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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 12/12/13 at 8:43 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 12/12/13 at 8:43 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 13 December 1863
This time of year most armies were in winter camp or heading for them. This did not, however, mean that complete peace prevailed upon the land. Actions happened at Hurricane Bridge in West Virginia; on Powell’s River near Stickleyville in Virginia, along with others at Strasburg and Germantown there. Ringgold, Georgia, saw some action as General James Longstreet’s Corps continued moving for winter camp, and just plain old random fights occurred at Meriwether’s Ferry on Bayou Boeuf, Arkansas.
What should have been a routine family visit in Washington, D.C., was complicated by great hostility, although no gunfire: Mary Todd Lincoln received her sister for a visit at the White House. The complicating factor was that her sister-actually half-sister-Emilie Todd Helm, was the widow of General Benjamin Hardin Helm, officer in the Confederate States of America Army of Tennessee.
In January 1863, Helm was given command of the First Kentucky Brigade, commonly known as the "Orphan Brigade"; since Kentucky never left the Union, these men were considered "orphans" because they could not return to their home state. There were actually demands that Mrs. Helm swear the loyalty oath before being allowed to visit her relatives. When protests were lodged against a "Rebel" being in the White House, the President replied, “Mrs. Lincoln and I will allow anyone we choose to visit us in the White House.”
At 9:30 am on September 20, 1863, the divisions of Generals John C. Breckinridge and Patrick Cleburne were ordered to move forward. Helm's brigade and the others in Breckinridge's division drove hard into the Federals' left. General Cleburne's division, which was intended to strike near the center of the line, was delayed by heavy fire from Union soldiers, leaving the left flank unguarded. Repeated attempts to overwhelm the Federals were in vain, though some of Helm's Kentuckians managed to reach within about 39 yards of the Federal line.
In less than an hour of the order given to advance, fully one third of the Orphan Brigade had been lost. The remainder of Helm's men clashed with the well-fortified Union line. A sharpshooter from the 15th Kentucky Union Infantry shot Helm in the chest. Bleeding profusely, he remained in the saddle a few moments before toppling to the ground. Helm was carried off the battlefield and surgeons immediately realized his wounds were fatal. Helm clung to life for several hours. Knowing that his health was deteriorating, he asked who had won the battle. When assured that the Confederates had carried the day, he muttered: "Victory!, Victory!, Victory!". On September 21, 1863, General Helm succumbed to his wounds.
Major General Hiram U. Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued general orders concerning the property of secessionists in his department. Corps commanders were directed to immediately seize, or cause to be seized, all county records and documents showing titles and claims to property within the revolted States, in their respective districts, and to hold the same until they could be delivered to an authorized tax commissioner of the United States. No regard for the Constitution and Bill of Rights' Fourth and Fifth Amendments was considered.
This time of year most armies were in winter camp or heading for them. This did not, however, mean that complete peace prevailed upon the land. Actions happened at Hurricane Bridge in West Virginia; on Powell’s River near Stickleyville in Virginia, along with others at Strasburg and Germantown there. Ringgold, Georgia, saw some action as General James Longstreet’s Corps continued moving for winter camp, and just plain old random fights occurred at Meriwether’s Ferry on Bayou Boeuf, Arkansas.
What should have been a routine family visit in Washington, D.C., was complicated by great hostility, although no gunfire: Mary Todd Lincoln received her sister for a visit at the White House. The complicating factor was that her sister-actually half-sister-Emilie Todd Helm, was the widow of General Benjamin Hardin Helm, officer in the Confederate States of America Army of Tennessee.
In January 1863, Helm was given command of the First Kentucky Brigade, commonly known as the "Orphan Brigade"; since Kentucky never left the Union, these men were considered "orphans" because they could not return to their home state. There were actually demands that Mrs. Helm swear the loyalty oath before being allowed to visit her relatives. When protests were lodged against a "Rebel" being in the White House, the President replied, “Mrs. Lincoln and I will allow anyone we choose to visit us in the White House.”
