Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade
Confederate President Jefferson Davis had come west to confer with General Hood at Palmetto, GA, and to learn his plans. Hood proposed that his army move north and cut the railroad in as many places as possible, to disrupt Sherman's supply lines. Cavalry under Forrest had already captured several points in Tennessee, and had several thousand men. Hood began to move north
Confederate cavalry (there were several separate cavalry forces, not just Forrest's) had been wreaking havoc on the railroad and also threatened Chattanooga. More forces were needed in the area, and so General Newton's division, with the 40th Indiana, was rushed to the area. General Newton found himself as the ranking officer in the area, and was busy for several days distributing troops to guard many different points.
General Newton had also been re-assigned to command of District of West Florida, at Key West, and eventually left to take this post. General Wagner would replace him as the division commander.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - September 24th to September 27th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Saturday, September 24th, 1864
Spent the greater part of the day in visiting old friends in the regiment, and receiving congratulations on my safe return. In the afternoon the Company was detached as Provost Guards at Brigade Headquarters where they reported without delay. Goldsberg being Ordnance Sergeant was ordered to remain with the regiment, and not having reported for duty I remained with him during the night. Weather cooler than I had been used to, consequence was I took cold.
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DIARY ENTRY - Sunday, September 25th, 1864
Reported to Headquarters and was helping to fix up the tent when we received marching orders - destination Chattanooga, Tennessee. Took down tents, packed traps and started for the depot in less than an hour after the receipt of the order - boarded the train at 4 o’clock, hoisted anchor and shoved out. This was getting north faster than I had anticipated.
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DIARY ENTRY - Monday, September 26th, 1864
Arrived at Chattanooga, Tennessee at
9 o’clock A.M. without injury or accident but not established camp. Took supper with Colonel J. W. Blake,
returned to where the company stopped and put up for the night.
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DIARY ENTRY - Tuesday, September 27th, 1864.
Remained at Chattanooga but did not establish quarter. Got Blake’s promise of recommendation for Captain of the Company - took a vote on it and found it unanimous.
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John had barely returned from captivity when he found himself moving to a critical area. As described above, there was an immediate move to the Chattanooga area. The situation being uncertain as to how to guard against rebel cavalry attacks, they would have likely remained ready to move on a moment's notice.
John recounts his campaign to become captain of Company A, 40th Indiana volunteers.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXIX, Chapter LI, Part II, Correspondence, pp. 450-501.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 179.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 604-607.
- Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 550-552.
- Shrouds of Glory: From Atlanta to Nashville, Winston Groom, pp 1-64.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 636-637.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 614-619.
- Events: 1864
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