CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS℠ April 2015 NEWSLETTER Issue No.33 www.CivilWarHeritageTrails.org South Carolina Wilson’s Raid Along the Trails Upcoming Events

“Wilson’s Raid” The Final Battles

Saturday, April 1, 1865 - The Battle of Ebenezer Church (aka Bogler’s Creek) occurs in present day Chilton County, Alabama. Confederate Lieutenant General Nathan B. Forrest, with fewer than 2,000 men… Continued on Page 2

City Hall in Macon, GA, located at the end of Wilson’s Raid Along the Trails: New interpretive markers along the March to the Sea Heritage Trail ®

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New Georgia Markers Upcoming Events Upcoming Civil War Events in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina AL - 150th and March to the GA - Last Fort to Fall Sea Brochures SC -Fort Sumter Flag Re-raising

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“Wilson’s Raid” Part II Historical Timeline April 1865

by Norman Dasinger, Jr.

Saturday, April 1, 1865 - The Battle of Ebenezer Church (aka Bogler’s Creek) occurs in present day Chilton County, Alabama. Confederate Lieutenant General Nathan B. Forrest, with fewer than 2,000 men, loses 300 prisoners to Union Brigadier General James H. Wilson’s 9,000+ cavalrymen. The Confederates are forced to retreat south to Selma when anticipated reinforcements do not arrive. General Forrest is wounded during the fight, yet still manages to slay an officer in the 17th Indiana Mounted Infantry Regiment, his 33rd and final personal kill during the war. Other skirmishes occur near Randolph, Maplesville, Plantersville, Centerville and Trion in central Alabama.

Union Brigadier General Confederate Lieutenant General James H. Wilson Nathan B. Forrest (after promotion to Major General)

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Sunday, April 2, 1865 - Selma, Alabama, with some of the few remaining operational manufacturing facilities in the Confederacy, is attacked by General Wilson’s overwhelming numbers. General Forrest’s Confederates occupy six miles of well-built entrenchments encircling the town. But with only 3,000 men Forrest cannot stop the advance of Wilson’s much larger force who break Confederate lines thirty minutes after their initial assault. By late afternoon the battle becomes a rout. Forrest and most of his staff escape east along the Burnsville Road, but without 2,700 of his men and 40 cannon captured by Wilson’s men.

Tuesday, April 4, 1865 - Union Brigadier General John T. Croxton orders his brigade, which is operating separately from General Wilson’s main body, to burn the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. After failing to halt Croxton’s advance, cadets at the military school headquartered at the university evacuate and march toward Marion, Alabama, led by T. J. Murfree, a former student of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s at the Virginia Military Institute.

The Quad at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, burned on April 4, 1865

Thursday, April 6, 1865 - Generals Forrest and Wilson meet at the Crocheron House in Cahaba, near Selma. They discuss prisoners but eventually enjoy some brandy and cigars and talk about military life. Forrest subsequently leads his tattered force to Marion, Alabama, where they await further orders. Wilson returns to Selma to oversee the destruction of its war-making facilities.

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The Crocheron House in Cahaba, Alabama. It burned in the early 20th century; only its columns survive today.

Monday, April 10, 1865 - General Wilson’s confident cavalrymen leave Selma for Montgomery, Alabama’s capital city. Before leaving Selma the Federals destroy the Selma Arsenal, Naval Foundry, Selma Iron Works, Nitre Works, Gun Powder Mills and Magazines plus smaller gun factories, ironworks and foundries. Nearly 200 homes and buildings are burned, while 45 siege guns, 60,000 rounds of artillery and three railroad engines are destroyed. Skirmishes occur at Lowndesborough and Benton, Alabama.

Wednesday, April 12, 1865 - General Wilson’s force approaches Montgomery with little opposition. They accept the surrender of the city from its mayor. Alabama’s port city of Mobile surrenders on this same day to another Federal army.

Friday, April 14, 1865 - Wilson’s cavalrymen skirmish briefly near Tuskegee, Alabama, as they ride toward the important Confederate manufacturing facilities in Columbus, Georgia.

Easter Sunday, April 16, 1865 - Union Colonel Oscar H. La Grange leads a brigade of nearly 4,000 cavalrymen, part of General Wilson’s overall force, to attack an earthen fortification in West Point, Georgia, manned by approximately 200 ill-equipped Confederates. The Southerners are commanded by Brigadier General Robert C. Tyler, who is killed in the brief fight. That same evening and into the overnight hours General Wilson and the bulk of his force conduct a rare night attack against Confederate defensive positions on the west side of in Girard (now Phenix City), Alabama. The Confederate forces are commanded by former U.S. Speaker of the House, Major General Howell Cobb. After some initial success in slowing Wilson’s attack the number and experience of the Federal troopers overwhelm Cobb’s men and the battle becomes a rout. Before the night ends Wilson’s command crosses the river into Columbus, Georgia.

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Confederate Major General Howell Cobb

Monday, April 17, 1865 - General Wilson’s soldiers destroy all of the war-making capabilities of Columbus including the incomplete CSS Jackson, an ironclad ram still under construction.

The remains of the CSS Jackson are on display at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia.

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Tuesday, April 18, 1865 - Upon completing their destruction of Columbus’s war-making facilities Wilson’s cavalrymen continue riding east, heading toward Macon, Georgia.

