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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 10/21/14 at 9:07 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 10/21/14 at 9:07 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 22 October 1864
Major General Sterling Price had set forth intending to take Missouri out of invading Union hands. At the moment, however, he would have been more than happy to take himself out of Missouri, and his Confederate and Missouri State Guard forces with him. This ambition was being hindered by having Union armies on three sides of him, and the Missouri River on the fourth. Therefore, he was in the planning stages of a breakout attempt. His orders were for the supply train to head south along the river, and then have Jo Shelby and James F. Fagan attack the Union Army of the Border, while John S. Marmaduke protected the rear from Alfred Pleasanton’s cavalry brigade. Surrounded and heavily outnumbered, the strategy was desperate in the extreme, but Price had no choice but attack or surrender.
Another report: Sterling Price’s Confederates fought at Independence and reached Westport, today part of Kansas City. The Union forces closing in on Price, under overall command of Samuel Curtis, outnumbered him by over three-to-one. Price planned to attack and defeat the Federal force in his front before turning to attack and defeat Federal cavalry behind him.
Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, in a confidential letter to Commander William Henry Alexander Macomb, commanding naval forces in Albemarle Sound, set down instructions for engaging the CSS Albemarle, should the ram again come out to challenge Union control of the Sounds: "There is but one chance for wooden vessels in attacking an ironclad. You will, in case she comes out, make a dash at her with every vessel you have, and 'lay her on board', using canister to fire into her ports, while the ram strikes her steering apparatus and disables her. You will see that every vessel is provided with proper grapnels, to hold on by while going alongside, and a boarding party will be appointed to lash the vessels together. Even if half your vessels are sunk you must pursue this course. Porter added: "I have directed Lieutenant Cushing to go down in a steam launch, and if possible destroy this ram with torpedoes. I have no great confidence in his success, but you will afford him all the assistance in your power, and keep boats ready to pick him up in case of failure."
In answer to the objections of Major General William Henry Chase Whiting and Governor Zebulon Baird Vance of North Carolina, Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Russell Mallory wrote to President Jefferson Davis defending the use of the CSS Tallahassee and Chickamauga as commerce cruisers rather than holding them for the defense of Wilmington: "Though the Tallahassee captured thirty-one vessels her service is not limited to the value of these ships and cargoes and the number of prisoners; but it must be estimated in connec-tion with other results the consequent insecurity of the United States coastwise commerce, the detention and delay of vessels in port, and the augmentation of the rates of marine insurance, by which millions were added to the expenses of commerce and navigation, the compulsory withdrawal of a portion of the blockading force from Wilmington in pursuit of her. A cruise by the Chickamauga and Tallahassee against northern coasts and commerce would at once withdraw a fleet of fast steamers from the blockading force off Wilmington in pursuit of them, and this result alone would render such a cruise expedient."
Union shore batteries on the north bank of the James River at Signal Hill opened fire suddenly on Ships of the Confederate Squadron, anchored in the river at that point. The wooden gunboat CSS Drewry, Lieutenant William H. Wall, sustained moderate damage, and after engaging the batteries for about one hour, the Southern vessels retired under the protection of the guns of Fort Darling, on Chaffin's Bluff.
The British blockade running steamer Flora, after being chased by the USS Wamsutta, Geranium, and Mingoe off Charleston, South Carolina, was run ashore and destroyed next day by fire from monitors and the batteries on Morris Island.
The USS Eolus, under Acting Master William O. Lundt, captured the Confederate blockade running steamer Hope near Wilmington with a cargo of machinery.
General John Bell Hood’s Confederates moved to Guntersville, Alabama, on their way to Hood’s planned invasion of Tennessee. Hood moved west across northern Alabama due to a high Tennessee River and low supplies.
Confederate partisan guerrillas attacked a Federal transport on the White River near St. Charles, Arkansas.
A Union expedition began from Brashear City, Louisiana, (today's Morgan City) in St. Mary Parish, on the banks of the Atchafalaya River.
Major General Sterling Price had set forth intending to take Missouri out of invading Union hands. At the moment, however, he would have been more than happy to take himself out of Missouri, and his Confederate and Missouri State Guard forces with him. This ambition was being hindered by having Union armies on three sides of him, and the Missouri River on the fourth. Therefore, he was in the planning stages of a breakout attempt. His orders were for the supply train to head south along the river, and then have Jo Shelby and James F. Fagan attack the Union Army of the Border, while John S. Marmaduke protected the rear from Alfred Pleasanton’s cavalry brigade. Surrounded and heavily outnumbered, the strategy was desperate in the extreme, but Price had no choice but attack or surrender.
Another report: Sterling Price’s Confederates fought at Independence and reached Westport, today part of Kansas City. The Union forces closing in on Price, under overall command of Samuel Curtis, outnumbered him by over three-to-one. Price planned to attack and defeat the Federal force in his front before turning to attack and defeat Federal cavalry behind him.
Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, in a confidential letter to Commander William Henry Alexander Macomb, commanding naval forces in Albemarle Sound, set down instructions for engaging the CSS Albemarle, should the ram again come out to challenge Union control of the Sounds: "There is but one chance for wooden vessels in attacking an ironclad. You will, in case she comes out, make a dash at her with every vessel you have, and 'lay her on board', using canister to fire into her ports, while the ram strikes her steering apparatus and disables her. You will see that every vessel is provided with proper grapnels, to hold on by while going alongside, and a boarding party will be appointed to lash the vessels together. Even if half your vessels are sunk you must pursue this course. Porter added: "I have directed Lieutenant Cushing to go down in a steam launch, and if possible destroy this ram with torpedoes. I have no great confidence in his success, but you will afford him all the assistance in your power, and keep boats ready to pick him up in case of failure."
