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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 10/23/14 at 8:32 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 10/23/14 at 8:32 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 24 October 1864
The Battle of Westport had been, by any measure, a thunderous Federal victory. The small, rag-tag army Major General Sterling Price had led into Missouri in one last try to raise the State to overthrow the invading Yankees had been under Federal pursuit for weeks now, and yesterday, surrounded on three sides with the Missouri River on the fourth, the Confederate lines had collapsed wholesale. This result had not been a complete shock to Price, since several days earlier he had started his supply train, loaded with quite a bit of loot, to head south for Arkansas while the main army headed further north, towards Kansas City, Missouri. When night had fallen after the battle everyone who could manage--including Price--had headed south as well. The Federal commanders fell to discussing plans among themselves and did not vigorously pursue at this time.
In light of the increased difficulty of manning his ships and mounting danger from Union torpedoes in the James River, Flag Officer Mitchell considered withdrawal of his squadron upriver closer to Richmond. In response to the Flag Officer's request for his views on the subject, General Robert E. Lee wrote: "If the enemy succeeds in throwing a force to the south bank [of the James River] in rear of General Pickett's lines, it will necessitate not only the withdrawal of General P.'s forces, but also the abandonment of Petersburg and its railroad connections, throwing the whole army back to the defenses of Richmond...I fully appreciate the importance of preserving our fleet, and deprecate any unnecessary exposure of it. But you will perceive the magnitude of the service which it is thought you can render, and determine whether it is sufficient to justify the risk...As I said before, I can forsee no state of circumstances in which the fleet can render more important aid in the defense of Richmond at present than by guarding the river below Chaffin's Bluff."
The USS Nita, Acting Lieutenant Robert B. Smith in charge, captured the schooner Unknown off Clearwater Harbor, Florida, after her crew had escaped.
The USS Rosalie, under Acting Ensign Henry W. Wells, captured an unidentified blockade running sloop off Little Marco, Florida, with a cargo of salt and shoes.
President Abraham Lincoln told the 189th New York Volunteers, “SOLDIERS: I am exceedingly obliged to you for this mark of respect. It is said that we have the best Government the world ever knew, and I am glad to meet you, the supporters of that Government. To you who render the hardest work in its support should be given the greatest credit. Others who are connected with it, and who occupy higher positions, their duties can be dispensed with, but we cannot get along without your aid. While others differ with the Administration, and perhaps, honestly, the soldiers generally have sustained it; they have not only fought right, but, so far as could be judged from their actions, they have voted right, and I for one thank you for it. I know you are en route for the front, and therefore do not expect me to detain you long, and will therefore bid you good morning."
A Federal expedition begins from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a town situated in the southeast section of the state in the Arkansas Delta. Federal scouts travel from Pine Bluff toward Mount Elba, Arkansas.
Brigadier General James Jay Archer, CSA, dies from deteriorating health developed while being held as a Federal prisoner of war after being captured 3 July, 1863, with most of his brigade of Heth's division at the Battle of Gettysburg. Eventually exchanged, the native of Bel Air, Maryland, finally succombed in his nation's capital of Richmond, Virginia.
A skirmish occurs near Magnolia, Florida, where Union Cavalry battle the Confederate forces stationed near Waldo, about 65 miles away, with several casualties.
A brief battle begins near South River, Georgia.
Federal operations start in Issaquena and Washington Counties, Mississippi, and skirmishes take place at Steele's Bayou, as the Yankees capture cotton, horses, mules, sheep, beef-cattle, in addition to prominent Southerners.
The Battle of Westport had been, by any measure, a thunderous Federal victory. The small, rag-tag army Major General Sterling Price had led into Missouri in one last try to raise the State to overthrow the invading Yankees had been under Federal pursuit for weeks now, and yesterday, surrounded on three sides with the Missouri River on the fourth, the Confederate lines had collapsed wholesale. This result had not been a complete shock to Price, since several days earlier he had started his supply train, loaded with quite a bit of loot, to head south for Arkansas while the main army headed further north, towards Kansas City, Missouri. When night had fallen after the battle everyone who could manage--including Price--had headed south as well. The Federal commanders fell to discussing plans among themselves and did not vigorously pursue at this time.
In light of the increased difficulty of manning his ships and mounting danger from Union torpedoes in the James River, Flag Officer Mitchell considered withdrawal of his squadron upriver closer to Richmond. In response to the Flag Officer's request for his views on the subject, General Robert E. Lee wrote: "If the enemy succeeds in throwing a force to the south bank [of the James River] in rear of General Pickett's lines, it will necessitate not only the withdrawal of General P.'s forces, but also the abandonment of Petersburg and its railroad connections, throwing the whole army back to the defenses of Richmond...I fully appreciate the importance of preserving our fleet, and deprecate any unnecessary exposure of it. But you will perceive the magnitude of the service which it is thought you can render, and determine whether it is sufficient to justify the risk...As I said before, I can forsee no state of circumstances in which the fleet can render more important aid in the defense of Richmond at present than by guarding the river below Chaffin's Bluff."
The USS Nita, Acting Lieutenant Robert B. Smith in charge, captured the schooner Unknown off Clearwater Harbor, Florida, after her crew had escaped.
The USS Rosalie, under Acting Ensign Henry W. Wells, captured an unidentified blockade running sloop off Little Marco, Florida, with a cargo of salt and shoes.
