Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Riding through the Cumberland Gap, in Virginia, General Stoneman’s (U.S.) expedition defeats a makeshift force of Confederate defenders at the important lead mines in Marion and destroys the mines. Then the Federals advance on to salt ponds at Saltville. Monday, December 19, 1864 : Sherman is so confident in his numerical advantage over the Rebels, that he can now afford to send troops to Grant to assist in the attack on Richmond. Inside Savannah, General Hardee (CSA) realizing his small army, could not hold out long and not wanting the city leveled by artillery, as had happened in Atlanta, orders his men to abandon the trenches and retreat to South Carolina. General Forrest (CSA) rejoins Hood’s army at Columbia, Tennessee and takes command of the rear guard. Fighting continues at Curtis’ Creek and Rutherford’s Creek. Major General Philip H. Sheridan (U.S.) armies are sent to the battle front lines at Petersburg, Virginia. Tuesday, December 20, 1864 : The Confederate force in Savannah has left the city. 10,000 men manage to withdraw from the city, while they were still facing in the field an army six times larger than them. The city of Savannah, Georgia falls to General Sherman (U.S.). The Confederates leave behind in the city 250 heavy artillery guns and 25,000 bales of cotton. In Virginia, General Gillem (U.S.) leds the Union advance and attacks first at Saltville. General Burbridge (U.S.) joined the fight shortly after and the two Federal columns overwhelmed the town’s defenses. Colonel Preston (CSA) orders a retreat and Stoneman’s (U.S.) troops enters the town and destroy the saltworks, accomplishing the objective of their Union raid. Wednesday, December 21, 1864 : Sherman enters Savannah. Flag Officer W. W. Hunter (CSA) destroys the last of the Confederate Savannah Squadron, to prevent its capture by the advancing forces of General W. T. Sherman. Brig. General, Benjamin H. Grierson (U.S.) leaves out from Memphis on an expedition to destroy the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in Mississippi. Sherman has led 62,000 troops for some 285 miles across Georgia and cut a path of destruction more than 50 miles wide. He divided his force into two columns and widened the swath of destruction. The Yankees cut away from their supply lines at Atlanta, and generally lived off the land. What they did not consume, they destroyed. More than 13,000 cattle fell into Union hands, as well as 90,000 bales of cotton and numerous sawmills, foundries, cotton gins, and warehouses, all destroyed. Though Sherman did not permit violence against civilians, or the wanton destruction of property, there seemed to be little enforcement of that policy. Sherman planned in his words to, “make Georgia howl,” and he did. Thursday, December 22, 1864 : General Sherman sends President Lincoln the following dispatch: “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns & plenty of ammunition & also about 25,000 bales of cotton.” Brevet Major General Emory Upton (U.S.) on December 15, 1864, was put in charge of the 6th Tennessee Cavalry, Col. Fielding Hurst’s unit. Upton receives instructions for him at Memphis: “Take with you to Louisville, the 3rd and 4th Iowa, 10th and 12th Missouri, the 6th Tennessee, and the 19th Pennsylvania.” This reference to the 6th Tennessee (U.S.) must have been meant to apply to some elements of the regiment left behind at Memphis, when the regiment was ordered to Nashville in November. Major General George H. Thomas (U.S.) is still in pursuit of the retreating Lieut. General John B. Hood (CSA) with fighting now ongoing at the Duck River. Friday, December 23, 1864 : President Lincoln signed a bill passed the preceding day by Congress, which created the rank of Vice Admiral. So today, Lincoln makes Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut, the first “Vice Admiral” in the Nation’s history, just as he had been its first rear admiral. Bad weather had delayed the towing of the U.S.S. Louisiana , that had been loaded with tons of gunpowder. But tonight, it was towed, anchored and was blown up 250 yards off