A Glorious Union or America: the New Sparta

[TheKnightIrish]

Chapter Twenty Six

There's No South in Europe

Part II​

From “Great Britain and the American Civil War” 2 vols by Elijah Adams
New York 1925

“It was not unknown for Lord Palmerston to make mischief. At a dinner hosted by the Earl of Clarendon, after Gladstone had held forth for some time on the benefits to Britain and humanity of a peaceful resolution and separation in America, Lady Clarendon why the Prime Minister had now joined the Secretary of War in becoming a supporter of strict neutrality:

Lord Palmerston: “One should only fight with one’s family at home and never with armies and navies”.

Lady Clarendon: “You mean to say the Americans are our family, our cousins?”.

Lord Palmerston: “Good heavens no. I mean to say that General Kearny is my cousin!”

In fact Lord Palmerston’s cousin, Major Johnson, was married to a cousin of Philip Kearny Sr, General Kearny’s father…”

From “Kearny and the Radicals” by Hugh W. McGrath
New England Press 1992

“It was an often repeated charge by the Radicals in later years that Kearny was from a long line of loyalists. Indeed there was a great deal of truth in this. Several branches of the Kearnys, and his mother’s families, the Watts and de Lanceys, were prominent New York loyalists, many of whom ultimately had been forced into exile following the Revolution…”

From “Great Britain and the American Civil War” 2 vols by Elijah Adams
New York 1925

“General Kearny’s cousins and relations by the marriage of his cousins, all be it several times removed, were an illustrious band: Admiral Sir Peter Warren of Louisburg fame, General Sir William Johnston of the Mohawk Valley, Sir William de Lancey, Wellington’s Quartermaster at Waterloo, Sir Hudson Lowe, Napoleon’s gaoler, and Sir David Dundas who was Commander in Chief of the British Army…

It meant that General Kearny gave the Union cause a face and a name that British leaders knew and perhaps more importantly felt they understood and could feel common ground with. The only major flaw that was widely acknowledged in Britain about Philip Kearny was that he was, "by education and experience, troublingly francophile…”

From “Napoleon III and the American Empire” 3 vols by Eugene Vernet
Blumenthal 1932 translated by Sir John Beaks Stafford

“Of course the French Empire remained officially neutral throughout the war, never recognizing the Confederate States of America. However, several major industries in France had economic interests which favoured dealings with the Confederacy. Between 1861 and the end of the war, the Union blockade caused a significant decreasing of the French cotton importation, leading to the "famine du coton" (cotton hunger): textile industries of Alsace, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Normandy suffered from this shortage of raw material (which doubled in price in 1862) and were forced to dismiss many workers.

As a result, many French industrialists and politicians were rather favourable to a quick Southern victory. Emperor Napoleon III was also interested in Central America (trade and plans of a transoceanic canal) and wanted to create a new empire in Mexico, where his troops landed in December 1861. A Confederate victory would have likely made this plan easier…

General Morris of the Cavalry Division of the Imperial Guard
on who's staff Kearny served in Africa and Italy​

William L. Dayton, who was appointed minister to France by President Lincoln, met the French Foreign Minister, Edouard Thouvenel, who was perceived to be pro-Union and was influential in dampening Napoleon’s initial inclination towards diplomatic recognition of Confederate independence. However, Thouvenel resigned from office in 1862. The Southern delegate in Paris, John Slidell, made offers to Napoleon III: in exchange for recognition of the Confederate States and naval help sent in New Orleans to break the blockade, the Confederacy would sell raw cotton to France. Count Walewski and Eugène Rouher agreed with him, but British disapproval following the hardening of its position, and especially General Kearny’s victories led French diplomacy to refuse this plan…

General Kearny was widely known in French military and social circles from his education at Saumur (and the legendary ball he gave which was not equalled until the Second Empire), and from his participation in both France’s conflicts in Algeria and in the Franco-Austrian War. It was the view of many French officers that with the French educated and trained Kearny in charge of the Union army, the defeat of the South was now ensured…

French reaction to the news of the execution of General Hunter and his negro troops was marked particularly in Paris. The rented house of John Slidell came under assault from the Paris mob. Bricks were thrown through his windows and attempts were made to set the house afire. Mr Slidell quickly established himself elsewhere in Paris…

John Slidell​

The executions caused the immediate collapse of Slidell’s negotiations to obtain a loan from French financiers which until then had seemed possible. Furthermore Napoleon III would never again meet with a representative of the Confederacy, formally or informally.”

