This Mighty Scourge

John Cook¹ was born August 16, 1847, in Hamilton County, Ohio.  He enlisted in the army at the age of 14, in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In September 1862, at the age of 15, he would find himself taking part in the Maryland Campaign.  He was a bugler assigned to Battery B, 4^th U.S. Artillery.  This artillery unit was attached to US Brigadier General John Gibbon’s brigade of westerners – the Iron Brigade.

During the fighting, at Antietam, on September 17, 1862, young Cook would find himself in some of the “hottest” action.  Gibbon’s Iron Brigade was part of US Major General Joseph Hooker’s I Corps and was the Fourth Brigade in US Brigadier General Rufus King’s First Division.  Hooker’s I Corps would open the action, at Antietam, pushing south through the Corn Field, towards CS Major General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Division, massed near the Dunker Church and the East Woods.  A section of Battery B, 4^th U.S. Artillery, was sent to the opposite side of the Hagerstown Pike.  The Iron Brigade would push their assault through the Corn Field.

John Cook described the action, “General Gibbon, our commander, had just ordered Lieutenant Stewart to take his section about one hundred yards to the right of the Hagerstown Pike, in front of two straw stacks, when he beckoned me to follow. No sooner had we unlimbered, when a column of Confederate infantry, emerging from the so called west woods, poured a volley into us, which brought fourteen or seventeen of my brave comrades to the ground. The two straw stacks offered some kind of shelter for our wounded, and it was a sickening sight to see those poor maimed, and crippled fellows, crowding on top of one another, while several, stepping but a few feet away, were hit again or killed.”

“Just then Captain Campbell unlimbered the other four guns to the left of Stewart, and I reported to him. He had just dismounted, when he was hit twice and his horse fell dead, with several bullets in its body. I started with the Captain to the rear and turned him over to one of the drivers. He ordered me to report to Lieutenant Stewart and tell him to take command of the battery. I reported, and, seeing the cannoneers nearly all down, and one, with a pouch full of ammunition, lying dead, I unstrapped the pouch, started for the battery and worked as a cannoneer. We were then in the vortex of the battle. The enemy had made three desperate attempts to capture us, the last time coming with in ten or fifteen feet of our guns.”

“It was at this time that General Gibbon, seeing the condition of the battery, came to the gun that stood in the pike, and in full uniform of a brigadier-general, worked as a gunner and cannoneer. He was very conspicuous, and it is indeed surprising, that he came away alive. At this battle we lost forty-four men, killed and wounded, and about forty horses which shows what a hard fight it was.”²

Cook also served conspicuously at Gettysburg, where he carried messages across the battle ravaged ground, of McPherson’s Ridge.  During the retreat, towards Culp’s Hill, he would help destroy a caisson, to keep it from being captured by the Confederates, and used against the Federal army.

Bugler Cook, served through the remainder of the war, participating in 33 battles and receiving several wounds.  On June 30, 1894, John Cook would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (see also The Congressional Medal of Honor – A Short History).  His citation reads, “Volunteered at the age of 15 years to act as a cannoneer, and as such volunteer served a gun under a terrific fire of the enemy.”³

After the Civil War, Cook would reside in Washington, D.C., working in the government printing office for over 20 years.  He would die in Washington on August 3, 1915, at the age of 67.  He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, with his wife Isabella, buried next to him.

¹  John Cook (soldier) at Wikipedia.
²  Gutzke, Scott T., Battery B, 4th U.S. Light Artillery, Published 1998, Source Page.
³  R.J. (Bob) Pfoft, Editor, United States of America’s Medal of Honor Recipients, Fifth Edition, Pgs. 839-840.

I love my job.  Besides working for an awesome company, I get to travel to many very neat places, in the course of business.  Today, I travelled to Mahwah, New Jersey, for meetings tomorrow.  I flew into LaGuardia airport this afternoon.  The drive took me through Manhattan, where US Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, and his wife, Julia share a final resting place, at the General Grant National Memorial¹.  It was a beautiful day, like what you would expect in New York City in February:  25º with a brisk wind coming across the Hudson River.  I have been here several times in the past, but today proved to be a great opportunity for some photographs.

U.S. Grant died, at Mount McGregor, New York on July 23, 1885.  He died from throat cancer, a couple days after finishing his autobiography.  While Grant is often associated with Ohio, where he was born, St. Louis, Missouri, where he scratched out a living and Illinois, where he was first commissioned during the Civil War, he lived the last four years of his life in New York City.  In choosing his final resting place, Grant preferred to be buried at West Point, but was concerned that Julia may not be buried with him.  While St. Louis, Galena, Illinois and New York City were all possibilities, Grant preferred New York City.  His only precondition was that Julia be buried by his side.

