May 1, 1862 - Thursday - 160 years ago today

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

Pittsburg Landing 

After much consideration, General Halleck had finally made his plan for the reorganization of the armies, and gave the final order on April 30th:

SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 35

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI

Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. April 30, 1862

 

 I. Major-General Thomas' division is hereby transferred from the Army of the Ohio to the Army of the Tennessee, and General Thomas will take command of the right wing, which will consist of his own and the divisions of Brigadier Generals W. T. Sherman, T. W. Sherman, S.A. Hurlbut, and T.A. Davies.

II.  The divisions of Major-General McClernand, Major-General Wallace, and one division from General Buell's army corps, to be designated by him, together with the heavy artillery, will constitute the reserve, to be commanded by Major-General McClernand.

III.  Brigadier-General Hamilton's reserve division of Major-General Pope's army will remain under General Pope's direction until further orders.

IV.  Major-General Grant will retain the general command of the District of West Tennessee, including the Army Corps of the Tennessee, and reports will be made to him as heretofore, but in the present movements he will act as second in command under the major-general commanding the department.

General Grant, by this order, was kept as commander of the district, but effectively was sidelined into a position much like a Vice President, having no direct command and no real input into the army's movements.  There in fact had recently been a push in Washington for Grant's dismissal; Lincoln would not do it: "I can't spare this man, he fights", Lincoln said.  Grant was not cashiered, but was so distressed at the new organization, he considered leaving the army, if not permanently, then at least for a leave of absence.  After a conversation with Sherman, he decided to stay.

General Buell was also very unhappy with this arrangement, having lost Thomas' division due to its transfer and also another division to the reserve.  Buell to Halleck: "You must excuse me for saying that. as it seems to me, you have saved the feelings of others very much to my injury".

It is not clear if the division that Buell sent to the reserves was Wood's.  In the end all of this restructuring would turn out to be a short term arrangement.  Preparations continued for the move toward Corinth, MS.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 134-157.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 68.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 372-375.
  
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Struggle Intensifies,  pp. 701-703.
  

NEXT POST: MAY 5TH

April 27, 1862 - Sunday - 160 years ago today

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

Pittsburg Landing

General Halleck, is preparing the reorganization of the armies in the west, and will advance when the changes are announced and implemented.  The 40th Indiana remained with Wood's division in Buell's army.  General Mitchel, with another of Buell's divisions, is attempting to hold a position in northern Alabama along the railroad.  

General C. F. Smith, who had for a time replaced Grant in charge of the army, died on the 26th due to complications from a leg wound and infection.

New Orleans

By April 27th, the combined Union forces have captured New Orleans.  As most of the Confederate troops have been sent to fight at Shiloh and are still at Corinth, MS, little resistance is offered once the Union passes the forts guarding the entrance to the city.  Except for the Confederate army at Corinth, there is little resistance to Union control along the Mississippi River.  Vicksburg, MS is the nail that holds the eastern and western halves of the Confederacy together.  It will remain so for another year.

Virginia - Peninsula Campaign

In the east, McClellan's Army of the Potomac is attempting to move up the peninsula between the York and James Rivers to approach Richmond.  The front is currently near Yorktown, VA, the site of the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 121-134.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 67-68.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 353-372 (New Orleans) and pp. 392-404 (Peninsula Campaign), pp. 372-374.
  
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Struggle Intensifies, pp. 13-102 (New Orleans), pp. 160-200 (Peninsula Campaign), pp. 701-702.
  

NEXT POST: MAY 1ST

April 23, 1862 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

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

Pittsburg Landing

By April 22nd, General Pope and his army have arrived at Pittsburg Landing and take the left wing position on the front,with Buell's army in the center, and Grant's on the right.  There is still no forward movement as Halleck, who is in charged overall, contemplates a reorganization.  The 40th Indiana remained with Wood's division.

New Orleans

At New Orleans, several days of Union bombardment of the forts guarding the way to the city have not given a breakthrough, so the Union Navy on the 23rd will attempt to clear the channel and run past the forts.  

Virginia - Peninsula Campaign

In the east, McClellan's Army of the Potomac is attempting to move up the peninsula between the York and James Rivers to approach Richmond.  The front is currently near Yorktown, VA, the site of the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 112-121.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 67.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 353-372 (New Orleans) and pp. 392-404 (Peninsula Campaign)
  
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Struggle Intensifies, pp. 13-102 (New Orleans), pp. 160-200 (Peninsula Campaign), pp. 701-702.
  

NEXT POST: APRIL 27TH

 

 

 

 

April 19, 1862 - Saturday - 160 years ago today

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

There was little in the way of major activity to report for April 16-19.  The army remained at Pittsburg Landing, and was mostly engaged in drill; there was an effort to gain more control of the troops and stop them moving around without orders.  There was a little action in Alabama, as Tuscumbia was taken and then vacated.  There was a slow Union movement down the Mississippi River toward Memphis.

