May 10, 1944 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) -New Guinea 

May 7th:  In port all day at Seeadler Harbor.  Temperatures 80s-90s, light winds.

May 8th: Outside the harbor from 8 AM to 11 AM for gunnery practice, otherwise moored.  Temperatures 80s, light winds.

May 9th: Underway at 8 AM to patrol outside harbor for the rest of the day.  Temperatures 80s, light winds.

May 10th: Anchored at 2 PM after patrolling in the morning.  Temperatures 70s-80s, light winds.

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Fighting in New Guinea would continue for many weeks at several areas along the coast including Aitape, Wewak, and Hollandia.  Japanese forces had been successfully separated, and suffered significant losses without being able to consolidate. 

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In the Central Pacific, the focus was now mostly on gathering forces for the invasion of the Mariana Islands, with Guam, Saipan and Tinian being the main island targets.  This operation was slated to begin in mid-June.

Fighting continues in Italy at Anzio and at Monte Cassino. The fourth and final assault in the Monte Cassino area was underway.  In the next few weeks, Rome would be captured, but an opportunity was lost to cut off and surround a large German force.

Soviet forces began what would be the final attack on Sevastopol, Crimea, that resulted in the capture of the city.

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More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 480-481. 
• New Guinea and the Marianas, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 58-96, 157-169.
• War at the End of the World, James P. Duffy, pp, 281-306.
  
• Events of May, 1944
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, May 1944

NEXT POST:  MAY 14TH

May 10, 1864 - Tuesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Howard's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade

Newton's division is at Catoosa Springs, GA on the morning of the 7th as the initial battle of the Atlanta Campaign is about to begin.  Newton is ordered to capture the north end of Rocky Face Ridge with one regiment, with a brigade in support.  The objective is a signal station on the ridge; Newton's troops do not reach it, and at 6:05 PM are ordered to camp and link up with General Wood's division.  

Orders for tomorrow are for Newton, at 6 AM,  to go up the eastern slope of the ridge in an attempt to attack the Confederate right flank.  Harker's brigade will attempt the attack.  Wagner's brigade is to be ready at 5:30 AM in support.  Newton's division at the end of the day controls some of Rocky Face Ridge and is ordered to try to carry the rest of the ridge on the 9th.

The advance on the 9th finds the ridge heavily defended and there is almost no progress.  At the end of the day the division is ordered to hold their positions.  Wagner's brigade is sent into the valley east of the ridge to connect with the right of Schofield's army.

About 10 miles to the south, the Union's third army under General McPherson has come through the ridges and out into the valley at Snake Creek Gap.  This army is therefore behind the Confederate army which is dug in around Dalton, GA.  McPherson is planning to attack at Resaca, GA soon.  Sherman is convinced that this will cause the Confederates to leave Dalton and move south.

McPherson's attack at Resaca is not successful, and he consolidates at Snake Creek Gap.  Reinforcements had arrived from other areas of the Confederacy and stopped McPherson in front of Resaca.

On the 10th, orders are given that Howard's corps will continue to threaten Rocky Face Ridge from the west instead of the north, and much of the rest of the Union forces will move south to meet McPherson and force a battle or a Confederate retreat.

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Virginia Campaign

After the Battle of the Wilderness and its sizable Union casualties, General Grant has made his decision; he will continue south toward Richmond and keep the pressure on Lee's Confederate army.  Early on the 7th he issues the order to move to Spotsylvania Court House, 12 miles southeast of the Wilderness battlefield.  Lee has expected this move, and is racing to get there ahead of Grant.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXVIII, Chapter L, Part IV, Correspondence, pp. 55-132.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 155-159.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 318-323.
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Retreat With Honor, pp. 296-299
  
• Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 129-145.
• Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 537-551.
• Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 496-500.
  
• Events: 1864
  

NEXT POST:  MAY 14TH