Thursday, April 20, 1865 - Encountering little Confederate opposition, General James H. Wilson’s main force enters Macon, Georgia. Confederate General Howell Cobb and four subordinate generals surrender the city at Macon City Hall, which is being used as a temporary state capitol building. Wilson subsequently writes to Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, “I have the best cavalry and best cavalry officers in America.”

City Hall in Macon, Georgia

Friday, April 21, 1865 - Shortly after destroying most of the University of Alabama campus on April 4th, Brigadier General John T. Croxton begins moving his brigade east. Temporarily out of communications with General Wilson, Croxton’s force acquires the moniker of the “Lost Brigade.” Yet they are only separated, not “lost,” as they arrive at Talladega, Alabama.

Sunday, April 23, 1865 - Croxton’s brigade easily defeats a 500-man Confederate force north of Talladega, and proceeds to destroy the Oxford Iron Works near present-day Anniston, Alabama.

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Monday, April 24, 1865 - Part of General Croxton’s force sacks Jacksonville and Blue Mountain, Alabama. They hang a local citizen, in error, for firing on Federals entering the area.

Meanwhile, Confederate President and most of his cabinet members are in Charlotte, North Carolina. They will soon enter South Carolina and continue traveling south toward Georgia.

To be continued…..

↓ CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ↓ War Days

Old Clinton, GA Union Brigadier General John T. Croxton Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3

Eufaula Pilgrimage GA Civil War SC Civil War 150 Eufaula, AL Sesquicentennial

Follow the Civil War Heritage Trails * www.CivilWarHeritageTrails.org ** Facebook ** Twitter ** YouTube ** Pinterest CIVILCIVIL WAR WAR HERITAGE HERITAGE TRAILS TRAILS PAGE PAGE 8 8 “Along the Trails” New interpretive markers along the March to the Sea Heritage Trail ® http://civilwarheritagetrails.org/ga-civil-war-trails-map/ga-march-to-the-sea.html

Marker at Old Church - Kitty’s Cottage - Springtime in Oxford Oxford GA: “Old Church” (#L3), GPS: 33.6252, -83.8709

Marker Near Confederate Monument - Covington Square - Newton County Courthouse Covington GA: “Covington Square” (#L4), GPS: 33.5965, -83.8601

Installing New Marker - “Centreville” Marker - Jersey Community Building Jersey GA: “Centreville” (#L6), GPS: 33.7172, -83.7997

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Alabama: 150th Anniversary Battle of Selma Reenactment - Thursday through Sunday, April 23 through 26, Battlefield Park, 5 Marina Drive, Selma AL. One of the largest Civil War reenactments in Alabama. School day presentations on Thursday & Friday. Thursday evening writer’s forum; Friday night artillery firing and camp dance. Battles on Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm. Worship & memorial services Sunday morning. Sutlers, demonstrations, music, food & fun all weekend. Directions from Montgomery: U.S. Hwy. 80 west, then Business Route U.S. Hwy. 80 west into downtown Selma. Turn left onto AL Hwy. 22/Dallas Avenue, then proceed about one mile before turning left onto Marina Drive. Proceed a short distance to the site. Admission (on Saturday & Sunday): $7.00. 334-872-0901, www.battleofselma.com

Georgia: The Last Fort to Fall: The 150th Anniversary of the - Saturday, April 18, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Fort Tyler, West Point GA. On April 16, 1865, Union cavalry commanded by Colonel Oscar H. LaGrange attacked the earthen fort guarding the railroad and wagon bridges on the Chattahoochee River at West Point, Georgia. Among the soldiers who lost their lives that day was General Robert C. Tyler, the forts commander. This was the last Confederate fort to be captured during the Civil War thus giving Fort Tyler the distinction of being the “last fort to fall.” 150 years later soldiers will once again occupy the grounds of the fort. Activities will include musket drill, musket firing, soldier life demonstrations and tours of the fort. Experience the fort by candle light between 8:00 and 10:00 pm as it might have been the night before the battle and walk among the luminaries along the path. FREE admission. [email protected], www.forttyler.com

South Carolina: Fort Sumter to Commemorate End of the Civil War - April 10 through 14, Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie and Liberty Square, Charleston SC. Fort Sumter National Monument will host four days of events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the re-raising of the flag over Fort Sumter. Civil War reenactors will be stationed at Fort Sumter from April 11 to 14 and the 8th Regiment Band will perform period music at Fort Moultrie at 2:00 pm on April 11. Special evening excursions to Fort Sumter will be offered from April 10 to 12. Fort Sumter will also be illuminated during this period, and two spotlights at the fort symbolizing the division of the nation will come together as one. Additionally, a special exhibit entitled “Re-Union: The Re-Raising of the United States Flag Over Fort Sumter” may be viewed free of charge at the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square, located in downtown Charleston. Another component to this exhibit will be the inclusion of 3D images of the flag raising ceremony, which may be viewed at Liberty Square and at Fort Moultrie. Visitors will be provided the 3D glasses by park staff. Rates and schedule for daytime boats to Fort Sumter and the special evening excursions may be found at \www.fortsumtertours.com. Fort Moultrie is located at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island. Liberty Square is located at 340 Concord Street, Charleston. 843-883-3123, www.nps.gov/fosu

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