 

[TheKnightIrish]

If anyone thinks Kearny's family relations are implausible I should say they are all true and taken from "The Personal & Military History of Philip Kearny" by John Watts De Peyster 1869 (another cousin of his).

 

[TheKnightIrish]

Chapter Twenty Seven

A Petersburg Surprise

Part I​

From “Kearny the Magnificent” by Roger Galton
NorthWestern

"Kearny did not sit idle while reorganising his cavalry. The army began to fan out along Brook Creek and the Chickahominy River to keep Lee guessing. Meade’s IV Corps was reinforced with a third division take from the Departments of Washington and the Middle (Baltimore)…

With Lee and all Richmond focused on Kearny the first blow, when it fell, came from the most unexpected direction. The battered and bloodied Army of the James had once again been put on the road to Petersburg..."

General John J. Peck leads the assault on Fort Colston​

From “The Fighting Lambs – The Army of the James” by Geoffrey T. W. Werner
Radical Press 1928

"General John Fulton Reynolds arrived in Suffolk to find the army still well provisioned and fitted out. Butler had never scrimped on the essential supplies his troops would needs. However the defeat at Blackwater and the removal of their beloved commander Butler had had a profound effect on the moral of the Army..."

From “Kearny the Magnificent” by Roger Galton
NorthWestern

"General Reynolds arrived in Suffolk in mid May. His orders from Kearny were clear. The Army of the James was to be on the march by the first week of June regardless of its condition. General Kearny needed another attack on Petersburg to draw off some of Lee's troops from Richmond. Reynolds' first report was the only one to raise any problems. "Moral is extremely low here. This army has been badly led. It wants little in supply but it has long been in want of good officer material. Nonetheless it will march on 1st June..."

General John F. Reynolds did not follow the snail’s pace that General Butler had. Nor did he divide his force. The two corps, now made up of only two divisions each now commanded by Generals Foster of XVIII Corps (Orris S. Ferry's and Innis N. Palmer's Divisions) and Peck of VII Corps (Quincy A. Gilmore's and Henry M. Naglee's Divisions), were soon on the road…

The commander of the Petersburg defences was Raleigh Colston. Although he had warning of the Army's advance, he neither took it as a serious threat to Petersburg or suspected how hard Reynolds would push his men on the march. “I have received intelligence of a demonstration to be made against this city by a portion of the Army of the James. I do not anticipate requiring reinforcements at this time…”. General Colston was “the least experienced of the generals of division in the Richmond/Petersburg theatre, and proved painfully slow in directing his men into action” (From John C. Peck’s History of the Army of the James)…

Reynolds' skirmish lines advance at dawn​

Fort Colston (roughly Fort Beauregard in OTL) was attacked at dawn on 4th June by the men of Peck’s Corps. It was lightly manned and no one had expected the sloth-like Army of the James to arrive for days. Reynolds cleverly advanced against the fort in four skirmish lines. Reynolds had realized that although the fort was rich in cannon it was lightly manned. His skirmish lines were difficult targets for the artillery and quickly swarmed into the fort. The first indications that General Colston had that something was wrong was the raising of the Stars and Stripes over his namesake…

General Colston sought to deploy his reserves to Battery J and the line of entrenchments behind Fort Colston. On his own authority, the major commanding Fort Smith, on the other side of the railroad bank from Fort Colston, opened fire on Peck’s left flank…

Colston also sent an urgent demand for reinforcements from Richmond. The telegram was sent less than 48 hours after receipt of his last missive dismissing the movement as a “demonstration”..."

 

[TheKnightIrish]

Two awesome maps for the Richmond/Petersburg campaigns...

http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/ser...b_List_No,Series_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=5&trs=37

http://www.history-map.com/picture/002/Richmond-Virginia.htm

 

[TheKnightIrish]

Chapter Twenty Eight​

A Petersburg Surprise​

Part II​

From “The Life and Letters of John J. Peck” by John Watts de Peyster Jr.
Buffalo 1892​

“On top of the jubilation of taking the fort, once my boys realized it was Ripley’s South Carolinians pouring in to defend the reserve battery there was a renewed vigour for the attack. I had not known such enthusiasm even prior to the unspeakable trial they suffered by the Blackwater…

