a perfect target for snipers, and was demanded to take cover. A young Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., was alarmed, when bullets began to hit nearby. “Get down, you damn fool!” he shouted at his commander-in-chief. Lincoln, obligingly took cover. The President later goes to the wharf, to welcome reinforcements sent up Potomac, by General Grant (U.S.). General Early’s (CSA) spies tell him of reinforcements, he knows that Washington cannot be taken without heavy losses too severe to warrant the attempt. Tuesday, July 12, 1864: General Early (CSA) decided to abandon his original plan to assault the capital. In fact, Early did the opposite – he orders his men to withdraw from their positions. “We didn’t take Washington,” Early told his staff officers, “but we scared Abe Lincoln like Hell.” In Mississippi, Lt. General Stephen D. Lee (CSA) arrives near Pontotoc with 2,000 additional men, and under his command, the entire Confederate force was now set to engage Major General Andrew Jackson Smith’s (U.S.) command. Wednesday, July 13, 1864: Nathan Bedford Forrest’s (CSA) cavalrymen rode into Tupelo, Mississippi with General Andrew Jackson Smith (U.S.) not far behind at all. Lee and Forrest (CSA) were uneasy about attacking the Yankees, but they agreed to try to drive Smith out of Mississippi. Now within two miles of the Federals, Lt. General Stephen D. Lee (CSA) orders an attack for the next morning. General Andrew Jackson Smith (U.S.) chooses a strong position on a low ridge near the crossroads and constructs breastworks at Harrisburg, a suburb of Tupelo and waits for the Confederates to attack. Thursday, July 14, 1864: The Confederates had to fight uphill across nearly a mile of open terrain. This was not the kind of fighting that General Forrest was noted for. This disadvantage from the start, caused General Forrest's (CSA) refusal to take command of the battle. As ranking