The month of February draws to a close with four major, strategic cities of the Deep South under Union control: Atlanta, Savannah, Columbia and Charleston. In addition, the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina is also occupied, leaving the Confederacy with no ports from which to sail naval vessels. With the Union coastal blockade now…
While only minor skirmishes occur this day, in Virginia Union General Ulysses S. Grant orders Major General Phil Sheridan‘s force of some 10,000 cavalry to move south of Winchester on a mission to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad and James River Canal. In addition, Sheridan is tasked with capturing Lynchburg, if possible. Indeed, with Sherman…
The month of March is approaching. His army weakened by the harsh winter, insufficient food supplies and ongoing desertions, Confederate General Robert E. Lee is worried. Charged with preventing the Federals from reaching the Confederate capital of Richmond, he recently denied the request of Texas Governor Pendelton Murrah to allow the “Texas Brigade” a leave…