John J. Peck led his Corps valiantly in the battle​

I rested Naglee’s Division, which had done fine work in taking the fort. Gillmore’s Division therefore led my attack on the battery. Foster’s divisions were at this time forming in my rear in support of my attacking lines. Reynolds was near at hand at all times. I had the devil of a time keeping him out of my skirmish lines…”

From “The Battle of Petersburg” by Jasper Lee
Osprey 1987

“Colston had put Ripley into the Battery. Henry A. Wise’s Virginians and North Carolinians filed into the two supporting works. They were all that stood between Reynolds and the city for the moment. In the interim Colston had called out the Local Defence Forces. Clerks, smiths and other workers, otherwise exempt from military service, who could be called up in the case of imminent danger to the city…

On receipt of Colston’s plea, Lee acted quickly. Edward Johnson’s independent division was immediately dispatched by train to Petersburg. Ewell’s Division, currently held as a general reserve within the city, was also slated for immediate dispatch. In all eight brigades of veteran troops were on the way to support the defence of Petersburg. Perhaps more importantly Edward Johnson and Richard S. Ewell would both supersede Colston in command…”

From “The Fighting Lambs – The Army of the James” by Geoffrey T. W. Werner
Radical Press 1928

“The fighting for Battery J was extremely fierce. The men of the Army of the James had read the reports crediting the South Carolinians at Petersburg with the executions of General Hunter and his pioneers. In sections along the line no quarter was asked and none was given…

As Foster’s troops waited in reserve they came under an increasing fire from Fort Cobb. Reynolds’ advance on a narrow front had achieved a lodgement but it had also exposed his army’s left flank to enfilade fire…

The Battle of Petersburg saw some of the fiercest hand to hand fighting witnessed to date​

Reynolds reacted by launching Foster’s Corps at the works south of the railroad [Norfolk & Petersburg], with a view to isolating Fort Cobb. With Colston’s reserves going in to Battery J and its supporting works, and with the Local Defence Forces only slowly forming, some of the works fell quickly. The garrison of Fort Cobb, with a panoramic view of the merciless fighting below, quickly thought better of holding the fort and fled out and south and west towards Fort Vance and the Weldon & Petersburg Railroad…

Gillmore’s division had been halted at Battery J by Ripley, but now Peck put in Naglee’s division again. Spurred on by Neglee and Peck, both who were now on foot and in the battle lines, both divisions now pushed into the battery…​

Whether the rumors of Ripley’s surrender are true or not, he died on the bayonets of Naglee’s leading regiment…”​

From “The Battle of Petersburg” by Jasper Lee
Osprey 1987​

“It was Colonel Rhett who is credited with leading the remnants of Ripley’s Brigade back to the final line of works manned by Wise’s brigade and elements of the local defence forces. Peck sought to re-order his two divisions for an assault on the final works, as Foster’s troops sought to flank this line, having already breached the final line of works to the south…​

The South Carolinians had bought valuable time in their ruthless defence of Battery J. It was mid-afternoon and Edward Johnson had arrived in Petersburg. he was accompanied by Richard B. Garnet’s brigade. Mackall’s brigade was not far behind.​

Johnson quickly asserted his authority. Leaving instructions for Mackall to follow his line of march, Johnson took Garnet’s Brigade of Virginians, and gathered round it such Petersburg militia and local defence forces as were yet to advance. It was reported by the General Garnet that “my heart swelled with pride as the Petersburg hospitals emptied of every man that could walk and demand a rifle, as they sought to join us to repel the invader”.​

Deploying the militia on either side of Garnet’s Brigade, Johnson marched his troops directly out of the city and hit Foster’s leading division, Ferry’s, in the flank around Battery L. Ferry’s men had marched hard for days and their morale was still fragile. The leading brigade crumpled under Johnson’s attack.​

The dawn attack by Naglee's Skirmish line​

Reynolds was with Foster now and both were quick to spur Palmer to the support of Ferry. Having driven Ferry’s troops over the battery walls, Johnson and Garnet then had to deal with a spirited and well directed counterattack by Palmer… In the course of the attack Reynolds, Foster and Palmer all had their horses shot underneath them…Edward Johnson, again found himself in the thick of the fighting and Garnet had his aide take Johnson’s horse’s bridal and led him from the battle lines. Thus Johnson was in the rear to receive General Mackall and direct his troops into support Garnet…”

From “The Life and Letters of John J. Peck” by John Watts de Peyster Jr.
Buffalo 1892​