At 9:30 am on September 20, 1863, the divisions of Generals John C. Breckinridge and Patrick Cleburne were ordered to move forward. Helm's brigade and the others in Breckinridge's division drove hard into the Federals' left. General Cleburne's division, which was intended to strike near the center of the line, was delayed by heavy fire from Union soldiers, leaving the left flank unguarded. Repeated attempts to overwhelm the Federals were in vain, though some of Helm's Kentuckians managed to reach within about 39 yards of the Federal line.
In less than an hour of the order given to advance, fully one third of the Orphan Brigade had been lost. The remainder of Helm's men clashed with the well-fortified Union line. A sharpshooter from the 15th Kentucky Union Infantry shot Helm in the chest. Bleeding profusely, he remained in the saddle a few moments before toppling to the ground. Helm was carried off the battlefield and surgeons immediately realized his wounds were fatal. Helm clung to life for several hours. Knowing that his health was deteriorating, he asked who had won the battle. When assured that the Confederates had carried the day, he muttered: "Victory!, Victory!, Victory!". On September 21, 1863, General Helm succumbed to his wounds.
Major General Hiram U. Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued general orders concerning the property of secessionists in his department. Corps commanders were directed to immediately seize, or cause to be seized, all county records and documents showing titles and claims to property within the revolted States, in their respective districts, and to hold the same until they could be delivered to an authorized tax commissioner of the United States. No regard for the Constitution and Bill of Rights' Fourth and Fifth Amendments was considered.
1
Posted on 12/13/13 at 9:12 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 14 December 1863
A year after Commanding General Robert E. Lee had breathed his famous wish at Fredericksburg--”I wish these people would go away and leave us alone”--General James Longstreet had to be thinking precisely the same thing. He had withdrawn from the gates of Knoxville after the failure of his last assault in East Tennessee, and now he wanted nothing more than to get his battered, ill-supplied corps to a winter camp where they could rest and rebuild their strength. The problem was getting there. He was set upon today by the forces of Union General James M. Shackelford in a battle at Bean’s Station, Tennessee, and it turned into quite a sharp fight. As the weak winter sun sank into evening, the Confederates had driven Shackelford’s men back some distance but had not broken them. Everyone settled down for an uneasy night.
General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered Lieutenant Dixon, CSA, to proceed with the submarine H. L. Hunley to the mouth of Charleston Harbor and "...sink and destroy any vessel of the enemy with which he can come in conflict." The General directed that "...such assistance- as may he practicable..." he rendered to Lieutenant Dixon.
Between two and three o'clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tennessee, on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the Confederates succeeded in driving the Federals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and his command; and a heavy force of Rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly's Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the program was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The Rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect.
The United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida.
Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.
Colonel Watkins, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from a cavalry reconnaissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a Confederate signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the force of Rebels retreated.
An expedition sent out by General Wistar from Yorktown to Charles City CourtnHouse, Virginia, under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburg, Virginia, having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.
A year after Commanding General Robert E. Lee had breathed his famous wish at Fredericksburg--”I wish these people would go away and leave us alone”--General James Longstreet had to be thinking precisely the same thing. He had withdrawn from the gates of Knoxville after the failure of his last assault in East Tennessee, and now he wanted nothing more than to get his battered, ill-supplied corps to a winter camp where they could rest and rebuild their strength. The problem was getting there. He was set upon today by the forces of Union General James M. Shackelford in a battle at Bean’s Station, Tennessee, and it turned into quite a sharp fight. As the weak winter sun sank into evening, the Confederates had driven Shackelford’s men back some distance but had not broken them. Everyone settled down for an uneasy night.
General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered Lieutenant Dixon, CSA, to proceed with the submarine H. L. Hunley to the mouth of Charleston Harbor and "...sink and destroy any vessel of the enemy with which he can come in conflict." The General directed that "...such assistance- as may he practicable..." he rendered to Lieutenant Dixon.
Between two and three o'clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tennessee, on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the Confederates succeeded in driving the Federals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and his command; and a heavy force of Rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly's Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the program was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The Rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect.
The United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida.
Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.
Colonel Watkins, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from a cavalry reconnaissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a Confederate signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the force of Rebels retreated.
An expedition sent out by General Wistar from Yorktown to Charles City CourtnHouse, Virginia, under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburg, Virginia, having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.
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