Skirmishes and Union Capture of Tunnel Hill Pass, Feb. 1864; Deplorable Condition of First Brigade Cavalry Horses; Lack of Forage

On February 24, 1864, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Inspector-General, R. O. Selfridge, writes to Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Fullerton, Assistant Adjutant-General, from Headquarters of the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, (U.S.) at Madisonville (Tennessee) some reports on activities near Loudon (Tennessee). In that correspondence, he also mentions the deplorable condition of Col. (Archibald P.) Campbell's First Brigade Cavalry, for want of forage for their horses. The men, also, had been without clothing and supplies, but he does mention that some arrived "last night." He complains of lax discipline, as well.

"The First Brigade, Colonel Campbell, which has been on the Citico Creek, 6 miles above Motley's, marched yesterday to a point 5 miles south of this place, and is now there. This is the only part of the command that I have yet seen, and it is in sufficiently deplorable condition. The men are in good condition physically, but much in need of clothing, which I was glad to see arrive last night. But the horses are reduced to almost the last stage, and unless forage can be speedily procured, the entire command must be speedily dismounted. The horses, besides being starved, are sore-backed, sore-footed, and presently a sorry sight. Discipline is lax, and the whole command seems loose and unserviceable. It will want a terrible deal of pains to make it effective again. Of about 900 men for duty, 300 are dismounted."

O.R., Vol. 32, Pt. 2 (Correspondence, Etc.), pages 457-458
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152633/m1/457/

Below that, on the same page, is Major-General Gordon Granger's endorsement of Selfridge's assessment. Granger writes from Headquarters of U.S. Forces at Loudon (Tennessee), on February 25, 1864, to General Commanding Department Headquarters:

"I cannot see the possibility of longer subsisting our cavalry upon the country, as nearly every nook and corner is exhausted of forage and subsistence. The only means of keeping it alive is by bringing supplies by the cars and boat. About seven cars per day are required to maintain the cavalry along the railroad between this and Charleston [Tennessee]. Unless this is attended to at once we will be minus cavalry within three weeks."

                                                         G. Granger
                                                         Major-General, Commanding

O.R., Vol. 32, Pt. 2 (Correspondence, Etc.), page 458
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152633/m1/458/


Just one day before that, General Thomas had written to General Grant of skirmishes at Tunnel Hill, near Dalton, Georgia. The correspondence is dated Chattanooga, Feb. 24, 1864, 4 a.m., and says, "Reports from the front just received." Thomas goes on to say that his skirmishers drove the enemy for four miles "through Tunnel Hill on the double-quick." He says

"Colonel Long went within 3 1/2 miles of Dalton, and drove a regiment of infantry out of winter quarters. Our main force camped within 3 miles of Tunnel Hill last night, and will be on the road to Dalton to-morrow night."

At 10 a.m., General Grant responded to General Thomas

"Your dispatch received. Push the enemy as far as possible. If unable to carry Dalton, keep, at any rate, a heavy force threatening it, so as to hold all the enemy there. Sherman's safety may be dependent upon your efforts. Should you drive the enemy out of Dalton, follow him as far as possible. If you have sufficiently recovered your health, I would like to have you go out to the front in person, if only to see the situation of affairs and return."

                                                                  U.S. Grant,
                                                                  Major-General

At 9 p.m. on the 24th, General Thomas writes back that "we have just gained possession of Tunnel Hill pass; small loss." He then goes on to report on a dispatch from McCook concerning cavalry actions near Murphy, N.C. Further miscellaneous correspondence on page 459 and subsequent pages give a few more details about Dalton.

O.R., Vol. 32, Pt. 2 (Correspondence, Etc.), pages 458-459
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152633/m1/458/

Report of Major General Thomas in Senate Documents (1864 - 1865)

Report of Major General Thomasin Senate Documents, Volume 209, page 364

(Part IV Begins, and Thomas's Report Begins)

Report is dated January 20, 1865, Eastport, Mississippi,
and covers September 7, 1864, to January 20, 1865.

Report of Major General Thomas (Link)

https://books.google.com/books?id=PfNYAAAAcAAJ&lpg=RA2-PA233&ots=H2AcTBHEFf&dq=Maj.%20Gen.%20Steedman%2C%20with%20two%20regiments%20of%20white%20and%20six%20companies%20of%20colored%20troops%20arrived%20in%20Dalton&pg=RA2-PA364#v=onepage&q&f=false

Seward, General Thomas' Scout (mention); Red Clay, Georgia, May 1864

This is just my internal note on some references I'm trying to track down. Among other things, I'm looking for references for a scout of staff member, "Seward," who was under General Thomas. This is not Secretary of State, Seward; it's just a scout or department official under Thomas. I'm not sure of all the facts below, either. My comments are from memory.

____________________________________

Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 38, Pt. 4, Correspondence, etc., pg. 47, Schofield to Sherman, Red Clay, Ga., May 6, 1864.

