July 5, 1864 - Tuesday - 160 years ago today

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

John Baer

John Baer had likely by this time been transported to the prisoner of war camp at Andersonville, GA.  The population of this camp had been rising rapidly, and soldiers were so densely packed into the small camp area as to make it extremely unhealthy.  Dozens of Union men were dying every day, sometimes over a hundred on a single day.  After John arrived, many more prisoners would be sent there, making conditions even worse.

The camp had only a small creek running through it; at the entry to the camp, the water was already greasy from having move through the cook house.  This is where soldiers would clean themselves as best they could.  Only a short distance away, the place where the creek exited the camp was used as the latrine.  Prisoners had only rainwater to drink.

Prisoners were brought to the gate which had two doors; the outer door was closed behind the prisoners before the inner door was opened.  Prisoners would  have been astonished and disheartened at the scene before them  The heat, crowding, and smell must have made it unbearable.

Here is a reconstruction of the main gate at the National Historic Site:

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Sherman's flanking movements result in two more retreats by the Confederate army to positions closer to Atlanta.  These retreats are well done; now the Union armies face a dug-in Confederate force in front of the Chattahoochee River.  The position is well-chosen, and Sherman is stymied again.  He is considering waiting for the railroad and its supplies to catch up before he makes his next move.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXVIII, Chapter L, Part V, Correspondence, pp. 15-65.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 168.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 401-404.
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Retreat With Honor, pp. 310-313.
  
• Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 329-336.
• Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 600-608.
• Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 536-541.
  
• Events: 1864   

 

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