Sunday morning dawns on the smoldering ruins of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the town having been burned by Rebels the day previous. Some 550 structures are damaged or destroyed. Sunday services are canceled. While the destruction is great, the Confederate raiders, led by General John McCausland, left behind only one dead, an elderly African American. At least…
In Georgia, Union General William T. Sherman, hunkered down overlooking Atlanta, gives General George Stoneman free reign to ride south of Atlanta in an effort to disrupt the rebel supply line. Stoneman’s Raid is underway, with Macon as the destination. The disruption of Southern railroads between Atlanta and Macon is the prime objective. At Petersburg,…
Union forces continue pressing Atlanta’s defenders, approaching within viewing distance of Atlanta from atop surrounding hills. For Atlantans, the situation is getting desperate. Yet even in the midst of the throes of their nation’s fortunes rapidly sinking against the onslaught of abolitionist foes (some white Southern Baptists having even gone so far as to call…