Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's army had steadily advanced towards Atlanta in the spring and summer of 1864, fighting a series of battles against the Confederate Army of Joseph E. Johnston. Sherman continually flanked the Confederate positions and slipped ever closer to his goal. Howard's IV Corps pursued the retreating Confederates along the Western & Atlantic Railroad, with General Thomas J. Wood's division in the lead. They encountered very little resistance until the head of column reached Vining's Station. From that point, a road led to the east toward Atlanta, crossing the Chattahoochee River at Pace's Ferry, where the Confederates had constructed a pontoon bridge over the deep and swift flowing river. Wood's skirmishers encountered a brigade of dismounted cavalry, which had its front covered by rail barricades along a ridge at right angles to the road, a quarter mile from the railroad station. Wood quickly drove the Confederates from these barricades and pushed on to the river. Despite Confederate efforts to destroy the bridge to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, Wood's men arrived in time to save the greater part of the bridge. Confederate attempts to burn the structure had failed, and mooring ropes had been cut on the Confederate side so that the pontoon bridge drifted in the river.[3][4][5]
Not seeing a suitable opportunity to attack the strong Confederate positions across the Chattahoochee, Howard ordered his corps into camp on high ground facing the river and awaited the arrival of Federal pontoons. July 10, Stanley's and Wood's divisions moved to near the mouth of Sope Creek, in support of General John Schofield, who had crossed the river at that point (north of Pace's Ferry) and outflanked the Confederates. On July 11, at 5 p.m. Gen. Howard received "orders to secure the heights opposite Powers' Ferry, on the south side of the Chattahoochee, to protect the laying of a bridge at that point. Stanley's division fulfilled these instructions the next morning at daylight, passing the river at Schofield's bridge."[3]
Notesedit
^OR, Series I, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, p. 4, Summary of the Principal Events.
^Long, E. B. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac, 1861–1865. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1971. OCLC 68283123. p. 533.
^ abOR, Series I, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 1, p. 200, Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard, U. S. Army, commanding Fourth Army Corps, of operations May 1–July 27.
^OR, Series I, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 1, p. 225, Maj. Gen. David B. Stanley, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, of operations May 3–July 26.
^OR, Series I, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 1, p. 388, Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division.
Referencesedit
Long, E. B. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac, 1861–1865. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1971. OCLC 68283123.
U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 70 volumes in 4 series. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1880-1901. Series 1, Volume 38, Part 1.
February 15, 2024
skirmish, pace, ferry, engagement, fought, july, 1864, near, pace, ferry, atlanta, georgia, during, atlanta, campaign, american, civil, union, troops, oliver, howard, seized, pontoon, bridge, over, chattahoochee, river, enabling, federal, troops, continue, the. The Skirmish at Pace s Ferry 1 was an engagement fought on July 5 1864 near Pace s Ferry Atlanta Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War 2 Union troops of Maj Gen Oliver O Howard seized a key pontoon bridge over the Chattahoochee River enabling Federal troops to continue their offensive to capture the important rail and supply center of Atlanta Skirmish at Pace s FerryPart of the American Civil WarUnion artillery and infantry cross the Chattahoochee River in a canvas pontoon boatDateJuly 5 1864 1864 07 05 LocationPace s Ferry near Atlanta GeorgiaResultUnion victoryBelligerents United States Union CSA Confederacy Commanders and leadersOliver O Howard Union Maj Gen William T Sherman s army had steadily advanced towards Atlanta in the spring and summer of 1864 fighting a series of battles against the Confederate Army of Joseph E Johnston Sherman continually flanked the Confederate positions and slipped ever closer to his goal Howard s IV Corps pursued the retreating Confederates along the Western amp Atlantic Railroad with General Thomas J Wood s division in the lead They encountered very little resistance until the head of column reached Vining s Station From that point a road led to the east toward Atlanta crossing the Chattahoochee River at Pace s Ferry where the Confederates had constructed a pontoon bridge over the deep and swift flowing river Wood s skirmishers encountered a brigade of dismounted cavalry which had its front covered by rail barricades along a ridge at right angles to the road a quarter mile from the railroad station Wood quickly drove the Confederates from these barricades and pushed on to the river Despite Confederate efforts to destroy the bridge to prevent it from falling into enemy hands Wood s men arrived in time to save the greater part of the bridge Confederate attempts to burn the structure had failed and mooring ropes had been cut on the Confederate side so that the pontoon bridge drifted in the river 3 4 5 Not seeing a suitable opportunity to attack the strong Confederate positions across the Chattahoochee Howard ordered his corps into camp on high ground facing the river and awaited the arrival of Federal pontoons July 10 Stanley s and Wood s divisions moved to near the mouth of Sope Creek in support of General John Schofield who had crossed the river at that point north of Pace s Ferry and outflanked the Confederates On July 11 at 5 p m Gen Howard received orders to secure the heights opposite Powers Ferry on the south side of the Chattahoochee to protect the laying of a bridge at that point Stanley s division fulfilled these instructions the next morning at daylight passing the river at Schofield s bridge 3 Notes edit OR Series I Vol XXXVIII Part 2 p 4 Summary of the Principal Events Long E B The Civil War Day by Day An Almanac 1861 1865 Garden City NY Doubleday 1971 OCLC 68283123 p 533 a b OR Series I Vol XXXVIII Part 1 p 200 Maj Gen Oliver O Howard U S Army commanding Fourth Army Corps of operations May 1 July 27 OR Series I Vol XXXVIII Part 1 p 225 Maj Gen David B Stanley U S Army commanding First Division of operations May 3 July 26 OR Series I Vol XXXVIII Part 1 p 388 Brig Gen Thomas J Wood U S Army commanding Third Division References editLong E B The Civil War Day by Day An Almanac 1861 1865 Garden City NY Doubleday 1971 OCLC 68283123 U S War Department The War of the Rebellion A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies 70 volumes in 4 series Washington D C United States Government Printing Office 1880 1901 Series 1 Volume 38 Part 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skirmish at Pace 27s Ferry amp oldid 1095425272, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