"Red Clay, Ga., May 6, 1864.
"Major-General Sherman, Ringgold:
  "Your dispatch is received. I will be ready to move to-morrow morning. Could move to-day if necessary. It will take several days to repair the railroad here, but I can get along until it is done. I have frequent communication with Howard.
  "General Thomas' man Seward says Polk's corps gone to Rome.
            "J. M. Schofield,
               "Major-General.

OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 38, Pt. 4, pg. 47

"Howard" would be Gen. Oliver O. Howard. During or after the siege of Chattanooga, and after the slaughter of Federal mules in the supply train at Anderson's Crossroads on Walden Ridge by rebels about October 2, 1863, O. O. Howard, of the XI Corps, Army of the Potomac, was called in as an added reinforcement, to prevent future losses. The letter above is about seven months later, about the time the Federal Army leaves Cleveland, Tennessee, to move South on the Atlanta Campaign. [He is by then commanding the Fourth Corps, Army of the Cumberland, or Dept. of the Cumberland.]

"Thomas' man, Seward" is mentioned. One reference is specific to story. Another reference to Seward shows that it could be a different person than mentioned in story... I don't have the other specific reference to Seward, but I think it was in some correspondence after the Battle of Chickamauga; just not sure!

Oliver O. Howard Reference:

FOURTH ARMY CORPS: OLIVER O. HOWARD
Headquartered at Cleveland, Tennessee, and nearby Blue Springs, Tennessee.
Partial extract of: Official Records, Ser. 1, Vol. 32, Pt. 3, 551.
(from earlier post) http://musescivilwar.blogspot.com/2016/08/fourth-army-corps-oliver-o-howard_22.html

First Battle of Dalton: Official Records, Volume 32 (various parts)

First Battle of Dalton, Late February 1864

Various Bits of Correspondence from O.R., Series 1, Volume 32 (Parts 1-3)

Chapter 44, "Demonstration on Dalton, Ga." 

About February 20, the Federals started down toward Dalton, Georgia, in force. There were three columns of Federal troops, moving from Ringgold, Georgia; Red Clay, Georgia; and Charleston, Tennessee. This was after the Chattanooga Campaign, around the beginning of The Atlanta Campaign (with some correspondence, just before the "official" beginning of the Atlanta Campaign).

This is a quick post of my file, without page links. Find links to O.R. volume at bottom of this post!

Correspondence about two weeks before the movement shows that Grant hoped to take Dalton:

[General Ulysses S. Grant to General George H. Thomas]: 

“Should you not be required to go into East Tennessee, could you not make a formidable reconnaissance toward Dalton, and, if successful in driving the enemy out, occupy that place and complete the railroad up to it this winter?”

from:

O.R., Series 1,  Vol. 32, Pt. 2 (Corresp.), 373.

Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891.

Chapter 44, "Demonstration on Dalton, Ga."

[Next, on the same page, is this correspondence from Schofield, as to the possibility of pushing Longstreet out of East Tennessee. He advises waiting until spring.]

[QUOTE]:

Knoxville, Feb. 12, 1864--1:30 p.m.
Major-General Thomas, Chattanooga:
   It is not practicable to move this army with artillery and wagon transportation before spring, and then the railroad will have to be relied on chiefly. The infantry might be supplied by a train of pack-mules from this place if forage for the mules can be brought here by rail until the railroad can be opened to any new position we may obtain.
   With 10,000 additional infantry I believe I would be strong enough without artillery to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee. I can have the pack train here by the 1st of March. If you can give me 10,000 infantry, and supply me here with provisions and forage, I am willing to undertake the rest.
   My opinion is, however, that it would be wiser to wait until spring, but am willing to leave by the 1st of March, if time is deemed of sufficient importance.
   I have telegraphed substantially the above to Major-General Grant.
J. M. Schofield,
   Major-General, Commanding.

[END QUOTE]
________


 [Thomas to Grant, Chattanooga, February 12, 1864]. 

"I think an advance on Dalton would be successful, if you will let me have the division of Logan during the movement." (pg. 373)

______

 [Grant to Thomas, Nashville, February 12, 1864--3.20 p.m.]:

 "Logan's troops started yesterday morning. If I decide not to make the move at present into East Tennessee, I will send them back, unless you require them to aid in advance on Dalton." (pg. 373)

Above is from: O.R., Series 1,  Vol. 32, Pt. 2 (Corresp.), 373.

NEXT PAGE...

On page 374, Schofield writes to Grant explaining what would be needed to move against Longstreet. Grant replies (Feb. 12):

"No movement will be made against Longstreet at present. Give your men and animals all the rest you can preparatory for early operations in the spring. Furlough all the veterans you deem it prudent to let go." (p.374)

  from: O.R., Series 1,  Vol. 32, Pt. 2 (Corresp.), 374.

