JULY. captured, in raiding south of Atlanta. McCook's column, after much success, was attacked and about 1000 of his men captured, on 28th. AUGUST. 1. McCausland and Bradley Johnson's rebel robbers defeated at Cumberland, Pa., and make a run for the Potomac. 2. Col. Stout defeated and captured by McCausland, taking 90 men. 4. National Fast Day.-Averill comes upon McCausland and Johnson, at New Creek, Va., and captures or scatters both commands. 5. Farragut passes forts and enters Mobile bay. Destroys rebel iron-clad Tennessee.-Terrific fight in front of Petersburg. Rebels finally repulsed, with quite serious loss. 6. Unsuccessful attack of Sherman's 23d Corps upon Atlanta defenses. Counter attack by Hood, on 16th Corps, repulsed, with severe loss to enemy. 7. Fort Gaines, Mobile harbor, capitulates.-Averill defeats combined guerrilla commands at Moorfield, Va., making large captures. 8. General Burris returns to New Madrid, Mo., from a 17 days' successful scout in S. E. Missouri and N. E. Arkansas. Fort Gaines, Mobile bay, occupied by Granger's forces.Sheridan assigned to command in Shenandoah Valley. 9. Butler commences excavating his Dutch Gap canal.-Heavy artillery fire against Atlanta. 10. Sheridan's forces advance from Harper's Ferry to Barrysville, Va. Pirate Tallahassee at work of destruction along the coast. 11. Battle of Sulphur Springs bridge, East Ten nessee. 13. Demonstration against Richmond, by way of Butler's position at Deep Bottom, on the James. Mosby attacks Sheridan's supply train at Snicker's Gap, Va.-Rebel cavalry captures five transports and stores at Shawneetown, Tenn. 14. Rebel cavalry of Wheeler enters Dalton, Ga.— Battle of Strawberry Plains, E. Tenn. Breckenridge repulsed. 15. Wheeler driven out of Dalton, Ga.-Sheridan falls back toward Charlestown, Va.-Kilpatrick raids south of Atlanta, Ga., cuts railway at West Point, etc. 16. Demonstration toward Malvern Hill, on the James river, by 10th Corps. Enemy pressed back. 18. Assault on Burnside's corps in front of Petersburg. Enemy repulsed with serious loss.Warren's corps thrown across Weldon road; enemy contesting the advance. 19. Heavy conflict on Weldon road, on Grant's left. Enemy, after temporary advantage, was repulsed. 21. Three desperate assaults on Warren's position on Welden road repulsed. - Early presses Sheridan's lines at Charlestown, Va.-Rebels, under Forrest, enter Memphis, Tenn., committing great atrocities on sick and wounded troops. Is pursued and severely repulsed at Lane's farm. 22. Heavy cannonade of Federal lines in front of Petersburg, followed by enemy's assault. Enemy repulsed with much loss. - Rebel AUGUST. guerrilla Johnson killed and force scattered at Canton, Ky.-Sharp action at Rogersville, Tenn. 23. Fort Morgan, Mobile bay, surrenders to Farragut aud Granger.-Shelby captures 54th Illinois volunteers, near Duvall's Bluff, Ark. 24. Clinton, Miss., occupied by Generals Herron and Lee. 25. Desperate battle at Reams', on Weldon road. Hancock partially repulsed and driven from his position.-Heavy cavalry fight at Leetown, Va. Torbert falls back toward Sheridau's lines at Shepherdstown. 26. Early falls back toward Smithfield, Va., before Sheridan's advance. 1. Severe conflicts before and below Atlanta. The town abandoned at night Rosseau drives Wheeler's cavalry along Murfreesboro' Pike. 2. Atlanta occupied by Sherman's forces.-Severe skirmishing near Martinsburg, Va. 3. Early's forces discomfited at Berrysville, Va. Milroy, near Murfreesboro', attacks and destroys rebel cavalry. 4. General Gillem surprises General John Morgan's command of raiders at Greenville, Tenn., and kills Morgan. -Wheeler raiding toward Murfreesboro', retreats rapidly. 7. Dibble's river brigade surprised at Readyville, Tenn., by 9th Penn. cavalry and routed. 8. Guerilla Col. Jessie captured, with bis command, near Ghent, Ky. 9. Spirited night attack on rebel pickets, near Jerusalem plank road, before Petersburg. 10. Grant's lines advanced near Jerusalem plank road. Early attacks Sheridan's command at Darksville. 14. Sherman orders inhabitants to remove from Atlanta, Ga.-Price, with about 10,000 men, crosses White river, Ark, en route for Missouri. 16. Successful raid by rebels on cattle corral, near Harrison's Landing.