April 15, 1862 - Tuesday - 160 years ago today

 Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Wood's Division

General Halleck had arrived at Pittsburg Landing on April 11th, to take command in the field.  On the same day that the Battle of Shiloh ended, another Union army under General John Pope had taken New Madrid, MO, and Island No. 10 nearby.  Several thousand Confederate prisoners were captured as well.

Pope was ordered, on completing the dispatch of the prisoners, to come to Pittsburg Landing with his army.  Halleck was consolidating all his armies, intending to advance on Corinth, MS soon, as he believed all the Confederate armies were concentrating there.

Grant was being roundly criticized in Northern papers and also in the Congress for being caught unawares by the attack on the first day at Shiloh.  Halleck lost trust also, and mostly ignored Grant on his arrival at the battlefield.  Halleck began to consider a significant reorganization of the armies before proceeding.

One of the divisions in Buell's army that did not go to Shiloh captured Huntsville and Decatur, in Alabama, thereby disrupting the railroad coming from Corinth toward Chattanooga.

 

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 101-108.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 66-67.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, p. 372.
• Shiloh, Larry J. Daniel, pp. 304-317
  
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Struggle Intensifies, pp. 701-708.
  

 

NEXT POST: APRIL 19TH

 

 

March 14, 1862 - Friday - 160 years ago today

 Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Wood's Division

There is little new to report since the 10th.  Buell has 5 divisions at Nashville (with some advancing southward along the rivers and turnpikes), and is considering his next move.

In Washington, General McClellan has been relieved of the command of all armies so that he can concentrate on commanding his upcoming offensive from southeast Virginia toward Richmond.  All the generals will report directly to the Secretary of War.

Also, the western commands have been reorganized.  Halleck has been given command of all areas west of Knoxville, and Buell is to serve under Halleck for now. Halleck, in a message to Buell, states that this does not change Buell's command, and that they should talk soon.

Grant's army, and other forces made available, are moving up the Tennessee, and are disembarking at Savannah, TN.  Grant has not yet gone up river to meet with General C.F. Smith, who is in charge of the advanced troops.  Grant speculates that landing at Savannah implies that there are Confederates in force just up the river from there.

 More Information: .

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence, pp. 28-38.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp.62-63.

  

NEXT POST: MARCH 18TH