“GITTIN STUFF” the Impact of Equipment Management, Supply & Logistics on Confederate Defeat
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“GITTIN STUFF” The Impact of Equipment Management, Supply & Logistics on Confederate Defeat BY FRED SETH, CPPM, CF, HARBOUR LIGHTS CHAPTER “They never whipped us, Sir, unless they were four to one. had been captured. For four years they had provided equipment and supplies from If we had had anything like a fair chance, or less disparity of Europe to support the Confederacy and its numbers, we should have won our cause and established our armies. Since the beginning of the war, independence.” UNKNOWN VIRGINIAN TO ROBERT E. LEE.1 Wilmington, North Carolina had been a preferred port of entry for blockade-run- ners because Cape Fear provided two entry the destruction or capture of factories and channels, which gave ships a greater oppor- PREFACE farms in the Deep South and Richmond. tunity for escape and evasion. Also, rail fter defeat in the Civil War, known by The lack of rations at Amelia Court House, lines ran directly from Wilmington to A some in the South as “The War of which has been called the immediate cause Richmond and Atlanta.4 Northern Aggression,” Southerners were in of Lee’s surrender, is examined in detail. By the fall of 1864, Wilmington was a quandary regarding their willingness for Most importantly, the article addresses how one of the most important cities in the war. As discussed in the first article of this the inability of its leaders to conduct pro- Confederacy – it was the last operating series, the North had the overwhelming ductive logistics, equipment, and supply port. Confederate armies depended on advantage in industrial capability and man- management led to the decline and ulti- Wilmington for lead, iron, copper, steel, power. If defeat was inevitable, then why mately, the defeat of the Confederacy. arms, saltpeter, cloth, food, shoes and The article title also contains “Gittin’ did Southerners risk everything by going to leather. Lee advised President Davis in Stuff,” a term credited to controversial war? Later Southern romantics would char- 1863 that, “Wilmington ought to be Confederate General Nathan Bedford For- defended to the last extremity.”5 Fort Fisher acterize the War as, “a battle of bludgeon rest. He used it to describe logistics, the guarded the Cape Fear channel south of against rapier and of machinery against laborious process of procuring necessary Wilmington, because keeping it open for chivalry, in which the knight-errant was items, storing them until ready for use and critical shipments from Europe was impera- bound to be run over by the locomotive, if finally distributing supplies and equipment tive. Fort Fisher, the South’s most powerful not overthrown by the windmill.”2 among the soldiers or users.3 fortification, had acquired the nickname Despite limited resources, many histori- I wish to thank my editors, Barbara “Goliath of the Confederacy.” Its guns were ans have rejected the notion that the South Seth, Jim Dieter and Tom Williams for protected by mounds of sand and its was predetermined to lose. In a major work their critical reviews, editorial skills and defenders by bombproof shelters dug into published in 1960, Why the North Won the wise counsel. Thanks also go to Dr. Doug the sand. The Union recognized its value Civil War, a number of distinguished histo- Goetz who has been so supportive, Judy and planned a massive joint operation rians argued that the South could have Fallon for her wonderful layouts, and the against this defensive stronghold. won, if it had conducted the war more many Property Professional readers who have Major General Benjamin Butler, a con- effectively. In a more recent work (1986), encouraged me to write these articles. troversial political appointee, was the Why the South Lost, equally distinguished Union landing force commander. Rated historians came to the same conclusion. Destruction of one of the ten worst generals of the war by This third article covers the events lead- The Civil War for Dummies, he suggested ing up to the collapse of the Confederacy Supply Sources blowing up an old flat-bottomed ship, the and the impact of equipment management, s 1864 ended, Union General Win- Louisiana, after floating it towards Fort supply support and logistics on its defeat. It Afield Scott’s “Anaconda Plan,” which Fisher loaded with tons of explosives.6 The describes the strategic loss of Wilmington, included the blockade of the Southern detonators failed so candles and a slow the last port providing supplies to Robert coastline, had nearly achieved its goal. By match were used to ignite wood to set it E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, and years end most of the ports in the South off.7 The explosion was loud, accompanied 8 PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL Volume 18 Issue 2 by much black smoke, but succeeded only fired across the bow that did not dissuade Confederate