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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 9/26/14 at 9:30 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 9/26/14 at 9:30 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 27 September 1864
There was fighting in quite a few places in Missouri today. Sterling Price’s invasion out of Arkansas, one of a number of attempts to “reclaim” the state for the Confederacy, was rolling along quite nicely. This morning, he launched an all-out assault on Fort Davidson, at Pilot Knob, Missouri. Twelve hundred Federal troops withstood the charge during the day; after nightfall their commander, Brigadier General Thomas Ewing, Jr. decided the position was untenable and secretly evacuated.
Further west, the partisan guerrilla William Anderson leads an attack on Centralia, Missouri. The guerilla band led by "Bloody Bill" sacks Centralia, killing 22 unarmed Union soldiers before slaughtering more than 100 pursuing Yankee troops.
The Civil War in Missouri and Kansas was rarely fought between regular armies in the field. It was carried out primarily by partisan bands of guerilla fighters, and the atrocities were nearly unmatched. In 1863, Confederate marauders had sacked Lawrence, Kansas, and killed 250 residents.
In the fall of 1864, partisan activity increased in anticipation of Confederate General Sterling Price's invasion of the state. On the evening of September 26, a band of 200 Confederate partisans gathered near Centralia, Missouri. The next morning, Anderson led 30 guerillas into town and began looting the tiny community and terrorizing the residents. Unionist congressmen William Rollins escaped execution only by giving a false name and hiding in a nearby hotel.
Meanwhile, a train from St. Louis was just pulling into the station. The engineer, who spotted Anderson's men destroying the town, tried to apply steam to keep the train moving. However, the brakeman, unaware of the raid, applied the brakes and brought the train to a halt. The guerillas took 150 prisoners from the train, which included 23 Union soldiers, and then set it on fire and opened its throttle; the flaming train sped away from the town. The soldiers were stripped and Anderson's men began firing on them, killing all but one within a few minutes. The surviving Yankee soldier was spared in exchange for a member of Anderson's company who had recently been captured.
That afternoon, a Union detachment commanded by Major A. V. E. Johnston arrived in Centralia to find the invaders had already vacated the town. Johnston left some troops to hold the tiny burgh, and then headed in the direction of Anderson's band. Little did he know he was riding right into a perfect trap: Johnston's men followed Rebel pickets into an open field, and the Southern partisans attacked from three sides. Johnston and his entire command were quickly annihilated. Anderson's men scalped and mutilated many of the bodies before moving back into Centralia and killing the remaining Federal soldiers. In all, the Southerners killed some 140 Yankee troops.
A month later, Anderson was killed attempting a similar attack near Albany, Missouri.
Acting Ensign Semon made his second reconnaissance expedition to Masonboro Inlet and Wilmington. Semon again gained important information concerning Confederate blockade runners, the defensive dispositions of forces in the area, and made arrangements to procure pilots for the operation against Wilmington. He learned for the first time that the CSS North Carolina, one of the ironclads built for the defense of Wilmington, had sunk at her pier at Smithville, her bottom eaten out by worms. North Carolina drew too much water to pass over the bars at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and had spent virtually her entire career at Smithville. Concerned about the state of Wilmington's defenses, Major General William Henry Chase Whiting wrote Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Russell Mallory on 6 October: "It is men and guns that are wanted as well as the ships, not only to man the naval batteries now being substituted for the North Carolina and the Raleigh [beached on 7 May 1864], which were to defend the inner bars, but to guard or picket the entrance and river, a duty devolving upon the Navy, and for which there are neither forts nor vessels here." An additional ironclad was laid down but was never finished because of lack of armor.
The USS Arkansas, under Acting Lieutenant David Cate, captured the schooner Watchful in the Gulf of Mexico south of Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Watchful carried a cargo of lumber and arms.
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederates continued fighting at Pulaski, Tennessee.
There was fighting in quite a few places in Missouri today. Sterling Price’s invasion out of Arkansas, one of a number of attempts to “reclaim” the state for the Confederacy, was rolling along quite nicely. This morning, he launched an all-out assault on Fort Davidson, at Pilot Knob, Missouri. Twelve hundred Federal troops withstood the charge during the day; after nightfall their commander, Brigadier General Thomas Ewing, Jr. decided the position was untenable and secretly evacuated.
Further west, the partisan guerrilla William Anderson leads an attack on Centralia, Missouri. The guerilla band led by "Bloody Bill" sacks Centralia, killing 22 unarmed Union soldiers before slaughtering more than 100 pursuing Yankee troops.
The Civil War in Missouri and Kansas was rarely fought between regular armies in the field. It was carried out primarily by partisan bands of guerilla fighters, and the atrocities were nearly unmatched. In 1863, Confederate marauders had sacked Lawrence, Kansas, and killed 250 residents.
In the fall of 1864, partisan activity increased in anticipation of Confederate General Sterling Price's invasion of the state. On the evening of September 26, a band of 200 Confederate partisans gathered near Centralia, Missouri. The next morning, Anderson led 30 guerillas into town and began looting the tiny community and terrorizing the residents. Unionist congressmen William Rollins escaped execution only by giving a false name and hiding in a nearby hotel.
Meanwhile, a train from St. Louis was just pulling into the station. The engineer, who spotted Anderson's men destroying the town, tried to apply steam to keep the train moving. However, the brakeman, unaware of the raid, applied the brakes and brought the train to a halt. The guerillas took 150 prisoners from the train, which included 23 Union soldiers, and then set it on fire and opened its throttle; the flaming train sped away from the town. The soldiers were stripped and Anderson's men began firing on them, killing all but one within a few minutes. The surviving Yankee soldier was spared in exchange for a member of Anderson's company who had recently been captured.
