Chuck's Travels: July 2006

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Return to Ardmore, Oklahoma - July 24, 2006.

I began my trip on June 29th by driving to my sister Connie's home near Storden, Minnesota. We had a celebration on the 4th of July for my parent's (Chuck & Grace Childs) 64th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful time with my parents, two sisters (Connie & Candy), their husbands (Norm & Wayne), two nieces and their husbands and two of my nieces daughters.

After a great celebration, I began driving to Florida on July 5th. Arrived at Tallahassee for a wonderful dinner and lunch the next day with a dear friend. I then began a journey of a lifetime for me. I had always wanted to visit as many Civil War battlefields as I could. I never had taken the time to do it and now I had the opportunity. I didn't necessarily traverse them in any chronilogical order. I just stopped when I found them. I went to Gettysburg, Antietam (Sharpsburg), Manassas (Bull Run), Appomatix Court House, Chickamauga, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, and Andersonville.

What a journey through history for me. It totaled 26 wonderful days and 5600 miles of driving. I discovered several things through my travels, but one that will stick with me for a while. Through out my life time, I have always looked for the short cut to get somewhere, always taking the interstates and better traveled roads. What I found out on this trip is that there is a lot of beautiful country just off the main roads. The people there are genuine and friendly. They are not in a hurry to get through life. I pray that all my journeys in the future will be "off road".

For those of you that heard of the situation with my son Charles in Anchorage, it has a very happy ending. As you know, it appeared he was scheduled for brain surgery this coming Saturday. Through tests and the doctor's expertise, a chemical imbalance was found that caused his dyslexia and they will be able to control it with medication. No surgery necessary....praise the Lord.

Thank you for your comments on this wonderful journey. My next travels will be starting on August 15th when I go on a familiarization tour for "tour planners" in Missouri. It should be loads of fun and plenty of opportunities to take some more pictures. Hopefully the motels will have high speed internet so that I can post them.

I will continue to make posts from time to time perhaps showing you what is happening here in Ardmore and the surrounding areas.

Thank you and God Bless you all!!!! Stay off the main roads and travel real America!

Chuck

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Siege of Vicksburg - July 23, 2006

The Siege of Vicksburg - May 26 - July 3, 1863 (Information taken from brochures).

From the beginning of the Civil War, control of the Mississippi River south of Cairo, Ill., was of vital importance to the Federal Government. Command of that waterway would allow uninterrupted passage of the Union troops and supplies into the South and isolate Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the rest of the Confederacy. One problem existed, the southern troops had over 172 cannons pointed at the river from the bluffs at Vicksburg. General Grant attempted several times to take the bluffs and the city. After crossing the Mississippi south of Vicksburg, he went to Jackson, MS to cut off supply lines to Vicksburg. Then returning to Vicksburg, he launched an attack on May 16 at Champion Hill. Then onto the bluffs at Vicksburg where he launched unsuccessful attacks on May 19 and May 22.

Following the failure of the May 22 assault, Grant realized that Vicksburg could not be taken by storm and decided to lay siege to the city. Slowly his army established a line of works around the beleaguered city and cut Vicksburg off from supply and communications with the outside world. Commencing on May 26, Union forces constructed thirteen approaches along their front aimed at different points along the Confederate defense line. The object was to dig up to the Confederate works then tunnel underneath them, plant charges of black powder, and destroy the fortifications. Union troops would then surge through the breach and gain entrance to Vicksburg.

Throughout the weary month of June the gallant defenders of Vicksburg suffered under the constant bombardment of enemy guns from reduced rations and exposure to the elements. Reduced in number by sickness and battle casualties, the garrison of Vicksburg was spread dangerously thin. Soldiers and citizens alike began to despair that relief would ever come. At Jackson and Canton, General Johnston gathered a relief force which took up the line of march toward Vicksburg on July 1. By then it was too late as the sands of time had expired for the fortress city on the Mississippi River.

Monument at the entrance of Vicksburg Battlefield

General U.S. Grant

Rifles found on the battlefield

From this position, as many as 22 artillery pieces fired towards

the Confederate Great Redoubt directly ahead.