After his death, New York City mayor William R. Grace, offered to provide land in one of the city’s parks for his burial site.  Julia chose Riverside Park.  The park was located at one of the highest points in Manhattan and offered a beautiful view of the Hudson River.  Grant’s funeral would draw a huge crowd including dignitaries, mourners and 60,000 parade marchers.  Additionally, Civil War veterans, from both sides, attended en masse including generals William Sherman, Phil Sheridan, Joseph E. Johnston and Simon Buckner.  At the end of the parade, he was placed in a temporary vault in Riverside Park.

The Grant Monument Association was formed shortly after Grant’s death.  Its first president, was former U.S. President, Chester Arthur.  Competitions were held in 1888, and again in 1890, for the design of the tomb.  The association would choose the design submitted by John H. Duncan.  Private donations were obtained to construct the tomb, at a cost 0f $600,000.  Approximately 90,000 people made donations.  Ground was broken for the monument on April 27, 1891.  This was the 70thanniversary of Grant’s birth.  U.S. President Benjamin Harrison would lay the ceremonial cornerstone.  Over 8,000 tons of granite would be used in its construction.  Grant’s final resting place was dedicated on April 27, 1897 – the 75thanniversary of his birth.

Julia Grant died on December 14, 1902 and was interred next to her loving husband.  The mausoleum is the largest in North America.  During its peak, the General Grant National Memorial would have over 600,000 visitors. 

I would highly recommend visiting this site, if your travels ever take you to New York City.

¹ The Grant Monument Association was used to research this article.

Mary Edwards Walker was born November 26, 1832 on her family’s farm on Bunker Hill Road, Oswego County, NY. She had four older sisters—Aurora, Luna, Vesta and Cynthia—and one younger brother Alvah. Her liberal father, a country doctor, often indulged in reform movements of the time, a trait he passed on to his children, especially Mary. An early advocate for Women’s Rights, Mary was a particular proponent for dress reform, often opting to wear trousers over the impractical feminine attire of the day. Her dress reform cohorts included Amelia Bloomer and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

 

In 1850, Mary attended Falley Seminar in Fulton, New York before accepting a teaching position at a small school in Minetto, New York. In 1853, she entered Central Medical College in Syracuse, NY, a college with a unique philosophy of scholarly equality for men and women. In 1855, she graduated, thus becoming the second female medical doctor in the United States behind Elizabeth Blackwell. Her degree in hand, Mary headed west and opened a small medical practice in Columbus, OH, a town not yet ready for a female doctor. The practice failed within months.

 

The year 1856 saw the marriage of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker to Dr. Albert Miller; however, in keeping with her feminist views, she refused his last name. Shortly after the wedding, the two opened a practice in Rome, NY, a town just as primitive in its thinking as Columbus: the practice failed within a short time. In 1859, after just three years of marriage, Mary ordered her husband from their home, citing his infidelities. It took 10 years for a divorce to become final.

 

Growing restless while trying to find her place, 1861 brought her to Washington, DC where she relentlessly tried to obtain a commission in the Union Army as a surgeon. Her requests were denied. Regardless, she volunteered her service to the Patent Office Hospital that had been erected shortly after First Bull Run—the same hospital where Clara Barton began her dedicated service. Like Barton, Walker received no compensation at this point in time from the army. But unlike Barton, who dressed conservatively, Dr. Walker chose to wear masculine attire—a uniformed jacket with trousers beneath her skirt—to allow her to work in comfort. She also carried two pistols. Her attire caused many caustic comments to flow from the mouths of notorious women of Washington, women who refused to tolerate such scandalous behavior.

