Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Tuesday, September 13, 1864 : Rear Admiral Farragut’s sailors continue to clear the main ship channel at Mobile Bay of torpedoes (mines). He reported to Secretary Welles that 22 torpedoes had been raised. He added: “This part of the channel is now believed to be clear, for, though beyond doubt many more were originally anchored here, report says they have sunk over one hundred to the bottom.” Despite the Admiral’s efforts, Union ships would be destroyed in

the vicinity of Mobile Bay by torpedoes in the months to come. Wednesday, September 14, 1864 : General Lee (CSA) was in trouble, even the corn rations had run out for his men at Petersburg, Virginia, but General Wade Hampton III (CSA) (pictured) had learned of 3,000 head of cattle on the James River at Coggin’s Point, just five miles away from Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant’s (U.S.) headquarters, which were lightly defended by only 120 Union soldiers and 30 civilians. Now with 3,000 Rebel troops following him, some of these men included “several certified Texas cattle thieves,” he figures on getting most of the cattle to Petersburg. He is now riding south of the cities, behind Union lines, and chooses to cross where the Cook’s Bridge over the Blackwater River once stood, knowing that an attack from there would be unexpected.

Fighting breaks out at Berryville, Virginia, as Lieut. General Richard H. Anderson (CSA) and his army corps leaves for the siege lines at Petersburg. This is depleting Lieut. General Jubal Early (CSA) of much needed men. Thursday, September 15, 1864 : The Daily Times in Leavenworth, Texas reports: “The train which arrived from Fort Smith week before last, brought from the South, four or five hundred women and children, who were sent here by order of General Thayer. We understand that there are now at Fort Smith several hundred more, who are in a very destitute condition, and who are to be sent to this place. What is to be done with these people, are we bound to support them? We understand that the Government furnishes fifteen days rations on their arrival, after which time they must provide for themselves. The citizens of Fort Scott will not see them suffer, but the number is so great, that it will be utterly impossible for our citizens to support them through the coming winter. We must appeal abroad for help to Leavenworth, Lawrence and other Northern cities - Fort Scott, Kansas.” Friday, September 16, 1864 : On what will be called the “Beefsteak Raid,” at 5 a.m., General Hampton’s (CSA) force attacks and captures more than 2,400 cattle, along with 11 wagons and 304 prisoners. They head back toward friendly territory. Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest (CSA) leaves Verona, Mississippi to begin a cavalry raid into Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee to cut the supply and communication lines of Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.). Generals Grant and Sheridan meet in Charles Town to discuss the problems in the Shenandoah Valley and a Union offensive against Jubal Early’s (CSA) Corps. Saturday, September 17, 1864 : At 9 a.m., General Hampton’s “Beefsteak Raid” is a success, as he is back in Confederate territory. There was so much beef available that Confederate sentries would sometimes offer it in trade to Union sentries in exchange for certain luxury items of which the Federal soldiers had a plentiful supply, but the Confederates lacked. Abraham Lincoln called the raid “the slickest piece of cattle-stealing” he ever heard of . A fictionalized depiction of the raid is featured in the 1966 film "Alvarez Kelly".