agents in Europe, receiving in waking the defenders. The next day, the ship from landing. The ship landed at word of the fall of the South’s last port, Christmas Eve 1864, under the command the dock and was swarmed by Union ended their operations and departed for of Admiral David Porter, fifty-six U. S. troops. Ironically, the Union army, rather home, leaving their orders and debts Navy ships armed with more than 600 than the navy, captured the first Confeder- behind them. Poorly organized, badly guns began a bombardment of Fort Fisher. ate ship lost during the battle.10 On Janu- instructed, and short of funds, the agents During the amphibious landing, Butler’s ary 15th, Union troops assaulted the earth- had kept Southern armies in the field for second-in-command, Major General God- works several times, with the gallant four years, without formal recognition of frey Weitzel, was skeptical of Porter’s claim defenders finally succumbing to an over- the Confederacy from the nations where that the fort was ready to surrender. He whelmingly greater force of Federal sol- they served.12 With their departure, the last confirmed his concerns, finding it largely diers, sailors and Marines. The remaining foreign lifeline of the Confederacy was per- intact with well-entrenched defenders. Confederates retreated to Wilmington and manently closed, and Robert E. Lee’s Army Learning of anticipated Confederate rein- it was soon captured, dealing a deathblow of Northern Virginia had lost its most forcements of 6,000, Butler withdrew his to Lee’s army and the Confederacy. The important source of supply. force without much of a fight, Fort Fisher New York Tribune declared, “Fort Fisher After October 1864, the Confederate held and Butler’s military career came to an was the strongest fort in the South.” .. Government had bought $45 million worth ignominious end.8 added, “This success is of first impor- of supplies on credit. The Confederate pur- A larger force attacked on January 13, tance…It involves the loss to the rebels of chasing agent, Fraser, Trenholm and Com- 1865, executing perhaps the most brilliant their principal port.”11 To make matters pany, was unable to pay off the debt. As a amphibious landing of the War, and cap- worse, Wilmington provided the Union a result, corporate partner and the last Con- turing the Fort two days later.9 The second support base for Sherman’s invasion of federate Secretary of the Treasury, George assault featured a more effective artillery North Carolina in March 1865. Alfred Trenholm, was imprisoned for four barrage that focused on the fort’s land After the capture of Wilmington, Con- years. The Federal government seized his based artillery, knocking out all but a few federate import/export activities ceased per- personal property, allegedly to pay import cannon. As the Union forces prepared for manently, along with purchasing operations duties on the wartime shipments of his com- the assault, Fort commander Colonel in Europe. Supply offices in Bermuda and panies.13 Afterwards, like his fictional coun- William Lamb observed the Confederate Nassau were closed permanently. Confeder- terpart Rhett Butler, he reestablished his supply ship Isaac Wells heading towards ate supplies stored there were returned to business and helped with the rebuilding of Craig’s Landing, which was already occu- England, and government-owned blockade Charleston. His reputation and financial sta- pied by Federal forces. A warning shot was running ships sailed back to English ports. tus restored, he died in 1876.14 The Pulpit, Fort Fisher, NC , Courtesy National Archives Volume 18 Issue 2 PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL 9 GITTIN STUFF Meanwhile in the deep South, Confed- columns, the right towards Augusta and the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, a significant erate industry was taking a beating. In left down the Macon railroad. After a week railroad hub south of Richmond. November 1864, General William Tecum- pillaging factories, mills, railroads and Early in the siege, Lieutenant Colonel seh Sherman began his march through bridges, the two columns met at the Geor- Henry Pleasants proposed a unique idea to Georgia, destroying cities, businesses, rail- gia capital, Milledgeville. After his arrival, break the stalemate. Pleasants, a Pennsylva- roads and plantations in his wake. As docu- local citizens confronted Sherman, request- nia mining engineer, suggested digging a mented in Hard Tack and Coffee, John D. ing that he spare the town and its local fac- long T-shaped tunnel under the Confeder- Billings’ 1888 bestseller, Sherman’s army of tory. Since the factory was under the total ate lines and filling it with 8,000 pounds of sixty thousand was well supplied by a control of Governor Joe Brown, who was gunpowder. With the tunnel in place, on wagon train exceeding twenty-five hundred already negotiating a separate peace with July 30, 1864, Pleasants lit the fuse but wagons and six hundred ambulances.