 

Dr. Walker was finally permitted to serve as a volunteer surgeon for the Army of the Cumberland at an army hospital in Chattanooga, TN after the September 19-20 Battle of Chickamauga. During this time, she frequently crossed enemy lines to tend to wounded and ailing Confederates, as well. There, she was able to obtain bits and pieces of information that proved useful to the Federals. Shortly thereafter, she finally received an appointment from General George Thomas—the first officer who began to see her value to the Union Army—as a replacement surgeon to the 52^nd Ohio Infantry. She drew a mere $80 per month salary. Still continuing her treks across enemy lines to treat wounded Confederates, as well as civilians, she was eventually taken prisoner and sent to Richmond’s Libby Prison. During her confinement, she continued her duties by treating Union prisoners and Confederate guards. Even though she served her wounded enemy well, her imprisonment brought these harsh words from Confederate Captain BJ Semmes: “This morning we were all amused and disgusted too at the sight of a thing that nothing but the debased and the depraved Yankee nation could produce—a female doctor…She was dressed in full uniform of a Federal Surgeon, boots, hat and all, and wore a cloak…She was about 28 years old fair, but not good looking and of course had a tongue enough for a regiment of men. I was in hopes the General would have her dressed in homespun frock and bonnet and sent back to the Yankee lines, or put in a lunatic asylum…” After four months of imprisonment during the Atlanta Campaign, she was finally released in a prisoner exchange of 24 Union surgeons for 17 Confederate surgeons. She was greatly pleased she had been “traded man for man” for a Confederate officer. It served to validate her need for equality. She spent the remainder of the war practicing as a contract surgeon at a Louisville, Kentucky female prison and an orphan’s asylum in Tennessee.

 

After the Civil War, Generals William T Sherman and George Thomas recommended Dr. Walker for the Congressional Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service—making her the only woman to ever receive the country’s highest military award. The Citation read:

 

Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, “has rendered valuable service to the Government and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways,” and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, KY., upon the recommendation of Major generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as a contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made: It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be herby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.

Given under my hand in the city of Washington, DC, this 11^th day of November, A.D. 1865.—Andrew Johnson, President.

 

Still bright and determined after the war, Dr. Walker traveled throughout England and France, captivating audiences with her lectures on women’s rights, dress reform, and health and temperance issues. She returned to the United States and traveled extensively offering her same European lectures; however, she was not well-received in the U.S. In 1866, she was elected president of the National Dress Reform Association. She carried the title with honor and found pride in being arrested numerous times for wearing full male dress that included a bow tie and top hat. She later wrote HIT, a biography and commentary; then penned a second book entitled Unmasked, or the Science of Immortality. In 1871, she tried to vote in her home town, but was politely turned away. She spent the remainder of the 1870s lobbying in Washington, D.C., for the same causes she’d fought for most of her life.

 

The 1880s seemed to take more of a toll on her spirit. She sought federal employment and finally won a job as a clerk in the Department of the Interior. The job lasted a mere two years. With little funds remaining, Dr. Walker took to lecturing at museums throughout the Northeastern United States. Although she took her lectures seriously, most audiences viewed them as carnival sideshows.

 

In 1919, her Congressional Medal, along with 910 other Civil War recipients’ medals, was revoked in the Purge of 1917. In keeping with her spirit, dignity and decorum, she refused to return the medal and instead wore it proudly every day for the remainder of her life. Walker’s great niece relentlessly fought for the reinstatement of the medal and was triumphant when, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill reinstating Dr. Mary E. Walker’s Congressional Medal of Honor.

 

Dr. Mary Walker died near poverty in her home town of Oswego on February 21, 1919, a few short months before the 20^th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified. She is buried in the Rural Cemetery on Cemetery Road, Oswego.

 

Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, summed up Dr. Walker’s life: “She lived a life of determined unconventionality; being a bloomerite from her younger years, she preferred to dress in pants. Later on in life, still practicing medicine, she could be seen wearing men’s top hats and top coats as well as pants.”

 

This great article was submitted by:

 

Kimberly Largent-Christopher, Editor

KJLWrite@aol.com
Charge the Cannons Publishing
224 Tanbridge Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25401

The Congressional Medal of Honor¹ is the highest award a soldier, or sailor can receive.  In awarding the Medal of Honor, the soldier, or sailor, would make a contribution, “….not just in fighting, but in fighting gallantly, sometimes displaying a sheer heroism which, when looked upon by the Nation in whose name it was called forth, quite naturally caused the Nation to seek some means of rewarding him.”²

The Congressional Medal of Honor was first created, to reward sailors for heroism and actions, well above the call of duty.  A bill for its creation was introduced by Senator James Grimes, of Iowa.  It passed both houses, and was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861.  A companion bill was introduced, on February 17, 1862, by Senator Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts.  His bill would provide for presentation of “medals of honor,” to enlisted men and volunteers, of the armed forces who, “shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities.”³  Lincoln, would sign Wilson’s bill, making it law, on July 12, 1862.  The original bill would be amended, on March 3, 1863, to allow officers to also receive the medal.

