Showing results for "John Bell Hood"
“I want the American flag!”—Manning Force and the Battle of Atlanta
Conclusion of a two-part series After their hard fight the previous day, the men of Manning Force’s brigade still had a lot of work to do when they awoke on Friday, July 22. They had slept amongst the casualties from the day before and there had only been a few scattered thunderstorms to breakup the […]
Read more...Death of an Army Commander
150 years ago today at 11 AM, the U.S. Army lost its first-ever Army Commander to die at the head of his troops, Major General James B. McPherson of the Army of the Tennessee. General McPherson grew up in Ohio and graduated first in the Class of 1853 at West Point. Classmates included John M. […]
Read more...“Did great honor to themselves and the cause for which they fought”—Manning Force and the fight for Bald Hill
Part one of a two-part series Resaca, Pickett’s Mill, Kolb’s Farm, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain—a road of bloody encounters that all led to here. Numerous battles that paved the way to the Gateway to the South: Atlanta. With its convergence of railroads in the center of the city, Atlanta was vital to both Federal and Confederate […]
Read more...Today is the Day
July 17, 1864. Davis had had it. He had given Confederate Joseph E. Johnston every chance possible. He had sent General Braxton Bragg down to Atlanta to personally check out the situation of the Army of Tennessee, he had thought everything over carefully–an unusual tactic for Davis, who was known to hire and fire on […]
Read more...The Road to Atlanta: Bragg’s Bittersweet Visit
On July 13th, 1864, Braxton Bragg arrived in Atlanta on a grim mission, one that might suit his grim appearance. Bragg’s mission was to confer with Joseph E. Johnston and determine what his plan was to defend Atlanta—if there even was one. That evening, after meeting with Johnston, Bragg telegraph President Jefferson Davis that there […]
Read more...The Kennesaw Line: The Battle of Kolb Farm
The line defensive line that Joe Johnston established beneath the shadow of Kennesaw Mountain presented Sherman with the largest obstacle he had yet faced in his drive to Atlanta, and he noted that it was “unusually strong.” Johnston’s right flank was anchored on Noonday Creek and his center rested along the lower slopes of Big […]
Read more...U.S. Grant and the Shadow of Cold Harbor
At 4:30 a.m. on the morning of June 3, 1864, the II, VI and XVIII Corps commenced their assault on the Confederate line at Cold Harbor. One New Yorker recalled, “as soon as the skirmishers were engaged, our artillery opened upon the rebel works, and the conflict now commenced in earnest. Amid the deafening volleys […]
Read more...Lee’s Overland Engineer: Maj. Gen. Martin Luther Smith
History buffs can only name a handful of personalities from the Civil War that seem present at many important events. One man that finds himself involved in widespread actions is Confederate engineer Martin Luther Smith. Smith played a crucial role in both the western and eastern theaters. A native New Yorker, Smith graduated West Point […]
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