“I have never known a fight as fierce as that for Wise’s works beyond Fort Colston. I have observed that when matters come to the bayonet one side or the other invariably gives up before contact or right quick shortly thereafter. But here my boys went at it with a will and so to did the rebels - Virginians on their home soil and the worst of the fire-eating Carolinians. I do believe everyone of us had Robert Rhett in mind every time we attacked…​

Every time we gained a foothold in the works the rebels got up reinforcements…”​

From “The Battle of Petersburg” by Jasper Lee
Osprey 1987​

“Johnson then directed Echols’ and Montague’s brigades to assist Wise as they came up. They first had to march through the suburb of Blanchford to get to the outworks.​

The steady trickle of Confederate reinforcements coming down the rail from Richmond was just holding the tide of Reynolds’ attacks. It was noted by more than one rebel that “these were not the lambs that had come to the slaughter at the Blackwater, these were tigers, and they had got our works between their teeth and would not let go” (William W. Mackall)…​

General Reynolds was not prepared to let the struggle go on inevitably. His army had marched hard and he had his own silent concerns about its ability to withstand a contested retreat. The rebels were clearly gaining reinforcements in force. The sound of trains arriving in the city was audible beyond Battery J in the rare quiet moments. It was the first elements of Ewell’s Division coming up. Reynolds task was to assault Petersburg, and if he could not take it, and in truth he never expected he could, he was to draw troops there from Richmond’s garrison. Well he had achieved that. More importantly he must keep them there. The light of the day was failing when General Reynolds ordered his corps back to Forts Colston and Cobb. When the rebels did not pursue him he began to withdraw his troops, though still under sporadic artillery fire…​

Reynolds spent the night withdrawing his troops, but there would be no retreat to Suffolk. His outposts would be as far forward as Carrysville, but his main fortified camp would be at Fort Powhatan. Reynolds, having threatened and blooded the Petersburg Garrison, meant to prowl nearby to keep them on their guard…”​

 

[CobiWann]

I smell a feint. Reynolds holds the Rebel reserves in place while Kearny swings through for a sucker punch...

 

[TheKnightIrish]

Chapter Twenty Nine

Lee Prepares​

From “Kearny the Magnificent” by Roger Galton
NorthWestern

"Reynolds dispatched confirmation of his intention to attack 31 hours before the assault was launched. Kearny received the confirmation but his own plan was already in progress.

The reorganised cavalry now “closed” the fords over the Chickahominy River. The injury to Wynn Davidson had left Kearny without a cavalry commander. Kearny had chosen John Buford for the post. The battered III Division under Davis was transferred to the Department of the Shenandoah. In return Buford received fresh cavalry from the Shenandoah and newly raised regiments.

• I Division under Devin with the brigades of Kellogg and Gamble;
• II Division under Pleasanton with the brigades of Averell and Custer;
• IV Division under Wyndham with the brigades of Duffie and di Cesnola; and
• A new V Division under David McM. Gregg with the brigades of Merritt and John I. Gregg.

Colonel Custer of Kearny's staff is promoted Brigadier General​

With eight brigades at his disposal Buford was able to close the north bank of the river to Confederate scouts. Buford’s troops on the Chickahominy were backed up in force by Sedgwick who had moved east, setting up his headquarters at Cold Harbor. Meade was not far behind in a forward position at Mechanicsville. Von Steinwehr continued to hold the line of Deep Run north of Richmond…"

From “The Gray Fox – Robert E. Lee” by R. Southey-Freeman
Orange & West 1958

"However the last reports Lee received, coupled with what his troops could see from various points of high ground suggested that Kearny was shifting east. Although Stuart was prevented from patrolling north of the river by Buford, Lee continued to received intelligence from enterprising civilians. IV Corps had been reinforced with fresh troops and with V Corps were moving east. These were now Kearny’s freshest corps – IV Corps had barely gotten into the fight at Ashland and V Corps had only seen a limited amount of action, since the Seven days Campaign the previous year, at the Battle of Oak Grove. Lee could expect them to be at the forefront of any attack…

Furthermore a shift by Kearny to Lee’s right made sense to Lee. It would be much easier for Kearny to obtain his supplies by sea than by the tortuous overland route that his supply trains were now taking through the hostile territory of northern Virginia. It would also permit better co-ordination with the Army of the James…

Lee confirmed to President Davis that he believed Kearny was shifting his forces to the east. The South could expect to again fight on the old battlefields of the Seven Days Campaign. On that ground Lee intended to remind Kearny of his previous successes...

