08/30/2026
August 30, 1864 (Tuesday)
In Atlanta, Georgia, Confederate commander John Bell Hood receives the first reports (which are weeks old) of Joe Wheeler’s activity since he departed on a raid against the Union supply line, running from Georgia to Tennessee. Hood writes, “Dispatches from General Wheeler of the 19th, in which he reports the capture of Dalton (GA)…. His command in good condition.” After briefly occupying McMinnville, Tennessee, and destroying the telegraph lines, Wheeler pushes on from Sparta toward Woodbury, threatening the railroad bridges on the Elk and Duck rivers. Commanding in Louisville, Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas B. Fairleigh reports: “Wheeler captured Lebanon, Tenn., last night at 7 o’clock, and moved toward Gallatin.” In hopes of spurring the local citizenry into action, Wheeler publishes a message to the “Citizens of Tennessee.” He writes, “Confederate troops again press the soil of your noble State. The opportunity for which you have so long asked is now given you…. Every one of you must rise to duty. If all who should come will now join us, we pledge the honor of those States whose sons compose the Western army of the Confederacy that Tennessee shall be redeemed.”
Report of Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, commanding Cavalry Corps.
COLONEL: I had intended to cross the Tennessee River at Cotton Port, but the continuous rains which had fallen since I left the army had raised the Tennessee River some ten feet, making it impossible to ford any point below Kingston…. I made a demonstration upon Cleveland, and with hard labor destroyed the railroad from Cleveland to Charleston. I then crossed the Hiwassee [River] and captured Athens with a large quantity of valuable supplies and destroyed the railroad almost completely from Charleston to Loudon…. We crossed Little Tennessee River with but little difficulty, when, to our disappointment, we found the Holston River had risen too high to be crossed, which compelled me to move still farther up and cross it and the French Broad above Knoxville…. After crossing the river and mountain I destroyed the railroad at various points between Chattanooga and Nashville, captured 2 trains of cars and a number of small depots of stores, including McMinnville, and caused the abandonment of several posts, all of the public property connected therewith being destroyed. We captured several stockades or block-houses, and destroyed bridges and the railroad to such an extent as to completely stop communication for fifteen days…. After spending two days upon the Chattanooga railroad I moved over to the Nashville & Decatur road, which I most thoroughly destroyed at various points for several miles from Nashville to Decatur. This road was never completely repaired by the enemy…. Respectfully, colonel, your obedient servant,
JOS.WHEELER, Major-General.
