Saturday, January 17, 2015

Mallory Wants Attack on City Point-- Part 2

JANUARY 16TH, 1865:  City Point was essential to Grant's anticipated movement on Richmond.  The supplies to Union  soldiers on the Petersburg front reached City Point by water, assured of free passage by the Navy, and then were sent to the front by rail.  If the North was forced to abandon the base at City Point, it might also have to abandon a spring offensive against the Confederate capital.

Mallory added: "I regard an attack upon the enemy and the obstructions of the river at City Point, to cut off Grant's supplies, as a movement of the first importance to the country and one which should be accomplished if possible."

Mitchell replied that he was having the obstructions examined to ensure Read's report was correct.  "Should information be obtained that the passage of these obstructions is practicable I shall gladly incur all the hazards that may attend the proposed enterprise that promises, if successful, such bright results for our cause."

In Other Words, get a Move On.  --Old B-Runner


No comments:

Post a Comment