October 30, 1863---“I will show them how a Confederate Soldier can die.”

OCTOBER 30, 1863:           

John Nichols, one of only two members of the Confederate guerrilla band “James Johnson’s Boys” is hanged in Jefferson City, Missouri. Nichols is one of the few men denied clemency by President Lincoln. Johnson and Nichols had been particularly active in the Sedalia, Missouri area, and so effective (primarily against Unionist civilians, mainly women and children) that the Union ordered a “shoot on sight” order against them. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, Nichols defiantly said: “I will show them how a Confederate Soldier can die.”

October 29, 1863---"It is thought by some that we will have a fight soon, but I hardly think so. ..."

OCTOBER 29, 1863:            

Marion Hill Fitzpatrick, a Georgian serving with the Army of Northern Virginia, writes to his wife about his nearly bucolic conditions in camp. His tone is very different than his Army of Tennessee comrade’s:

"...I wrote to you a week ago and gave you a rough sketch of our late tramp. We have been resting quietly here since I wrote and it has been pleasant most of the time. We have had one rain and it has faired off pretty cold. We were on pickett last night and yesterday. This morning was ice and a large frost. We went on pickett on the Rappahannock about 1 1/2 miles from here. There was some excitement with those that were on post. Our Co. was not on post. The Yankee cavalry came in sight on the other side several times and our picketts fired on them pretty rapidly. I do not know if they killed any. The Yanks would retreat when our men would fire in them. There was also canonadeing going on at intervals some distance off, the result of which is unknown to me. It is thought by some that we will have a fight soon, but I hardly think so. ..."

October 28, 1863---The Battle of Wauhatchie, Tennessee

OCTOBER 28, 1863:            

The Battle of Wauhatchie, Tennessee. Confederate troops attempt to break the “Cracker Line,” the Union’s Main Supply Route into Chattanooga. In one of the few night actions of the Civil War, the Confederates are soundly defeated, in part because they mistake a line of mules for cavalry at the advance. After the battle, Union troopers insist that the mules “be breveted as horses.” Each side is said to have lost 450 men; however, one report states that the Confederates lost nearly one thousand. The Gray troops retreat back to Lookout Mountain. They never attack the “Cracker Line” again.

October 27, 1863---"I had much rather fight Yankees than take corn from women and children."

OCTOBER 27, 1863:           

Unlike their Commander-in-Chief, Confederate soldiers are not waxing rhapsodic about the glories of war in Tennessee. An anonymous Georgian writes:

"...I just returned last night from a trip of three days up in Walker County, Georgia after corn. I could not find any corn to buy and had to press some. I pressed it from a lady whose husband is gone to the Yankees, It was very hard to do so and she was crying and begging but I could not help it, my orders was to get corn and I was obliged to get it. I don't want to go anymore. I had much rather fight Yankees than take corn from women and children. I had a good time otherwise, eating butter and milk and potatoes and other vegetables but it did not last long, but like the hog I had to return to my wallering in the clay and vomit again. ..."

October 26, 1863---Jeff Davis at Lookout Mountain

OCTOBER 26, 1863:            

After traveling to Lookout Mountain to mediate, unsuccessfully, among his squabbling Generals, Jefferson Davis begins a series of whistlestops through Confederate-held areas. According to the Atlanta-Knoxville Register, Davis, feeling that East Tennessee is vital to the Confederacy, says he will abandon Richmond if necessary in order to repossess East Tennessee. “The coming shock of contending armies on the soil of Tennessee will be decisive of the fate of the Confederation.”

After vindication by their Commander-in-Chief, Bragg’s “besieging” army skirmishes at Philadelphia, and Jones Hill, Tennessee with units of The Army of The Potomac. Bragg’s cavalry captures more than 400 Union prisoners, in addition to their artillery, small arms, and other equipment.