Grey Revolution Redux

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Chapter 47: Battle of Shepardsville
On February 27, 1862 McClellan’s Army of the Ohio numbering 60,000 troops of all types engaged von Moltke’s Army of Central Kentucky of around 48,000. The Confederate forces were entrenched on high ground, but lacked the number of artillery to harass the Union’s advance. McClellan sent forward two divisions under Major Generals Don Carlos Buell & John Fitz-Porter; while a third division under Brigadier Lew Wallace began a wide arch to find the Confederate’s left flank.
The Confederates armed with there bolt action rifles laid in a terrible fire causing great casualties in the Union ranks. It wasn’t until Wallace struck the flank along Major General Braxton Bragg’s Corp that began to unravel the Confederate position.

Brigadier Lew Wallace’s flanking attack won the day at Shepardsville

Bragg informed Moltke of the impending unraveling of their defensive position, and that’s when Moltke order his only reserve under Brigadier Daniel Ruggles Division to try and stabilize the line. Ruggles division paid dearly as the General himself paid with his life, but the attack did halt Wallace from exploiting his gains. After hours of fighting Moltke ordered a withdrawal. Brigadier Patton Anderson now in command of Ruggles Division cover the withdrawal.

Ruggles Charge saved the day and the general paid with his life.

 

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Chapter 48: Beginning of Total Mobilization
During the Winter of 1861-62 once President Quitman had secured his six-year term at the urging of Vice-President Bismarck and Secretary of War Roon a law for Conscription was urged upon by the administration. Using militia was no way to combat a modern war, and this war was becoming more modern every day. Already bolt action rifles would dominate both major armies of the Confederacy. Secretary Mallory talked of an under water submerged vessel to sink the new developing Union blockade.
So when debate began on a draft to do away with the militia system and call forth a professional standing army many of the old fire-eaters attacked The president and his cabinet. Cries were made against the German-influenced President, and called for a return of former Vice-President Toombs. Things soon became even hotter in debate when an amendment to allow slave owners a way out of serving. Many in Congress now called it a “rich man’s war and a poor mans death” . Tennessee Senator Andrew Johnson soon rallied against the slaveocracy that was stopping the CSA from achieving greatness. Virginia Senator Edmund Ruffin would come short of calling Johnson an abolitionist.

The Ruffin-Johnson debates were critical for the passage of the 1862 Conscription Act.
Eventually the more State’s Right/Anti-Administration members of Congress were able to delay passage; while word of Confederate victories out west would initially bolster their arguments, generals in the field begged the war department for more soldiers for the duration of the war

 

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Chapter 49: Burnside’ Carolina Adventure
With the western forces under McClellan’s guardianship gaining momentum the eastern forces found themselves under Major General Irving McDowell still sitting back much to the ire of the politicians in Washington.McDowell has won the campaign for Baltimore, but now faced adversaries in Joseph E. Johnston and Robert E. Lee. McDowell commanded the Army of the Potomac, and had strategic oversight over Major General Ambrose Burnsides “Coastal Division” and his planned invasion of the North Carolina coastline.
On February10, 1862 Union naval forces entered the Pamlico Sound. Initially Burnsides was able to capture Roanoke Island from Confederate forces, but Union gunboats took heavy damage as Brigadier General Gabriel Rains, the head of the Department of Torpedo, deployed to great effect underwater torpedo that caused get damage to Union gunboats.
From Roanoke Island Burnside was able to capture the vital port city of New Bern before a Confederate effort couple be cobbled together to stop Burnside.
Burnside fortified his position on Roanoke Island, and New Bern as the new Confederate commander in the area Major General Bernard E. Bee arrived from Richmond with reinforcements to halt Burnside’s campaign.The fighting in North Carolina would be marginal for the rest of the year as both Confederate and Union forces in the area would be drawn northward.

