Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Ulysses S. Grant takes up headquarters with the Army of the Potomac in northern Virginia, which is undergoing a massive reorganization. Grant’s presence leads to rumors of his influence, but Meade defends Grant and expresses hope for successful operations.
Nathaniel P. Banks assembles 27,000 Federal troops and the largest naval flotilla west of the Mississippi for a drive on the vital supply center at Shreveport, Louisiana. A small Confederate force tries to impede the Federal advance at Henderson’s Hill.
Ulysses S. Grant meets with William T. Sherman at Nashville, where Grant issues his first order since becoming general-in-chief of all Federal armies. Sherman takes Federal command of the Western Theater, while Grant goes east to join the Army of the Potomac. Grant envisions Federal advances on all fronts designed to exhaust Confederate resources.
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederate horsemen launch a raid through western Kentucky and Tennessee. This culminates in a confrontation at Paducah as Forrest’s raid spreads alarm through the Ohio River Valley.
Federal army-navy forces follow up their capture of Fort DeRussy by continuing up the Red River toward Alexandria, Louisiana.
Federal forces embarking on a campaign to conquer western Louisiana and eastern Texas approach a small Confederate fort on the first leg of their journey up the Red River.