The War This Week: Jan 19-25, 1865 Thursday, January 19 At Savannah, Georgia, Federal Major General William T. Sherman issued marching orders for his army to begin the northward advance into South Carolina. The goal was to reach Goldsboro, North Carolina by March 15. Sherman planned a feint against Charleston while attacking the state capital of Columbia. The Federals were especially anxious to invade South Carolina since it had been the first state to secede. Meanwhile, Confederate President Jefferson Davis frantically continued coordinating with Generals William Hardee, P.G.T. Beauregard, Richard Taylor, and Braxton Bragg to hurry Confederate troops into the state. Federal General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant appointed President Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert as a captain and assistant adjutant-general on Grant’s staff. Lincoln had asked Grant to give his son a staff position, if available, as a personal favor. Robert’s main duties were escorting visitors to and from Grant’s City Point headquarters. On his 58th birthday, Confederate General Robert E. Lee responded to President Davis’s query whether Lee would accept the position of general-in-chief of all Confederate armies: “I must state that with the addition of the immediate command of this army (the Army of Northern Virginia) I do not think I could accomplish any good. If I had the ability I would not have the time… I am willing to undertake any service to which you think proper to assign me, but I do not wish you to be misled as to the extent of my capacity.” However, southern pressure continued mounting on Davis to appoint Lee. After meeting with Davis, Lee dispatched Confederate cavalry under Brigadier General Matthew Calbraith Butler to South Carolina, “with the understanding that it is to return to me in the spring in time for the opening of the campaign.” Federal expeditions began from Myrtle Sound, North Carolina; Donaldsville, Louisiana; and Memphis, Tennessee. Skirmishing occurred in Mississippi. Friday, January 20 William T. Sherman’s advance units probed into South Carolina, encountering light resistance as they reached Beaufort, 40 miles beyond Port Royal Sound. The Federals occupied Pocotaligo, on the railroad about midway between Savannah and Charleston. The Federal left wing was held up by heavy rain in Savannah. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton reported to President Lincoln on his recent visit to Savannah and Fort Fisher. Skirmishing occurred in Kansas. Saturday, January 21 William T. Sherman paused at Hilton Head while moving his headquarters from Savannah to Beaufort, South Carolina. Federal troops left Savannah, leaving an occupation force behind. Sherman ignored War Department orders to force Confederate sympathizers out of the city because he did not want to enhance his reputation as a vandal. However, the Federal occupiers deported many families with Confederate ties after Sherman left. A Federal expedition began from Brashear City, Louisiana. Sunday, January 22 Prominent statesman Francis P. Blair, Sr. returned to Richmond to deliver President Lincoln’s letter of January 18 to President Davis. In the letter, Lincoln expressed interest in meeting with Confederate agents to discuss a possible peace. But the letters between Davis (“the two countries”) and Lincoln (“our one common country”) reflected the deadlock between the leaders in peace negotiations. Skirmishing occurred in Arkansas. Monday, January 23 The Confederate Congress passed a bill providing for appointment of a general-in-chief of all Confederate armies. Many expected President Davis to veto the bill because it not only removed the “commander in chief” title from him, but it also promoted Generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston. Davis pondered whether to approve the bill. Confederate General Richard Taylor assumed command of the Army of Tennessee, which had dwindled to about 17,000 men after the recent military disasters in Tennessee. A main portion of the army had been sent to the Carolinas to stop William T. Sherman. A Federal expedition began from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Skirmishing occurred in Virginia and Louisiana. Tuesday, January 24 Ulysses S. Grant finally accepted a Confederate request to start a prisoner exchange system. Grant had declined earlier requests to deprive the South of manpower. He changed his position now that returning prisoners of war seemed unlikely to stop the Confederacy’s imminent defeat. General Nathan Bedford Forrest assumed command of the Confederate District of Mississippi, East Louisiana, and West Tennessee. Forrest had just three cavalry divisions to defend this region. President Lincoln informed Vice President-elect Andrew Johnson at Nashville that he should be in Washington for the inauguration ceremony on March 4. President Davis conferred with Vice President Alexander Stephens for the first time since the Confederate government moved to Richmond in 1861. Davis showed him Lincoln’s letter from January 18 and asked his opinion. Stephens, an old friend of Lincoln’s, advised Davis to form a peace commission, “at least so far as to obtain if possible a conference on the subject.” A Federal expedition began from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Skirmishing occurred in Arkansas and Louisiana. Wednesday, January 25 President Davis summoned John A. Campbell, Robert Hunter, and Vice President Stephens to inform them that they had been chosen to be peace commissioners, despite Stephens’s protest against being included. Campbell was a former U.S. Supreme Court justice and Confederate assistant secretary of war (the highest ranking member of the U.S. government to join the secession), Hunter was the Confederate Senate pro tem and former Confederate secretary of state and U.S. senator, and Stephens was a former U.S. congressman. Davis issued the commissioners instructions: “In conformity with the letter of Mr. Lincoln… you are requested to proceed to Washington City for an informal conference with him upon the issues involved in the existing war, and for the purpose of securing peace to the two countries.” Confederate cruiser Shenandoah reached Melbourne, Australia and later left for the northern Pacific to harass Federal whaling and fishing fleets. William T. Sherman’s Federals scouted near Pocotaligo, South Carolina “to amuse the enemy.” A Federal expedition began from Irish Bottom, Tennessee. Skirmishing occurred in Virginia and Kentucky. civilwarmonths/2015/01/19/the-war-this-week-jan-19-25-1865/
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:37:10 +0000