-General Asboth starts on raid in Western Virginia. 18. Early drives Averill's men out of Martinsburg, Va. 19. Battle of Bunker Hill (or Winchester), Va. Sheridan severely defeats Early. 20. Sheridan crosses Cedar creek, pursuing Early. -Athens, Ala., captured by Forrest. 21. Fight beyond Strasburg, Va. Early driven from his position. 22. Battle of Fisher's Hill. Sheridan again repulses Early and makes valuable captures of men and guns. 23. Price occupies Bloomfield, Mo.- Forrest's HISTORICAL SUMMARY. 389 SEPTEMBER. rebel command crosses the Tennessee, at Bates' landing. 25. Sheridan's advance occupies Mount Jackson. -Price occupies Fredericktown, Mo. 26. Sheridan's cavalry in Staunton. Waynesboro', etc.-Price assails Ewing's command at Pilot Knob., Mo. Is repulsed, but Ewing draws off at night, being in danger of capture. 29. Advance upon Richmond from Deep Bottom. Divisions of Ord and Birney carry important entrenchments at "Chapin's farm." 30. Grant advances Warren, on his left, reaching the extreme rebel right, west of Petersburg. Heavy conflicts follow.-Butler's forces press enemy at Chapin's farm, without any signal is ordered to Chattanooga, and Corse's division again sent to Rome. 5. Hood, capturing small garrisons at Big Shanty and Ackworth, destroys 7 miles of railway and advances against Allatoona, Ga. 6. Hood unsuccessfully attacks Allatoona, Ga.Sheridan begins to withdraw from his advance up the Shenandoah Valley. 7. Enemy assails Kautz, the right of the Federal advance against Richmond from Deep Bottom. Kautz is driven from his position, but enemy is checked by Birney.- Price appears before Jefferson City, Mo.-Pirate Florida seized in Bahia harbor, Brazil, by U. S. gunboat Wachusett. 8. Price leaves Jefferson City, Mo., without attacking, moving toward Lexington.-Grant makes another stretch of his lines to the left. -General Dana sends expedition against enemy at Woodville, La. Enemy dispersed, with loss. 9. Early strikes Sheridan near Strasburg, and severe conflict follows. Enemy is repulsed, with loss of some of his guns. 10. Forrest at East Point, Tenn. 11. Price's men driven from Independence, Mo., by Curtis' troops from Kansas.-Heavy reconnoissance by Grant's forces to Stoney Creek, Va.-Rebel Buford crosses Cumberland river at Harpeth shoals, with 1200 cayalry, to join Forrest. 12. Hood before Resaca, Ga. Little garrison returns defiant answer to demand for surrender. 13. Hood assaults Resaca, Geo., fortifications, and is repulsed. Sharp engagement near Greenville, East Tenn. 16. Hood's army at Lafayette, Tenn. Sherman then began to close in upon his rear. 17. Hood retires southward from Lafayette, Tenn. -Price occupies Lexington, Mo. 18. Price runs for Lexington before Pleasanton's and Curtis's concentration for his capture. 19. Battle of Cedar Creek, Va. Early, with 10 000 men, surprises and almost succeeds in routing Sheridan's army of 30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. Sheridan arriving at the moment of defeat turns back his retreating columns and drives Early before him. Early is finally routed, with great loss in men and OCTOBER. guns-Blunt's cavalry advancing to strike Price, at Lexington, Mo., is assailed, and is only saved from defeat by crossing the Little Blue river, where Curtis was in force. 20. Price crosses Little Blue river, Mo., and confronts Curtis and Blunt. Heavy skirmishing all day. 21. Curtis evacuates Independence, Mo., and concentrates on the Big Blue river, hard pressed by Price. 22. Severe fighting between Curtis and Price, on the Big Blue. Pleasanton's forces come up, when Price is assailed and, after a furious fight, is utterly routed and runs. The rebels are pursued, beaten at several points by Pleasanton, and finally escape into Arkansas, pursued by Blunt. 27. Grant reaches out to his left to strike Southside railway. Hancock and Warren have severe conflicts, and return to the lines-" the object of the reconnoissance having been accomplished." 28. General Gillem repulses rebels under Vaughn, at Norristown, East Tenn., capturing men and guns.-Enemy repulsed in attack on Fayetteville, Ark.