In the far south, on the 19th, Union gunboats initiated the attack against the forts protecting the approaches to New Orleans.  An army of about 18,000 Union troops awaited the neutralization of the forts that would allow the occupation of the city.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 108-114.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 67.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, p. 372
  
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: The Struggle Intensifies, pp. 701-702.
  

NEXT POST: APRIL23RD

 

 

April 3, 1862 - Thursday - 160 years ago today

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

By April 3rd, the lead division of Buell's army (Nelson's division) was near Waynesboro, about 25 miles from Savannah, TN, where Grant had his headquarters.  Nelson had sent a small advance team to Grant's headquarters and they arrived there on the 3rd.  Other divisions were coming up in order.  Buell himself was attempting to join Nelson's division as soon as possible.

The Confederate armies had coalesced in Corinth, MS in late March.  The central army, under General Albert Sidney Johnston, had arrived on March 24th.  Other forces had been gathered, from Columbus KY and other areas. so that the total was about 40,000 men.  These were hastily reorganized into 4 corps and given as much training as possible, as many had not seen any fighting, and only minimal marching and drilling. 

General Johnston was in command of the Confederate army and General Beauregard was second in command.  The 4 corps were commanded by Generals Polk, Hardee, Bragg, and Breckenridge. After some discussion, on March 3rd the army was ordered to move to Pittsburg Landing, and attack on arrival, intended to be on the morning of the 4th.  As with many hasty arrangements, problems were encountered, and the attack was postponed day-for-day; but the army was in motion toward the Union encampment.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 81-90.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p.65
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp.320-327.
• Shiloh, Larry J. Daniel, pp.116-122

 

NEXT POST: APRIL 7TH

March 30, 1862 - Sunday - 160 years ago today

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

By March 30th, all of Buell's divisions had crossed the Duck River at Columbia, TN and were then organized to proceed on to Savannah TN as quickly as possible.  Larry J. Daniel describes the procession in his book Shiloh:

 "Once they left the turnpike south of Columbia, the Army of the  Ohio followed a narrow and tortuous eighty-two-mile country road through Waynesboro to Savannah. Nelson's division had a good twelve-to-fifteen hour lead.  Crittenden's division came second in line, followed by McCook's, Thomas Wood's, and then George H. Thomas's.  The enormous wagon train (the 20th Brigade alone counted 85 wagons and 510 mules) traveled between Wood's and Thomas's divisions, placing the latter so far in the rear that it was still forty miles away when the battle began.  Despite the mud-churned road and swollen creeks, the column set a moderate pace of about twelve miles a day." 

More Information: .

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence, pp. 69-81.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 64-65.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 322-324.
• Shiloh, Larry L. Daniel, pp. 111-115.
  

 

NEXT POST: APRIL 3RD

March 26, 1862 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

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

General Buell arrived on the 26th at Columbia, TN, only to find that a new bridge had not yet been built over the Duck River.  It would not be until the 29th that his divisions, 5 in all, could begin crossing.

General Grant had sent a large majority of his Union divisions to the west side of the Tennessee River at Pittsburg Landing. These troops were camped but not well organized, and there had been no entrenching, as no battle was expected there.  The Union command expected to consolidate with Buell's army, and then move toward Corinth, MS and engage the Confederate army (also consolidated) in a large battle.

Confederate generals, including A.S. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard, could see the Union plans and had determined to strike before the consolidation of the opposing armies.  The lack of readiness of the Union armies would be costly.

More Information: .

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence, pp. 59-69.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 63-64
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 322-324.
• Shiloh, Larry L. Daniel, pp. 104-111.
  

 

NEXT POST: MARCH 30TH

March 22, 1862 - Saturday - 160 years ago today

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

 By the 22nd, Buell is at Columbia, TN, with most of the divisions (including Wood's) that are intended to meet Grant's army at Savannah.  He intends to move soon but continues to be hampered by weather and lack of bridges.

The land west of Pittsburg Landing, TN had been chosen as a camping ground for most of Grant's divisions, while awaiting a merger with Buell's command and then advancing toward Corinth, MS.  The brigades were arranged in an arc facing southwest.  Near the center of this arc, about 2 miles from the Tennessee River,  was a small church named Shiloh.  Some exploratory scouting missions were done from this camp.  

Although there were rumors of a large Confederate force nearby, it had not been found as of yet.

More Information: .

• Link: War Operations, see Volume X, Chapter XXII, Part II, Correspondence, pp. 47-58.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 63
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 315-322.
  

 

NEXT POST: MARCH 26TH