We’ve covered the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg, checked in on the Army of Tennessee in Vicksburg and visited a little creek in Oklahoma called Cabin with the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry. But what was the Army of the Cumberland and a future president named Garfield up to in July 1863? Let’s make a stop in Tullahoma, Tennessee, population in the 2020 census 20, 665. It wasn’t that big in July 1863, but it played its part in the saving of the Union.
In June of 1863, the Confederate General Bragg was running around Tennessee. Yes, that Bragg, the one where a base was just renamed to take his name off it. General Rosecrans of the Army of the Cumberland had orders to find him. Rosecrans was dithering like most Union generals of the time (except Grant). He had the yips, firmly convinced a fight against Bragg would not go well short of overwhelming numbers on the Union side. His Aide, one General James A. Garfield from Ohio was staunchly Union and considered slavery an abomination. He was all for finding Bragg and crushing him utterly.
Rosecrans had a staff meeting. The general view was to wait to see what happened in Vicksburg. Garfield realized waiting for Vicksburg meant there was time to reinforce Bragg when troops were no longer needed to break Pemberton out of Vicksburg. Garfield plead his case in a letter that very well could have ended his military career and even his political one*. He pointed out that the US Government wanted an army that actually fought, not sat around worrying. He also pointed out that the country needed a victory for its morale.
Rosecrans finally saw reason. He issued orders to begin advancing in multiple columns, much like Meade did towards Gettysburg, in order to confuse the Rebels of the true target. That target was Chattanooga eventually, but the interim one was Tullahoma. Bragg had been holed up in Tullahoma since his defeat at Stone’s River.
Things did not go as planned. The orders called for moving out at 7:00 a.m. But due to the late issuance of orders, troops were still receiving their marching orders at that hour. Then it rained. Oh, how it rained. Gettysburg had rain too, which the men were quick to mention. But nothing like this. It was relentless in Tennessee. William Curry of the 1st Ohio Cavalry stated, “During all this time our blankets were never dried out, and our rations in our old greasy haversacks were a conglomerated mess of coffee, sugar, salt, sow-belly and hardtack.” How appetizing. The effect of the rains on which the army marched was even worse than the effect on the rain. Hundreds of men marching through mud churn up a road pretty badly. Then there were the wagons and the artillery carriages. Before the end of the first day, the roads were impassable, and trails had to be hacked out of the woods.
Needless to say, progress was minimal. The main column was headed to Tullahoma via Manchester. From Camp Readyville (love army names) to Manchester was 30 miles. Or a little less than the distance from Middletown, MD to Gettysburg. The 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers marching to Gettysburg made it in a single day of hard marching. After two days, Crittenden’s men had made it only 18 miles. They took Lumley’s Stand by sending an advance brigade. Manchester still lay ahead another 12 miles. It was not going to happen any time soon.
Rosecrans, unaware of what was happening with Crittenden order Thomas, McCook and Granger to take Wartrace and Shelbyville. Shelbyville was a Union stronghold in divided Tennessee. There was nasty fighting. The bridge over the Duck River became crowded with retreating Rebels. So crowded many fell over the side and drowned. But soon Shelbyville was in US hands. The residents overjoyed.
Skirmishing continued but no real battles. Union losses were light, especially compared to Rebel losses. On June 28, Wilder’s Lightning Brigade made it to Manchester and took the town. By June 28, the XIV Corp was finally in Manchester, just 11 miles from Tullahoma. The army marched on through “flood rain … pouring down the likes of which we never saw before. In a few moments, the men were wading knee deep in the little hollows and depressions. The ground everywhere covered in water,” according to John King of the 92nd Illinois.
Still no battles. Seeing the Union army converging on Tullahoma, Bragg fell all the way back to Chattanooga on July 3. Tullahoma was in Union hands. With minimal loss of life. This action was overshadowed by the victory at Gettysburg at such great cost, and the next day by the surrender of Vicksburg. But it was no less important. Taking Tullahoma with Bragg forced back to Chattanooga continued the Anaconda Plan. It also secured the back door to the Mississippi so that troops did not have to be expended protecting their rear. This left troops to fight elsewhere, continuing to carve the South to pieces. All part and parcel of saving the Union in July 1863.
*At the time Garfield was an elected member of the House of Representatives on leave from the Chamber to serve in the Army subject to recall when the House convened.
Works cited in this post: James Garfield & the Civil War by Daniel J. VermilyaTullahoma, the Forgotten Campaign that Changed the Course of the Civil War June 23-July 4, 1863 by David A. Powell and Eric J. WittenbergAll for the Union The Civil War Diary and Letters of Elisha Hunt Rhodes edited by Robert Hunt RhodesThree Years with the 92d Illinois the Civil War Diary of John M. King, edited by Claire E. Swedberg