President Abraham Lincoln told the 189th New York Volunteers, “SOLDIERS: I am exceedingly obliged to you for this mark of respect. It is said that we have the best Government the world ever knew, and I am glad to meet you, the supporters of that Government. To you who render the hardest work in its support should be given the greatest credit. Others who are connected with it, and who occupy higher positions, their duties can be dispensed with, but we cannot get along without your aid. While others differ with the Administration, and perhaps, honestly, the soldiers generally have sustained it; they have not only fought right, but, so far as could be judged from their actions, they have voted right, and I for one thank you for it. I know you are en route for the front, and therefore do not expect me to detain you long, and will therefore bid you good morning."
A Federal expedition begins from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a town situated in the southeast section of the state in the Arkansas Delta. Federal scouts travel from Pine Bluff toward Mount Elba, Arkansas.
Brigadier General James Jay Archer, CSA, dies from deteriorating health developed while being held as a Federal prisoner of war after being captured 3 July, 1863, with most of his brigade of Heth's division at the Battle of Gettysburg. Eventually exchanged, the native of Bel Air, Maryland, finally succombed in his nation's capital of Richmond, Virginia.
A skirmish occurs near Magnolia, Florida, where Union Cavalry battle the Confederate forces stationed near Waldo, about 65 miles away, with several casualties.
A brief battle begins near South River, Georgia.
Federal operations start in Issaquena and Washington Counties, Mississippi, and skirmishes take place at Steele's Bayou, as the Yankees capture cotton, horses, mules, sheep, beef-cattle, in addition to prominent Southerners.
This post was edited on 10/24/14 at 3:54 am
1
Posted on 10/25/14 at 6:43 am to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 25 October 1864
It had taken more than a day to get in gear, but once the Federal armies who had broken Major General Sterling Price’s much smaller Confederate army in the Battle of Westport got serious about pursuit, things rapidly got fierce again. This morning, Major General Alfred Pleasanton’s cavalry lined up for a charge and hit the fleeing wagon trains near the confluence of the Marais des Cygnes and Mine Creek. Two defending divisions broke, but soon Joseph O. Shelby’s men came up in support. They held for awhile on a line at the Little Osage River, allowing more of the wagons to escape, but the forces opposing them were just too many and too strong. The Federal cavalry charge at Mine Creek inflicted 1,060 Confederate casualties and resulted in the capture of Generals John Marmaduke and William L. Cabell. Price bitterly burned about a third of the wagons, and pressed the remainder south at as fast a pace as could be managed.
Federal operations were stepped up around Fayetteville, Arkansas, during the invasion by Major General Sterling Price.
An expedition from the USS Don, Commander Foxhall A. Parker, landed at Fleet's Point, in the Great Wicomico River, Virginia, and burned houses, barns, and outbuildings formerly used as shelter by the home guards of Northumberland County while firing on vessels of the Potomac Flotilla. Four boats were also burned and five others captured.
Rear Admiral George F. Pearson assumed command of the Pacific Squadron relieving Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell.
A Federal expedition began from Blackwater Bay, Florida, and a skirmish would take place at Milton, as the Federals, including a unit of colored troops soldiers, drive off a smaller group of Confederates, and would seize over 100,000 feet of seasoned Rebel lumber.
Skirmishing occurred as elements of Major General William T. Sherman's forces clashed on the Gadsden Road, in Alabama, with Lieutenant General John Bell Hood’s Confederates as they continued moving west.
Skirmishes were reported near Round Mountain, and at Turkeytown, Alabama, as well as near Memphis, Tennessee.
Skirmishes took place near the Half Way House, between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Skirmishes occurred at Milford, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign.
It had taken more than a day to get in gear, but once the Federal armies who had broken Major General Sterling Price’s much smaller Confederate army in the Battle of Westport got serious about pursuit, things rapidly got fierce again. This morning, Major General Alfred Pleasanton’s cavalry lined up for a charge and hit the fleeing wagon trains near the confluence of the Marais des Cygnes and Mine Creek. Two defending divisions broke, but soon Joseph O. Shelby’s men came up in support. They held for awhile on a line at the Little Osage River, allowing more of the wagons to escape, but the forces opposing them were just too many and too strong. The Federal cavalry charge at Mine Creek inflicted 1,060 Confederate casualties and resulted in the capture of Generals John Marmaduke and William L. Cabell. Price bitterly burned about a third of the wagons, and pressed the remainder south at as fast a pace as could be managed.
Federal operations were stepped up around Fayetteville, Arkansas, during the invasion by Major General Sterling Price.
An expedition from the USS Don, Commander Foxhall A. Parker, landed at Fleet's Point, in the Great Wicomico River, Virginia, and burned houses, barns, and outbuildings formerly used as shelter by the home guards of Northumberland County while firing on vessels of the Potomac Flotilla. Four boats were also burned and five others captured.
Rear Admiral George F. Pearson assumed command of the Pacific Squadron relieving Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell.
A Federal expedition began from Blackwater Bay, Florida, and a skirmish would take place at Milton, as the Federals, including a unit of colored troops soldiers, drive off a smaller group of Confederates, and would seize over 100,000 feet of seasoned Rebel lumber.
Skirmishing occurred as elements of Major General William T. Sherman's forces clashed on the Gadsden Road, in Alabama, with Lieutenant General John Bell Hood’s Confederates as they continued moving west.
Skirmishes were reported near Round Mountain, and at Turkeytown, Alabama, as well as near Memphis, Tennessee.
Skirmishes took place near the Half Way House, between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Skirmishes occurred at Milford, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign.
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