--Lieutenant W. B. Cushing performs the daring act of destroying rebel ram Albemarle, anchored in Roanoke river Roddy assails colored garrison at Decatur, Ala., but is repulsed in several assaults on this and two succeeding days. 29. Maryland proclaimed a free State, by Governor Bradford. 30. Federal fleet shells Plymouth, N. C. 31. Capture by the fleet of the rebel batteries, guns and stores, below Plymouth, N. C. NOVEMBER. 5. Major-General B. F. Butler detailed to New York city to guard against violence on election day, assumes command of all troops there and to arrive "to meet existing emergencies." His presence greatly exasperates the disloyal, but gives peace and confidence to the city. Rebel sally on Fort Sedgwick, on Jerusalem plankroad to penetrate Grant's centre. Ewing repulsed. 6. Assault on Gibson and Mott's picket line before Petersburg. Enemy obtain a temporary success, but are soon driven off, with considerable loss. 8. Election day. Abraham Lincoln re-elected President of the United States. 11. The "Grand March to the Sea" commenced. 12. Large exchange of prisoners at Fort Pulaski, Ga. The horrid prison pen at Andersonville drawn upon. Those of the men from there are in pitiful condition.-Sherman in person left Kingston, Ga., to join his advance through Georgia. 13. General Gillem repulsed by Breckenridge at Bull's Gap, East Ten., with loss of all his baggage, guns and trains. 18. Georgia Legislature flees from Milledgeville, before Sherman's approach. 19. Governor Brown, of Geo., orders a levy of the people en misse to resist Sherman's progress. 20. Gillem's forces, retreating before Breckenridge, reach Knoxville, East Tenn. 21. Schofield at Pulaski, Tenn., to oppose Hood's march on Nashville. NOVEMBER. 22. Federal reconnoitreing column repulsed in an assault on Early's troops in position at Rood's Hill, Va-Hood's army, re-advancing toward Nashville, Tenn., is 20 miles south of Pulaski. Schofield is ordered to fall back toward Franklin, contestiag Hood's move at several points 24. General Thanksgiving Day. Vast quantities of turkeys and delicacies forwarded from the North are served up to the armies in Virginia. Sixty tons of these good things are sent to Sheridan's army aloue. 25. Rebel attempt to fire New York city. Fifteen hotels, Barnum's Museum, and some shipping are fired simultaneously, at night, but all the fires are suppressed.-Severe fighting at and near Columbus, Tenn., between Schofield and Hood's forces.-Federal prisoners confined in the prison pen at Saulsbury, N. C., attempt to escape en masse. They are fired into with grape and musketry, and many killed. The sufferings of the men are extreme. 27. Troops from Canby's department sack and de. stroy Big Black river (Miss.) bridge, on Mississippi Central railroad. 28. Rosser's rebel cavalry appear on line of Baltimore and Ohio railroad at New Creek, cap. turing Fort Kelly and its garrison. 30. Battle of Franklin, Tenn. Hood defeated in a sanguinary conflict of six hours. Schofield, commanding the Federal army, retires that night, by Thomas' orders, into the Nashville defenses. Battle of Grahamsville, S. C. DECEMBER. 1. Heavy skirmishing in front of Nashville.-Successful expedition of Gregg to Stony Creek, from Grant's lines.-Blockade of Norfolk, Va., and Fernandina and Pensacola, Fla., declared raised. 4. Hood's left shelled by gunboats under Lieut.Com'g Fitch, and its withdrawal.-Foster's troops make a descent on Pocotaligo, S. C., capturing several guns.- Merritt's expedition into the Loudon Valley, Va, returns to Sheridan's camp, bringing in 2000 cattle, 1000 sheep, etc. 5. Congress meets.-Blockhouse at Murfreesboro' unsuccessfully attacked by enemy. 6. Skirmishing on Charleston and Savannah railroad.-Bridge over Pocotaligo burned. 8. Hood establishes batteries to command the Cumberland river. Gunboats fail to dislodge enemy. Cavalry from Grant's army skirmish heavily on the left. 11. Messenger from Sherman communicates with Federal fleet below Savannah. 12. Messengers from Howard's wing of Sherman's army reach Hilton Head. Departure at night of expedition-land and naval-against Fort Fisher, N. C. 13. Fort McAllister, below Savannah, carried by assault by Sherman's forces-thus opening the way to the sea.-Rebels routed at Kingsport, Tenn. again assails and defeats Hood. The victory is complete. Hood is pursued in his retreat by the line of his advance. 