That afternoon, a Union detachment commanded by Major A. V. E. Johnston arrived in Centralia to find the invaders had already vacated the town. Johnston left some troops to hold the tiny burgh, and then headed in the direction of Anderson's band. Little did he know he was riding right into a perfect trap: Johnston's men followed Rebel pickets into an open field, and the Southern partisans attacked from three sides. Johnston and his entire command were quickly annihilated. Anderson's men scalped and mutilated many of the bodies before moving back into Centralia and killing the remaining Federal soldiers. In all, the Southerners killed some 140 Yankee troops.
A month later, Anderson was killed attempting a similar attack near Albany, Missouri.
Acting Ensign Semon made his second reconnaissance expedition to Masonboro Inlet and Wilmington. Semon again gained important information concerning Confederate blockade runners, the defensive dispositions of forces in the area, and made arrangements to procure pilots for the operation against Wilmington. He learned for the first time that the CSS North Carolina, one of the ironclads built for the defense of Wilmington, had sunk at her pier at Smithville, her bottom eaten out by worms. North Carolina drew too much water to pass over the bars at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and had spent virtually her entire career at Smithville. Concerned about the state of Wilmington's defenses, Major General William Henry Chase Whiting wrote Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Russell Mallory on 6 October: "It is men and guns that are wanted as well as the ships, not only to man the naval batteries now being substituted for the North Carolina and the Raleigh [beached on 7 May 1864], which were to defend the inner bars, but to guard or picket the entrance and river, a duty devolving upon the Navy, and for which there are neither forts nor vessels here." An additional ironclad was laid down but was never finished because of lack of armor.
The USS Arkansas, under Acting Lieutenant David Cate, captured the schooner Watchful in the Gulf of Mexico south of Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Watchful carried a cargo of lumber and arms.
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederates continued fighting at Pulaski, Tennessee.
1
Posted on 9/27/14 at 8:22 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 28 September 1864
Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter had not wanted to command the Union “brown-water” forces on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Like most regular Navy men, his great preference was for “blue-water” ocean warfare. Today, he finally got his wish to transfer to command of the blockade and attack forces off Wilmington, North Carolina. He gave a farewell message to the men he was leaving: “When I first assumed command of this squadron the Mississippi was in possession of the Rebels from Memphis to New Orleans, a distance of 800 miles, and over 1,000 miles of tributaries were closed to us, embracing a territory larger than some of the kingdoms of Europe. Our commerce is now successfully, if not quietly, transported on the broad Mississippi from one end to the other.” Porter was greatly admired by his men.
Another report: Rear Admiral Porter, on his detachment from command of the Mississippi Squadron, wrote a farewell to his officers and men, in which he reflected on the far-reaching accomplishments of naval power on the western waters: "When I first assumed command of this squadron the Mississippi was in possession of the Rebels from Memphis to New Orleans, a distance of 800 miles, and over 1,000 miles of tributaries were closed against us, embracing a territory larger than some of the kingdoms of Europe. Our commerce is now successfully, if not quietly, transported on the broad Mississippi from one end to the other, and the same may almost be said with regard to its tributaries." Porter, who was to be relieved by Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, soon proceeded to Hampton Roads, assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and turned his attention to the reduction of Wilmington.
In Missouri, Sterling Price’s Confederates continued advancing after forcing the garrison at Fort Davidson to flee last night. They fought in Polk County and Caledonia, and concern quickly grew in St. Louis.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis wired General John Bell Hood, permitting Hood to relieve General William Hardee as corps commander. Hardee was given command of the Confederate Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Davis also considered creating an overall Western Department with General P.G.T. Beauregard in command.
In the Shenandoah Valley, Philip Sheridan’s Federals withdrew toward Harrisonburg as they fought lightly with Jubal Early’s retreating Confederates.
Other skirmishing occurred in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter had not wanted to command the Union “brown-water” forces on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Like most regular Navy men, his great preference was for “blue-water” ocean warfare. Today, he finally got his wish to transfer to command of the blockade and attack forces off Wilmington, North Carolina. He gave a farewell message to the men he was leaving: “When I first assumed command of this squadron the Mississippi was in possession of the Rebels from Memphis to New Orleans, a distance of 800 miles, and over 1,000 miles of tributaries were closed to us, embracing a territory larger than some of the kingdoms of Europe. Our commerce is now successfully, if not quietly, transported on the broad Mississippi from one end to the other.” Porter was greatly admired by his men.
Another report: Rear Admiral Porter, on his detachment from command of the Mississippi Squadron, wrote a farewell to his officers and men, in which he reflected on the far-reaching accomplishments of naval power on the western waters: "When I first assumed command of this squadron the Mississippi was in possession of the Rebels from Memphis to New Orleans, a distance of 800 miles, and over 1,000 miles of tributaries were closed against us, embracing a territory larger than some of the kingdoms of Europe. Our commerce is now successfully, if not quietly, transported on the broad Mississippi from one end to the other, and the same may almost be said with regard to its tributaries." Porter, who was to be relieved by Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, soon proceeded to Hampton Roads, assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and turned his attention to the reduction of Wilmington.
In Missouri, Sterling Price’s Confederates continued advancing after forcing the garrison at Fort Davidson to flee last night. They fought in Polk County and Caledonia, and concern quickly grew in St. Louis.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis wired General John Bell Hood, permitting Hood to relieve General William Hardee as corps commander. Hardee was given command of the Confederate Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Davis also considered creating an overall Western Department with General P.G.T. Beauregard in command.
In the Shenandoah Valley, Philip Sheridan’s Federals withdrew toward Harrisonburg as they fought lightly with Jubal Early’s retreating Confederates.
Other skirmishing occurred in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
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