Chronological History of the American Civil War

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his guns on a high ridge at Pilot’s Knob across the river from the Federal supply base at Johnsonville. At Pulaski, Tennessee, the 4th US Army Corps arrives to block any move in that direction by Lieut. General John B. Hood (CSA) and his forces moving northward. Friday, November 4, 1864 : Early in the morning, the Union gunboats and land batteries, across the river engaged “that devil Forrest’s” Confederates to an artillery duel. Forrest using the

captured U.S.S. Undine as well as his own artillery are so well positioned, the Federals were unable to hinder them. In fact, the Confederate artillery fire soon disables the gun boats. Fearing that the Rebels might cross the river and capture the transports, the Federals set fire to them. The wind then extends the fire to

the piles of stores on the levee and to a warehouse loaded with supplies. The

Confederates seeing the fire, began firing on the steamboats, barges, and warehouses to prevent the Federals from putting out the fires. One observer noted, “The wharf for nearly one mile up and down the river presented one solid sheet of flame.” Saturday, November 5, 1864 : Some Confederate artillery bombards the depot in the morning, but then leaves. When the fighting is over, Forrest reports only 2 men killed and 9 wounded. He describes the Union loss as 4 gunboats, 14 transports, 20 barges, 26 pieces of artillery, destroys many warehouses of goods and property worth $6,700,000 and 150 prisoners. In Tuscumbia, Alabama, General Beauregard (CSA) is meeting with General Hood (CSA) and his senior officers to discuss their strategy against Union forces. Hood wants to launch an offensive north towards the Union, while his officers can not comprehend, why Hood would let General Sherman (U.S.) and his army roam around the South unhindered. Sunday, November 6, 1864 : With the presidential election only a couple of days away, the rumors were that urban-terrorist operations picked New York City to be the target of arsonists, and they were going to burn the town to the ground on Election Day. Even in Chicago today, there was the arrest of a number of “Confederate ringleaders.” They were conspiring to take over the city, which would be followed by the liberation of prisoners of war being held in Camp Douglas (U.S.) nearby. Union forces arrived in Rome, Georgia. They proceeded to destroy several bridges, foundries, mills, shops, warehouses, and other military and civilian property that could be used by the Confederate government. The Union soldiers, then started off for Kingston and Atlanta. At Fort Lyon (U.S.) in the Colorado Territory, a new commander orders the arrest of all the peaceful Arapaho Indians who have been camped 2 miles from the Fort and come every day to the Fort for provisions, demanding all their weapons and horses. The Indians immediately agree to any demands made by the Yankees. The Commander proclaims they are all his prisoners. Monday, November 7, 1864 : The Congress of the Confederate States of America meets in Richmond. Jefferson Davis speaks in an optimistic manner underplaying the loss of Atlanta. Davis also publicly urges General Hood (CSA) to seek out Sherman (U.S.) and defeat his army. General Hood had other ideas. He wants to march into Kentucky and Tennessee to launch an attack on the Union forces based there, so that Union troops would be pulled away, from their armies opposing Lee in the Eastern Theatre to support their comrades in Tennessee and Kentucky. Davis then raises a controversial point of his speech: a suggestion that the Army