17. Pursuit of Hood continued. In an engagement six miles south of Franklin enemy suf fers much. Great disorder in his ranks,Breckenridge's forces attacked and defeated at Wytheville, in S. W. Virginia, by the command of Stoneman. The railway disabled, depot destroyed, etc.-Rebel cavalry command of Lyon, attempting to raid to the north of Nashville, is pursued by McCook and defeated at Ashbyville, Ky. 18. McCook defeats Lyon again, at Hopkinsville, Ky. 19. President Lincoln issues call for 300,000 men to fill up deficiencies in last draft. All districts with quotas unfilled by Feb. 15th, 1865, must put the wheel in motion.-Custer's cavalry starts on expedition up the Shenandoah Valley. 20. Sherman having completed his arrangements to take Savannah, Ga., summons Hardee--in command of the city defenses-to surrender, to spare the town the horrors of bombardment and assault. Hardee evacuates the place that night-the rebels blowing up their "rams" in the river.-Stoneman, commanding the forces of Gillem and Ammen, in East Tennessee, and the brigades of Burbridge, from Kentucky, penetrates to Saltville, in Southwestern Virginia, destroying saltworks, etc. 21. Sherman occupies Savannah. In city and its defenses about 150 guns are found. In stores about 25,000 bales of cotton. Farragut named Vice-Admiral.-Porter's fleet appears off Fort Fisher, N. C., followed by transports bearing Butler's land forces.-Custer fights Early's forces in Shenandoah Valley. 22. Sheridan's cavalry under Torbert raids east of the Blue Ridge up to Gordonsville. Meeting strong force at that point, engages the enemy on this and succeeding day. Finding the works too strong to carry, the expedition returns. 24. Porter bombards Fort Fort Fisher from one P. M. until dark. 25 Attack on Fort Fisher resumed. Butler's forces land under cover of the fleet's fire. Weitzel, directing a reconnoissance, approaches the works to within a few hundred yards, finding them very strong. Troops reembark that night and return again to City point. The Situation. thrown up facing the Confederate line, while Burnside's Mine. FOILED in every assault, Grant beheld in the lines around Petersburg one of the most imposing obstacles which he yet had been called upon to confront. An examination by his Chief of Engineers, Major Duane, and his Chief of Artillery, General Hunt, resulted in a report, July 6th, pronouncing all further assault impracticable. Petersburg, therefore, in June,an enterprise had must be won by the slow processes of ap-been suggested to Burnside by one of his proaches, or by the aid of manœuvres, which, subordinates, Lieut.-Colonel Henry Pleasants, by deceiving the enemy, might weaken spe- of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, cific points and thus open the gate for en- which promised success by its novelty. The trance to the stronghold. Lee's line was suggestion was to run a mine from the 9th nearly forty miles in length, stretching from Corps' advanced position, gained in the opethe South Side and Weldon roads, south rations of June 17th and 18th. This advance west of Petersburg to the Chickahominy. covered a deep cut in the railway; from Having secured a foothold over the James thence to carry a mine out of sight of the river, at Deep Bottom, Butler's lines really enemy was feasible. In front, 550 feet away, were within a short distance of Richmond- was a commanding position, held by the thus offering Grant an admirable strategic enemy with a six gun battery, beyond which point from which to sound the alarm and lay Cemetery Hill, then regarded as the key send the enemy on his front to their capital's to the town. Pleasants, submitting his defense. The Federal left could operate on plans to Burnside, received his chief's apthe rebel lines of communication with the proval, and on the 25th work commenced, South, and thus disturb Lee's sources of sup- under every discouragement, it would appear, ply. These were all the advantages that from headquarters. Said Pleasants, in answer Grant possessed; he must make the most of to interrogatories propounded to the Comthem. By his pontoons across the James near mittee of Inquiry: Drury's B'uff, Lee was able to