Slowing The Union Movement

MG Francis P Blair

A part of Sherman’s Carolina Campaign, the Battle of Rivers’ Bridge was fought on February 3^rd 1865.  This battle is also known as Salkehatchie River and Owen’s Crossroads.

Confederate Major General Lafayette McLaws had about 1,200 men posted on the crossings of the Salkehatchie River.  Union soldiers arrived at the river on February 2^nd 1865 and began to build bridges in order to bypass McLaws’ troops.

The next day February 3^rd 1865 Union Major General Francis P Blair took two brigades, and march them through the swamp in order to flank the Confederates.  McLaws stalled the Union movement for one day, fighting from behind earthen fortifications, burning the bridges and planning an ambush, before drawing his troops off toward Branchville.

Out of the 6,200 soldiers involved, there were about 262 men killed many of whom drowned in the swamp before help could reach them.

Give Peace A Try

President Abraham Lincoln met with Confederate Assistant Secretary of War John A Campbell February 3rd 1865 for the Hampton Roads Peace Conference.

The Hampton Roads Conference was an attempt to bring the Civil War to a negotiate end, and was arranged by Lincoln‘s adviser Francis P Blair Sr. President Abraham Lincoln with his Secretary of State William H Seward met near Fort Monroe, Virginia with Confederate representatives Vice President Alexander Hamilton Stephens, Assistant Secretary of War John A Campbell and Senator Robert M T Hunter. They used the ship the USS River Queen a Union transport ship on February 3rd 1865 for the meeting.

After four hours, there were no agreements. President Lincoln dominated the meeting. He demanded an immediate end to fighting, with the disbandment of the Confederate military, southern recognition of emancipation, and all Confederate States returned to the Union. Lincoln was willing to consider compensation for slave owners, and good treatment for Confederate officials. The men representing the Confederacy were not authorized to accept anything short of independence. At the conclusion of the conference the Confederate Representatives returned to Richmond, Virginia, and the war went on.