Joshism
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2019
- Messages
- 488
- Reaction score
- 587
Ted Savas has written and published a book about how critical the Augusta Powder Works were for the Confederate war effort. The question is, even if the Union understood the importance of the works when could they have practically been taken?
The Union wrecked and captured Fort Pulaski early in 1862, but made little further attempt to take Savannah before Sherman's arrival at the end of 1864. I assume it wasn't practical to take Savannah from the Atlantic. The only way to get to Augusta from the coast was the Savannah River, which meant passing Savannah. The South Carolina terrain east of the river was prohibitive for operations. Sherman only succeeded in 1865 with a large army facing limited resistance and supported by a large, experienced engineering force.
Cavalry raids weren't practical for this sort of work and easily came to grief. Sherman had dispatched raids from around Atlanta toward Macon, with disaster for his mounted arm.
That leaves the March to the Sea. Yes, Augusta was sparsely defended but Sherman deliberately bypassed Augusta and Macon. He had a careful plan and a timetable. Any serious delay against Augusta, or even slow progress, would have been logistically disastrous - or so Sherman thought. That's my understanding from Southern Storm. I think Sherman would have been happy to seize and smash those cities if he thought he could.
The largest city he passed through on his way to Savannah was I think the state capital of Milledgeville, a fall-line community like Augusta and Macon but on a lesser river. But even there he didn't stay long.
Thoughts?
The Union wrecked and captured Fort Pulaski early in 1862, but made little further attempt to take Savannah before Sherman's arrival at the end of 1864. I assume it wasn't practical to take Savannah from the Atlantic. The only way to get to Augusta from the coast was the Savannah River, which meant passing Savannah. The South Carolina terrain east of the river was prohibitive for operations. Sherman only succeeded in 1865 with a large army facing limited resistance and supported by a large, experienced engineering force.
Cavalry raids weren't practical for this sort of work and easily came to grief. Sherman had dispatched raids from around Atlanta toward Macon, with disaster for his mounted arm.
That leaves the March to the Sea. Yes, Augusta was sparsely defended but Sherman deliberately bypassed Augusta and Macon. He had a careful plan and a timetable. Any serious delay against Augusta, or even slow progress, would have been logistically disastrous - or so Sherman thought. That's my understanding from Southern Storm. I think Sherman would have been happy to seize and smash those cities if he thought he could.
The largest city he passed through on his way to Savannah was I think the state capital of Milledgeville, a fall-line community like Augusta and Macon but on a lesser river. But even there he didn't stay long.
Thoughts?