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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 10/19/14 at 2:36 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 10/19/14 at 2:36 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 20 October 1864
Sterling Price had been fighting to liberate Missouri from invading Union hands since the beginning of the War. His final excursion had been going on for a month now, and was having no greater success than the previous ones, in large part because occupied and garrisoned Missouri seemed to have no great desire for such liberation. Price expected to lead his army in and grow it by a flood of recruits. Since nearly every man in Missouri eligible for army service was already serving, on one side or the other, this did not occur. This morning, Price was in Lexington, on the banks of the Missouri River. He had Alfred Pleasanton’s heavy cavalry behind him, Andrew Jackson Smith’s infantry on his left and Samuel Curtis’ men up ahead. The river, on the right of his course, was essentially the only direction from which shot and shell were not flying. Another fight occurs at Dover, Missouri, as Confederate Major General Sterling Price is becoming increasingly alarmed at the presence of Union Calvary forces under Major General Alfred Pleasonton, the Army of the Border under Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis, and troops under Brigadier General Andrew Jackson Smith as they seem to be coalescing, surrounding and hemming him in.
Even in the midst of blockade duty afloat, Union sailors were able to vote in the presidential election. Rear Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren ordered Acting Master John K. Crosby, piloting the USS Harvest Moon to "...proceed with the USS Harvest Moon under your command to Savannah River, Wassaw, Ossabaw, Sapelo, and Doboy [Sounds], and communicate with the vessels there, in order to collect the 'sailors' votes already distributed for that purpose. A number of ballots will be given you, in order to enable the men to vote."
A boat expedition under Acting Master George E. Hill, from the USS Stars and Stripes, ascended the Ocklockonee River in Western Florida and destroyed an extensive Confederate fishery on Marsh's Island, capturing a detachment of soldiers assigned to guard the works. In small and large operations, assault from the sea continued to destroy the South's resources.
Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseur, CSA, dies from wounds this afternoon received the day before at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia.
George Washington Custis Lee, the eldest son of Robert Edward Lee and Mary Anna Custis Lee, is today appointed Major General.
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, whose wounding at Jerusalem Plank Road during the siege of Petersburg cost him two of his fingers and was the probable cause for his nickname--"Bad Hand", is appointed Brigadier General.
Another series of small battle breaks out at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, as Lieutenant General Jubal Early retreats southward with the last remnants of Confederate opposition in the Shenandoah Valley.
Skirmishes today near Memphis, Tennessee, at Blue Pond and Little River, Alabama, Waterloo, Louisiana, and in Benton County, Arkansas.
The Plains Indian attack settlements around the Platte Valley, near Alkali Station, in the Nebraska Territory.
This afternoon, President Abraham Lincoln officially sets the last Thursday in November to be forever celebrated as "Thanksgiving."
Sterling Price had been fighting to liberate Missouri from invading Union hands since the beginning of the War. His final excursion had been going on for a month now, and was having no greater success than the previous ones, in large part because occupied and garrisoned Missouri seemed to have no great desire for such liberation. Price expected to lead his army in and grow it by a flood of recruits. Since nearly every man in Missouri eligible for army service was already serving, on one side or the other, this did not occur. This morning, Price was in Lexington, on the banks of the Missouri River. He had Alfred Pleasanton’s heavy cavalry behind him, Andrew Jackson Smith’s infantry on his left and Samuel Curtis’ men up ahead. The river, on the right of his course, was essentially the only direction from which shot and shell were not flying. Another fight occurs at Dover, Missouri, as Confederate Major General Sterling Price is becoming increasingly alarmed at the presence of Union Calvary forces under Major General Alfred Pleasonton, the Army of the Border under Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis, and troops under Brigadier General Andrew Jackson Smith as they seem to be coalescing, surrounding and hemming him in.
Even in the midst of blockade duty afloat, Union sailors were able to vote in the presidential election. Rear Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren ordered Acting Master John K. Crosby, piloting the USS Harvest Moon to "...proceed with the USS Harvest Moon under your command to Savannah River, Wassaw, Ossabaw, Sapelo, and Doboy [Sounds], and communicate with the vessels there, in order to collect the 'sailors' votes already distributed for that purpose. A number of ballots will be given you, in order to enable the men to vote."
A boat expedition under Acting Master George E. Hill, from the USS Stars and Stripes, ascended the Ocklockonee River in Western Florida and destroyed an extensive Confederate fishery on Marsh's Island, capturing a detachment of soldiers assigned to guard the works. In small and large operations, assault from the sea continued to destroy the South's resources.
Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseur, CSA, dies from wounds this afternoon received the day before at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia.
George Washington Custis Lee, the eldest son of Robert Edward Lee and Mary Anna Custis Lee, is today appointed Major General.
