Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Sunday, November 27, 1864 : General Sherman (U.S.) uses livestock and crop production data from the 1860 census, to lead his troops through areas where, he believes they would be able to forage most effectively. His planners updated maps with railroads, and other changes to old maps. He knew, the where and how, he was going to get to the sea. It was living off the land. His army will cut a 50 mile wide path of destruction, and it was working. The South still was not sure which direction, he was going. The South’s railroad system was now nothing more than twisted and broken railroad rails, that the troops had heated over fires and wrapped around tree trunks and left behind that became known as “Sherman's neckties.” The only thing slowing him down now were the slaves that followed the armies, but now they got less to eat, than if they had stayed behind on the plantations. In Tennessee, General Forrest’s (CSA) cavalry crosses the Duck River east of Columbia, pushing back the Federal Cavalry under General James Wilson (U.S.). General Hood’s (CSA) army has taken Pulaski, Huntsville, and Decatur, and have disrupted all the communications to Columbia,Tennessee, where Thomas’s troops are entrenched. On a McMinnville, Tennessee plantation, Lucy Virginia French writes in her journal: “Peace is a thing no longer to be even dreamed of. It is like a beautiful mirage—a nothingness—a myth of the by-gone time with which we poor war-ridden wretches have nothing else to do, I have laid aside all thought—all hope— all prayer for peace—and shall only strive now to accept our fate as courageously calmly and patiently as I can.” An expedition from Vicksburg, under command of Brevet Brigadier-General, E. D. Osband (U.S.) (Colonel Third United States Colored Cavalry), captures and destroys the Mississippi Central railroad bridge and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, Mississippi, and thirty miles of the railroad, and two locomotives along with a large amounts of stores, as well as $166,000 of the stores at Vaughn Station. This disturbs much needed supplies to General Hood (CSA) now in Tennessee. Monday, November 28, 1864 : In Georgia, after a day long running battle that ended at Reynolds’ Plantation, it finally halted General Joseph Wheeler’s Rebel drive. Union casualties are reported at 46, and the Confederate estimated to be 600. A federal expedition leaves out from Winchester into Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, Virginia, led by Bvt. Major General, Wesley Merritt (U.S.). Over the next 5 days, they will destroy over $410,000 of property including: 87 horses, 474 beef-cattle, 100 sheep, 230 barns, 8 mills, 1 distillery, 10,000 tons of hay and 25,000 bushels of grain. ,Before the C.S.S. Florida could be made ready for sea, she mysteriously sank. The sinking was most likely done at Admiral David Dixon Porter’s (U.S.) encouragement, if not his orders. The C.S.S. Florida could therefore not be delivered to Brazil in satisfaction of the final court order, and could not rejoin the ranks of the Confederate States Navy. The C.S.S. Florida had captured 37 prizes during her short impressive career. Tuesday, November 29, 2014 : In Tennessee, General Hood’s (CSA) infantry crosses the Duck River and converge on Spring Hill. In the meantime, Major General Schofield (U.S.) reinforced the troops holding the crossroads at Spring Hill. In late afternoon, the Federals repulsed a small unorganized Confederate infantry attack. During the night, the rest of Schofield’s command passed from Columbia through Spring Hill to Franklin. This was, perhaps, Hood’s best chance to isolate and defeat the Union army, but he didn’t and failed to do so, because of a collapse in the ability of senior officers to communicate with one another. It seems no one told General Hood (CSA) the Union forces were still moving toward Franklin, Tennessee. Now the rebels have their Federal forces between them and Nashville.