The War This Week: Jan 26-Feb 1, 1865 Thursday, January 26 Confederate General Robert E. Lee reported to his superiors about an “alarming frequency of desertion” from his Army of Northern Virginia, which continued enduring the siege of Petersburg and Richmond. Lee also stated that the “ration is too small for men who have to undergo so much exposure and labor as ours.” The Confederates’ paltry food reserve was partly caused by January rain flooding the railroad supplying the troops. Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a bill into law creating a general-in-chief of all armies. Some expected Davis to veto the bill because it infringed on his duties as commander-in-chief, and Davis had objected to a portion of the original bill reinstating General Joseph E. Johnston to army command. But this revised bill did not specifically name Johnston, so Davis approved with the idea of promoting Robert E. Lee to the new general-in-chief post. Federal expeditions began from Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Plaquemine, Louisiana; and Memphis, Tennessee. Skirmishing occurred in South Carolina and Alabama. Friday, January 27 A tremendous fire devastated Savannah, Georgia, which was under Federal military occupation. The fire lasted 18 hours and destroyed 200 homes. Federals and Confederates blamed each other for starting the blaze, which caused much resentment among the residents. A Federal expedition began from Fort Pinney, Arkansas, and skirmishing occurred in South Carolina and Alabama. Saturday, January 28 Southern pressure for peace compelled President Davis to appoint three envoys to hold talks with Federal authorities. The envoys were Vice President Alexander Stephens, former Confederate Secretary of State Robert M.T. Hunter, and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John A. Campbell. Davis instructed them, “In conformity with the letter of Mr. Lincoln… you are requested to proceed to Washington City for informal conference with him upon the issues involved in the existing war, and for the purpose of securing peace to the two countries.” Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon recommended that President Davis appoint Robert E. Lee to be general-in-chief in accordance with the law Davis had approved two days ago. Federals operated against Native Americans in Kansas. Federal expeditions began from Bayou Goula, Louisiana and Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. Skirmishing occurred in South Carolina. Sunday, January 29 The three Confederate peace envoys entered Federal lines at Petersburg under a flag of truce. Major General E.O.C. Ord, the ranking Federal commander, met the envoys and followed War Department instructions to keep them detained at the front lines due to their unexpected arrival. Skirmishing occurred in South Carolina and Kentucky. Monday, January 30 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued passes for the three Confederate peace envoys to go through the Federal lines to Fort Monroe, Virginia. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton sent a messenger to tell the envoys to await further word about talks. Major General John Pope was given command of the new Federal Military Division of the Missouri, which was to oversee the separate Departments of Missouri and Kansas. Federal expeditions began in Virginia and from Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Skirmishing occurred in Missouri, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Tuesday, January 31 The U.S. House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment abolishing slavery. Heated debate had occurred throughout this month; Republicans argued that slavery was morally wrong, while Democrats argued that the amendment would compromise the sanctity of states’ rights and upset the balance of power between the federal and state governments guaranteed in the Constitution. Five Democrats changed their votes from rejection to approval, and they were politically rewarded by the Lincoln administration. The spectators in the galleries cheered the vote and Secretary of War Stanton ordered a 100-gun salute fired to commemorate the event. State legislatures soon began debating and voting on the amendment’s ratification. President Davis recommended and the Confederate Senate promptly approved Robert E. Lee’s appointment to general-in-chief. Lee wrote to Davis, “I am indebted alone to the kindness of His Excellency the President for my nomination to this high and arduous office,” and thanked Davis for “your indulgence and kind consideration… If I can relieve you from a portion of the constant labor and anxiety which presses upon you, I shall be more than compensated for any present burdens.” The measure came too late to affect the war’s outcome. President Lincoln sent Secretary of State William H. Seward to talk with the Confederate peace envoys at Fort Monroe. Lincoln instructed Seward to demand three conditions for peace: “The restoration of the national authority… No receding, by the Executive of the United States on the Slavery question… No cessation of hostilities short of an end of the war.” Since the envoys had arrived at Petersburg two days ago, Federal General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant had returned from an inspection in North Carolina and given them safe conduct through the Federal lines, quartering them on the steamship Mary Martin near his City Point headquarters. President Davis informed Robert E. Lee that troops were being pulled from the Trans-Mississippi District to oppose William T. Sherman’s Federals and, since Congress had not adopted his manpower recommendations, Davis asked Lee for suggestions “in this, our hour of necessity…” Federal expeditions began from Morganza and Fort Pike, Louisiana. Wednesday, February 1 William T. Sherman’s Federals began crossing the Savannah River into South Carolina. The two-pronged advance was to feint toward Charleston while actually targeting the state capital of Columbia. Opposing the Federals was a makeshift Confederate force of state militia, volunteers, and tired veterans under General William Hardee. The Confederate Army of Tennessee, now in Alabama, was also being rushed to help. Despite encountering heavier resistance and winter rains than in Georgia, Sherman’s men still advanced an average of 10 miles per day. Early today, Ulysses S. Grant received a cipher from President Lincoln regarding the Confederate peace envoys: “Let nothing which is transpiring, change, hinder, or delay your Military movements, or plans.” Later, a War Department messenger arrived at City Point and informed the envoys they would not be allowed to negotiate until they acknowledge the Confederacy was not an independent country. However, Grant intervened and requested that U.S. officials talk with the envoys because “their intentions are good and their desire sincere to restore peace and union…” On his own authority, Grant told the envoys he would send them to Fort Monroe to talk with Secretary of State Seward tomorrow. President Lincoln signed a congressional joint resolution submitting the proposed Thirteenth Amendment to the state legislatures for ratification. Illinois became the first state to ratify the amendment. Lincoln spoke to a crowd serenading him at the White House: “The occasion was one of congratulation to the country and to the whole world. But there is a task yet before us–to go forward and consummate by the votes of the States that which Congress so nobly began… this amendment is a King’s cure for all the evils. It winds the whole thing up.” President Davis reluctantly accepted the resignation of Secretary of War James Seddon, who had faced intense criticism throughout the South during his tenure. A Virginia delegation had demanded the removal of all cabinet members, but Davis upheld his right to select his own cabinet. Seddon, a Virginian, took offense with his fellow Virginians grouping him with all other cabinet members in whom they had no confidence. Replacing Seddon was former U.S. Vice President and Confederate Major General John C. Breckinridge. U.S. Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase admitted John S. Rock as the first black man to practice before the Supreme Court. Federals operated against Natives in the Idaho Territory. Skirmishing occurred in Georgia, Missouri, and Florida. civilwarmonths/2015/01/27/the-war-this-week-jan-26-feb-1-1865/
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 19:45:00 +0000
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