Chronological History of the American Civil War

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barge. The orders, however, like the men, came from the Confederate Torpedo Corps. The box concealed a bomb, and when it blew up, it sets off the

ammunition already loaded on the barge, this set in motion a devastating chain reaction, which spreads the holocaust from the barges to storage buildings on the shore and even to General Grant’s headquarters, very nearly killing General Grant. It was later reported that $2 million worth of supplies and property were lost in the explosion. ( or about $37 million in today’s money ) Meanwhile, Sherman in Atlanta, begins a bombardment of cannon fire on the city, electing to surround the city as best as he could, ensure no trains could supply the city and thus starve it out. And the siege at Fort Morgan on Mobile Bay begins as well, with lots of cannon fire. Wednesday, August 10, 1864 : Major General John Wheeler (CSA) begins his Confederate raids to break up the Union

supply and communication lines of General Sherman in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee but Sherman had already stockpiled supplies near to his front lines. Rear Admiral Farragut (U.S.) continues steady day and night bombardment, battering down the walls of Fort Morgan bravely defended by his former shipmate, General Page (CSA). At Baldwin, Florida, the Rebels attack and capture a small Federal force, who were ripping up railroad tracks. Union General Philip Sheridan approaches the city of Winchester, Virginia. Thursday, August 11, 1864 : The C.S.S. Tallahassee captures seven Federal vessels off the coast of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, burning all the Union's ships except one. The Federal crews escape on it. In Georgia, General Sherman (U.S.) continued the bombardment of Atlanta, while his troops dig trenches towards the defenders trenches. In Virginia, not wanting to fight, General Early (CSA) leaves Winchester, for a more defensible position 20 miles to the south. General Sheridan (U.S.) was not confident in his men yet, so, he follows with his force settling his troops along Cedar Creek—just north of Strasburg. Friday, August 12, 1864 : In Mobile Bay, the captured gunboat C.S.S. Tennessee , formerly of the Confederate navy, having had her smokestack replaced and other damage repaired, began her new career in the U.S. Navy as she got up steam today, now branded as U.S.S. Tennessee . The Confederate raider, C.S.S. Tallahassee , captures six more Federal vessels off the seacoast of New Jersey and New York, causing alarm up and down the eastern seaboard. Rebel guerrillas attack the Yankees at Fredericksburg, Missouri but are driven off. Saturday, August 13, 1864 : Skirmishes start near Strasburg, Virginia, as the action begins to pick up between Lieut. General Jubal Early (CSA) and Major General Philip Sheridan (U.S.). Lieut. Col. John S. Mosby’s, 43rd Virginia Cavalry Confederate operations in Virginia, attacks Berryville and Sheridan’s Union supply train, capturing and destroying 75 loaded wagons, and 200 head of beef cattle, 500 horses, etc., under Brig. General John Reese Kenly (U.S.). During the night, cavalry divisions under command of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (U.S.) crossed the James River at Deep Bottom to threaten Richmond, coordinating with a movement against the Weldon Railroad at Petersburg. Union gunboats begin steaming around the James River east of Richmond. They are trying to distract General Lee’s (CSA) attention from Petersburg, and force him to divert some troops away from there.