Union forces storm Confederate positions on Roanoke Island

 

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Chapter 50: McDowell Advances
Major General Irving McDowell was given command of all Union troops operating from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains by President Chase. After Burnside’s capture of New Bern McDowell planned his second operation and that was a drive into the Shenandoah Valley. In early March Union forces under Major General Erasmus Keyes pushed out from their positions around Harpers Ferry. Keyes had under his command a total of six divisions. At Charlestown Major General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and his division of four brigade met Keyes head on. Jackson knew he was outnumbered but had orders to delay Keyes as long as possible. Jackson’s troops were armed with bolt action rifles and was able to hold out, but withdrew once ordered to Winchester where Lee had prepared a dug in position. Jackson was deployed on Lee’s right flank. Lee had finally brought together his scattered forces which barely numbered 14,000 now had to fight twice that number.
On March 15, 1862 Union troops belonging Colonel Nathan Kimball began the first Battle of Winchester. Seeing the formidable defenses Keyes planned to keep Lee fixed on his center part of his defenses situated on Camp Hill while Kimball took two brigades and assaulted Bower’s Hill. Unfortunately for Lee the troops assigned to protect his left flank belonged to a single brigade of Virginians under Brigadier John B. Floyd the former US Secretary of War under Douglass. Floyd was under the command of Major General Robert Garnett.
Seeing Union troop’s massing to assault his position Floyd took the opportunity to flee the battlefield as he was afraid of falling into Union hands as he was considered a traitor in the eyes of the north. Seeing their commander leaving the battlefield the rest of the brigade began to flee. When Garnett seeing what was unfolding ordered Floyd arrested and took personal control of the situation, but was killed during the early part of the battle when an artillery shell exploded near him killing him instantly. Command of the division would have turned to Floyd but he had by now fled the battlefield. It was Floyd’s second in command Colonel Henry Heath who rallied, and saved Lee’s army from being routed and annihilate. Lee would be grateful to Heath, and consider him an extension of his family for the rest of his life.
Ironically Floyd would be captured by troops under the command of John Brown. Brown would pronounce sentence of treason upon Floyd and hang him in the town square of Winchester. When word of this reached Keyes he tried to have Brown arrested, but by now Brown had a considerable following and refused to allow himself to be arrested. The issue of John Brown wearing Yankee blue uniform would be a constant issue for both sides in this conflict.

 

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Chapter 51: John Floyd’s Revenge
On March 18th under a flag of truce the body of Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd was escort over to Confederate lines. General Keyes wrote a letter to General Lee stating that Floyd’s death was not sanctioned, and that he greatly regretted Brigadier General John Brown’s action.
Lee responded to Keyes since they were both former Army officers and thanked him for the return of the body. Lee also asked as to why Brown was not in chains awaiting trial. There was no recorded reply.
Lee forwarded Floyd’s body and the correspondences to Richmond and Secretary of War von Roon.
The Confederate response was of shock and horror. Civilians and politicians were terrified of what the masses under John Brown were capable of. Enlistments increased, and soldiers as well as civilians knew what was at stake…the very survival of the Southern Way of Life.
On March 22, 1862 John B. Floyd was was given a state funeral. Politicians and local officers attended as well as 5,000 Richmond inhabitants paid their respects at the state capital. Following the funeral Secretary of State James Mason dispatched correspondences to take up the cause of John Floyd in the capitals of Europe. At the same time Director Judah Benjamin of the Secret Service created pamphlets depicting the “ Murder of General John Floyd” and distributed them to his agents working up north.

