Holly Springs-- Part 7: The Aftermath

These Holly Springs enties were taken from the June 2022 presentation at the McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting.

Van Dorn eventually covered 500 miles on his raid on Holly Springs and returned to Grenada on the 28th.   As  a result of Van Dorn's action, Grant withdrew from northern Mississippi.

In the meantime,Sherman went ahead with hisattack at Chickasaw Bayou.  With Grant's withdrawl from northern Mississippi, Confederates reinforced Chickasaw Bayou which  led to Sherman's defeat.

On his part, it wasn't too long before Van Dorn was killed by a jealous husband.

As for our hapless Colonel Robert Murphy at Holly Springs, he was mortified and sacked of his command.  He appealed all the way to Washingtn, D.C., but to no avail and after fifteen years, gave up.

He died in 1888 and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery.  In 2021 a headstone was put up for him.

--Old Sesh

Murphy's Law & the Peter Principle-- Part 4: Murphy Returns to Command

This was the topic of the presentation given to the McHenry County (Illinois) Round Table in June 2022.

On November 29, 1862, U.S. Grant established his headquarters at Walter Place.  In early December, Colonel Robert  Murphy returned to duty.  Grant hates Rosecrans and Rosecrans hates Murphy.

Grant promoted Murphy and posts him in charge of the huge Union supply base at Holly Springs.  Murphy's command, however, did not include his regiment, the 8th Wisconsin.

It did include:

six companies of the 2nd Illinois Cavalry

eight companies of the 29th Illinois Infantry

200 men of the 62nd Illinois Infantry

101st Illinois Infantry

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT June Meeting: 'Murphy's Law & the Peter Principle'

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table met Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at the Woodstock, Illinois, library and heard a talk onte Battle of Holly Springs by Jerry Allen.  We had earlier heard him give a talk about the 8th Wisconsin  The commander of the 8th Wisconsin was Colonel Robert Murphy.  He played a part in the Union disaster at Holly Springs, Mississippi, on December 20, 1862.

This caused General Grant's planned attack on Vicksburg to be delayed until the next spring.  Grant was depending the supplies at Holly Springs to support his advance on that city.

And, Murphy went far beyond his level of competence.

Earlier in 1862, the Union forces made great strides coming up the Mississippi River from New Orleans.  By April 29, 1862, New Orleans was in their control, followed by Baton Rouge on May 9 and Natchez on May12.  Union naval commander S.P. Lee even went to Vicksburg to demand its surrender.  James Autry refused to do so.

Then, came Holly Springs.

--Old Secesh