12/26/2024
Interesting information today. I have begun reading "Three Years With Grant" by Silvius Cadwalladr, and much of the first two chapters is of the same period.
December 21 1862 (Sunday)
In Trenton, Tennessee, Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry brigade burns the depot and remaining supplies, including “about 600 bales of cotton, 200 barrels of pork, and a large lot of tobacco,” before heading in the direction of Union City. On the way, “two companies of Federals” including Colonel Thomas J. Kinney’s 119th Illinois, are captured at Rutherford Station. As his riders approach Union City, Forrest finds that Lieutenant-Colonel Nathan D. Collins [C.S.], “protecting Federal prisoners from Trenton," has requested a flag of truce from the Union post commander. Ignoring this, Forrest demands an immediate surrender and is surprised when his request is answered by a civilian sutler. Captain Samuel B. Logan, 54th Illinois, reports, "My men needing my attention for a moment I sent Sutler R.W. Jones to meet the flag.... Deeming it to be extreme folly to fight so unequal a force I surrendered my command of 94 men."
In Oxford, Mississippi, U.S. Grant orders James B. McPherson, commanding the Right Wing of his army, to fall back “to the north bank” of the Tallahatchie River until he can “determine our further course.” While Grant ponders his next move, William T. Sherman continues to press forward with his Expeditionary Force down the Mississippi River. He reports: "By tomorrow morning my whole command will be embarked and under way.... I will be at [the] mouth of the Yazoo [by] Christmas."
Knowing that Confederate forces in Middle Tennessee have been weakened by the detachment of one full infantry division and two cavalry regiments, John A. Wharton, commanding a cavalry brigade in Nolensville, becomes alarmed when Union Department of the Cumberland commander William S. Rosecrans begins to concentrate his 80,000-man army "on the Nashville side of the [Cumberland] river," only twenty miles away.
Other U.S. activity reported on this date:
1. Congress (U.S.) authorizes naval personnel to be eligible to win the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award.
2. W.W. Averell leads a reconnaissance toward Warrenton (VA) and reports he "could find no enemy.”
3. Unhappy with the performance of Col. J.K. Mizner, 3d Mich. Cav., U.S. Grant orders him to turn over command “to the officer next in rank.” He writes, “[I] feel insecure with you in command.”
4. Col. L.P. Di Cesnola, 4th N.Y. Cav., leads a reconnaissance from Stafford Court-House to Kellysville (VA). After receiving “a strong fire of musketry from rebel infantry," he returns to camp.
5. Lt. Col. J. Stuart, 10th Ill. Cav., leads three cavalry detachments to Huntsville (AR) and reports, “I caught 15 stragglers...and paroled them.”
6. Two privates from the 4th Penn. Cav. return from a scout to Catlett's Station, Greenwich, Bristoe, and Brentsville and report they "saw no rebel soldiers.”
7. A rebel deserter from J.H. Morgan's cavalry arrives in Gallatin (TN) and reports “they were going into Kentucky, to cut the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.”
Other C.S. activity reported on this date:
1. President Davis (C.S.) request T.H. Holmes to send reinforcements from the Trans-Mississippi Dept. to Vicksburg (MS). "You should re-enforce General [J.E. Johnston] so as to enable you successfully to meet the enemy."
2. In Grenada (MS), S. Price is ordered to have his corps “put in readiness to move at once to Vicksburg."
3. B. Bragg discontinues “the practice of subordinate officers publishing orders, &c., in newspapers.” He explains, “Valuable information…has been thus conveyed to the enemy.”
4. J.B. Magruder asks Gov. Lubbock (TX) to “call out at once all the militia which the state can possible arm.”
5. Skirmishes occur at Davis’ Mill (MS); on the Wilson Creek Pike near Brentwood (TN); and at Strasburg (VA).
Living History Storyteller as President or General US Grant, but other historical characters are portrayed in the topics presented from time to time.