The new medals were designed by the U.S. Mint and made by William Wilson & Son of Philadelphia.  The first medals of honor were awarded to members of the army, on March 25, 1863, “in the name of Congress and the United States.”  On April 3, 1863 the first Navy/Marine medals were awarded.

Unfortunately, after the Civil War, the honor of receiving these medals, created abuse and counterfeit medals.  In an effort to identify the soldiers, and sailors, who legitimately were rewarded medals, the army’s adjutant general agreed to publish a list of all medal recipients in “The Soldiers Friend” magazine.  This helped identify potentially fraudulent recipients.

Over the coming generations, the rules, and requirements would be modified and a “pyramid of honor,” would be developed.  Knowing that not all meritorious actions deserved the highest honor, other medals were created to award these soldiers for their actions.  Here is a list, from highest medal of honor, to lowest medal, for the army.  The date is the date the medal was created.

1)  The Congressional Medal of Honor (1862)
2)  Distinguished Service Cross (1918)
3)  Defense Distinguished Service Medal (1970)
4)  Distinguished Service Medal (1918)
5)  Silver Star (1918)
6)  Defense Superior Service Medal (1976)
7)  Legion of Merit (1942)
8)  Soldier’s Medal (1926)
9)  Bronze Star (1942)
10)  Meritorious Service Medal (1969)
11)  Joint Service Commendation Medal (1963)
12)  Army Commendation Medal (1945)
13)  Purple Heart (1782)

The soldiers, who over the generations, have been awarded any of these awards, are heroes, and patriots.  Those who have earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, have proved themselves under the most dangerous conditions, and deserve the highest recognition.  Many of the Congressional Medals of Honor recipients would receive their medals posthumously.

Over the coming months, I am going to dedicate time on this blog, to highlight Civil War soldiers who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  I have created a new category, “Congressional Medal of Honor” so you can easily find these articles.  I do hope that you enjoy these articles, as the soldiers who proved themselves, under the most trying circumstances, deserve to be remembered – and honored.  As always, I appreciate any comments you make to my posts.

¹ R.J. Proft, Editor, United States of America Medal of Honor Recipients, Fifth Edition, and U.S. Army Center of Military History were used to research this article.
² R.J. Proft, Editor, United States of America Medal of Honor Recipients, Fifth Edition, p. 3.
³ R.J. Proft, Editor, United States of America Medal of Honor Recipients, Fifth Edition, p. 4.

The battle of Olustee¹ was the largest battle to take place, in Florida, during the American Civil War.  Florida was viewed as strategically important, for political reasons.  The Lincoln administration believed there was significant “Pro Union” sentiment in the state and had decided on a policy, to allow Confederate states to seat electors, once 10% of the pre-war voting population had taken a loyalty oath.

To accomplish their strategic objectives, the administration ordered troops from the Department of the South, to Jacksonville, Florida.  US Brigadier Quincy A. Gillmore, commander of the department, created the District of Florida, and sent US Brigadier Truman Seymour to command the district.  Seymour would arrive in Jacksonville on February 7, 1864 and would secure the city.  Lincoln also sent his private secretary, John Hay to Jacksonville, to follow the army, securing loyalty oaths from the citizens of Florida.

Seymour, began moving west, towards Lake City, Florida to destroy a railroad bridge in an effort to keep troops from arriving and supplies from being sent north.  CS Brigadier General Joseph Finegan, Confederate commander in the area, only had 500 troops to halt the Federal advance.  However, reinforcements began arriving ahead of Seymour’s division.  Finegan began entrenching his 5,000 troops in the area near the Olustee train station.  On February 20, Seymour arrived with his 5,500 soldiers, and attacked Finegan’s waiting troops.  Sending a brigade towards the Confederate fortifications, they would suffer severe losses.  With the momentum on the side of Finegan’s Confederates, Seymour was forced to send in his reserves.  They would also be turned back.  The battle raged most of the afternoon, with the Federals finally retreating, all the way to Jacksonville.  Unfortunately, for the Confederates, Finegan did not pursue the fleeing Union army.  Seymour suffered 1861 casualties (34%), with 203 being killed outright.  The Confederates suffered 946 casualties (19%),with 93 soldiers being killed.  While compared to large scale conflicts, the casualties do not appear excessive.  However, with a 26% overall casualty rate it was indeed significant.

Aftermath:
The Federal strategy, of securing enough loyalty oaths, was unsuccessful.  Indeed, the the Federal government questioned it’s overall strategy in Florida.  The result was that Florida would continue to be controlled by the Confederacy for the remainder of the war.

