Chronological History of the American Civil War

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the Macon and Western railroad. And for the second time Grant (U.S.) refuses an exchange of prisoners. Grant knows this move will cut a supply of troops to Lee, but both sides, because of this decision will still suffer many losses due to worsening conditions in prisons in the North and South. Friday, August 19, 1864 : Lieut. General A. P. Hill (CSA) attacks the Union forces near Globe Tavern on the Weldon Railroad, capturing 2,500 and pushing the Federals back, but not away from the railroad, a vital Confederate link so desperately needed to keep Petersburg supplied. In Washington, President Lincoln meets with Frederick Douglass an African-American and a leader of the abolitionist movement, for a second time. He asks for Douglass’s assistance in moving slaves north in case the war is unsuccessful. Saturday, August 20, 1864 : C.S.S. Tallahassee captures the Roan and burns her, then sets course for Wilmington, North Carolina. Eighty guerrilla Rebels of Col Biffle (CSA) attack Union scouts at Clifton, Tennessee. Even though the Federals are outnumbered three to one, they kill nine and scatter the rest, having lost only two Union soldiers. Now in Tennessee, General Joseph Wheeler (CSA) is raiding Sherman’s lines of communication, and destroys bridges and railroad tracks near Knoxville, McMinnville, and Franklin. Skirmishes with Federals at Pine Bluff and Rogersville. At Deep Bottom Run after eight days of hard fighting, threatening positions will be maintained for a few more days, but General Grant’s plan to make General Lee (CSA) move more forces and leave an opening to attack Petersburg has failed. About all it did accomplish was to keep Lee from reinforcing General Early (CSA) with more cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley. There is not a victory for either side, but Union casualties are approximately 2,900 men, some due to heat stroke. The Confederate casualties are 1,500. Sunday, August 21, 1864 : At precisely 8:00 a.m., Union General A. J. Smith, having surrounded Oxford, Mississippi, marches into town to surprise General Nathan Bedford Forrest (CSA) and finally put an end to his “ devilish ” ways. But upon entering town, General Smith, himself was disappointingly surprised. The wily Confederate general had departed from Oxford, leaving a rather large note written in charcoal on the courthouse wall saying, “General Forrest is in Memphis today.” True to his word Forrest, at 4:00 a.m. was in Memphis. Forrest did not attempt to capture the city, occupied by 6,000 Federal troops. The raid had three objectives: to capture three Union generals posted there; to release Southern

prisoners from Irving Block Prison; and to cause the recall of Union forces from Northern Mississippi. With 2,000 cavalry, Forrest loses about a quarter of his strength, because of exhausted horses. The surprise was essential. Taking advantage of a thick dawn fog and