May 18, 1864 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Howard's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade

Howard's corps was engaged in several sharp fights during this time as the army made its way further south in pursuit of the retreating Confederate army.  On the 17th there was a hard fight before the rebels withdrew further south.  By the 18th, all three wings of the Union army were converging on Kingston, GA.  

Union advances had come quickly so far in the campaign; however, as the Union's supply lines got longer, and the Confederates' shorter, further advancement would slow dramatically.

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Virginia Campaign

At Spotsylvania, there is only a little fighting and a stalemate; by the 18th, Grant has decided to once again move to his left to try to flank Lee's army on the right.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXVIII, Chapter L, Part IV, Correspondence, pp. 189-248.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 160-161.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 334-338.
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Retreat With Honor, pp. 302-305.
  
• Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 169-200.
• Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 557-561.
• Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 503-505.
  
• Events: 1864
  

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