Battle of Columbus

At 8:00 P.M. on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1865, Federal forces under Bvt. Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson attacked strong defences near Columbus, Georgia, in an effort to secure the crossing of the Chattahoochee River. Facing heavy musketry and artillery fire, the Federals penetrated the Confederate lines, occupied Columbus, and took 1200 prisoners. The Federal force included the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi, with the 4th Division's 1st Brigade of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and 10th Missouri Cavalry, and the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Ohio Calvary, 5th Iowa Cavalry, and Battery I, 4th U.S. Artillery. Confederate forces were commanded by Maj. Gen. Howell Cobb and included Georgia Reserves, the Military District of Georgia, the District of Alabama, the Cavalry Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, and the 20th Louisiana Infantry.

Columbus, Georgia · United States