Information courtesy of the
Minnesota Civil War Commemoration Task Force
(www.mncivilwar150.com and “Minnesota Civil War 150” on Facebook)
Major Highlights for the Week
Wednesday July 13, 1864
Frustrated by their inability to break through the defenses of Washington at Fort Stevens, Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s Confederates hurried toward the Potomac River at Leesburg. Federal Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant ordered Major General Horatio Wright to lead the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps in pursuit. A skirmish at Rockville, Maryland marked the retreat and follow-up.
In Georgia, Major General William T. Sherman prepared to advance his whole Federal force across the Chattahoochee River and then around the north side of Atlanta towards Decatur on the east.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis informed General Robert E. Lee that General Braxton Bragg arrived in Atlanta to investigate what Davis believed to be General Joseph E. Johnston’s failure to stop Sherman.
Thursday July 14, 1864
BATTLE OF HARRISBURG, MISSISSIPPI
Major General A.J. Smith’s Federals were at Harrisburg, Mississippi well posted to defend against the forthcoming Confederates, even though defeating Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest was his primary goal. Wave after wave of Confederates attacked, but Forrest’s forces were not destroyed. Even though it was a tactical victory for the Federals, Smith’s forces numbered 14,000 at the onset of battle, but he lost 77 killed, 559 wounded and 38 missing for a total loss of 674. Forrest, meanwhile, lost 1,347 out of nearly 9,500 engaged. However, the real victor was Forrest, who was able to roam again as Smith’s Federals withdrew.
Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s Confederates crossed the Potomac River at White’s Ford and were safely in Virginia at Leesburg. Rear guard actions occurred at Poolesville, Maryland.
President Abraham Lincoln moved back to the Soldier’s Home after the Confederate invasion scare subsided.
Friday July 15, 1864
The Federal army under Major General A.J. Smith stood its ground until the afternoon in the Harrisburg, Mississippi area before it made a slow retreat back towards Memphis, Tennessee with the rationale of being “short on supplies.” Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s troops followed but failed to engage Smith’s Federals in a major engagement. A skirmish did occur at Old Town Creek, which kept Forrest occupied enough that the Nashville to Chattanooga Railroad, which supplied Federal Major General William T. Sherman’s forces in Atlanta, remained protected.
President Abraham Lincoln was unhappy that Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s troops got away so freely from Washington.
Saturday July 16, 1864
Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early left Leesburg, Virginia, and headed back towards the Shenandoah Valley, unimpeded except for action near Purcellville and Wood Grove, Virginia.
Federal Major General William T. Sherman’s major move across the Chattahoochee River and around the north side of Atlanta toward Decatur finally got underway. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston planned to attack while Sherman’s forces moved around the city, when the wings of Sherman’s army might be separated from the center. However, Johnston continued work on fortifications from the Chattahoochee south of Peachtree Creek to the Atlanta and Decatur Railroad. Skirmishing occurred at Turner’s Ferry, Georgia.
President Abraham Lincoln, still interested in possible contacts by Confederate representatives looking for peace, sent his secretary, John Hay, to New York to consult with potential Confederate emissaries.
Sunday July 17, 1864
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston received word from Confederate President Jefferson Davis that he was effectively relieved of his duties, and that command of the Department of Tennessee would fall upon the shoulders of Lieutenant General John Bell Hood. Meanwhile, Federal armies in Georgia continued to build pontoon bridges across the Chattahoochee River.
Skirmishing occurred at Vining’s Station, Georgia; Herring Creek, Virginia; Fredericksburg, Missouri; and at Davison’s Ford near Clinton, Louisiana.
Monday July 18, 1864
President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for 500,000 volunteers, emphasizing the need to refill the army’s ranks after severe fighting in Virginia.
In Georgia, General Joseph E. Johnston moved into semiretirement and Lieutenant General John Bell Hood took the reins of the Confederacy’s Army of Tennessee.
At Richmond, Confederate President Jefferson Davis named George A. Trenholm, a wealthy merchant from Charleston, South Carolina, as Secretary of the Treasury¸ a post that Trenholm only reluctantly accepted.
Tuesday July 19, 1864
A series of skirmishes broke out as Major General Horatio Wright’s Federals located Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s Confederate forces near Berryville, Virginia. Skirmishing broke out at Ashby’s Gap and Berry’s Ford, Virginia; along with Darkesville, Charles Town and Kabletown, West Virginia. By nightfall, Early withdrew his force from Berryville towards Winchester, further in the Shenandoah River Valley.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of July 13-19, 1864
Active units:
1st Battalion Minnesota Infantry - Participated in Siege of Petersburg, Virginia until April 2, 1865.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Assigned as provost and depot guard at Marietta, Georgia until Aug. 19, 1864.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Pine Bluff, Arkansas until October 10, 1864.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Allatoona, Georgia until October 5, 1864.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Veterans on furlough until Aug. 17, 1864. Remainder of regiment remained at Memphis, Tennessee for duty.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Helena, Arkansas until Nov. 4, 1864.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in the Battle for Harrisburg, Mississippi.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On Sully’s Expedition to Dakota Territory until October 15, 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On Smith’s Expedition to Tupelo, Mississippi.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On Smith’s Expedition to Tupelo, Mississippi.
2nd Regiment Minnesota Cavalry - On Sully’s Expedition to Dakota Territory until October 15, 1864.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On Sully’s Expedition to Dakota Territory until November 10, 1864.
Hatch’s Independent Battalion of Cavalry - Companies A, B, C and D moved to Fort Abercrombie. Companies A and B assigned to garrison at Fort Abercrombie. Company C assigned to garrison at Alexandria and Pomme de Terre. Company D on patrol duty from Fort Abercrombie to Pembina. Companies E and F on frontier duty. The battalion would remain in these duty locations for the duration of the war - until April 26, 1866.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On duty at the Chattahoochee River north of Atlanta as part of Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign until July 20, 1864.
2nd Independent Battery Minnesota Light Artillery – En route to Chattanooga, Tennessee for duty.
3rd Independent Battery Minnesota Light Artillery - On Sully’s Expedition to Dakota Territory until October 15, 1864.
1st United States Sharpshooters Company I- Attached to the 1st Battalion, Minnesota Infantry at Petersburg, Virginia until Feb. 20, 1865.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – Participated in the Siege of Petersburg until Feb. 20, 1865.
Inactive units:
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Formally mustered out of service on December 7, 1863. Inactive.
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Mustered out of Federal service on April 29, 1864. Inactive.