After the fact, Sherman (and probably Grant, as well), hem-hawed around and rewrote the story to say, Well, shucks, it was just a little old demonstration, never meant to try to take Dalton; and besides (they say), it was Thomas's idea... ;-)
______________________________

RELATED, FROM OTHER VOLUMES:

O.R., Series 1, Vol. 32, Pt. 1 (Reports).
Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891.
Chapter 44, "Demonstration on Dalton, Ga."

(p.449, on 22 Feb. 1864):
Gen. Thos. says, "Cruft occupies Red Clay, and has pushed a reconn. twd. Varnell's Station.

(p.449, 23 Feb. 1864, Tunnel Hill, Ga.) Whipple reports to Thomas: "Reconn. to Tunnel Hill completed. Enemy retreating before our skirmishers. About 400 cavalry, no infantry; on battery of artillery. Main position of our force between Ringgold Gap and ridge 3 miles this side of Tunnel Hill.
   Loss 1 sgt, killed, & 4 or 5 wounded. "Rebel works and quarters at Tunnel Hill abandoned."

Chapter 44, "Demonstration on Dalton, Ga."

Col. Thomas E. Champion, 96th Illinois Infantry, cmdg. Second Brigade, writes from "In the Field, near Stone Church, February 27, 1864. Reports that on Mond. 22nd, he left camp @ Blue Springs, Tenn., & (w/3rd Brig.) went on reconn. to Red Clay. Stayed till 23rd. Marched to Tiger Creek, on the rd. to Catoosa Platform, arrived that night. On Wed. 24th: returned to Lee's house. Proceeded to Tunnel Hill on a reconn., returned to Lee's. ON THURS., LEFT CAMP, together w/Col. Dickerson's brigade, 15th Army Corps, 3 a.m., > Dalton. "Arriving within about 2 1/2 miles of Buzzard Roost Gap, we found the cavalry under Colonel Long skirmishing with the enemy in the direction of the gap." [I formed brigade into 2 lines, w/Grose's brig. on rt. & Dickerson's in rsv. Advanced, driving enemy 1 1/2 mi., dislodging him from a densely wooded ridge. (Problems/delays w/right forming--is 14th corps, so we halted on hill to avoid being flanked). Lay entire day, surrounded by heavy force. Lost 36. Took 10 pris. Enemy loss d.k. Thinks "greater than ours." Left 11 pm > Lee's, stayed till 26th. Proceeded to Tunnel Hill, remained till 9 pm, returned to Stone Church near Catoosa Platform.
Remained till 1 pm on 27th, then mched to Blue Springs @ 12m. [Thos. E. Champion, Col., cmdg Brigade] (pp. 430-431).
---------
(p.450, on 23 Feb. 1864, Tunnel Hill, Ga.) Whipple informs Thos. that "Colonel Long reports on Spring Place road, 3 1/2 miles from Dalton; drove one infantry regiment out of their quarters; captured 12 prisoners. He thinks the enemy is leaving Dalton."(p.450) (3-1/2 has "1/2" as superscript, no space or hyphen)

(p.450, 24 Feb. 1864, Thomas to Palmer: "If you succeed in driving the enemy from Dalton, send back all the wagons you can spare at once..."


(p.450)[24 Feb. Whipple to Thos.]: "Some fighting this evening on the Cleveland road, where Grose is."

24 Feb. 1864

Long's cavalry, as an advance force, met rebels 3 1/2 miles W of Dalton (infantry & cavalry).  Wm. Grose, 36th Indiana Infantry, w/small force, was in support.

Long drove enemy cavalry 2 miles, then met (what citizens called) "Stewart's division of infantry in sight of and at the railroad." Grose advanced his infantry, checked & held back enemy at 1 mile from RR till night, then drew back to Widow Burke's Farm, 3 miles from the HQ of the Third Brigade, First Div., 4th Army Corps (loc. unstated), leaving Col. Long & 1 regt. of infantry "2 miles to our front." Don't believe it's a lg. force of rebels, "but too much for our small force." Double our force could have gained the RR & held it. "The enemy used no artillery. We fired 5 rounds. ... (p.431-432, from Col. Wm. Grose, 36th Indiana Infantry, cmdg. Third Brigade, to ___)


[In another report, Grose thinks they could have taken Dalton w/another 10,000 men on our left.](p.434)

"Many of the men were almost without shoes, and yet without a murmur of complaint they marched four nights and every day of the seven while on this trip." (O.H.P. Carey, Lt. Col., Comdg., Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteers)(p.441, "Report of Lieut. Col. Oliver H. P. Carey, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry."
   --Blue Springs, March 1, 1864. (p.440-441)

D.W. Norton, Major & Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, wrote from Chattanooga, by order of Maj. Gen. J. M. Palmer, on 1 March 1864. He congratulated them on their offensive reconn twd. Tunnel Hill & Dalton, but complained that some stragglers and skirkers had caused some "wanton destruction of property" among peaceable citizens near the action.