 

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Chapter 52: Decision in Northern Virginia
With Union armies moving all around him General Joseph E. Johnson had two options stand and fight at his Centerville defenses, or retreat. After a council of war with his top commanders it was decided to begin the process of withdrawing to behind the Rappahannock River. With his decision made Johnson informed Richmond, and advised that
Lee's army as well as Beauregard's army join forces and deal with one prong of the Union advances.
Instead of reinforcements Richmond sent Major General Gabriel Rains, the head of the Torpedo and Mine Department.
Gabriel Rains was a West Point graduate who had served in the Seminole War, Mexican American War and various Indian skirmishes. After developing the first ever land mine in 1840 during the Seminole War many of the old army brass had frowned upon Rains work, but with this new kind of warfare Rains particular invention was now being put to work.
Arriving with dozens of wagons filled with what future generations would call anti-personnel mines. Rains along with his dozen enlisted men, and free men of color that worked for the department began to deploy mines at all along the Centerville area. For over a week Rains and his men laid traps for the Union army, and as McDowell's troops began to occupy Confederate positions explosions rocked the Union army. As the Union army occupied the fortification and capture supplies that were camouflage as mines these would explode at different times causing disruption within the Union ranks, and bought precious time for Johnson's army. As many old time Army officers would comment “This war has become a very ungentlemanly war.”

 

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Chapter 53: Opening Phase of the Rappahannock Campaign
By May Johnston had his army dug in from Fredericksburg along the various fords crossing the Rappahannock River. To help communicate the Union troop movements the Confederate Signal Corp under, a young German nobleman, Captain Ferdinand von Zeppelin lined aerial balloons equipped with telegraph and signal flags to report troop movements.
Johnston’s forces had by now been reinforced with Beauregard’s and Lee’s forces bringing his total troop strength up to 98,000 troops. Under pressure from Washington McDowell was being forced to push past Johnston’s troops and push toward Richmond. With reinforcements arriving daily McDowell committed himself to crossing the Rappahannock River.
On June 1, 1862 Union troops of the Fifth Corp under Major General William Franklin began the battle of Kelly’s Ford. Seeing the buildup of troops and supplies von Zeppelin messaged Major General James Longstreet who commanded the section at Kelly Ford what came next was nothing less of a slaughter. In the span of three hours of fighting Franklin lost over 2,000 killed and over 1700 wounded from his Corp. McDowell unmoved ordered probing measures along the whole Rappahannock. Seeing the strength at Kelly’s Ford McDowell now ordered an attack in the middle of Johnston’s defenses at Ely’s Ford. On June 3rd elements of Major Generals Charles Stone’s Second Corp and David Hunter’s Sixth Corp began a two day battle against Confederate forces under Brigadier General David R. Jones. Jones division was dislodged by elements of the Union’s Sixth Corp under Brigadier Joseph Hooker. The breakout hoped for by Hooker never materialized as his Corp commander failed to properly support Hooker earning the ire from his division commander. Luckily for Johnston Longstreet sent troops from his command under Brigadier George Pickett to help bolster the defense and eventual reclaiming the lost ground.

 

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Chapter 54: Battle of Belmont
Following the defeat at Mayfield General Jefferson Davis was forced to abandon most of Western Kentucky except for Columbus, Kentucky that thankfully with the help of Confederate engineers was soon dubbed the “Gibraltar of the West”. Unfortunately for Davis Major General Gideon Pillow commanded the defenses of that city. Pillow was under strict orders from Davis to hold out at all costs as the main portion of the Army of Mississippi withdrew to Forts Donelson & Moltke (otl Fort Henry but built on higher ground and better position).
By early March Union forces in n Missouri received a new commander in Major General Henry Halleck, as Fremont was call back to Washington for reassignment after the debacle of Springfield. Halleck’s responsibility called for him to subdue Missouri and protect and assist the Army of the Mississippi drive down the Mississippi River. This was made possible once Halleck put Major General John Pope in command of Union field armies in Missouri. Pope was able to reinforce Brigadier General Samuel Curtis Army of the Southwest while Pope himself with 12,000 troops attacked the Confederate garrison at Belmont, Missouri protecting the city of Columbus left flank. On April 1, 1862 Pope launched a series of attacks on the fortifications at Belmont. Pillow by this time had his focus on the land approaches and didn’t realize the importance of Belmont until it was too late.
Pillow’s second in command Brigadier Lloyd Tilghman commanded at Belmont and sent repeated requests for reinforcements, but was forced in the end to abandon Belmont to Pope. Instead of reporting back to Columbus and Pillow Tilghman took transports to Fort Moltke, and reported to General Davis.
Davis became infuriated with Pillow and had him placed under arrest and charges brought against him. Davis now ordered Columbus evacuated.

