Chronological History of the American Civil War

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General Winfield Scott Hancock, (U.S.) who are in the process of destroying the Weldon Railroad. A Confederate victory, still the railroad was lost to the Union again. But again, it cost the Union in heavy casualties. They were 2,747 (the II Corps lost 117 killed, 439 wounded, 2,046 missing/captured; the cavalry lost 145); Confederate casualties were 814 (Hampton’s cavalry lost 16 killed, 75 wounded, 3 missing; Hill’s infantry 720 total.) Hill’s victory is empty. Destruction of the Weldon Railroad continues and the program to extend the Union lines further right are not disrupted. C.S.S. Tallahassee , Commander Wood, successfully runs the blockade into Wilmington, after being chased and fired at by several blockading vessels. Rear Admiral Lee (U.S.) issues orders urging “utmost vigilance” to prevent her re-entry onto the high seas. On his cruise, cut short by lack of coal, Wood took some 31 prizes, all but eight of which was destroyed. Friday, August 26, 1864 : General Sherman’s army is effectively surrounding Atlanta and continues to cut General Hood (CSA) off from the outside world. Lieut. General Jubal Early (CSA) crosses the Potomac River going back into Maryland at Williamsport. Saturday, August 27, 1864 : The final assault is nearing today, as General Sherman (U.S.) launches an assault on the Macon & Western Railroad lines. For more than a month, Sherman has backed the Rebels into Atlanta with one victory after another. Now with one more victory, General Hood (CSA) would have to either, to surrender, die--or evacuate. Sunday, August 28, 1864 : General William Tecumseh Sherman (U.S.) further tightens his grip on Atlanta by destroying ten miles of the West Point Road that led from Atlanta to the Alabama state line. Almost 60,000 Union troops are moving south, west of Atlanta to Jonesboro, Georgia, trying to outflank John Bell Hood and cut the Macon and Western Railroad. Fighting continues around Holly Springs, Mississippi, Leestown and Smithfield in West Virginia, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Polk County, Missouri. Monday, August 29, 1864 : General Sterling Price (CSA) had been the Confederate commander in the first major battle of the War in the Trans-Mississippi, at Wilson’s Creek, Missouri. General Price (CSA) had lost the state when, he and Governor Claiborne Jackson had retreated into Arkansas. Jackson had set up a “government in exile,” and Price had gone on to fight valiantly in many other battles. Today, General Price takes command of an expedition that is leaving from Princeton, Arkansas to reclaim Missouri for the South. Fighting begins in Red Oak, Georgia, as Sherman tightens the noose even more around Atlanta. While removing Confederate obstructions from the channel leading into Mobile Bay, five sailors are killed and nine others injured when a torpedo explodes. Tuesday, August 30, 1864 : The Democratic National Convention meets in Chicago, Illinois and nominates Major General George B. McClellan as their nominee for the Presidency in the coming election. McClellan is running on a peace platform. Despite the party platform called for an immediate end to the war, McClellan is now supporting to continue the conflict. Major General David Hunter (U.S.) is relieved of duty as Brig. General George Crook (U.S.) is now assigned to the command of the Department of West Virginia. Federals capture the West Point- Atlanta Railroad leaving only the Macon Railroad line open into Atlanta, Georgia. Wednesday, August 31, 1864 : Today, if you drive south on the Old Dixie Road, Highway 41, just south of Atlanta near Sosebee’s Wrecker Service, this was the site of Rough and Ready Station (it was even mentioned in the book and movie of “Gone with the Wind”). The Rough and Ready Station is the last supply line stop the Macon Railroad had leading into Atlanta. Confederate Generals William Hardee and Stephen D. Lee with two corps moves to block Sherman (U.S.) at Jonesboro, Georgia, and attacked the Union troops, but the Rebels are thrown