Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Wagner's Division - Lane's Brigade
On the 26th, General Sherman orders Stanley's entire corps back to Chattanooga and to report to General Thomas in the defense of Tennessee. As noted below, Wagner's division has almost reached Trenton, GA with some long marches on the 28th and 29th. This order was somewhat fortuitous for John Baer, as his enlistment was up soon and he might be able to return home. If he had been with Sherman in Georgia, this would not have been possible.
Sherman also sent the Army of the Ohio, under General Schofield, back to Tennessee as well. This would ensure a solid defense against a Confederate advance into Tennessee.
General Hood ended up near Tuscumbia, AL with his army, and paused there while he awaited his cavalry under Forrest to join his army. Forrest was causing his usual havoc in Tennessee, capturing and destroying Union gunboats on the river. He would soon bring his cavalry back to the army and the Confederate advance into Tennessee would begin.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - October 26th to 29th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Wednesday, October 26th, 1864
Sent out a forage train. Got orders to move before it returned. Moved camp about an mile. Provost took up quarters in a house. Rained during the night. Forage train returned with a fine lot of potatoes.
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DIARY ENTRY - Thursday, October 27th, 1864
Weather cloudy. Nothing going on of importance. Remained in quarters pretty much all day. Received marching orders, destination Whitesides or Wahatchie. Battery and supply train came up - made preparations to run a couple of miles but marching put a check to it.
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DIARY ENTRY - Friday, October 28th, 1864
Reveille at 5 o’clock A.M. Breakfast at 6 o’clock, struck tents, loaded baggage, drew rations and were on the march by seven-thirty. Ascended Lookout Mountain, crossed Little river and halted for dinner. Move four miles and crossed Big Little river at Little Falls. The water falls about 80 feet over a cliff. Moved on to the foot of the mountain, into Wills Valley and camped at the valley head.
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DIARY ENTRY - Saturday, October 29th, 1864
Marched from the valley head at 7 A.M. and went to within 4 miles of Trenton where we camped for the night, having made a march of 21 miles. In the afternoon we had to take charge of the battery by direction of General Grose.
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The division moves back north toward Chattanooga and would rejoin General Thomas instead of going on Sherman's march through Georgia.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXIX, Chapter LI, Part III, Correspondence, pp. 439-509.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 182-183.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, p. 618-619.
- Shrouds of Glory: From Atlanta to Nashville, Winston Groom, pp 99-101.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 641.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 634-642.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 2ND
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