 

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Chapter 55: Rappahannock Campaign
After failing to gain a foothold over the Rappahannock River McDowell pleaded for more reinforcements from Washington. Seeing that Burnside’s invasion of North Carolina failed to draw substantial troops from Virginia Burnside’s 9th Corp was sent to reinforce McDowell as well as another 10,000 fresh conscripts made up of immigrants fleeing the persecution of the nativist state governments in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
By this time in many of the major cities of the Union immigrants were seen as the enemy and had to prove their loyalty to the government. Work was scarce and many immigrants joined the military to be used as cannon fodder to support their families back home.
By mid June McDowell had an army of 135,000 verses Johnston’s combined force of 96,000. Knowing that McDowell held the initiative Johnston decided to take it away from him. On June 30th after a night of meeting with Lee, Beauregard, and their corp commanders Johnston proposed a daring plan. Lee with his two corps of Jackson and Thomas would outflank McDowell and using the Shenandoah Valley and get into his supply line so both sides could maneuver. The goal was to destroy The Army of the Potomac’s supply base and force McDowell to abandon their camps along the Rappahannock.
Informants had arrived from Washington saying that President Chase planned to sack McDowell and replace with Burnside. Johnston who had been fortifying most of northern Virginia for months now feared an assault against Richmond from the south.
Lee was instructed to take six divisions under Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and George Thomas and cut McDowell’s supply line and threaten Washington.
On July 2nd lead elements of Jackson’s Corp engaged Union troops under Brigadier Rufus King at Cedar Mountain routing the division and capturing some 500 prisoners. Lee’s troops now spearheaded by Jackson’s troops followed the Blue Ridge Mountains until they reached Thoroughfare Gap astride the Bill Run Mountains. The question that now plagued Lee’s mind was did McDowell know of Lee’s movement?

 

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Chapter 56: Second Manassas July 4-5
On the morning of July 4th troops under Major General Edward Johnson’s Kanawha Division swooped down upon the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction capturing the small garrison before the alarm could be sounded. Within an hour after capturing the station a locomotive came upon the station and seeing southern troops swarming over the station the conductor threw the engine in reverse and speed toward Alexandria to warn the local authorities.
After the troops indulge in taking what they wanted for themselves Lee ordered his cavalry chief Brigadier General Turner Ashby to put the supply depot to the torch. Lee now took he troops to the old battlefield of Manassas and concealed his troops behind an old unfinished railroad cut below Stony Ridge.
Lee’s surprise move caught McDowell and Washington’s authorities off guard. During the night of July 4-5th telegrams and messages were being frantically sent throughout Northern Virginia. McDowell tried to assure Washington that only some cavalry or some partisans had raided the area. It wasn’t until President Chase ordered McDowell to abandon the Rappahannock line and defend the capital did the commander of the Army of the Potomac comply.

Lee for his part had found an excellent defensive position. The heavy woods allowed the Confederate troops to keep themselves concealed while maintaining a position to watch the Warrenton Pike. Also available to Lee was a good avenue to retreat through the Bull Run Mountains if needed. Lee had also sent secret messages with code words to Johnston asking for reinforcements. Jackson’s Corp used the night and morning of the 5th to turn the railroad cut into entrenchments while Thomas Corp remained concealed awaiting developments.

 

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Chapter 57: Second Manassas July 5-6th
It was the Washington Garrison that responded first of Lee’s capture of Manassas as Brigadier Samuel Sturgis was dispatched with four regiments to investigate. Almost immediately Sturgis reported that at least a division had committed the raid as the trail of discarded goods could be seen.
McDowell for his part had pulled his forces from the Rappahannock and was marching using the day of the 5th to arrive at Manassas Junction.
On the morning of the 6th seeing the division of Brigadier Abner Doubleday marching along the Warrenton Turnpike Jackson sent Richard Ewell’s division to attack. After unleashing a deadly barrage of artillery Ewell sent his brigade of Louisianans under Brigadier Richard Taylor. Using the rebel yell Taylor’s Louisiana crashed into Doubleday’s regiments scattering hundreds of Union soldiers.

