Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Sunday, September 4, 1864 : It is what happens next in Atlanta (pictured) itself, after General Sherman takes over, has still remained one of the most controversial incidents of the American Civil War. He

wanted the city to be a purely military zone. He orders the destruction of any buildings that has of no use to the military other than private residences and churches. The city was to be for the military only - not civilians. Brig. General John H. Morgan, the famed Confederate raider, was inside the town of Greenville preparing for a raid through the Union-sympathizing territory of east Tennessee. When he is shot by

federal troops fleeing the home of a woman, who had betrayed him. Morgan dies instantly. Some have disputed that Morgan was killed in the Greeneville incident and escaped to the west where he remarried, and lived under the assumed name of Dr. Jack Hunt Cole. On his deathbed in November 1899, with only his wife and eldest son at his side, Dr. Cole handed his wife the piece of paper and said: “This is who I really am.” The name on the paper was John Hunt Morgan. While the deathbed confession was disputed by Morgan’s brother and family, enough circumstantial evidence has been produced that leads some historical officials to give the doctor’s claims a second look. It is still in question, today. After two straight months, the Yankees end their 3rd massive bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, without the fort succumbing. This is after almost 15,000 shells fired into the fort. With the bay now in Union control, frustrations lead to bread riots in Mobile, Alabama. Monday, September 5, 1864 : Lincoln got his national day of celebration; with the fall of Atlanta things were looking brighter for him in Washington. President Lincoln interviews Mary E. Wise, who joined the 34th Indiana Regiment (U.S.) and serves until wounded. The paymaster withheld five months’ pay because of her sex. President Lincoln directs payment and offers to supply funds, if paymaster cannot legally do so. The voters in Louisiana, who had taken an oath of loyalty to the United States ratified a state constitution abolishing slavery. In Tennessee, Unionists meet in Nashville, to restart the state government and plan participation in national elections in the fall. Tuesday, September 6, 1864 : A skirmish at Readyville, Tennessee as Col. Thomas Jordan, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, routs a much larger Confederate force, taking 130 prisoners. Most of the railroad tracks damaged by Wheeler’s forces are repaired. Near Brunswick, Missouri, a band of Yankees is captured by guerrillas and are stripped and robbed. Federal forces begin another bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Wednesday, September 7, 1864 : Under protest from Lieut. General John B. Hood (CSA) Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.) orders the civilian evacuation of Atlanta, Georgia. Sherman cites his lack of supplies to feed the population. With about as many Federal troops guarding the railroad and telegraph lines in Tennessee and Georgia, as there were in Atlanta, Sherman did not want to have to feed and worry about women and children. He offers transportation south of the city, and between September 11 and 16 some 446 families, about 1,600 people leave their homes and possessions. Sherman’s order surely didn’t win him any fans among the Southerners, but he was only starting to build his infamous reputation with the