Lee shifted Jackson’s troops to the right. He intended to strike Kearny as soon as he received confirmation that Kearny had begun to cross the Chickahominy. Temporarily divided by the river there may be an opportunity to defeat Kearny in detail or at least a substantial portion of the Army of the Potomac…

Lee’s concerns are recorded by Isaac Trimble when that officer was able to provide Lee with the latest Union newspapers. John F. Reynolds had been appointed to command the Army of the James. Lee knew General Reynolds from the old army and had a great deal of respect for that officer. As a precautionary measure Edward Johnson’s Division, which remained independent of the corps system, was placed in reserve in Manchester on the south side of the river, by the station, in order to facilitate its quick deployment to Petersburg if required. Dick Ewell’s Division formed Jackson’s reserve within the city (though its unspoken purpose was to maintain order within the unsettled city limits)…"

 

[TheKnightIrish]

Chapter Thirty

Kearny Moves​

From “The Gray Fox – Robert E. Lee” by R. Southey-Freeman
Orange & West 1958

“The arrival of pontoons on the north bank clinched it for Lee. Although there were many fords through the Chickahominy River, these were all now defended or overlooked by defensive works and artillery batteries. Pontoons meant that Kearny planned to cross at a point of his own making thus minimizing prepared opposition…

When Colston’s note arrived Lee dispatched Edward Johnson and Ewell immediately. He also placed the Army of Northern Virginia on its guard. He ordered that General Cobb do likewise for the independent Richmond garrison troops…

Lee informed Jackson that he could expect a movement on the right at any time. Jackson’s orders were to vigorously oppose any crossing of the Chickahominy. To that end Shanks Evans’ independent division was transferred from Longstreet’s reserve to Jackson, ostensibly to replaced Ewell’s troops…”

From “Kearny the Magnificent” by Roger Galton
NorthWestern

“At noon on 4th June the massed artillery of the Army of the Potomac opened up on the Confederate defences. Forts Davis, Randolph and Jackson were the subject of long range bombardment. The less substantial works opposite the fords were the subject of a terrific hail of shot and shell. Kearny had placed the entire artillery train of the Army of the Potomac, including heavy siege pieces, at the disposal of General Henry Hunt to employ as he saw proper in the attack…"

One of Hunt's artillery batteries​

From “The Gray Fox – Robert E. Lee” by R. Southey-Freeman
Orange & West 1958

"Meade was making a serious demonstration at Mechanicsville, but it was clearly the troops on Sedgwick’s front who were spearheading the attack. Sykes regulars were seeking to cross at Foot Bridge, Duane's Brigade and Woodbury's Bridge with Butterfield's Division in reserve. Humphrey's Division was trying to cross near Savage Station (Sumner's Upper and Lower Bridges). Wyndham was crossing in support further east at Bottom Bridge which had not been destroyed as Lee had ordered...

Field's Division hammers Sykes small bridgehead​

McM. Gregg's and Devin's Divisions of Cavalry maintained contact between Sedgwick and Meade...

Jackson already had Field's four brigades on the move from Fair Oaks Station to halt Sykes' attempt to cross. D.H. Hill's five brigades were on the Williamsburg Stage Road to Savage Station to deal with Humphrey. The rumors that the Federals had cavalry support caused Lee to detach Wade Hampton's Brigade and send it east to Jackson.

A.P. Hill, he dispatched with his five brigades to support Field. Only Evans' division remained in reserve on the New Bridge Road as Jackson awaited developments on his flank. Cobb's Heavy Artillery regiments and local defence forces occupied Forts Randolph, Jackson and Hill...

To Lee's astonishment the Federal troops north of Brook Run (XI Corps) began to maneuver a little after 3o'clock as though they too were about to launch an attack in support of Meade. Such an attack would be suicide for the attacking troops as Forts Winder, Davis and Randolph had the two maintain axis of advance (the Brook Turnpike and the Virginia Central Railroad line) covered. In General Longstreet's words "if every Union soldier between here and Washington comes at my lines I will kill them all. A chicken could not survive on that ground". Nonetheless Lee was supremely cautious and urged Longstreet not to hold too strong a reserve at the cost of his forward lines.