Taylor’s Louisianan's charging toward Doubleday’s Division

After the initial shock of Taylor’s charge Doubleday rallied his remaining troops from his division and sent couriers to inform his commanders that he found the Confederates. Doubleday’s commander Major General David Hunter brought the remained of his corp and now started to engage Ewell’s division.
After the initial engagement Ewell withdrew to his fortifications upon Stony Ridge. Here during the early part of the battle where Ewell was severely wounded when a mini ball shattered his left leg.
By midday Hunter now reinforced with two fresh divisions assaulted the unfinished railroad cut. Jackson had his divisions arrayed from left to right ( Johnson, Winder, and Ewell now under Brigadier Alexander Lawton). By now McDowell’s simple plan of attack was frontal attack. As brigade after brigade was sent forward Jackson’s troops absorbed the attack and would counterattack driving back any gains. By nightfall Jackson reported to Lee that his corp had sustained heavy casualties especially within his officer corp. Along with Ewell’s wounding was Edward Johnson being wounded, and the commander of the Stonewall Division Charles Winder being killed.
During the night Lee dispatched Lt Gen. George Thomas’ Corp to descend Stony Ridge, and prepared to take the offensive. Lee just hoped McDowell would remain on the battlefield for him to deliver the next phase of his plan.

Troops from Jackson’s Corp repelling a Union advance along the railroad cut

 

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Chapter 58: Second Manassas July 7th
Around midnight Lee called for meeting of his senior commanders in attendance were Jackson, Thomas, as well as their divisional commanders. A message from Johnston promised that James Longstreet was following the rear of McDowell’s army, and should be on the battlefield by midday. Reports were filling in that there was no movement from the Union camp so Lee believed that McDowell planned to continue the fighting tomorrow.
Seeing the faces of Jackson’s commanders Lee asked them if they could withstand one more push from the enemy. Jackson needed no time to confer with his men he knew the mettle of his troops and assured his commander that they could hold out til “Gabriel blew his horn.”
He order Jackson and his commanders to return to their troops and prepare for tomorrow. Lee then talked to Thomas and his division commanders of what he expected in the morning.

Lee meeting with Jackson, Thomas and their division commanders

At daybreak Jackson walked the entire length of his line. Ammunition was already starting to run low in some regiments. Commissary agents dispersed what they had but fighting for three days away from their supply had finally caught up. When a young captain from the Kanawha Division brought it to Jackson’s attention his reply was simple “give ‘em the bayonet son.”
Soon cannon interrupted the morning as fresh Union troops began their assault. For the next hour and a half Jackson’s troops held. Word reached Jackson from Brigadier William Tecumseh Sherman who now commanded the Stonewall Division, Brigadier William Taliaferro was wounded, and requested reinforcements as his division expending their ammunition was charging a gap that had formed in the Union’s line since a brigade had pulled out and had left an opening. Sherman knowing his commander would never punish aggression in a division commander sent word to both Lee & Thomas that the time has come and that is corp was going on the offensive.
Advancing down the Groverton-Sudley Road Sherman’s Stonewall Brigade quickly put the Union defenders to flight. Thomas sent Major General George Pickett’s Virginia Division to support Sherman. As Pickett soon took over as The troops of the Stonewall Division stopped to rest their fellow Confederate’s continued applying pressure. The capture of the town of Groverton now left two divisions of Major General Charles Stone isolated at Brewers Farm. Compliant to plan Thomas sent his Tar Heel Division under Major General William Pender to apply pressure to these isolated troops. Thomas now used his two fresh divisions of A.P. Hill’s fresh Light Division, and Pickett’s Virginians and began to roll up McDowell’s flank. By the end of the day the Army of the Potomac was swept from the battlefield.