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, whose wounding at Jerusalem Plank Road during the siege of Petersburg cost him two of his fingers and was the probable cause for his nickname--"Bad Hand", is appointed Brigadier General.
Another series of small battle breaks out at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, as Lieutenant General Jubal Early retreats southward with the last remnants of Confederate opposition in the Shenandoah Valley.
Skirmishes today near Memphis, Tennessee, at Blue Pond and Little River, Alabama, Waterloo, Louisiana, and in Benton County, Arkansas.
The Plains Indian attack settlements around the Platte Valley, near Alkali Station, in the Nebraska Territory.
This afternoon, President Abraham Lincoln officially sets the last Thursday in November to be forever celebrated as "Thanksgiving."
This post was edited on 10/20/14 at 6:56 am
1
Posted on 10/20/14 at 8:48 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Friday, 21 October 1864
Major General Sterling "Old Pap" Price’s position was clearly desperate. Surrounded on three sides by closely pursuing Federal forces, and with a river on the fourth, the logical thing to do would most likely have been to surrender his force and abandon every hope of taking Missouri out of Union control. This was not, however, Price’s style, so instead he this morning fought a very forceful battle at a small waterway known as the Little Blue, where Confederate Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby forced Major General Samuel R. Curtis to retreat to Bush Creek, near Westport, Missouri. The inevitable was staved off for another day, and in fact, the Federals were not as secure as they wanted Price to believe, consequently forcing the evacuation of Independence, Missouri.
Major General William T. Sherman’s Federals stopped pursuing the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood at Gaylesville, Alabama as Sherman tried determining Hood’s next move.
The USS Fort Jackson, under Captain Benjamin F. Sands, captured the steamer Wando at sea east of Cape Romain, South Carolina, with a cargo of cotton.
The USS Sea Bird, Ensign Ezra L. Robbins in charge, captured the blockade running British schooner Lucy off Anclote Keys, Florida, with an assorted cargo.
Unionists serenaded President Lincoln at the White House in celebration of the Federal victory at Cedar Creek two days ago. Lincoln proposed three cheers for “...all our noble commanders and the soldiers and sailors...”
George R. Crook, U.S.A., is appointed Major General of Volunteers. Crook would later command the Department of the Platte where he hastily retreated from Lakota and Cheyenne warriors--led by Crazy Horse--in a battle at Rosebud Creek, a defeat that denied reinforcements to George Armstrong Custer and would eventually contribute to Custer's devastating loss at the Little Bighorn.
William Badger Tibbits, U.S.A., is brevetted Brigadier General following a strong recommendation for promotion from Major General David "Black Dave" Hunter, department commander.
Skirmishes occur today in Clinch Valley, near Sneedville, Tennessee, at Leesburg, Alabama, at Bryant's Plantation, Florida, and at Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
Major General Sterling "Old Pap" Price’s position was clearly desperate. Surrounded on three sides by closely pursuing Federal forces, and with a river on the fourth, the logical thing to do would most likely have been to surrender his force and abandon every hope of taking Missouri out of Union control. This was not, however, Price’s style, so instead he this morning fought a very forceful battle at a small waterway known as the Little Blue, where Confederate Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby forced Major General Samuel R. Curtis to retreat to Bush Creek, near Westport, Missouri. The inevitable was staved off for another day, and in fact, the Federals were not as secure as they wanted Price to believe, consequently forcing the evacuation of Independence, Missouri.
Major General William T. Sherman’s Federals stopped pursuing the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood at Gaylesville, Alabama as Sherman tried determining Hood’s next move.
The USS Fort Jackson, under Captain Benjamin F. Sands, captured the steamer Wando at sea east of Cape Romain, South Carolina, with a cargo of cotton.
The USS Sea Bird, Ensign Ezra L. Robbins in charge, captured the blockade running British schooner Lucy off Anclote Keys, Florida, with an assorted cargo.
Unionists serenaded President Lincoln at the White House in celebration of the Federal victory at Cedar Creek two days ago. Lincoln proposed three cheers for “...all our noble commanders and the soldiers and sailors...”
George R. Crook, U.S.A., is appointed Major General of Volunteers. Crook would later command the Department of the Platte where he hastily retreated from Lakota and Cheyenne warriors--led by Crazy Horse--in a battle at Rosebud Creek, a defeat that denied reinforcements to George Armstrong Custer and would eventually contribute to Custer's devastating loss at the Little Bighorn.
William Badger Tibbits, U.S.A., is brevetted Brigadier General following a strong recommendation for promotion from Major General David "Black Dave" Hunter, department commander.
Skirmishes occur today in Clinch Valley, near Sneedville, Tennessee, at Leesburg, Alabama, at Bryant's Plantation, Florida, and at Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
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