With the assistance of Cobb's Heavy Artillery Regiments Anderson held the lines around Fort Davis, Pickett those of Fort Winder, Walker occupied Fort Lee and Johnson, while Hood and his four under strength brigades remained in reserve at their fortified camp near the Tollgate...

As the afternoon wore into evening neither Von Steinwehr nor Meade pressed their positions beyond skirmishing. However Jackson reported that Sedgwick's attempt to cross was in earnest. The fire from the Federal artillery had not slackened one bit and more than a few rebels were glad that Lee had forced them to take up the spade over the last 6 weeks...

As twilight fell Von Steinwehr and Meade launched attacks in force on their fronts. Barlow tried to advance down the Turnpike, while Devens and Schimmelfennig attempted to push down the railroad. In conjunction with that attack Meade launched his own. His divisional commanders Newton, Wadsworth and the newly arrived Gershom Mott all sought to establish their own pontoon crossings, each under the guns of Fort Randolph. The guns of Fort Randolph "seemed to glow in the night after the first few hours firing" according to one heavy artilleryman...

Barlow's Division advances into a hail of artillery fire​

The twilight-night attack would diminish the effectiveness of Richmond's defensive artillery, but only a little. The lines of advance were clear to the Confederate artillery even in the dark, and many choke points had been pre-sighted. In the dark though Lee, Jackson and Longstreet had difficulty assessing where on the line Kearny had committed his strength, but all three were confident of repelling the attack. "These people are divided and attacking piecemeal again. Kearny is, after all, no different from the other Yankee plodders" was General Field's view..."

 

[Corder]

With 6 Corps and Pleasanton/Averill/Custer not yet committed or even located, the Gray Fox may be a bit premature in his optimism.

This is awesome and the latest map is great.

 

[TheKnightIrish]

Chapter Thirty-One​

The Battle for Richmond
Part I - Stuart's Surprise​

From “Kearny the Magnificent” by Roger Galton
NorthWestern​

“The cavalry brigades of Averell and Custer (who commanded 4 fresh Michigan regiments) were thrown out to the north west of Richmond across the Deep Run and Plank Roads. Their apparent purpose was to prevent a break out by rebel cavalry into Kearny’s rear while the attack was in place. The two brigades had not behaved aggressively during the day and had instead maintained a respectful distance. Anyone who discovered that Kearny’s former “officer at large”, George Armstrong Custer, commanded one of those supine brigades would have been immediately suspicious…”​

From “A Thunderbolt on the Battlefield – the Battles of Philip Kearny: Volume III” by Professor Kearny Bowes
MacArthur University Press 1962​

“Kearny had given clear instructions to his commanders. Reynolds was to attack Petersburg aggressively and draw troops away from Richmond. Sedgwick was to act the part of the spearhead of the Army of the Potomac as he sought to force a crossing of the Chickahominy River downstream of Richmond. Both von Steinwehr and Meade, in more difficult positions, were to launch twilight attacks (to minimise casualties) on Richmond’s northern and north eastern defences. Lee’s attention and strength would be deflected from the west…​

The bulk of the army was instead hunkered down near Hungry Run, Deep Run and beyond, having marched in a circuitous route first east then north and finally circling back to the west behind Pleasanton’s cavalry division. Pleasanton’s forward pickets were as far forward as Ridge Chapel, but keeping a low profile…​

Kearny was about to attempt the most difficult of all military operations – a night attack in force. The plan looked simple on paper. There would be three axis of advance:

• Mansfield’s XII Corps and Hancock’s I Corps were to march from Hungry Branch, directly along the Potomac Railroad line, to attack Fort Winder. It was a narrow front on which to advance so Mansfield would lead the attack in a column of divisions: Augur in front, with Williams and Greene in turn. Hancock’s Corps would follow in support.
• Hooker’s III Corps and Reno’s IX Corps were to march along the Deep Run Road. Their instructions were to “ignore Fort Winder” and press on to attack any inner works with a view to getting into the city. This was a broader front on which to advance: Whipple and Sickles would lead, Birney and Sturgis would follow, with Stevens and Wilcox in the rear.
• Finally Richardson’s II Corps and Baldy Smith’s VI Corps would attack down the axis of the Plank Road. Hays and Gibbon leading with Warren in reserve, then Stoneman (Smith’s freshest division) followed by Howe and Rodman in reserve. This column would have to deal with Forts Lee and Johnson head on, all the while exposed on its flank to the potential fire of Fort French on the south bank of the James.

