31st December 1862: bloody encounter on Stones River

Nice!
Think of me when you are standing by where AS Johnston died through blood loss. He is undoubtedly one of the war’s great enigmas and what ifs.
Forrest came to the fore at this battle and one of my favourite generals was present too: Patrick R Cleburne, commanding a Brigade.
Hope the weather is not to bad.

Thank you. Did spend 5-10 mins going over the details beforehand to ensure I did not make a mistake. Has been a while since I read about it.
Enjoyed writing it.

Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign ended with another victory today at Port Republic, in Rockingham County Virginia. With a smaller force than the Federals he had marched from field to field, thwarting the Northern generals, McDowell, Banks and now Fremont. Lincoln and the Administration were in uproar and feared for the Capital.
Today, the 9th June 1862, Major General Thomas J Jackson, West Point professional and original leader of the now famous “Stonewall Brigade”(2,4,5, 27 and 33 Va Inf) commanded 7 Brigades of Infantry. All were Virginiians, many recruited from the very region on which they had been fighting, except a large Brigade of very fine Louisianans under Richard Taylor, son of President Zachary Taylor.
As was usual with Jackson, he attacked the enemy and with his Stonewall Brigade, now commanded by Marylander Charles Winder, opened the battle. Finding things hard going Jackson had to throw in more troops. By day’s end he had pushed the smaller Notlrthern force back enough for their commander, John Fremont , to feel he had been beaten and withdraw.
As a consequence of this, yesterday’s Cross Keys battle and the campaign as a whole, Jackson was able to rejoin Lee’s large North Virginia army to help push the cautious Northern commander all the way from the gates of Richmond, which looked like falling to his enormous Northern army.

Four weeks and counting. My brother says he will take over, but he has his children on Monday and Tuesdays. Opening just four days will not leave me much to buy A&A games!
Kind of him to offer.

On the 7th April 1862 the reinforced Northern army attacked the battle weary and battered Southern army. Grant’s 6th Division(Lew Wallace, later of Ben Hur fame) had at last joined him after getting lost yesterday and more importantly 3 Divisions from Major General Buell’s army arrived on boats. As Buell’s army was not subordinate to Grant, he could not command them and the jealous and petty Buell did not coordinate with him.
All these reinforcements were spotted by a Tennessee Cavalry Colonel and former slave trader, now self made millionaire,  NB Forrest and revealed to two commanders. Neither saw fit to report his findings to the new Southern commander, Beauregard. The Northern attack was to be a surprise, therefore.
The Southern soldiers did not run when hit by twice their number(probably only 20000 remained of the 40000), but by 3pm had withdrawn under fire.
Grant was happy not to follow. It had been a terrible two days for the US, with close to 25000 men becoming casualties. Six months later the two Western armies would fight another less bloody, but inconclusive battle in Kentucky. Many of the same names would be present, including a promoted NB Forrest. The Western armies had learnt how to fight and bleed.

Picked up my first book(McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom) when in my last year at University. Second book was two years later in a second hand bookshop in Wales: 2nd Volume of Shelby Foote’s trilogy. That was in 92.
I now have 60 books(that is a guess!).
I think what fascinated me at first was the battles were so bloody, yet inconclusive.
They did it again and again! Seemed mad.
It has replaced WW2 as my most knowledgeable subject.
I have said before I have very little knowledge of WW1 or Napoleonic battles.

Thank you Worsham. 
Just googled the city. Nice history!
Anniversary of Fort Henry today(the 6th).

Jar Jar annoyed me Cromwell.
Thank you both too.
As you know, I look forward to and enjoy your posts, thoughts and comments.