Waynesborough GA027

supportedunresolved Kilpatrick says he had orders from the general-in-chief to make a strong reconnaissance toward Waynesborough and engage Wheeler, and that the composition of Wheeler's corps was ascertained afterwards. Wheeler says he perceived after nightfall that the Union troops had resumed work on the railroad and attacked them about midnight.

Attributed knowledge from interested reports.

supportedunresolved Wheeler says most of his command had been sent three miles for forage when the attack came, and that for five months his command had been without wagons or cooking utensils. Kilpatrick ordered surplus animals and non-combatants to the wagon train before the attack.

Forage and transport statements from interested reports; no return inspected.

supportedunresolved Kilpatrick says the command was to move in the morning to 'engage, defeat, and rout' the cavalry at Waynesborough; NPS says he set out to attack Waynesborough and destroy Wheeler's command. Wheeler says that after the engagement he sent Lewis's brigade to fall back before the enemy and remained with the rest of his command to protect Augusta and strike the enemy's flanks and rear; this is his later course, not a stated aim for December 4.

Stated aims from interested reports and a modern summary.

disputedpost_outcome The frozen and live results read Union victory. Kilpatrick says the town was gained and Wheeler's entire force completely routed and pursued eight miles to Brier Creek; Wheeler says he was compelled to fall back by successive positions and withdrew from the town with difficulty, but that a counter-charge stopped further pursuit.

Retain the original result and engagement interval; later movements and campaign contribution are different measures. No new probabilities or individual causal credit. The commanders' characterizations differ.

disputedpost_outcome The frozen and live casualty fields read 440 (US 190; CS 250). Kilpatrick says upward of 200 Confederate wounded left in his hands were wounded by the saber alone and refers his own casualties to a separate report; his provost-marshal lists 550 small-arms captured at Waynesborough on December 4. Wheeler says the Union loss 'according to his own account' was 50 killed and 147 wounded.

Original casualty returns were not inspected; preserve totals, categories, cutoffs and differences. No canonical reconciliation or casualty-based opening count; related actions must not be added without resolving population overlap. Wheeler's figure is secondhand; Kilpatrick's casualty report is not printed with his report.

supportedunresolved Kilpatrick says Atkins's first attack failed, after which he ordered the dismounted and mounted charges, and at the town decided to break Wheeler's centre with Murray's brigade. Wheeler says he directed the 8th Texas and 9th Tennessee Battalion to charge as his lines left their works. The frozen commanders are Major General Wheeler and Brigadier General H. Judson Kilpatrick; the live page lists 'Hugh Kilpatrick'.

Direction is attributed as the reports state. No listed commander receives automatic sole credit.

unknownunresolved

No inspected return establishes matched personnel at a common opening boundary. The frozen side-specific numerical strength bounds are blank (missing_numeric_strength). No figure in this pass is adopted as a simultaneous opening force.

disputedunresolved The frozen force text names Kilpatrick's division against the cavalry command of the Army of Tennessee, with no numbers; the live field reads zeros. Kilpatrick moved in advance of Baird's infantry division and says Wheeler's corps consisted of four divisions and two independent brigades 'as has since been ascertained'. Wheeler says the enemy cavalry was at least double his numbers and reinforced by one or more infantry divisions, that most of his command had gone three miles for forage, and that 'their long lines of infantry advanced'.

Formations and relative claims only; Kilpatrick's account of December 4 names only units of his own cavalry division and does not deny that infantry took part; Wheeler reports infantry advancing. Kilpatrick's November 14 strength is recorded in the Buck Head Creek dossier (GA026). None is adopted as a matched opening strength; live zeros are not measured absence.

supportedunresolved Kilpatrick says Wheeler's dismounted cavalry was strongly posted behind long lines of barricades with secure flanks, and at the town occupied a second line of barricades with artillery and flanks too extended to turn. Wheeler says his men hastily threw up barricades. NPS describes three lines of barricades, the last in the town.

Barricades built during the action; not inherited.