Turn 14 results- the first snow has fallen in Kentucky and Virginia just behind Grant’s advancing forces. For the Confederacy it is a turn of change. Supreme commander Cooper has been removed from command in Richmond and the first election cycle has taken place (+1 CSA morale) confirming Jefferson as President.
A battle took place in the
West at Memphis on day three:
The Battle of Memphis
Alarmed by Lyon’s rapid arrival from Covington, Johnston looked anxiously towards the Eastern rails by which he expected Polk’s command from Kentucky to arrive. Without these men he had small hopes of success. There had been a lull in the conflict; and at 2 P.M. it was announced they were not in sight. At that time the Confederates had 5,100 soldiers and thirty-two heavy guns in battle order on the plain outside Memphis. Lyon had arrived in the early hours and overwhelmed the town’s 900 man forward guard and entrenchments including 8 guns. He now turned his attention to Johnston and proceeded to attempt to drive him from his vantage ground.
To accomplish this, Morrell’s division of five brigades including men from Massachusetts, sharpshooters, Marines and the batteries of 1st, 2nd and 4th MO, and Waschman’s 10 and 12 Pounders advanced to turn the Confederate left, while Nelson was sent to annoy them on their right. General Wallace accompanied Lyon as his lieutenant in the field, and his divisions began the attack. Ricketts and Griffin advanced with their troops, and planted their batteries on an elevation that commanded the whole field, with the immediate support of Colonel Ellsworth's “Missouri Rifles” Zouaves, commanded by Colonel Farnham.
To the left of these batteries, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana troops took a position. As the artillery and the Zouaves were advancing, they were suddenly attacked on the flank by 150 men of the 12th Arkansas sharpshooters in ambush, and then by 1,800 Georgian and Tennessee Cavalry in the rear, and the Zouaves recoiled. At that moment Wallace ordered up a Michigan regiment to support the batteries, when the Con-federates in overwhelming force delivered a fire on these guns that disabled them by prostrating the men. Both sides suffered dreadfully. When Johnston heard of the slaughter, he exclaimed, "Oh, for four regiments!"
It was now three o'clock. His wish was more than gratified. Just then he saw a cloud of dust in the direction of the Henry Ferry Railroad. It was a part of Polk’s troops, 4,000 strong, from the river, under General D Ruggles. They were immediately ordered into action, when the Confederates, so reinforced, struck the Nationals a stunning blow, just as the latter were about to grasp the palm of victory. It was so unexpected, heavy, and overpowering that in fifteen minutes the Nationals were swept from the field.
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As regiment after regiment gave way, and hurried towards Covington in confusion, panic seized others, and at 4 P.M. the greater portion of the National army was flying across the plain towards Covington behind them over 2,000 men, killed, wounded, or made prisoners. The Confederates lost over 1,500. The nationals also lost many small-arms and a large quantity of munitions of war, and medicine and hospital supplies.
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Most importantly, Johnnycai had won an important defensive victory securing his left flank in Tennessee and allowing the construction of the ironclad Arkansas to complete. Polk had escaped from Grant, reinforced Johnston at a critical moment and won a great victory through the forgetfulness of Lieutenant-General McClellan in Cincinnati, who had given Grant positive directions by telegraph not to move until he should receive further orders. These the commanding general forgot to send! Grant knew of Polk’s movement, but his orders to wait were imperative. The first he heard of the disaster at Memphis was through a morning paper from Cincinnati sent by courier, on November 7.
Could’ve been first Bull Run, huh?
Elsewhere Johnnycai ‘s fortunes are not so fruitful. Federal troops are advancing all across the
Western front. Laredo in West Texas has fallen without a fight as the Texas Rangers fled before overwhelming numbers. Eastern Kentucky is now in Union hands as Mason falls to the 10th Ohio and 11 Indiana cav regiments. Union forces are now advancing on the Chattanooga rail line as third Wisconsin cav captures Overton Tennessee, at the foot of the valley leading to the rail junction at Knox Tennessee.
This news to the side, Manstein’s inactivity in the
East has led to siege at Ft Monroe as EK Smith’s command moves in just after Farragut’s massive fleet cleared the area. They have inflicted five hits on the fort.
In the Gulf shipping Lanes an engagement took place. Manstein’s Sixth Fleet has found the Huntress Squadron while en route to New Orleans inflicting 19 hits in exchange for one. Both the CSS Huntress and Aitkan were sent to the bottom. Confederate raiders have sunk 18 Union money. The Union merchant marine returns 22 money and zero war supply. Confederate blockade runners return 13 money and three war supply.
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