 

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Chapter 59: CSA & Foreign Relations
From the beginning of the conflict Confederate diplomats tried their best to get the recognition of the two main European powers: England and France. Both wanted the United States weakened for their own personal reasons, and both detested slavery except when it suited their needs.
Before becoming Vice President then Secretary of State Otto von Bismarck sent feelers to all major European courts seeking financial and military assistance. None would be forthcoming in 1861. By 1862 the powers of Britain, France, and Spain agreed to occupy the port of Vera Cruz to force the Mexican government to pay loans owed by the Mexican government. Ever fearful of the German Socialist government making any inroads into Mexico a coalition of some 10,000 troops were sent to Vera Cruz and force the hand of the Mexican Government.
Hoping to benefit from the coalition occupation President Quitman sent merchants to sell provisions to the occupying European forces. This would bring southerners and Spanish officers in contact with one another again especially after hearing that Joseph Johnston was commanding one of the principal Confederate Armies, and was a major figure in modernizing the Spanish military.
After getting agreements from the Mexican government of payment British troops left the area leaving the French and Spanish in possession of Vera Cruz still seeking to exploit their occupation.
With word of European intervention in Mexico President Chase reached out to the government of Benito Juarez stating that the US government would sponsor Mexico’s claims to pay off their debt. In exchange Mexico must invade the CSA and would be able to reclaim any territory lost during the Mexican American War. With funds available to them and promise of war material President Juarez declared the Reconquest on June 18th, 1862. Seeing an opportunity representatives from France and Spain were dispatched to Richmond to work out a deal to help their mutual satisfaction.
With Mexican forces gathering to invade the southwest CSA an agreement was reached between the CSA, France, and Spain. The Richmond Accords bonded the governments of Paris, Madrid, and Richmond together. Emperor Napoleon III and Queen Isabella II agreed to send assistance to the CSA, and recognize the Confederate States into existence. In exchange the CSA would assist with Spain’s occupation of the island nation of Dominica, and France’s move to set up a monarchy in Mexico. Also established we’re trading rights plus other secret agreements that would come into play at a later date. It would take months before the first troops from Europe would arrive, but the momentum was turning in the Confederacy’s favor.

 

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Chapter 60: Chase Reacts
Following the defeat at Second Manassas news soon filtered that Major General Charles Stone surrendered some 6,000 troops of the First Corp at Groverton the Union capital was in a state of panic. McDowell was sacked, and a new commander was searched for. Worried congressmen sent their families to Philadelphia and New York. The city itself already brimming with forts and cannons plus a garrison of 30,000 strong now called up local militia to help weather the coming storm.
In this environment President Chase at the behest of Radical Republicans in Congress sacked the Secretary of War Simon Cameron and replaced him with Senator from Oregon Edward Baker. The President called for 150,000 more volunteers, and recalled his most victorious General so far George McClellan to save Washington and rebuild the Army of the Potomac, but before McClellan could come East he had to stabilize the situation in the west before he pulled some of his best troops to the east with him.
The idea of offering portions of the CSA back to Mexico was the work of Chase’s Secretary of State Charles Francis Adams. The son and grandson of presidents politics was in his blood, and as an abolitionist wanted to forever tear apart southern society and their institutions. The next logical source was to begin negotiations with Central American republics in order to divert more resources to Nicaragua. Soon a coalition of Costa Rico, Guatemala, and Honduras was formed with assistance with war materials and money. Unfortunately for Chase no unified command existed between the several nations, and would soon show its ineptitude once faced against Confederate forces

 

