Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Wagner's Division - Lane's Brigade
All of Stanley's corps has reached the Pulaski area, and General Schofield's are arriving.
Forrest's Confederate cavalry has destroyed gunboats and stores at Johnsonville, TN, causing millions in damage. Forrest will soon move to join Hood's army. General Schofield will go to Johnsonville to survey the damage before returning to Pulaski to take command of all the troops there.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - November 3rd to 6th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Thursday, November 3rd, 1864
We had received orders the evening before to be ready to march at daylight, but during the night the orders were countermanded, and we did not march until afternoon. Marched to within 6 miles of Elk River and bivouacked for the night. The march was not long but wearisome on account of recent rains which had made the roads very bad. No account as to the whereabouts of Hood’s army and all movements are an entire mystery. Sherman has not been heard from directly for several days but no anxiety is felt for his safety. It is stated on pretty good authority that Atlanta is being evacuated and the railroad is being torn up between there and Chattanooga - if such is the case, the future plan is easily determined and will be the final windup of the Confederacy. In my opinion Hood has been nicely euchered. He has gone precisely where Sherman wanted him to. Sherman followed him for two reasons; first. to save his communications until the time arrived for other operations; and second, to lead Hood to the belief that he was alarmed, and get him safely across the Tennessee River where he would fall into the hands of General Thomas, who had been sent back with ample provisions to take care of him. This feat accomplished, Sherman turns his attention to other matters.
With nothing in his way to oppose him, he turns his attention southward. Out of the reach of Hood, his first work is to get supplies for a campaign south. Then evacuate Atlanta, and tear up the railroad from there to Chattanooga - and proceeding southward by the way of Macon and Augusta, tearing up both railroads will destroy the rolling mills and arsenals at Macon, and effectually cut off Atlanta from being used as a base or otherwise to advantage by the rebels. Then concentrating at Augusta a post will be established. Then Savannah will fall, and communications by the Savannah River to Augusta which will be the future base of operations in the interior. This will be productive of numerous advantages. There, lines of communications over which we will have to transport supplies will be materially shortened, besides being in no danger of being cut or torn up every day, as is the case with railroads. Chattanooga will be held, of course, but Thomas is sufficiently strong for that. This will insure the safety of Tennessee and Kentucky.
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DIARY ENTRY - Friday, November 4th, 1864
Reveille at 4 o’clock - orders to be ready to march at daylight. Marched to Elk River, a distance of 5 miles, and had to ford it, which very disagreeable feat was accomplished by the whole division by 12 o’clock. One hour for dinner, and continued our march to within 4 miles of Pulaski, where we came to a halt and bivouacked for the night.
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DIARY ENTRY - Saturday, November 5th, 1864
Continued out march at daylight and got to Pulaski before the fog cleared up - and passed through without being able to see much of the town. Went about two miles from town and camped. Distant cannoning heard in the afternoon. Company signed the payrolls preparatory to the advent of some of Uncle Sam’s “greenbacks”.
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DIARY ENTRY - Sunday, November 6th, 1864
Remained in camp all day although we had orders and were expecting a move in the afternoon. Two regiments of the Brigade moved camp and details were sent to work on fortifications. A collision between Hood and Thomas is possible but not probable, as I hardly think it is Hood’s intention to make a fight of it if he can avoid it - from the fact that he has neither ammunition or supplies to warrant him hazarding a battle, especially when the chances of victory are doubtful. Defeat would be inevitable ruin and unless we can by some means force him to fight, he will continue his raid as far as practicable and if possible return without it.
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Interesting that John uses "euchered" in his Thursday entry. The game had already become popular in the Midwest before the war, and it remains so today. John is mostly accurate regarding Sherman's plan, although Sherman will focus less on capturing places and more on destroying the infrastructure of the South.
Pay was being distributed to all the troops, including those with Sherman in Georgia. Pay had been at best sporadic during the year as armies were constantly moving.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXIX, Chapter LI, Part III, Correspondence, pp. 613-678.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 184.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, p. 622-623.
- Shrouds of Glory: From Atlanta to Nashville, Winston Groom, pp 111-112.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 641.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 642-643.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 10TH
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