Manfield's column and Smith's column were both support by armed pioneer battalions. For the first time armed negros were being deliberately deployed into battle...

Kearny believed he was finally in a position to follow his own advice – he would put the whole army into action against Richmond…”​

Augur's Division advances towards Fort Winder​

From "The Dashing Cavalier - J.E.B. Stuart in Three Wars" by Maximilian P. Stuart
Sword and Musket 1996​

“Even in the midst of a confused night attack on his northern outposts and Jackson’s counterattack on Sedgwick, Lee saw an opportunity. With Kearny’s focus in the east, Lee would release Stuart and his remaining three brigades to wreak havoc in the rear of the Federal forces as he had done during the Seven Days Campaign. Hampton’s Brigade would remain in support of Jackson but the two Lees and Grumble Jones would lead their brigades west along the Plank Road several miles before swinging north. Stuart rode out just after midnight…”​

From “A Thunderbolt on the Battlefield – the Battles of Philip Kearny: Volume III” by Professor Kearny Bowes
MacArthur University Press 1962​

“All Corps commanders had had the same "lecture" (Smith) from Kearny. Not one firearm was to be loaded when the advance had begun. One misfire, one nervous boy and the whole plan could unravel. In truth as much as he feared discovery, Kearny’s biggest fear was that in the dark his army would commence fighting itself as the three advancing formations approached one another as their various axis of advance converged.​

“It the dark gentlemen the bayonet is best. You can be sure of your man in every sense” was Kearny’s advice to Smith and Richardson. “Make sure every division commander knows it. Every brigade commander. Every officer. I want the sergeants looking for defaulters before the attack begins”. Nothing was to be left to chance…​

With the cacophony of Hunt’s night time artillery barrage still ringing throughout Richmond and the surrounding countryside, Kearny’s 3 columns set off just after midnight. Each leading brigade was guided by a number of cavalrymen from Pleasanton’s command who had ridden over and walked the ground in the dark over the last three successive nights…”​

From "The Dashing Cavalier - J.E.B. Stuart in Three Wars" by Maximilian P. Stuart
Sword and Musket 1996​

“Walking cavalry over a bad road at night is never an easy undertaking. Particularly when you are endeavouring to be silent in doing it. Little did Grumble Jones, who was leading Stuart’s troopers down the Plank Road, realize his task was to be made impossible as he stumbled into the leading brigade of Alexander Hay’s Division of Richardson’s Corps. What followed was a race as Hay’s infantrymen sought to rush the dismounted troopers with the bayonet, while Jones’ dismounted officers and men fired off such guns as they had loaded while trying to mount and ride back down the road to escape the danger. “It is easy to underestimate how close the rebel horsemen came to our advancing line before either force saw the other. My leading troops could reach out and grab the rebels” (Alexander Hays)…​

From “The Battle for Richmond” by James Myles Davies
New York 1997​

“The firing put the whole of Richardson’s Corps on edge, but in truth it sounded like a skirmish between cavalry outposts. Indeed when Jones rode back to find Stuart, the cavalry commander was sceptical. Stuart and Jones were not on good terms but as another southern cavalryman noted Jones “was an old army officer, brave as a lion and had seen much service, and was known as a hard fighter… he held the fighting qualities of the enemy in great contempt, and never would admit the possibility of defeat where the odds against him were not much over two to one” (General John Imboden). For Jones to have come racing down the line should have been warning enough for Stuart…​

Stuart was shaking out the brigades of Fitzhugh Lee and WHL. Lee into a firing line when out of the darkness loomed a line of blue troops than disappeared into the darkness on both flanks. It came at Stuart silently with bayonets fixed. “Of the attacks I have faced it was the only one I would describe as unnerving. The Yankees had clearly been ordered not to fire or cheer and so came at us silently at the double quick to get to bayonet length” (Fitzhugh Lee). The southerners were under no such orders and promptly opened fire…​

Hays' line advances​

A fighting retreat by cavalry is no easy maneuver. Rather it is a series of difficult movements subject to split second timing. Added to that Stuart had to try to carry out his fighting withdrawal at night. The advantage to Stuart’s men of carbines (taken mainly from the Federals at Yellow Tavern) versus bayonets was soon lost as Hays authorized his leading two brigades to open fire. Stuart decided to give up the contest and retreat to the Confederate works, he still had no idea of the numbers he was facing but knew that they had quickly overlapped his flanks each time he had paused...​

He had however the presence of mind to send an urgent warning to Lee. “Federal infantry on the Plank Road in force and advancing aggressively. Numbers unknown – I estimate at least a division. Fire from Federals is forcing my withdrawal to our works. I have by separate dispatch alerted Generals Longstreet and Walker…”​

 

[Unknown]

Six weeks and over 53,000 words, TheKnightIrish. The level of detail rivals that of Wolf_Brother's timeline.