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Chapter 61: Control for Indian Territory
Following their victory at Wilson Creek Confederate General Albert S. Johnston sent Major General Sam Houston and his Indian Mounted Division into Kansas Territory to investigate rumors of a Union force coming down from Fort Leavenworth. Houston for his part was not in good health. After being in the saddle for the last couple of month, and at the age of 69 years old the old warrior was determined to put his family and his Cherokee family before himself.
On July 3, 1862 scouts from Houston’ s force found the advance guard of Brigadier James Blunt Army of the Frontier at Locus Grove, Indian Territory. The battle saw Colonel Douglass Cooper Brigade route and capture over 300 Union prisoners plus a dozen wagons loaded with supplies.
Houston now crossed into Kansas Territory fighting a pitched battle at Baxter Spring, and following the Union troops all the way to Fort Scott. Here Blunt and some 1200 of his troops were besieged by Houston and his native troops. Blunt sent urgent pleas for reinforcements from many directions hoping for relief.
On July 22, 1862 Sam Houston died in his sleep. The death of their commander unnerved the native troops. Mourning his death many warriors now accompanied Houston’s body back to Texas. Command of Houston’s Division now turned to Brigadier Albert Pike who feared an enraged Kansas militia might fall on them at any moment decided to return to the Indian Territory, but not before laying waste the area of by confiscating anything of military value

 

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Chapter 62: Moltke takes initiative
The confederate situation by July of 1862 was stagnant. Confederate General Helmut von Moltke commander of all CS Armies between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River was tasked with protecting the Confederate heartland from invasion. With McClellan leaving for the east von Moltke was also drained of troops as fear of an Mexican invasion into the southwest brought new fears.
As new recruits were being sent up from the Gulf States von Moltke tasked Lt. Gen. Braxton Bragg with training these new recruits before assigning them to new commands. Bragg, a very cantankerous officer excelled eat his new task. Before too long Bragg’s recruits were filling out fresh regiments, and officers to lead them were also put through the trials by Bragg himself.
By early August von Moltke’s Army of Central Kentucky was ready. From Bowling Green cavalry commanders Brigadiers Nathan Bedford Forrest and John Hunt Morgan were sent upon the Union’s lines of communication.

Nathan Bedford Forrest

John Hunt Morgan

For the first couple of weeks of August while Forrest and Morgan raided central and eastern Kentucky von Moltke planned his next move. After consulting with the head of the Department of Railroads Major General Isaac Trimble von Moltke planned on a lighting strikes.

Head of the Department of Railroads Major General Isaac Trimble

Using Trimble’s railways von Moltke reinforces Confederate forces in Eastern Kentucky from Nashville. Guarding the Cumberland Gap and the gateway to Knoxville, Tennessee was Lt. Gen. George B. Crittenden Army of Eastern Kentucky. Now reinforced Crittenden moved toward Frankfort and Lexington, Kentucky.
With the departure of McClellan to the east Major General Don Carlos Buell took over for his boss, but was left with fewer troops and less reliable commanders as these were shipped eastward. With a threat to the Kentucky state capital developing Buell was forced to dispatch troops under Brigadier James Garfield to reinforce the troops in the region.
The ensuing battle of Richmond, Kentucky saw troops under Crittenden route Brigadier Mahlon D. Mason much greener troops before Garfield could arrive on the field causing Mason to accuse Garfield of sabotage his troops based on political party associations (Mason was a Democratic Indiana state legislature while Garfield was allied with Republican Party). A political battle that would transcend into the future.

Union Brigadier Mahlon Mason

Brigadier James Garfield

 

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Chapter 63: Karl Marx
Karl Marx the head of Germany’s Revolutionary Guard saw an opportunity in North America. Marx saw the election of Chase as President and the struggle in the United States as similar to the Revolution of 1848. Marx approached the American Minister to Germany David Davis in later 1861 with a proposition of 30,000 well train volunteers. Initially Davis rejected the offer as he feared what conditions would be attached, and sent the information to his boss Secretary of State Adams.
With the disaster at Second Manassas Adams along with the consent from President Chase began negotiations with Marx. Fearing a General war in Europe Marx worked in the shadows as Foreign Secretary Freidrich Engels and Germany’s President Karl Schapper couldn’t give Germany’s many enemies an execute to break the peace in Europe.
Showcasing Communist efficiency within hours of an agreement of assistance Marx had the first of 30,000 revolutionary volunteers heading to ports in the north. Marx himself would set out to the New World to help mold events shaping in North America. Marx’s plan to spread communist ideology to North America was just the beginning.