In answer to the objections of Major General William Henry Chase Whiting and Governor Zebulon Baird Vance of North Carolina, Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Russell Mallory wrote to President Jefferson Davis defending the use of the CSS Tallahassee and Chickamauga as commerce cruisers rather than holding them for the defense of Wilmington: "Though the Tallahassee captured thirty-one vessels her service is not limited to the value of these ships and cargoes and the number of prisoners; but it must be estimated in connec-tion with other results the consequent insecurity of the United States coastwise commerce, the detention and delay of vessels in port, and the augmentation of the rates of marine insurance, by which millions were added to the expenses of commerce and navigation, the compulsory withdrawal of a portion of the blockading force from Wilmington in pursuit of her. A cruise by the Chickamauga and Tallahassee against northern coasts and commerce would at once withdraw a fleet of fast steamers from the blockading force off Wilmington in pursuit of them, and this result alone would render such a cruise expedient."
Union shore batteries on the north bank of the James River at Signal Hill opened fire suddenly on Ships of the Confederate Squadron, anchored in the river at that point. The wooden gunboat CSS Drewry, Lieutenant William H. Wall, sustained moderate damage, and after engaging the batteries for about one hour, the Southern vessels retired under the protection of the guns of Fort Darling, on Chaffin's Bluff.
The British blockade running steamer Flora, after being chased by the USS Wamsutta, Geranium, and Mingoe off Charleston, South Carolina, was run ashore and destroyed next day by fire from monitors and the batteries on Morris Island.
The USS Eolus, under Acting Master William O. Lundt, captured the Confederate blockade running steamer Hope near Wilmington with a cargo of machinery.
General John Bell Hood’s Confederates moved to Guntersville, Alabama, on their way to Hood’s planned invasion of Tennessee. Hood moved west across northern Alabama due to a high Tennessee River and low supplies.
Confederate partisan guerrillas attacked a Federal transport on the White River near St. Charles, Arkansas.
A Union expedition began from Brashear City, Louisiana, (today's Morgan City) in St. Mary Parish, on the banks of the Atchafalaya River.
1
Posted on 10/23/14 at 3:59 am to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 23 October 1864
The battle scene was like a zoo, appropriately enough since that is what is built on the site today, in Kansas City, Missouri. The Battle of Westport it was called at the time, and put an end to Sterling Price’s last raid in the cause of helping Missouri cast off the Union yoke. He had received little support from Missourians in this effort, and today he battled to the end. A fierce charge around Price’s left flank led to a four-hour battle, followed by Pleasanton’s cavalry attack on the Confederate horsemen, which outnumbered nearly three to one, broke and fled the field. Pleasanton regrouped and charged into the Confederate rear, and organization all but collapsed. Those who could, saving themselves and what comrades they could, set out to make their way to Arkansas by any means possible, or were captured. This was the last major battle west of the Mississippi River.
Second report: The Engagement at Westport, Missouri, took place near present day Kansas City, as Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby, CSA, attacks; Major General Alfred Pleasonton, USA, and his cavalry counterattack; Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke, CSA, and the rest of Major General Sterling Price's Confederate force see the Union troops reverse yesterday's defeat; Price withdraws southward which ends the Confederate threat in Missouri.
Acting Ensign Sommers, from the USS Tacony, led a reconnaissance party up the Roanoke River, North Carolina. While returning, the party was fired on by Confederates and forced to seek cover in a swamp. After constructing a make-shift raft to support his wounded, Sommers succeeded in reaching the mouth of the river, where he was picked up by Union forces. Four other members of his party, missing in the swamp for four days, were rescued by Union scouts on 29 October.
The blockade runner Flamingo, aground off Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, was destroyed by shell fire from Forts Strong and Putnam, Battery Chatfield, and ships of Rear Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren's South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
Union soldiers skirmished with Confederate partisans at King's Hill, Alabama.
A skirmish occurred at Dry Run, Virginia, as part of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign.
The battle scene was like a zoo, appropriately enough since that is what is built on the site today, in Kansas City, Missouri. The Battle of Westport it was called at the time, and put an end to Sterling Price’s last raid in the cause of helping Missouri cast off the Union yoke. He had received little support from Missourians in this effort, and today he battled to the end. A fierce charge around Price’s left flank led to a four-hour battle, followed by Pleasanton’s cavalry attack on the Confederate horsemen, which outnumbered nearly three to one, broke and fled the field. Pleasanton regrouped and charged into the Confederate rear, and organization all but collapsed. Those who could, saving themselves and what comrades they could, set out to make their way to Arkansas by any means possible, or were captured. This was the last major battle west of the Mississippi River.
Second report: The Engagement at Westport, Missouri, took place near present day Kansas City, as Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby, CSA, attacks; Major General Alfred Pleasonton, USA, and his cavalry counterattack; Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke, CSA, and the rest of Major General Sterling Price's Confederate force see the Union troops reverse yesterday's defeat; Price withdraws southward which ends the Confederate threat in Missouri.
Acting Ensign Sommers, from the USS Tacony, led a reconnaissance party up the Roanoke River, North Carolina. While returning, the party was fired on by Confederates and forced to seek cover in a swamp. After constructing a make-shift raft to support his wounded, Sommers succeeded in reaching the mouth of the river, where he was picked up by Union forces. Four other members of his party, missing in the swamp for four days, were rescued by Union scouts on 29 October.
The blockade runner Flamingo, aground off Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, was destroyed by shell fire from Forts Strong and Putnam, Battery Chatfield, and ships of Rear Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren's South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
Union soldiers skirmished with Confederate partisans at King's Hill, Alabama.
A skirmish occurred at Dry Run, Virginia, as part of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign.
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