May 28, 1863 - Thursday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

As the Union army under General Grant has Vicksburg under siege, the only chance for the Confederacy to relieve the city is to defeat Grant's army.  There is great concern that Bragg's army, not under pressure from the Army of the Cumberland, will divert troops to Mississippi to attack Grant.  Even President Lincoln is prodding General Rosecrans:

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WASHINGTON, May 28, 1863.

Maj. Gen. ROSECRANS,

Murfreesborough, Tenn.:

   I would not push you to any rashness, but I am very anxious that you do your utmost, short of rashness, to keep Bragg from getting off to help Johnston against Grant.

A. LINCOLN.

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MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., May 28, 1863.

His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

President of the United States:

   Dispatch received.  I will attend to it.

W. S. ROSECRANS,

 Major-General.

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The short response from Rosecrans does not indicate any coming action, and the Army of the Cumberland will stay put for now.  Grant is able to keep the siege of Vicksburg intact, despite attacks from Confederate General Joseph Johnston's army.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 362-370.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 109-110.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 166-400. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

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