 

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Chapter 64: Beauregard Returns
On August 5, 1862 Confederate warships sat outside of Annapolis, Maryland and demanded the surrender of the city. Union commander Colonel Dixon Miles refused with a cannon shot from his forts guarding the city. In response Rear Admiral Franklin Buchanan opened up with a tremendous cannonade silencing many guns. Miles knowing he had no hope of holding out was buying time, and during the night withdrew his meager forces from the city. The next day a few of the townspeople sent word to the ships that the Yankee invader had left. Beauregard and his army immediately disembarked.
This wasn’t the same AEM that had left the shores of Maryland. This new army not only contained the veterans of the battles for Maryland and Delaware, but also refugee democrats from New England and New York, Irishmen, A brigade of Cuban infantry, a few regiments of French and Spanish Foreign Legion troops from Africa, plus two regiments of Louisiana Natives (free men of color & mulatto) Infantry.

troops disembarking at Annapolis

It was President Quitman who ordered that men of free color would be part of the liberation of Maryland and Delaware. This was the President and Bismarck’s way of showing Europeans that the South was willing to change that also bills in Congress were being pushed through to allow slaves the opportunity to gain their freedom for them and their families for time served

 

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Chapter 65: Johnston Assumes Command
News arrived at the encampment of the Army of Northern Virginia that the President signed the Negro Enlistment Act allowing men of free color to join the ranks of the CS Armed Forces in early August. For the average soldier there was hardly any reaction. Some officers refused to command such troops and made disparaging remarks toward the government. General Johnston under orders from President Quitman had those officers arrested immediately and sent to Richmond. Also news was brought forward that General Joseph Johnston was promoted to command of all Confederate troops east of the Appalachian Mountains. This gave Johnston command over Beauregard’s Army of Eastern Maryland and Lee’s Army of Western Virginia and newly promoted General James Longstreet’s Army of Northern Virginia.
With Beauregard returned to Maryland Johnston now planned to threaten Washington by moving the Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland while keeping Lee outside of his great victory at Manassas facing Washington. On August 15th Longstreet occupied Leesburg Virginia, and crossed into Maryland. Longstreet once in Maryland turned to a defensive strategy and began occupying the gaps along the mountain ranges cutting the Baltimore & Ohio. Panic soon spread throughout the Union capital .

 

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Chapter 66: McClellan comes East
As the New Commander-in-Chief of the Union’s war effort George McClellan began modifying the war’s objectives immediately. Leaving his beloved Army of the Ohio under Major General Don Carlos Buell with instructions to hold the line in Kentucky. After briefly stopping in Cincinnati to see his wife and confer with Ohio Governor William Dennison. The Governor pledged to raise a dozen regiments to fill McClellan’s ranks out East. From Cincinnati McClellan traveled to Pittsburg where news of Keyes incompetence reached him. Fearful of losing the trained veterans under Keyes McClellan ordered Keyes removed from command and placed Major General Darius Couch in command of the Fourth Corp.
Couch immediately destroyed anything of military value, and with rations for fours days marched westward in the middle of the night. Marching through the mountains of Western Virginia became arduous as troops deserted in the hundreds. By the first week of August Couch was safe in Pittsburg, refitting his troops and boarding trains for Central Pennsylvania.
By the early part of August McClellan would have 30,000 troops with more on the way stationed in Philadelphia to work alongside the Army of the Potomac. Time wasn’t on McClellan side as word arrived that Confederate warships were poised outside of Annapolis, Maryland. Beauregard and the Army of Eastern Maryland had returned. Longstreet had cut the B&O Railroad leading into the capital.