¹ The Battle of Olustee on Wikipedia, was used to research this article.

1821

• US Major General Francis P. Blair, Jr.¹ is born, in Lexington, Kentucky.  The son of Francis Preston Blair, a well connected politician, that was in President Andrew Jackson’s “Kitchen Cabinet.”  Blair would attend school in the Washington, D.C. area and would graduate from Princeton, in 1841.  After studying law, at Transylvania University, he would move to St. Louis, Missouri to practice law.  He would serve in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1852–1856 and would be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1856, where he would serve two terms.  With the outbreak of the Civil War, Blair would resign his congressional seat to become a colonel, in the army.  He was promoted brigadier general in August 1862, and major general in November 1862.  Blair would command a division at Vicksburg, and Chattanooga.  During US Major General William T. Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, he would move to corps command, and would stay with Sherman’s army through the Carolinas Campaign.  After the Civil War, Blair, discontent with the Republican stance on reconstruction, would run for vice president, as a Democrat, in 1868.  He would lose.  In 1871, the Missouri state legislature would elect him a U.S. Senator.  Blair would die on July 8, 1875, in St. Louis, Missouri, after battling partial paralysis.

1861

• President elect, Abraham Lincoln, would arrive in New York City, on his way to Washington D.C., for his inauguration.  He would be greeted by over 250,000 well wishers.

¹ BattlefieldPortraits.com and Francis P. Blair, Jr. at Wikipedia, were used to research this article.

1817

• CS Brigadier General Lewis A. Armistead is born, New Bern, NC.  He would attend West Point, but would not graduate – due to an alleged feud with another future Confederate general, Jubal Early.  With the outbreak of the Civil War, Armistead would be commissioned colonel of the 57^th Virginia Infantry.  In the spring of 1862, Armistead would be promoted brigadier general.  He would command in many of the largest battles in the eastern theater: Peninsula Campaign, Seven Days, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.  Armistead would be killed, during CS Major General George E. Pickett’s Charge, at Gettysburg.  Friends with US Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, Armistead would die within a few yards of his friend.

The 14^th New Jersey Infantry¹ regiment was organized at Camp Vredenburg, New Jersey, during the summer of 1862.  They would be mustered into Federal service on August 26, 1862.  They were commanded by US Colonel William S. Truex, through the battles at Petersburg.  They would arrive in Baltimore, Maryland on September 2, 1862, and be assigned to the defenses there.  The 14^th would be assigned to the Third Separate Brigade of the VIII Corps of the Middle Department.  They would be assigned to protect the railroad bridges, and other key infrastructure, of the upper Potomac, through June 1863.  The regiment would be sent, with William French’s Division of VIII Corps to pursue CS General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, in his retreat from Gettysburg.

Assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division of the III Corps, in July 1863, the 14^th New Jersey would participate in several key engagements in northern Virginia, including the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.  In March 1864, they would be assigned to First Brigade (US Brigadier General William H. Morris), Third Division (US Brigadier General James B. Ricketts) of the VI Corps (US Major General John Sedgwick).  They would participate in US Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign including the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna and Cold Harbor.  With the VI Corps, they would participate in the early actions around Petersburg, including the battle at Jerusalem Plank Road.

Rickett’s Third Division would be detached, from the Army of the Potomac, on July 6, to the Washington D.C. defenses.  This move was precipitated by CS Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s 1864 Shenandoah Campaign, which had crossed the Potomac and threatened Washington D.C.

On July 9, 1864, the 14^th New Jersey would provide its most valuable service.  With Rickett’s Division attached to the command of US Major General Lew Wallace, they would fight the battle of Monocacy.  Facing significantly larger numbers, the Federal forces would hold Early’s Army of the Valley, in check, along the Monocacy River, during the day of July 9.  The 14^th New Jersey would engage in a fighting retreat, towards the defenses of Washington, DC.  While viewed as a Confederate victory, it was an operational success for Lew Wallace’s Federals, keeping Early away from the Washington defenses long enough for additional VI Corps reinforcements to arrive.  During the fighting, at Monocacy, the 14^th New Jersey would suffer 140 casualties, for a casualty rate of 40%.