Looking at the Great Redoubt from the Union side.

Picture of the Shirley House which housed the 45th Illinois Infantry

during the siege. Notice the "bombproof" shelters built for protection.

Shirley House restored to 1863 appearance.

Area in front of Shirley House after restoration from shelters.

Monument of General Grant at Grant's Headquarters at Vicksburg.

Site of Gen. Thayer's (USA) attack by the Union soldiers on May 22, 1863.

This is looking from the Union side. The Confederates successfully defended

this charge and caused General Grant to decide that a "Siege" was in order

rather that attempting to fight for an overall victory.

Signage on the Confederate side of Gen. Thayer's attack.

Looking down the slope towards the direction that Gen. Thayer's

soldiers had to come up. You can see why the attack failed and the

Confederates were successful in the defense of the terrain.

View of the Mississippi from the bluffs held by the Confederates. It

was nearly impossible to move past this point without being defeated.

Terrain over which the battle/seige of Vicksburg was contested.

Summary of Casualities for the Siege of Vicksburg.

Corinth, Mississippi - "Crossroads of the Western Confederacy" - July 22, 2006

I mentioned that after Shiloh, the confederates retreated to Corinth. They held it for a while and then the union captured it. In October 1862, there was another battle for the "Crossroad" railroad town. Here is a discription of the battle and a few area pictures. Some of the pictures are from a new interpretative center just built. I copied the following information from a website about Corinth. I'm not that great a writer.

After the Battle of Iuka, Maj. General Sterling Price's Confederate Army of the West marched from Baldwyn to Ripley where it joined Maj. General Earl Van Dorn's Army of West Tennessee. Van Dorn was senior officer and took command of the combined force numbering about 22,000 men. The Rebels marched to Pocahontas on October 1, and then moved southeast toward Corinth. They hoped to seize Corinth and then sweep into Middle Tennessee.

Since the Siege of Corinth, in the spring, Union forces had erected various fortifications, an inner and intermediate line, to protect Corinth, an important transportation center. With the Confederate approach, the Federals, numbering about 23,000, occupied the outer line of fortifications and placed men in front of them. Van Dorn arrived within three miles of Corinth at 10:00 am on October 3, and moved into some fieldworks that the Confederates had erected for the siege of Corinth.

The fighting began, and the Confederates steadily pushed the Yankees rearward. A gap occurred between two Union brigades which the Confederates exploited around 1:00 pm. The Union troops moved back in a futile effort to close the gap. Price then attacked and drove the Federals back further to their inner line. By evening, Van Dorn was sure that he could finish the Federals off during the next day. This confidence--combined with the heat, fatigue, and water shortages--persuaded him to cancel any further operations that day.

Rosecrans regrouped his men in the fortifications to be ready for the attack to come the next morning. Van Dorn had planned to attack at daybreak, but Brig. General Louis Hébert's sickness postponed it till 9:00 am. As the Confederates moved forward, Union artillery swept the field causing heavy casualties, but the Rebels continued on. They stormed Battery Powell and closed on Battery Robinett, where desperate hand-to-hand fighting ensued. A few Rebels fought their way into Corinth, but the Federals quickly drove them out.

The Federals continued on, recapturing Battery Powell, and forcing Van Dorn into a general retreat. Rosecrans postponed any pursuit until the next day. As a result, Van Dorn was defeated, but not destroyed or captured, at Hatchie Bridge, Tennessee, on October 5.

Result(s): Union victory
Date(s): October 3-4, 1862
Estimated Casualties: 7,197 total (US 2,359; CS 4,838)

Corinth, Mississippi Train Station

Tracks going North & South in Corinth

Tracks going East and West in Corinth

The ticket window indicating the two rail lines crossing in Corinth.

Confederate Lt. General's Battle Jacket.

Map Indicating the Importance of Corinth.

Confederate troops in Corinth in 1862.

Bronze carving at new Corinth Interpretation Center.