-------------------------

(p.470, 23 Feb. 1864, "At Cross-Roads of Benton and Dalton Road and Varnell's Station and King's Lower Bridge Road, 6 Miles Southeast of Varnell's Station and 9-1/2 Miles from Dalton, February 23, 1864--1.25 p.m."

Long, at 11.30 this a.m., "attacked and drove out of their camp at least a regiment of rebel infantry, 3-1/2 miles this side of Dalton. They had winter quarters (log-huts), and as they were completely surprised they had not time to move any plunder out of their huts, and from their appearance and the small amount of plunder in them I believe they were preparing to leave. The cars were whistling furiously while the skirmish was going on. I have not force enough to cope single-handed with all of their cavalry, but I think you may advance with safety if you can still keep your supports, Palmer's troops, &c., within supporting distance. I believe they are leaving the place, and they should not be allowed to do "[so]" undisturbed. I shall be compelled to go somewhere to get some forage. Please let me hear.... I shall either wait here or move up on the road to Varnell's Station until I hear from you."
... Eli Long, Colonel, Commanding. (p.470)

(p.470)
"Hdqrs. Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division,
Varnell's Station, February 24, 1864--8 a. m.
"Sir: I have just arrived here. Will push down the dirt road that runs alongside of the railroad as far toward Dalton as practicable. I believe there are some rebel cavalry on the main Cleveland and Dalton road. I will be compelled to go back to the Connesauga or somewhere else to-morrow unless I have better luck in foraging to-day than I did yesterday. Please to forward a copy of this to General Palmer. A brigade of infantry was encamped where we had the skirmish yesterday. I have met nothing this morning. Let me know your location by the bearer.
"Very respectfully....
"Eli Long, Colonel, Commmanding Brigade." [to Maj. W. H. Sinclair, Assistant Adjutant-General."] [They all seem to be reporting to Sinclair]

NEXT, p.471, he writes "On Road from Dalton to Varnell's Station, Just East of Tunnel Mountain, Feb. 24, 1864--2 p.m.
He has driven in w/1 squadr. of infantry pickets on the dirt and rail roads 3 miles from Dalton, & am now in line w/pickets skirm.g. in front. [Rebs have infantry on all roads]. I am now 5 miles from Dalton & [won't] go further until I hear further from you & result of your reconn." (Eli Long) He sends a company to remain on picket at Varnell's Stat. to watch the Cleveland and Dalton road that goes down on the other side of the RR.

He runs into lg. infantry cantoment 3 miles +/- from Dalton; runs out again. (Left Dalton).

----
(p.471) 25 Feb. (Ammo nearly exhausted): I have my command near a gap road wh. runs thru the ridge on your left, w/pickets down the RR some qtr. of a mile. "Nothing can come through the gap without my knowing, and I think this is the only road between here and Dalton through which a force can get on your flank or rear, and as my ammunition is nearly exhausted I will reman here until further orders.
"Respectfully,
"Eli Long, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry.
[to Gen. Cruft]
---

(p.471) 25 Feb. 1864--4.15 o'clock.

"General: The fire has just driven me out of the woods on the ridge that I was occupying. I still have a picket on the road in the gap, however. A few minutes since about 40 infantry skirmishers moved up on our right, advancing toward your lines. The rebel lines, I think, extend farther east than yours. At any rate, they came to the foot of the ridge I have been occupying, and I think there may be some danger of their lapping you on your left unless your lines extend completely across the valley in which your left rested this morning. Please let me know for my guidance where your left now is. Cannot your quartermaster send me some forage? Your commissary would not deliver me any rations on Captain Kniffin's order, which please find inclosed with note of commissary.
"Respe... Eli Long, Colonel, Comdg. Second Brig., Second Cav. Div.
"Brigadier-General Cruft,
   Commanding Division.
  "P.S.--The rebel cavalry pickets are in sight in our front. Please indorse Captain Kniffin's order, so that I can get the rations." "E.L."
----------[next, on p.472, is the report about having left Calhoun w/600 men...camped at Mr. Waterhouse, on Connesauga River, about 30 miles south of Calhoun. (Feb. 27, 1864, reporting from near Lee's House, Ga.)
__________________________________

CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF DALTON. JOHNSTON WAS WORRIED ABOUT A FEDERAL TROOP MOVEMENT TOWARD MOBILE, ALABAMA:

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 2 (Corresp., etc.), 729.

-----------------------

Full citation by Google:

Title: The War of the Rebellion: v.1-53 [serial no. 1-111] Formal reports, both Union and Confederate, of the first seizures of United States property in the southern states, and of all military operations in the field, with the correspondence, orders and returns relating specially thereto. 1880-1898. 111v.
Contributors: United States. War Records Office, United States. Record and Pension Office

Publ.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1891
Digitized: 6 Jul. 2011.

[From Cover Page]: 
Series 1, Vol. 32, Pt. 1--Reports."
Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891.