The 14^th New Jersey would be involved with the pursuit of Jubal Early’s Valley Army when Early retired to the Shenandoah Valley.  With the entire VI Corps now taking part, the pursuit would be slow and ponderous.  Grant, desiring to have Early’s army destroyed, detached CS Major General Phil Sheridan to the Shenandoah Valley, to command the Middle District.  Sheridan would waste little time, attacking Early at Winchester, in the Battle of the Opequon.  While this battle, also called Third Winchester, was not very well managed by Sheridan, it would be a Federal victory that would ignite patriotism in the north, and in combination with US Major General William T. Sherman’s capture of Atlanta, would ensure Lincoln’s re-election in November 1864. 

Sheridan would continue to ravage Early’s army, with a significant victory at Fisher’s Hill, that would push Early to the passes of the Shenandoah Mountains.  Commencing a campaign, of destruction, in the valley, Sheridan, along with the 14^th New Jersey would burn the majority of the lower Shenandoah Valley. 

Needing reinforcements, Early would receive a fresh division, and an additional cavalry brigade, from the defenses of Petersburg.  With his reinforced army, Early would go on the offensive on October 19, attacking the Federal forces north of Strasburg, Virginia, near Cedar Creek.  Caught off guard, with Sheridan not present, the Confederates would push the VIII and XIX Corps back into Wright’s VI Corps.  Sheridan on his way back, from Winchester, would arrive in time to organize a brutal counterattack, decimating Early’s army, once and for all.  The Shenandoah Valley was, for the remainder of the war, a Federal stronghold.

In December 1864, the 14^th New Jersey Infantry would return, with the VI Corps, to Petersburg.  They would stay with the Army of the Potomac, through Lee’s surrender, of the Army of Northern Virginia, at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.  Their last formal duty would be to participate in the Grand Review of the Armies, in Washington D.C., on June 8.  They would be mustered out of Federal service on June 18, 1865 near Washington, D.C.  The 14^th New Jersey would suffer 257 casualties during the Civil War.

 ¹ 14th New Jersey Volunteers, the Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System and BattlefieldPortraits.com were used to research this article.

1824

• US Major General William F. “Baldy” Smith¹ is born, in St. Albans, Vermont.  Smith, an 1845 graduate, of West Point, was assigned to the topographical engineer corps.  He would be involved in surveying around the Great Lakes, Texas, Arizona, Florida and in Mexico.  Prior to the Civil War, he would teach mathematics at West Point.  With the outbreak of sectional hostilities, he would be made captain, and would serve on the staff of US Major General Irvin McDowell.  In August 1861, he would be appointed brigadier general, after recruiting the 1^st Vermont Brigade.  He would serve during the Seven Days, and would be appointed major general on July 4, 1862.  Smith would be in charge of a division, during the Maryland Campaign, and bravely commanded at Antietam.  With the promotion of US Major General William B. Franklin, to command of a Grand Wing, during the Fredericksburg Campaign, Smith would command the VI Corps.  After Fredericksburg, he would be involved in the back channel scandal, to remove US Major General Ambrose Burnside from command.  While he would stay in the army, he would not be confirmed major general and would revert to brigadier general volunteers.  Smith would be assigned command of a division of Pennsylvania militia and would be serving in that capacity during the Gettysburg Campaign.  With his raw militia, Smith was able to repel an attack, by CS Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  After Gettysburg, Smith would lead his division, in the pursuit of CS General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, to the Potomac River.  In early October 1863, he would be assigned as chief engineer of the Army of the Cumberland.  This would prove fortuitous for Smith, as the Army of the Cumberland would come under the control of US Major General Ulysses S. Grant, when he was assigned as military commander of the Department of the Mississippi.  With the armies bottled up at Chattanooga, Smith would use his engineering expertise to open the “Cracker Line,” to supply the armies.  This would earn Grant’s respect, and with Grant’s star rising, that would be a good thing.  In March 1864, based on Grant’s recommendation, Lincoln would nominate, and the senate would confirm Smith’s promotion to major general of volunteers.  After Grant was promoted lieutenant general, and moved east, he brought Smith with him, placing him in command of the XVIII Corps.  This corps would be part of the Army of the James, commanded by US Major General Benjamin Butler.  The Army of the James, as part of Grant’s overall strategy for 1864, was to push towards Richmond, while US Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac pushed south towards Richmond.  Unfortunately, Butler, and Smith, would not enjoy good relations and the efforts would prove disappointing as they would be bottled up in the Bermuda Hundred.  Prior to Cold Harbor, Grant would send Butler, to the Tidewater region and would have Smith’s XVIII Corps join the Army of the Potomac, in their attempts to flank Robert E. Lee.  Smith’s corps would perform well.  After disengaging from Lee, after Cold Harbor, Grant would cross the James River, in an effort to get below Lee – cutting his communications and supplies.  Smith’s corps would arrive, outside Petersburg, and would be ordered by Grant to take the city.  Smith, always cautious took his time reconnoitering the area, missing an opportunity to sack the small garrison, commanded by CS General P.G.T. Beauregard.  Grant, upset with Smith’s “tentative” actions would have him relieved of command of the XVIII Corps.  Officially, Smith was sent north on “special duty.”  Smith would resign from the Federal service in 1867.  After the Civil War he would be president of the International Telegraph Company, president of the Board of Police Commissioners in New York City and perform engineering work in Philadelphia.  He would die in 1903 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

