Chronological History of the American Civil War

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In Georgia, General Sherman (U.S.) spread out his 3 columns of army in an attempt to surround Atlanta. General John B. Hood (CSA) determined that his best approach was to attack one column and inflict overwhelming damage on it before moving on to the next. Wednesday, July 20, 1864 : General Hood (CSA) is hell-bent to attack the Army of the Cumberland (U.S.) with 20,000 men as they cross the Peachtree Creek. The Yankees held, and the Rebels fell back for another Union victory. Estimated casualties were high 6,506 total; the North had 300 dead and 1,310 wounded while the South lost four brigadier-generals in the attack about 4,000 dead or 25% of their fighting strength. For General John B. Hood (CSA) and Atlanta, this failure at Peachtree Creek was a huge one and as he blames his General Hardee (CSA) for not fighting hard enough. Hood is not deterred and will try again. Memphis newspapers report on the return of General Andrew Jackson Smith’s (U.S.) troops, who have been quite successful in their pursuit of Forrest, with violent encounters at Tapaluci, Guntown, and Salem that cost the Confederates at least 2,400 men. Smith’s expedition has come back, he says, only to replenish their provisions, and he brings with him approximately 2,000 captives. In Bolivar, Tennessee, 17 year old, Sally Wendel Fentress writes, “Another not a victory we have to record. A fight between Gens. Lee and Forrest and Gen. Smith. Another time were relatives and dear friends sacrificed by mismanagement on the part of our General[s]. Killed in Company E were Rob Durrett, Capt. Statler and some others that I do not know. Sargent Major Cleburne was also killed. Brother Frank escaped unhurt. [He] Was in a few feet of both Jimmie Statler and Rob Durrett, where they fell. Kate is quite sick with chills.” Thursday, July 21, 1864 : Union troops overtake the Confederate position at Bald Hill, over looking Atlanta, Georgia. Friday, July 22, 1864 : A determined, General John B. Hood

(CSA) again is unsuccessful in attacking Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.) at the The Battle of Atlanta in trying to retake Bald Hill. Again the South losing 3 to 4 men for every Union loss. Total casualties approximate 12,000. Union General James McPherson (pictured) is killed when he accidentally crosses Confederate lines. Again General Hood (CSA) who had not been on the field, blamed (you guessed it!) General Hardee, for not fighting hard enough. At Boonville, in the Idaho Territory, Federal troops learn that local

citizens took the law into their own hands, by attacking a large party of Indians (mostly women and children) and scalping 35 of which only 5 were men. Infant children were thrown against rocks and killed. Saturday, July 23, 1864 : “Bloody” Bill Anderson leads 65 men to Renick, Missouri, robbing stores and tearing down telegraph wires on the way. They had hoped to attack a train, but its conductor learned of their presence and turned back before reaching the town. The guerrillas then attacked Allen, Missouri. At least 40 members of the 17th Illinois Cavalry and the Missouri State Militia were in town but took shelter in a fortress. The guerrillas were only able to shoot their horses before reinforcements arrived, killing three of Anderson’s men. An Army transport U.S.S. B.M. Runyan , with some 500 military and civilian passengers on board, sank in the Mississippi River near Skipwith’s Landing, Mississippi, after running into a snag. The U.S.S. Prairie Bird , and Acting Master, Thomas Burns, rescues 350 survivors and salvages part of the cargo. Rescue and humanitarian operations have been a continuing naval mission throughout our history.