Links to Official Records, Volume 32
I don't have specific page links at moment, but here are links to the volume:

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 1 (Reports).
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152618/

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 2 (Correspondence, etc.).
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152633/

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, etc.).
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/

Courtesy of Texas University

Fourth Army Corps: Oliver O. Howard, Commanding. HQ at Cleveland and Blue Springs, Tennessee, April 30, 1864.

Organization of Oliver O. Howard's Fourth Army Corps, April 30, 1864 (as one of the corps in the Department of the Cumberland, under Major-General George H. Thomas).

After the Battles of Chattanooga in November 1863, Union troops came into the mountains around East Tennessee. Colonel Eli Long and various divisions had set up camp in Charleston and Calhoun, Tennessee, in December 1863, later moving down to Cleveland. According to Myra Inman (from her published diary), O.O. Howard's troops were camped near Cleveland on December 13, 1863.

(William R. Snell, ed., Myra Inman: A Diary of the Civil War in East Tennessee, (1859-1866), (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2000), 234.

These next references are later, in the spring of 1864. In Official Records, it shows that some of the brigades were headquartered at Cleveland, Tennessee, and some were headquartered at nearby Blue Springs, Tennessee. This is not the same Blue Springs, Tennessee, that is in Greene County (now called Mosheim). This area was a community near Cleveland, Tennessee, known as a mineral spring or watering place. It is identified in O.R. as being between Cleveland, Tennessee, and Dalton, Georgia:

"One division (Stanley's), Fourth Corps, is stationed at Blue Springs (5 miles in advance of Cleveland, on the railroad between that place and Dalton) and at Ooltewah."

Quoted from:
Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, In Three Parts. Part 3, Correspondence, etc., 90. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/99/

FOURTH ARMY CORPS: OLIVER O. HOWARD
Headquartered at Cleveland, Tennessee, and nearby Blue Springs, Tennessee.
Partial extract of: Official Records, Ser. 1, Vol. 32, Pt. 3, 551.

FIRST DIVISION, COMMANDED BY DAVID S. STANLEY
Headquartered at Cleveland and Blue Springs, Tennessee.

First Brigade (Cleveland, Tennessee), commanded by Brigadier General Charles Cruft.

Second Brigade (Blue Springs, Tennessee), commanded by Walter C. Whitaker.

Third Brigade (Blue Springs, Tennessee), commanded by William Grose.

Artillery (Blue Springs, Tennessee), commanded by Captain Peter Simonson.


SECOND DIVISION, COMMANDED BY JOHN NEWTON
Headquartered at Cleveland, Tennessee.

First Brigade (Cleveland, Tennessee), commanded by Col. Francis T. Sherman.

Second Brigade (Cleveland, Tennessee), commanded by Gen. George D. Wagner.
 
The above divisions consist of various regiments from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, a few of which are on furlough or just returned from furlough. These are listed specifically under the division headings. Refer to source for complete listing.

O.R., Ser. 1, Vol. 32, Pt. 3, 551.

Source Citation:

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, etc.), 551.

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 32, In Three Parts. Part 3, Correspondence, etc. 

In 1864, The Fourth Army Corps (Oliver O. Howard, commanding) is under General George H. Thomas in the Department of the Cumberland.

Citation for 1863 Southeastern Tennessee Information Map:

United States Army. Department Of The Cumberland. Topographical Engineers. [Information map: Southeastern Tennessee]. [Chattanooga: Topographical Engineer Office, Head qrs., Army of the Cumberland, 1863] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2006635115/. (Accessed August 22, 2016.)

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 32, In Three Parts. Part 3, Correspondence, etc.

Cavalry Horses in Bad Shape, Hard to Get New, Trained Horses (links)

Starting a quick list of references to the state of the U.S. cavalry's horses in 1864.

Sherman suggests using some dismounted cavalry.

Nashville, April 6, 1864
Sherman mentions the difficulty of getting horses; suggests mounting the best men and using the remaining cavalry as dismounted cavalry.

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3, (271-272, Sherman to Thomas), 272.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/281/

________________________________

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3, 406-407.

Suggestion for Solving Cavalry's Horse Problem
Grierson to Thomas, April 18, 1864.
Suggestion for setting price for northern horses and impressing horses if citizens won't accept the price. Mount all men in unit or else dismount and train them as infantry.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/415/

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 32, In Three Parts. Part 3, Correspondence, etc.

Sherman Gives Control of Army to Thomas. Wants Furloughed Vets to Return, April 1864

Sherman Gives Control of Army to Thomas. Wants Furloughed Vets to Return

Sherman Gives Control of Army to Thomas
Hdqrs. Military Division of the Mississippi, Nashville, April 6, 1864.

