Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Friday, October 21, 1864 : Confederate forces under Lieut. General John B. Hood (CSA) raid the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad in Tennessee. They derail a train and burn it and every house along two miles of the track and burn over 15,000 cords of wood. General Sterling Price (CSA) in Missouri, pushes General Samuel R. Curtis (U.S.) to retreat near Westport. Saturday, October, 22, 1864 : Brig. General Joseph O. Shelby (CSA) forces Major General Samuel R. Curtis (U.S.) back further to Bush Creek, near Westport, Missouri. The Federals evacuate Independence, Missouri due to the advancing Rebel army. Confederate guerrillas attack a Union transport, on the White River near Saint Charles, Arkansas, where the Rebels rifle shots kill 3 and wound 14 men of the 53rd U.S. Colored Infantry. General Hood (CSA) continues with his aggressive campaign against Sherman. However, Sherman is aware that lack of supplies is becoming a major issue. Hood’s army (CSA) marches from Gadsden to Guntersville to cross the mighty Tennessee River. It seems that General Hood had forgotten to retrieve his army’s pontoon bridge, and now has to find another place to cross. This delay will make a surprise attack on the state of Tennessee unlikely. Sunday, October 23, 1864 : For the past 6 weeks, Confederate General Sterling Price’s raid on Missouri had hoped to divert attention from the war in the East, and a big win here would hurt the Republicans in the fall elections. General Price is moving just south of Westport, Missouri. Since the early 1830’s Westport, Missouri (now a part of Kansas City) pioneers traveling along the Oregon, the California and the Santa Fe Trails had all passed peacefully through this town on their way West. In fact, if you were at the Price’s location today, you are at the zoo in Kansas City, Missouri. But things today were getting a little wild. Fact is, it almost turns into disaster, when Price’s army is pinned between two Union forces. Early in this fight the Confederates enjoy some initial success, as they drive General Samuel R. Curtis’ (U.S.) federals across Brush Creek, but Price did not have sufficient reserves to continue the drive. By now, General Pleasanton’s (U.S.) men catch up and are attacking on the other side of the battlefield, placing Price (CSA) in a dangerous position. Price’s army makes a mad run toward the southwest and most will escape into Kansas and beyond. Both sides lost about 1,500 men, or 10% of the Union’s men, but 20% of the smaller Rebel force. The exhausted Yankees do not pursue them right away. Monday, October 24, 1864 : Today, General Forrest’s (CSA) Company B is crossing the Hatchie River at Davis Bridge in southwestern Tennessee. They will ride northward through Newcastle and Whiteville; only stopping to rest at Wesley, just south of Brownsville. Their destination is Paris Landing on the Tennessee River. In Missouri, General Price, had the forethought to send most of his 500 supply wagons southward along the Kansas border before Sunday’s battle, but travel is slow. He fears the Yankees will continue their fight and capture his supplies. Tuesday, October 25, 1864 : Major General Alfred Pleasonton (U.S.) catches up again with General Price and his supply train and an all day running battle crossing two creeks and a river begins. By the end of the day, unable to prevent the crossing or inflict serious damage on Confederate forces, Pleasonton’s troopers did manage to capture 100 prisoners and two cannons, and force General Price to burn a third of the wagons and continue his retreat. On the road to Gadsden, Alabama, Lieut. General John B. Hood (CSA) and Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.) forces continue to spar as Sherman follows him further away from Atlanta.