” 12—Gen. Forrest takes Ft. Pillow and massacres the garrison, many being negroes.
” 21—Salt works in North Carolina destroyed—value $100,000. As salt was indispensable to army operations, the utmost effort was made to ruin as many as possible.
” 23—Governors of Western States offer the U.S. government 85,000 men for 100 days. President accepts them.
May 2—400 Union prisoners are brought to Annapolis nearly starved.
” 4—Gen. Grant crosses the Rapidan in Va. and commences operations in the Wilderness. He, with 140,000 men, confronts Lee, who has 60,000.
” 5—Fighting in the Wilderness for two days without decided result. Costs Grant 30,000 (5,000 were prisoners) and Lee 10,000. Lee was intrenched and familiar with the ground, which was highly unfavorable to the Union army.
” 6—Gen. Sherman confronts Gen. Joe Johnson near Chattanooga. Sherman has near 100,000; Johnson 60,000.
” 7—Lee retreats toward Spottsylvania Court-House. Union army follows, fighting.
To this date 150,000 Southern soldiers had been made prisoners during the course of the war.