1865

• US Major General William T. Sherman ransacks Columbia, South Carolina.  After spending a month, in Augusta, Georgia, Sherman sets his armies in motion.  Planning to move through the Carolinas, to combine forces with US Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, Sherman sets out through the state that fired on Fort Sumter, and was first to secede.  Upon entering Columbia, it was claimed that portions of Sherman’s troops were intoxicated.  They would set fires that would destroy approximately 2/3 of the city.  Sherman claimed that the secessionist population set the fires as they fled his approaching army.  Many Federal soldiers would help fight the raging fires.

¹ BattlefieldPortraits.com, and William Farrar Smith at Wikipedia, were used to research this article.

Today, is the 147^th anniversary of the Confederate capitulation of Fort Donelson¹.  This battle would mark the rising of one star, US Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and the falling of two other stars, CS Brigadier Generals John B. Floyd, and Gideon J. Pillow.

The capture of Fort Donelson, part of an overall operational plan, that U.S. Grant envisioned, in December 1861, would allow the United States to control two of the most important rivers in the Confederacy: the Tennessee and Cumberland.  The Tennessee opened the deep south, reaching into southern Tennessee, Alabama and eastern Tennessee.  Controlling the Cumberland River exposed the capitol of Tennessee – Nashville.  Grant would accomplish the first part of his operational plan by capturing Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, on February 6.  In a battle that was largely fought by Federal gunboats, the flooded fort, with a small garrison would surrender without a significant fight.  Fortunately, for the Confederacy, the commander, CS Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman would send most of his garrison to Floyd, and Pillow, at Fort Donelson.

After capturing Fort Henry, Grant next set his sights on capturing the larger Fort Donelson.  He planned on using similar tactics to defeat this fort – an infantry assault east, towards Fort Donelson, coordinated with a massive naval bombardment by Rear Admiral Andrew H. Foote’s gunboats.  The battles for Fort Donelson would actually begin, on February 12, when Grant’s infantry, and artillery would start pushing east, from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson.  Grant would arrive on the 12^th after skirmishing with CS Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry.  Meanwhile, Foote would arrive downstream, of the fort, with the USS Carondelet, which fired several large rounds into the fort, testing it defensive capacity.  On the 13^th, other small, unauthorized Federal movements would take place.  However, the biggest news was the change in weather conditions.  That night a winter storm blew in, dropping temperature into the teens, and single digits.  By the morning of the 14^th there were 3–4 inches of fresh snow on the ground.  The soldiers were miserable.  Due to their proximity, to the Confederate works, the Federal commanders forbade campfires, due to incessant sharpshooter fire.

The 14^th brought significant Federal reinforcements.  With the arrival Foote’s entire gunboat fleet, and US Brigadier General Lew Wallace’s division, from Fort Henry, U.S. Grant was able to extend his lines, from Lick Creek on the north, to the south of the fort.  The Federal divisions (deployed left to right) were commanded by US Brigadier Generals Charles F. Smith, Lew Wallace and John McClernand. 

The atmosphere in the fort, was very tense.  During a council of war, early morning, on the 14^th, Floyd determined to abandon the fort.  He would use Gideon Pillow’s troops to open an escape route, to the north.  With his troops prepared, on the morning of the 14^th, Pillow would lose his nerve, postponing his break out attempt.  This enraged Floyd who was becoming more concerned about being captured by the larger Federal force.

With the arrival of Foote’s entire fleet, Grant urged him to bombard the fort, weakening it for an infantry attack.  Foote concerned that a proper recognizance had not been completed, followed Grant’s suggestion.  Moving his fleet towards the fort, they opened fire.  The Confederates, with large sea fort guns, were able to wreck havoc on Foote’s fleet.  Foote’s flagship, the USS St. Louis would be disabled, along with USS Louisville and USS Pittsburg.  Foote would be injured, along with 52 other naval casualties (eight of which were killed).  He would have to remove his fleet several miles down river, for repairs.