Sherman to Thomas (Comdg. Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga):

 (Army will) "retain control over our furloughed veterans."
"I have ordered, through the State authorities, all absentees to come forward at once, or at furthest at the expiration of their furloughs. I have also sent forward to General Schofield a division of 5,000 infantry (Hovey's), which once at or near Hiwassee will enable you to draw below that river all of the Fourth Corps heretofore detached. These changes simply give you the absolute control of the Army of the Cumberland proper, in a shape that will enable you to handle and control it perfectly."

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, etc.), 271-272.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/280/

________________________________________

Men Protest Suspension of Furlough; Offer to Reenlist if Furloughed.

Men protest the army's plan to retain control over furloughed veterans (not allowing reenlisting veterans to furlough). Men say they will reenlist if they can get the furlough.

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3, 60.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/69/?q=furlough________________________________________

RELATED: FURLOUGH, STATE OF CAVALRY; OTHER CORRESPONDENCE

Condition of Cavalry, Furloughs, and Horse Problems
Grierson to Thomas, April 18, 1864.
Eight regiments under Grierson's command have furloughed. Suggestion for setting price for northern horses and impressing horses if citizens won't accept the price. Mount all men in unit or else dismount and train them as infantry.

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3, 406-407.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/415/


The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 32, In Three Parts. Part 3, Correspondence, etc.

____________________________________

Special Field Orders 93, HQ, Dept. of the Cumberland, April 2, 1864 - Organization of the Cavalry. Ed McCook - partial list, link to full

Reorganization, Army of the Cumberland by General Thomas
April 1, 1864 (communicated April 2, 1864).

Special Field Orders 93
Headquarters, Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, April 2, 1864

VIII. The following is announced as the organization of the cavalry of this department, to take effect April 1, 1864:
    First Division, Col. Edward M. McCook, commanding:
    First Brigade: Second Michigan Cavalry, First Tennessee Cavalry, Eighth Iowa Cavalry.
 
    [etc., others are named]

(By order of Gen. George H. Thomas, through staff)

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, etc.), 238.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/247/

Edward M. McCook: Nomination to Brigadier, April 1864

Edward M. McCook's nomination to brigadier had come from the War Department in April. Reference: 2 April 1864, Letter from Edwin M. Stanton, War Department, Washington, to Maj.-Gen. Sherman. 

"General Grant's return is expected to-morrow. Colonel Hatch, of Iowa, and Colonel Edward M. McCook, are nominated for brigadiers."

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, etc.), 220.

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/229/

Governor Andrew Johnson (Tennessee) wants General Thomas to command (not Sherman).

Governor Andrew Johnson wants President Abraham Lincoln to Put General George H. Thomas in charge of the Department of the Cumberland.

Letter from Andrew Johnson, Governor of Tennessee, to Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. March 21, 1864.

Letter from Andrew Johnson

[BEGIN QUOTE]:
Louisville, Ky., March 21, 1864.
(Received 6 p. m.)
His Excellency President Lincoln:
      The Department of the Cumberland ought to be placed under the command of Major-General Thomas, receiving his instructions and orders directly from Washington.
      I feel satisfied from what I know and hear that placing the command of the department under General Sherman, over Thomas, will produce disappointment in the public mind and impair the public service.
      General Thomas has the confidence of the army and the people, and will discharge his duty, as he has from the commencement of the rebellion. He will, in my opinion, if permitted, be one of the great generals of the war, if not the greatest. I will be in Nashville to-morrow and will dispatch you again.
ANDREW JOHNSON,
Governor of Tennessee.
[END QUOTE]

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, Etc.--Union), 105.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/114/

Related: Among other things, Sherman called off a scheduled raid into East Tennessee in November 1861, leaving loyal East Tennesseans without support.

Thomas: Lack of Cavalry and Inability to Support More, March 1864

General Thomas: Lack of Cavalry and Inability to Support More, March 1864

Thomas to Sherman, HQ, Dept. of the Ohio, Knoxville, Tenn., March 30, 1864:

"My lack of cavalry and inability to support more makes it the more necessary for me to be superior to the enemy in infantry."

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 32, Part 3 (Correspondence, etc.), 96.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152650/m1/105/

Grant Placed in Command of Mil. Div. of Miss. Rosecrans, U.S. Vols, Relieved of Command. Thomas Assigned to Cmd. Dept. and Army of the Cumberland.

Grant Placed in Command of the Military Division of the Mississippi. Rosecrans Relieved of Command

General Orders no. 337, October 16, 1863
Placing Grant in Command and Relieving Rosecrans of Command

[QUOTE]:
General Orders, No. 337. }

     War Department
Adjutant-General's Office,
    Washington, October 16, 1863.