Keep this up.

Methinks the Battle of Richmond might be house-to-house fighting.

Can't wait to see what happens in the western theater.

This is one of the best Civil War TLs on the board and should win a Turtledove, IMO.

I wonder how the French invasion of Mexico will go in TTL?

 

[TheKnightIrish]

The next instalment is a couple of days away - my folks are visiting this weekend.

 

[Unknown]

Will be waiting for it, TheKnightIrish.

 

[Corder]

Battle of Ashland

So what do we think of Kearny so far?

I like the 'Battle of Ashland' element. I can't decide if Kearny won an important victory that drove Lee back to the Richmond defences or whether Kearny missed an opportunity to crush an isolated Longstreet. Thoughts?

(I am looking forward to more Western updates).

 

[CobiWann]

So what do we think of Kearny so far?

I like the 'Battle of Ashland' element. I can't decide if Kearny won an important victory that drove Lee back to the Richmond defences or whether Kearny missed an opportunity to crush an isolated Longstreet. Thoughts?

(I am looking forward to more Western updates).

I think Kearny "gets" how the Union should fight. He's not trying to get in Lee's head, he's making Lee react to him. He's bringing force from different directions and sacrificing it to better his chance at victory.

 

[Corder]

So far he hasn't authorised any mad daylight head-on charges so far so he's Grant plus in my book.

 

[TheKnightIrish]

I'm back and the next update will follow today - Kearny's night time assault on Richmond reaches its climax...

 

[Whanztastic]

I'm really interested in this TL but I'm having a hard time following (no offense to the detail level!). Anybody care to summarize?

Also, anything about Sherman?

 

[Corder]

Let's see: The East

McClellan died on the USS Galena which hit a mine around the Battle of Malvern Hill. Porter was temporarily left in command of the Army of the Potomac (AoP). The Second Bull Run campaign happens differently. Pope and the Army of Virginia still gets caught by Lee but with his back to the Rappahannock this time. Philip Kearny with leading elements of the AoP saves the AoV and drives off Lee.

Lincoln replaces Porter with Kearny. Kearny reforms the AoP. The Army of the James (AoJ) gets formed sooner as well with Butler in charge. Kearny uses the end of 1862 to secure the Shenandoah, flanking Lee's defensive lines on the Rappahannock and Rapidan.

1863 sees Kearny and Butler go on the offensive. Lee takes a risk, leaving Longstreet to slow down Kearny's advance on Richmond, and attack Butler. The AoJ is properly whipped. Lee gets back to Longstreet in time to save him but Kearny wins the Battle of Ashland and forces Lee back into the Richmond defences.

John F Reynolds has replaced Butler and the AoJ is now threatening Petersburg and all by mid-May/June 1863.

The Emancipation Proclamation was delayed several months. Also Union officers (very senior ones) have been executed by the Rebs for leading Afriacan American troops into battle. The Union has carried out relatitory executions.

The Heartland

Bragg has been given command of the West and has made his HQ with Pemberton at Vicksburg. This has left Hardee in charge of the Army of Tennessee. The Rebels have won significant victories over Rosecrans at Mount Vernon (under Bragg) and Duck River (under Hardee). Rosecrans is stuck north of Duck River - there has been no dramatic Tullahoma Campaign - the Rebs have blocked him at every turn.

The West

The butterflies haven't effect Grant and Sherman much yet. But the southern forces in the Army of the Mississippi are larger (Bragg demanded and got troops from Arkansas) and has different leadership - Bragg and Pemberton have a Grant/Meade style relationship at the head of the army. The army also has two formal corps now I think - Magruder's and Loring's (?I might be wrong on that one).

Europe

The executions in the Eastern theatre by the rebs has turned a divided European opinion against the Confederacy completely.

That's it so far I think...

 

[Whanztastic]

Awesome, thanks!