Bronze carving of a hat in the sidewalk at new
Corinth Interpretation Center.

Bronze carving of a ammo pouch in the sidewalk at new
Corinth Interpretation Center.

Bronze carving of a mess kit in the sidewalk at new
Corinth Interpretation Center.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Shiloh Battlefield - Southwestern Tennessee - July 22, 2006

Another battle over the control of the railroad. The union and confederate forces both wanted control of the railroads at Corinth, Mississippi - "Crossroads of the Western Confederacy". Corinth was the location about 25 miles south of Savannah, Tennessee which had "the junction of the two important trunk railroads. These roads constitute the vertebrae of the Confederacy" advised Confederate Secretary of War - LeRoy Pope Walker.

General Grant had moved into Savannah, Tennessee and General Johnston had his confederate troops protecting Corinth. Wanting to control the waterways as well as the railroads, Gen. Grant positioned his units at Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. This was about 5 miles NE of Shiloh Church. Gen. Johnston wanted to push the union back, before reinforcements arrived, and pulled a surprise attack on Grant's outposts on the morning of April 6, 1862. This occured at Shiloh Church and the union was initially pushed back to an area called the "sunken road (or hornets nest)". The union held the charges at the Hornets Nest all day long. That night union reinforcements arrived and when the confederates charged again the next morning, they were pushed back and forced to withdraw from the field of battle. After two grueling days of battle, almost 24,000 men became casualities of war. Neither side gained any territorial position. Both were at about the same location as before the battle begin. The confederates retreated to Corinth and the union units stayed at Shiloh. Here are a few of the highlighted pictures of the battle area.

Signage at Park Entrance

Local Family

One of many cannons - Artillery was used extensively

during this battle.

Shiloh Information Center

Flag Raising at 8:00 AM

Union drummers

Union drummer was 10 years old. He served until he

retired as a Major General many years later.

Confederate soldier's uniform.

Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River

Shiloh Church

Old Corinth Road at SW Corner of Battlefield

Open field between Shiloh Church and the Hornet's Nest.

Almost all of the major fighting during the two days took

place in this location. Changed hands many times and

was the site of large artillery shellings.

Signage at the Hornet's Nest (Sunken Road)

Position of the Sunken Road!

Peach Orchard - Manse Cabin in Background

Peach Orchard

Confederate Calvary Demonstration

Confederate soldiers were buried in 5 separate mass graves.

A total of about 700 men were in each grave.

Confederate Gravesite

Federal Cemetary

Found in the Cemetary

Friday, July 21, 2006

Chickamauga Battlefield, Georgia - July 21, 2006

As I continue to view the battlefields of the Civil War, I am amazed by the numbers of men that were killed, wounded, or reported missing. I saw Gettysburg which was the bloodiest battle in the war - over 51,000 casualities in 3 days. I saw Antietam which was the bloodiest battle in one day - over 25,000 and now I saw Chickamauga which was the 2nd worst battle in the war. It had over 33,000 casualities in two days.

As I continue to tour the battlefields, I have been getting the answers to who, what, how, and when about each battle. One of the issues I'm trying to answer is why each battle was fought in that specific location. In the six or so battlefields I have seen including Andersonville, more than 120,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing. That is twice the numbers of Vietnam.

An interesting point is how each battle was fought on varied terrains. Gettysburg was rocky, Antietam was open corn fields and river beds, Manassas was wheat fields and forests, and now Chickamauga is large open fields with thousands of troops on both sides massing in the fields. The battle at Chickamauga was fought because the union troops had taken Chattanooga for its railroad connections. The confederates needed the railways for supplies and were trying to go back into Chattanooga to take it back. Chickamauga ended up being a blocking effort by the union. The confederates were the overall winners of the battle, but were unable to move back into Chattanooga. Therefore over 33,000 casualities ocurred for no main military objective.

Most of the pictures are of specific fields that are important in this particular battle. Here are a few to attempt to show how open the fighting would have been. Thousand of troops facing off about 500 yards apart in straight lines mowing each other down. Wow!!!