   I. By direction of the President of the United States the Departments of the Ohio, of the Cumberland, and of the Tennessee will constitute the Military Division of the Mississippi.
   II. Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. Army, is placed in command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, headquarters in the field.
   III. Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, U. S. Volunteers, is relieved from the command of the Department and Army of the Cumberland. Maj. Gen. G. H. Thomas is hereby assigned to that command.
   By order of the Secretary of War:
    E. D. Townsend,
  Assistant Adjutant-General.
[END QUOTE]
[Page 404]

LINK TO PAGE 404, VIA GOOGLE BOOKS

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 30, Part 4, page 404.
Short URL: http://bit.ly/OR_s1-vol30-pt4-pg404-Gen-Orders-no-337-Grant-in-cmd
(via Google Books)

Official Records, Series I, Volume XXX, Part IV.
Bibliographic information, per Google:

Title: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, United States. War Records Office
Authors: United States. War Dept, Henry Martyn Lazelle, Leslie J. Perry
Editors: Robert Nicholson Scott, George Breckenridge Davis, Frederick Crayton Ainsworth, Joseph William Kirkley
Compiled by: Calvin Duvall Cowles
Contributors: United States. Record and pension office, Moodey, John Sheldon, United States. War Records Office
Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1890
Original from: Harvard University
Digitized: Jan 8, 2009

FULL URL: 
https://books.google.com/books?id=VMA9AAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA404&ots=tNCRNEntC3&dq=general.%20orders%20no.%20337%20washington%2C%20oct.%2016%2C%201863&pg=PA404#v=onepage&q&f=false

Related post (this blog):
General Thomas to assume command. Rosecrans to turn over all papers...

General Thomas to Command Army of the Cumberland, w/Ref to Rosecrans Being Relieved

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 30, Part 4, page 455

Major-General Thomas to Assume Command, Dept. of the Cumberland

[BEGIN QUOTE]:
Special Orders, No. 1} Hdqrs. Division of the Mississippi,
Louisville, October 18, 1863.
  Major-General Rosecrans having been relieved from command of the Department of the Cumberland by direction of the President of the United States, per General Orders, No. 337, of October 16, 1863, Major-General Thomas is hereby assigned to the command and will at once assume its duties. General Rosecrans will turn over all books, papers, maps, and other property pertaining to the command to Major-General Thomas. All staff officers, except the aides-de-camp authorized by law now on duty with General Rosecrans, will report to General Thomas for assignment as soon as relieved. General Rosecrans will proceed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and report to the Adjutant-General of the Army by letter for orders.
  By order of Major-General Grant:
Ely S. Parker,
  Assistant Adjutant-General.
[END QUOTE]
[p.455]

http://bit.ly/OR-s1-vol30-pt4-p455-Spec-Ord1-Thomas-to-command
PAGE 455, VIA GOOGLE BOOKS
____________________

ALSO SEE:
Same correspondence (above) in Additions and Corrections to Volume 31 (p.669):

http://bit.ly/ORaddns-s1v31-viaGoogle-SpecOrd-1-Gen-Thomas-to-cmd

Additions and Corrections to:
Series I, Volume XXXI
(To be inserted in the volume, For explanation see General Index volume, Serial No. 130, page XXVIII.)
http://bit.ly/ORaddns-s1v31-viaGoogle-SpecOrd-1-Gen-Thomas-to-cmd

Additions and Corrections to:
Series 1, Volume 31
(To be inserted in the volume, For explanation see General Index volume, Serial No. 130, page 28.)

From: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union ... - United States. War Dept, Henry Martyn Lazelle, Leslie J. Perry - Google Books. Additions and Corrections to Volume 31.

Related post (this blog):
Grant Placed in Command of Division of the Mississippi. Rosecrans, of U.S. Volunteers, Relieved of Command. Thomas Assigned to Command.
________________________________________

LONG URL: https://books.google.com/books?id=Q9cUAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA669&ots=AUgikyKCm_&dq=official%20record%20war%20of%20the%20rebellion%20and%20rosecrans%20relieved%20of%20command&pg=PA669#v=onepage&q=official%20record%20war%20of%20the%20rebellion%20and%20rosecrans%20relieved%20of%20command&f=false

Report of General George H. Thomas: Laiboldt attacked, Dec. 28, 1863

Report of General George H. Thomas: Laiboldt attacked, Dec. 28, 1863:

Quick link to Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 31, Pt. 1 (Reports), Report of General George Thomas concerning the attack on Colonel Bernard Laiboldt's wagon train near the camp of Colonel Eli Long, at Charleston, Tennessee, on the morning of December 28, 1863. The wagon train full of supplies was en route to Knoxville, Tennessee, taking a round-about route through the mountains near Cleveland, Tennessee, when Laiboldt stopped to camp. Eli Long's unit (and related units) were camped at several little towns northeast of Cleveland: Charleston-on-the-Hiwassee, Calhoun, Tennessee (where Lieutenant-Colonel Henry A. Potter camped, per his own correspondence), and Columbia, Tennessee, where (I believe) some of the Ohio companies were camped. Long's camp is sometimes reported as Calhoun, and sometimes, as Charleston, which was north of and across the railroad bridge (over the Hiwassee River) from Calhoun. Col. Eli Long's own report shows that his headquarters was at Calhoun. In the official reports, Long was at Calhoun when Laiboldt was attacked on the other side of the bridge at Charleston.

