FEBRUARY 1864: A MORE BRUTAL PHASE
2/1/2012
This month saw an increase in Confederate guerrilla attacks, Republican dissension in Washington, and military actions bordering on atrocity.
Republican Dissension
In Washington, the Radical Republicans in Congress introduced a bill to counter President Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction issued in December. The bill listed the congressional requirements for southern states to be readmitted into the Union, including greater demands for pledging allegiance and granting adult black men the right to vote. The bill sparked heated debate among Radicals led by Benjamin Wade and conservatives led by Lincoln.
Adding to the growing rift in the Republican Party was a pamphlet distributed by a Radical Senator Samuel C. Pomeroy. This stated that Lincoln’s reelection was “practically impossible,” and even if Lincoln was reelected, his “tendency toward compromise” would destroy “the dignity of the nation.” The pamphlet’s authors urged Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase to run against Lincoln in the upcoming election.
Chase denied having prior knowledge of the “Pomeroy Circular,” but evidence suggested that he had encouraged its distribution. The circular enraged Lincoln’s supporters and gave Democrats hope that the Republican Party would split apart. Many urged Lincoln to fire Chase, but Lincoln kept him at his post, concluding that this would prevent Chase from openly campaigning for the presidency. This helped ease tensions between the Republican factions.
In the Union
President Lincoln authorized a military draft of 500,000 more men in a massive push intended to end the war. Lincoln also signed a bill into law restoring the U.S. Army rank of lieutenant general. Only two people had ever held such a high rank: George Washington and Winfield Scott (by brevet only). Lincoln sought to bestow the rank upon Ulysses S. Grant for his success in the Western Theater.
Lincoln’s attempts to colonize freed slaves outside the U.S. were frustrated when colonists from San Domingo returned to the U.S. Lincoln wrote to Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew that if “it be really true that Massachusetts wishes to afford a permanent home within her borders, for all, or even a large number of colored persons who will come to her, I shall be only too glad to know it…”
A massive fire destroyed the White House stables. Lincoln tried rescuing the horses and ponies inside, but he was restrained by bodyguards. Among the seven animals killed was a pony that had belonged to Lincoln’s son Willie, who had died in 1862. A coachman who had been fired by Mrs. Lincoln was charged with arson. Lincoln requested that Congress appropriate funds to rebuild the stables.
In the Confederacy
General Braxton Bragg, former commander of the Army of Tennessee, was given overall command of Confederate military operations, effectively becoming chief of staff. Despite Bragg’s defeat at Chattanooga the previous November, he still held President Jefferson Davis’s trust.
President Davis signed a bill into law prohibiting the importation of luxury goods. Blockade runners had imported items such as gold and jewelry instead of necessities because luxury items were more profitable. Many disregarded these new regulations, arguing that they violated states’ rights. And since the Confederacy had no resources to enforce the legislation, it went largely ignored.
The Confederate Congress authorized the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus to prevent “disloyal” activities such as resistance to the draft law. Davis stated that the suspension addressed the “discontent, disaffection, and disloyalty” among those enjoying “quiet and safety at home.” He called it a “sharp remedy” needed to stop spying, desertion, associating with the enemy, and disloyal public assemblies.
C.S.S. Hunley was launched in Charleston Harbor as an experimental “semi-submersible,” a forerunner to the modern submarine. The craft was hand-cranked with a mine at the end of its prow. Hunley detonated its mine against U.S.S. Housatonic, causing a massive explosion in which Housatonic became the first ship ever sunk by a submarine. However, the blast also sunk Hunley. The daring attack panicked the U.S. Navy, but the dangers of experimental submarines made them ineffective instruments of naval warfare.
Prisoners of War
Colonel Thomas E. Rose plotted a sensational escape from Libby Prison in Richmond, which housed Federal prisoners of war. A 50-foot tunnel was dug beyond the compound fence, and as soldiers distracted guards with a loud music show, over 100 Federals escaped. Rose and 47 others were eventually recaptured, and two drowned. However, 59 managed to reach the Federal lines, making this the largest prison escape of the war.
Meanwhile, food shortages for prisoners in Richmond prompted construction of a new prison camp near Americus, Georgia. Its official name was Camp Sumter, but it became known as Andersonville. The camp quickly became overcrowded with a severe lack of food, clothing, shelter, and health care. Federal prisoners were ravaged by disease and death as the name “Andersonville” became notorious in the North.
The Destruction of Meridian
Federal operations in northern Mississippi under William T. Sherman led to the destruction of Meridian. Sherman reported: “For five days 10,000 men worked hard and with a will in that work of destruction… Meridian, with its depots, store-houses, arsenals, hospitals, offices, hotels and cantonments no longer exists.”
Sherman’s expedition included the demolition of 115 miles of railroad, 61 bridges, 20 locomotives, and an unknown amount of civilian property. The Federals encountered minimal opposition from Confederate cavalry. This marked the beginning of a more brutal phase of the war in which civilians and private property often became military targets.
Increased Guerrilla Warfare
Federal cavalry was dispatched to stop Confederate raiders under Nathan Bedford Forrest from operating in western Tennessee and northern Mississippi. However, a Confederate attack near Okolona, Mississippi broke the Federal lines and forced them to flee back to Memphis. This was one of Forrest’s greatest military victories despite his brother’s death, and he continued frustrating the Federals in the region.
As guerrilla warfare increased, so did lawlessness. The Confederate government responded by ending the system of allowing southerners to form their own personal military units. It was hoped that southerners would instead join regular military units where they were most needed. Exemptions were granted to the most effective partisans such as John S. Mosby and Nathan Bedford Forrest, but since the Confederacy had no means to enforce the ban, most other guerrilla raiders generally continued operations as well.
The Battle of Olustee
In Florida, a battle erupted when Confederates confronted advancing Federals at Olustee, in the forest west of Jacksonville. The Confederates established strong positions and fought until dark. The Federals ultimately withdrew in defeat back to Jacksonville.
The Federals suffered 1,861 casualties out of about 5,500, while the Confederates lost 934 from 5,000. This was the largest battle fought in Florida and one of the bloodiest of the war in terms of casualty percentage. Though the Confederates were victorious, Jacksonville remained in Federal hands.
The Richmond Raid
President Lincoln approved a plan in which Federal cavalry under Judson Kilpatrick would raid the Confederate capital. According to the plan, a cavalry unit under George A. Custer would create a diversion while the main force would invade Richmond, distribute copies of Lincoln’s amnesty proclamation, and liberate Federal prisoners of war.
As Custer created the diversion, the main Federal force skirmished with Confederate defenders at Ely’s Ford. By month’s end, the Confederates in Richmond had learned of the Federal raid and began preparing defenses.
WalterCoffey.com
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