The Civil War This Week: May 26 – Jun 1, 1864 Thursday, May 26 In Virginia, the Battle of the North Anna ended as Confederate General Robert E. Lee stopped Federal General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant’s advance once more. At nightfall, Grant directed Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac to continue southward, across the Pamunkey River toward Hanovertown, far around the right flank of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. In Georgia, Federals under Major General James McPherson reached Dallas, while Major General John Schofield’s Federals reached the Dallas-New Hope Church area. Both Federals and Confederates began entrenching. In Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Federals under new commander David Hunter advanced from Strasburg and Cedar Creek toward Staunton. Major General John G. Foster assumed command of the Federal Department of the South. Congress approved an enabling act creating the new Montana Territory separate from the Dakota Territory. The Federal transport Boston was destroyed by her crew after being grounded by Confederate fire on the Ashepoo River in South Carolina. Skirmishing occurred in Alabama and Missouri. Friday, May 27 In Virginia, Major General Philip Sheridan’s Federal cavalry occupied Hanovertown, south of the Pamunkey River. Skirmishing occurred at various points. Robert E. Lee learned of Ulysses S. Grant’s advance and began moving his Confederates from near Hanover Junction to the southeast. In Georgia, Federals under General Oliver O. Howard attempted to move around Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s right near Pickett’s Mill and Mount Zion Church, about two miles northeast of New Hope Church. Heavy fighting ensued in dense woods, and the Federal attacks were easily repulsed. The Federals suffered over 1,600 casualties, while the Confederates lost only about 500. General Jo Shelby assumed command of Confederate troops north of the Arkansas River. Skirmishing occurred in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and California. Saturday, May 28 In Virginia, Robert E. Lee’s Confederates moved through Mechanicsville and reached Hanovertown ahead of Ulysses S. Grant’s Federals. Cavalry skirmishes occurred. President Jefferson Davis told Lee that General P.G.T. Beauregard, south of Richmond, was strengthening his defenses but was still outnumbered by at least two-to-one. In Georgia, Joseph E. Johnston determined that the Federal right was weak based on Oliver O. Howard’s attack yesterday. Johnston sent General William Hardee’s Confederates to attack James McPherson’s Federals near Dallas. The Federals were initially pushed back, but a late charge regained the lost ground. Nevertheless, McPherson’s Federals were trapped south of Dallas. Archduke Maximilian of Hapsburg landed at Vera Cruz to become the king of Mexico. Maximilian was supported by Emperor Napoleon III of France, who hoped to expand the French Empire into the Western Hemisphere by establishing a puppet regime in Mexico. The Lincoln administration opposed this move because it violated the Monroe Doctrine. Opposition also came from deposed Mexican ruler Benito Juarez. Skirmishing occurred in Missouri as Confederates sacked Lamar. Other skirmishing occurred in Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, and California. Sunday, May 29 In Virginia, Ulysses S. Grant’s Federals continued advancing while Robert E. Lee prepared his lines. In Georgia, positions shifted and skirmishing continued. Confederates captured a wagon train at Salem, Arkansas. Skirmishing occurred in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Monday, May 30 In Virginia, Ulysses S. Grant moved further south toward the Totopotomoy River, marking the closest the Federals had come to Richmond since the Peninsular campaign of 1862. Despite the deep advance into Virginia, Robert E. Lee’s army was still strong and Richmond was still safe. Heavy fighting ensued as the Federals probed Lee’s line. In Georgia, both Federal and Confederate lines still held around the Dallas-New Hope Church area, and skirmishing continued. Confederate raiders under John Hunt Morgan launched another incursion into Kentucky to disrupt Major General William T. Sherman’s communications and relieve pressure on Joseph E. Johnston. Federals under Brigadier General George Crook started from Meadow Bluff, West Virginia toward Lynchburg, Virginia as part of the Federal move by Hunter against Lynchburg. Federal naval forces began bombarding Fort Sumter, firing 319 rounds between today and June 5. A Federal expedition began from Morganza, Louisiana. Skirmishing occurred in Tennessee and Missouri. Tuesday, May 31 In Virginia, Robert E. Lee established defensive positions near Cold Harbor, about 10 miles northeast of Richmond on the Chickahominy River. Ulysses S. Grant shifted part of his line toward Cold Harbor to get around Lee’s right, and Lee shifted to meet him. Skirmishing broke out at various points, as both sides established positions where another major battle was imminent. Both Grant and William T. Sherman were much closer to Richmond and Atlanta than when fighting started this month. Federals and Confederates each lost about 9,000 men in the May campaign. But Grant and Sherman were beginning to stall. Dissident Radical Republicans gathered in Cleveland to nominate a presidential candidate for the November election. The Radicals opposed President Abraham Lincoln’s moderate emancipation and reconstruction policies, instead supporting immediate abolition of slavery and harsh punishment for the seceded states. General John C. Fremont was nominated for president and Brigadier General John Cochrane of New York was nominated for vice president. Convention attendance was small, and Lincoln worked to garner Radical support to unite the Republican Party against the Democrats. Wednesday, June 1 The Battle of Cold Harbor began in Virginia as a Federal attack was sharply repulsed. The Confederates continued shifting right to meet the Federal advance. Both sides prepared defenses, and Ulysses S. Grant planned to renew the attacks tomorrow morning. President Davis ordered Major General Robert Ransom, commanding at Richmond, to summon all local forces possible to the Chickahominy and meet the threat to the capital. Robert E. Lee urged P.G.T. Beauregard to move forces north if possible, covering the area from the James north to the Chickahominy in front of Richmond. In Georgia, General George Stoneman’s Federal cavalry captured Allatoona Pass, which held the vital railroad and enabled William T. Sherman to receive supplies from Chattanooga. Sherman’s Federals shifted northward away from the New Hope Church area, skirmishing along the way. Brigadier General S.D. Sturgis and 8,000 Federals left Memphis to destroy Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his threat to Sherman’s supply lines. Sturgis headed toward Ripley, Mississippi while Forrest was at Tupelo regrouping from a northern raid. John Hunt Morgan’s Confederate raid into Kentucky continued. Skirmishing occurred in Missouri and Arkansas. waltercoffey.wordpress/2014/05/26/the-civil-war-this-week-may-26-jun-1-1864/
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 19:15:00 +0000
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