General George Thomas, Report No. 1, December 28, 1863
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152578/m1/654/

In previous correspondence Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Fullerton, Assistant Adjutant General, had written to General Gordon Granger concerning [Laiboldt's] wagon train and its contents. See my post of today: J.S. Fullerton post.
http://musescivilwar.blogspot.com/2016/08/js-fullerton-asst-adj-gen-army-of.html

Ref.: Colonel Bernard Laiboldt, Second Missouri, "commanding a demi-brigade in Sheridan's Division."
Citation: Richard A. Baumgartner and Larry Strayer, Echoes of Battle: The Struggle for Chattanooga (Huntington: Blue Acorn Press, 1996), 366.
(Print book, no link).

________

Fact: Bernard Laiboldt, German-American, born in Grand Duchy of Baden, 1827. Immigrated to U.S.A., 1833. Resided: St. Louis.

Source Citation: 
David A. Powell, The Chickamauga Campaign - Glory or the Grave: The Breakthrough, the Union Collapse, and the Defense of Horseshoe Ridge, September 20, 1863, (Google Preview), (El Dorado Hills: Savas Beatie, 2015), 181.
https://books.google.com/books?id=07LWCgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA181&ots=D_0MQvHDt-&dq=laiboldt%20and%20german&pg=PA181#v=onepage&q=laiboldt%20and%20german&f=false

Map and Links to More about Laiboldt

MAP

Charleston and Calhoun, Tennessee - detail, labeled of 'Mountain region of North Carolina and Tennessee' map; A.D. Bache, U.S. Coastal Survey, 1865, Library of Congress Geography & Map Division, Washington, D.C.

The map above shows Charleston, Tennessee, south of and across the Hiwassee River from Calhoun, Tennessee (my labels in blue). Laiboldt was attacked on December 28, 1863, in his temporary camp at Charleston during a trip to deliver army supplies to Knoxville. The red line shows a railroad route, making a triangular area between Cleveland, Chattanooga, and Dalton. The Tennessee River is west of Chattanooga. Walden's Ridge (northwest of Chattanooga) was a difficult mountain route used by the Army of the Cumberland during the seige of Chattanooga. There in the Sequatchie Valley, at Anderson's Crossroads, the Rebels had attacked a wagon train on October 2, 1863, almost three months before this after-Christmas raid on Laiboldt. South of Chattanooga is McLamore Cove, where some of the army camped in September 1863, while crossing Lookout Mountain.

Notice that the map shows a pike running from Charleston, Tennessee, south to Spring Place, Georgia; in my opinion, it is probably greatly simplified, especially just southeast of Charleston, as several areas of it would have to run across some mountains.

Source Citation: A.D. Bache, "Mountain region of North Carolina and Tennessee" (Map, detail of, with labels added), (W.L. Nicholson, A. Lindenkohl, Henry Lindenkohl, and Charles G. Krebs, contributors), United States Coast Survey (A.D. Bache, Supt., 1865), Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. (Washington: U.S. Coast Survey, 1865).

Related posts, this blog:

Colonel Bernard Laiboldt Report
Colonel Bernard Laiboldt Report - Wheeler's attack on Laiboldt's wagon train, Dec. 28, 1863
http://musescivilwar.blogspot.com/2016/08/colonel-bernard-laiboldt-report_18.html

Report of J.S. Fullerton (mentions Laiboldt)
Report of J.S. Fullerton, Asst. Adj.-Gen., Army of the Cumberland
He summarizes the contents of Laiboldt's wagon train, December 1863
http://musescivilwar.blogspot.com/2016/08/js-fullerton-asst-adj-gen-army-of.html

Sherman to Thomas (Correspondence, April 1864) Organization of Army. Furloughed Veterans Recalled.

Correspondence of William T. Sherman to George H. Thomas, April 1864: Organization of the Army of the Cumberland, with Discussions of Cavalry (Furloughed Veterans Recalled) and Corps (Plans for Placement of Three Wings, Cleveland, Chattanooga, and Stevenson):

On April 6, 1864, Major-General William T. Sherman writes from Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi, to Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, Comdg. Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, advising him of changes in Thomas's command. Furloughed veterans are retained. Hovey's Division of 5,000 infantry will move to the Hiwassee River, relieving the previously detached Fourth Corps. Thomas will have complete control of the army. His left will be Cleveland [Tennessee], his Center will be Chattanooga, and his right will be Stevenson [Alabama]. He discusses communication routes (Nashville to Columbia [Tenn.]). Reserve mounted-cavalry positions for the best men.

Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 32, Pt. 3 (Correspondence, Etc.--Union), Chp. 44, 271-272 (Sherman to Thomas, Nashville, 6 April 1864).

http://bit.ly/OR_1-32-3-Sherman-to-Thomas-1864-army-organization