re-enforce his either wing with great rapidity; but, being on the defensive he must be ever on the alert to anticipate, or to confront such tactical moves or combinations as his adversary saw fit to make. To release the bulk of his forces for field purposes, Grant had strong redoubts "My regiment was only about four hundred strong. At first I employed but a few men at a time, but the number was increased as the work progressed, until at last I had to use the whole regiment, non-commissioned officers and all. The great difficulty I had was to dispose of the material got out of the mine. I found it impossible to get any assistance from anybody; I had to do all the work myself. I had to remove all the earth in old cracker boxes. I got pieces of hickory and nailed on the boxes in which we received our crackers, and then iron-clad them with hoops of iron taken from old beef aud pork barrels. Whenever I made application I could not get anything, although General Burnside was very favorable to it. The most important thing was to ascertain how far I had to mine, because if I fell brigade capturing four guns. Sheridan, at short of or went beyond the proper place the explo- neer of the Army of the Potomac, said the thing Alarmed by this heavy demonstration, Lee threw a strong body into the menaced position, and, on the 28th, attacked Sheridan on the New Market road so spiritedly that the cavalry were able to hold their ground only by severe fighting, dismounted. This demonstration having included a raid by Sheridan to reach the Virginia Central road, Lec's attack frustrated that movement, and Hancock remained on the defensive during the 28th and 29th. Lee's anxiety was such that nearly one-half of his entire force in Pe could not be done; that it was all clap-trap and nonsense; that such a length of mine had never been excavated in military operations, and could not be; that I should either get the men smothered for want of air or crushed by the falling of the earth, or the enemy would find it out, and it would amount to nothing. I could get no boards and lumber sup-tersburg was withdrawn to meet the menace, plied to me for my operations. I had to get a pass, and send two companies of my own regiment with wagons outside of our lines to rebel saw-mills and get lumber in that way, after having previously got what lumber I could by tearing down an old bridge. I had no mining picks furnished me, but had to take the common picks and have them straightened for my mining picks. General Burnside, the corps commander, and General Potter, the division commander, seemed to be the only high officers who believed in it." Hancock's Diversion. But, the work progressed bravely, and July 30th was fixed for the explosion. Grant seems to have had faith in it, for he ordered a heavy diversion to be made, late in July, against Richmond, by way of Deep Bottom, for the purpose of calling thence a large detachment from the defenses, which-following up the explosion-it was his purpose to carry by assault. This diversion was assigned to Hancock, who, with the 2d Corps and two divisions of Sheridan's cavalry, crossed the James at Deep Bottom, on Butler's pontoon, during the night of July 26th. On the 27th, moving out, along Foster's line of occupation, to the enemy's extreme left, the 2d Corps succeeded in turning that wing of the defenses-the skirmish line of Miles' Hancock, having thus partially effected the Meade's Order for the "The following instructions are issued for the guidance of all concerned: "1. As soon as it is dark, Major General Burnside, commanding 9th Corps, will withdraw his two brigades under General White, occupying the entrenchments between the Plank and Norfolk roads, and bring them to his front. Care will be taken not to interfere with the troops of the 18th Corps mov ing into their position in rear of the 5th Corps. the enemy's works at daylight on the 30th, prepare General Burnside will form his troops for assaulting his parapets and abatis for the passage of the columns, and have the pioneers equipped for work in opening passages for artillery, destroying enemy's abatis, and the entrenching tools distributed for effecting lodgment, etc., etc. "2. Major-General Warren, commanding 5th |