Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Tuesday, October 4, 1864 : In Georgia, General Hood’s (CSA) men were in firm control of the Chattanooga-Atlanta Railroad lines, with fighting taking place at the Moon’s Station, Lost Mountain and Acworth. Today, General Sherman (U.S.) receives reports pleading for relief, he decides to provide it. Leaving only one corps to hold Atlanta, Sherman starts back up the line to help deal with General Hood (CSA). At Kennesaw Mountain, General Sherman (U.S.) establishes headquarters and gets to work. The “New Orleans Tribune” becomes the first black daily newspaper. The National Black Convention meets in Syracuse, New York. Establishing citizenship and voting rights are high on their list. General Sterling Price (CSA) decides to go west toward Jefferson City, Missouri, instead of St. Louis. Wednesday, October 5, 1864 : Lieut. General William J. Hardee (CSA) assumes the command of the Confederate Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, as he and Lieut. General John Bell Hood (CSA) could not get along, they are both separated by President Jefferson Davis. Hood’s men attacked Union positions that defended the railroad pass at Allatoona, Georgia. The Confederate attackers are defeated while losing 40% of their forces. Realizing that his army was in no shape to fight, Hood took his force moves westward toward Alabama. Most of Calcutta, India is destroyed by a cyclone with approximately 60,000 people dying in the storm. Thursday, October 6, 1864 : General Early’s (CSA) troops have been on the run, but today one of his generals Thomas Rosser leds a Confederate cavalry force against General George Custer (U.S.) at Brock’s Gap, Virginia. Although surprised, Custer’s men manage to fend off the attack, and the Confederate attack fails. There is some fighting as General Forrest is leaving Tennessee and heading South back to Alabama, camping just a few miles from Florence before crossing high water on the Tennessee River. Friday, October 7, 1864 : General Forrest (CSA) crosses the Tennessee River and camps at Cherokee, Alabama. General Lee sends out two divisions under generals Charles Field and Robert Hoke (CSA) to move around the end of the Union line to try to recapture land around Richmond lost to the Union, just about a week before at New Market Heights. The Confederates moved down Darbytown Road and attack 1,700 cavalrymen. Union reinforcements soon arrive and turn the Rebel attack around. The Rebs lost 700 men, while the Yankees lost only 400, and no ground was gained. Lee will not make another attempt to regain the ground, and focus instead on setting up more defenses closer to Richmond. The U.S.S. Wachusett rams and captures the Confederate cruiser and commerce raider C.S.S. Florida, while in port at Bahia, Brazil. She was the sister ship to the C.S.S. Alabama. This move was a violation of international maritime law, but the damaged C.S.S. Florida is towed back to the United States, where under international protest the C.S.S. Florida was court-ordered to be returned to Brazil. A new Confederate commerce raider formerly Sea King , the C.S.S. Shenandoah embarks from London, England. Saturday, October 8, 1864 : Back in Tennessee, Nathan Bedford Forrest (CSA) concludes his series of raids, having killed and wounded nearly 1,000 men, captured 2,360 more men and officers, and appropriated horses and livestock, artillery, ordnance, and provisions. In Memphis, Brig. General B. H. Grierson (U.S.) is asking for more troops to be sent there, after scouts report that General Chalmers (CSA) has crossed the Cold Water with a force of 3,000 or 4,000 men to attack this place or White’s Station. President and Secretary of War are among those attending funeral in Georgetown of Lt. John R. Meigs, son of General Meigs (U.S.).