On February 15^th, the Confederate break out attempt occurred.  Pillow, early in the morning, would launch an assault against the Federal right flank, commanded by John McClernand.  While not a total surprise, to the Union foot soldiers, as they could hear activity in their front, U.S. Grant would be surprised.  Expecting the Rebels to hold to their defensive position, Grant was making plans for his offensive and was caught off guard.  When the attack started, Grant would be several miles down river discussing his tactical plan with Foote.  The Confederate assault would initially be successful, with Pillow pushing McClernand’s poorly positioned division out of the way.  The plan was for CS Brigadier General Simon B. Buckner to move in, along the Wynn’s Ferry Road, and act as a rear guard, while the rest of the army escaped.  They would leave one regiment, the 30^th Tennessee, in the trenches to prevent a rapid Federal pursuit.  McClernand recognizing his division had been flanked, requested the adjacent division, of Lew Wallace, to support him.  While concerned about sending assistance, due to Grant’s order forbidding a general engagement, he would finally give in, sending a single brigade commanded by Colonel Charles Cruft.  When Cruft arrived, he too realized the position had been flanked.  The Confederates, lacking organization were not able to take advantage of the disorganized Yankees.  Several tentative attacks against McClernand’s division were repulsed.  They would settle into defensive positions along the Wynn’s Ferry Ferry Road, protecting the gains they had fought for.

U.S. Grant, finally learning there was a general engagement, mounted his horse and galloped seven miles back, over icy roads, to Lew Wallace’s headquarters.  He was aghast at what he saw.  McClernand’s division was all but taken out of the fight, and Wallace’s division was in jeopardy of being rolled up.  Grant, cool as ever, ordered the position on the right, to be re-taken.  He also recognized by the Confederate soldiers knapsacks, that they were taking significant rations with them – a sign they did not want to fight - but escape.  Grant knew that he needed to attack, and attack first.

It was at this time, Pillow made a crucial mistake.  Believing his troops needed to resupply, and reorganize, he ordered them back to their trenches.  Floyd, upset with Pillow’s decision, and believing that C.F. Smith, on his right, was reinforcing, ordered all the troops back into the fort, giving up all the ground they had fought so hard to gain.  Grant saw the opportunity, and immediately ordered Smith to attack the entrenched enemy.  Smith was able to capture the outer works held by the lone 30th Tennessee.  The counter attacks by the Confederates would fail to push Smith’s regiments from the outer works.  Swiftly, Grant would send two brigades, from the right, one from each division.  The attacks were successful, and before nightfall, the Union had pushed the Confederates back to their original positions.

At a Confederate council of war, Buckner convinced Floyd, and Pillow, that they could not hold out during a full scale Federal attack, expected the next morning.  At this point, Floyd, and Pillow, realizing they might be captured, determined to sneak out.  Successively, Floyd passed command to Pillow who in turn, passed it to Buckner.  They made their escape, overnight.  Nathan Bedford Forrest, not content to surrender his cavalry, fought his way out, along Wynn’s Ferry Road, saving his entire cavalry command.

Overnight, Grant making plans for his next moves, would receive a letter from Buckner, asking what terms of capitulation Grant would offer.  The letter, being originally received by Brigadier General Charles Smith, would be passed to Grant, stating, “no terms to the Rebels.”  Grant would quickly reply to Buckner, in a letter that would make him a celebrity in the north, “Sir: Yours of this date proposing Armistice, and appointment of Commissioners, to settle terms of capitulation just received.  No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.  I propose to move immediately upon your works.  Your obt. sevt., U.S. Grant, Brigadier General.”  Buckner, an old friend of Grant, would call his terms, “ungenerous and unchivalrous,” but agreed to surrender his forces.  Meeting later that morning, at the Dover Hotel, Grant would receive Buckner’s surrender including 12,000+ troops and 48 artillery pieces.

Aftermath:

U.S. Grant would become known as “Unconditional Surrender” Grant and would receive cigars, and other presents from an admiring northern populace.  With the fall of Forts Henry, and Donelson, CS General Albert Sidney Johnston’s line of operations, stretching from the Cumberland Gap, in the east, to Columbus, Kentucky, in the west, would become untenable.  He would remove his armies to the area of Corinth, Mississippi, leaving Kentucky, and most of Tennessee, including Nashville, in possession of the Federal government.

¹ BattlefieldPortraits.com, and Fort Donelson at Wikipedia were used to research this article.