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Posted on 9/8/13 at 6:23 am
Posted on 9/8/13 at 6:23 am
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Tuesday, September 8 1863
A large force of Union troops assaulted Fort Sumter; but were repulsed, leaving in the hands of the Rebels a large number of prisoners
General Nathaniel Banks had important work to do: retake the Texas cities of Beaumont and Houston. To accomplish this, he assembled four ships, gunboats and troop transports, and set off. To get to his destination required him to get by Sabine Pass, on the Texas-Louisiana border. There was only a feeble force of forty Confederates, with some earthworks and guns, to stop him. This force, commanded by Lieutenant Richard William "Dick" Dowling, along with a couple of "cottonclad" gunboats under General John Bankhead Magruder, did exactly that. They sank the two lead gunboats and forced their crews to surrender, and drove off the rest of the invasion force with heavy losses. Banks was humiliated and fit to be tied. His superiors were not exactly thrilled with his performance either.
The joint Army-Navy attack on Sabine Pass opened as the USS Clifton, under Acting Lieutenant Crocker, crossed the bar and unsuccessfully attempted to draw the fire of the fort and cottonclad steamer CSS Uncle Ben. Clifton was followed across the bar by the USS Sachem, Arizona, Granite City, and Army transports. Sachem and Arizona advanced up the Louisiana (Right) channel and Clifton and Granite City moved up the Texas (Left) channel; they opened on the Confederate batteries preparatory to landing the troops. The Confederate gunners withheld fire until the gunboats were within close range and then countered with a devastating cannonade. A shot through the boiler totally disabled the Sachem, another shot away the wheel rope of Clifton and she grounded under the Confederate guns. Crocker fought his ship until, with 10 men killed and nine others wounded, he deemed it his duty "to stop the slaughter by showing the white flag, which was done, and we fell into the hands of the enemy." Sachem, after flooding her magazine, also surrendered and was taken under tow by the CSS Uncle Ben. With the loss of Clifton's and Sachem's firepower, the two remaining gunboats and troop transports recrossed the bar and departed for New Orleans. The Sabine Pass expedition had, in the words of Commodore H. H. Bell, "totally failed." Nevertheless, Major General Banks reported: "In all respects the cooperation of the naval authorities has been hearty and efficient. Fully comprehending the purposes of the Government, they entered upon the expedition with great spirit. Commodore Bell gave all the assistance in his power, and Captain Crocker, of the Clifton, now a prisoner, deserves especial mention for his conspicuous gallantry." In a vote of thanks to the small defending garrison for the victory which prevented "the invasion of Texas," the Confederate Congress called the action "one of the most brilliant and heroic achievements in the history of this war."
The United States gunboats Clifton and Sachem were captured by the Confederates at Sabine Pass, Louisiana, being disabled by the fire from the fortifications on shore. They were operating for the landing of a column of United States troops under Major General Franklin, to be employed in a movement against Louisiana and Texas. In consequence of the failure at this point, the movement was abandoned.
Chattanooga was evacuated by the Confederates, who retreated to the south.
The bombardment of Fort Moultrie, by the monitors Nahant, Montauk, Patapsco, and Lehigh, was renewed and continued during the first half of the day. A house on Sullivan's Island was set on fire by the shells.
The Washita River expedition, consisting of the greater part of General Logan's old brigade, a regiment of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, returned to Vicksburg from the portion of Louisiana lying adjacent to Washita River. No organized force of the rebels could be found. The detour was made to the north-west, in direction of the village of El Dorado, Ark. A large number of rebel soldiers came voluntarily into the Union lines and surrendered.
The large Federal force at Bath, Virginia, composed of a portion of two companies of Colonel Wynkoop's Seventieth Pennsylvania cavalry, was attacked this morning at three o'clock by a party of Confederates, who were repulsed and driven off.
At Baltimore, Maryland, General Schenck issued an order suppressing the substitute business in Maryland and in his department, it having been found that the agencies for procuring substitutes to go out of the State and department interfered with the operation of the draft and recruiting.
Tuesday, September 8 1863
A large force of Union troops assaulted Fort Sumter; but were repulsed, leaving in the hands of the Rebels a large number of prisoners
General Nathaniel Banks had important work to do: retake the Texas cities of Beaumont and Houston. To accomplish this, he assembled four ships, gunboats and troop transports, and set off. To get to his destination required him to get by Sabine Pass, on the Texas-Louisiana border. There was only a feeble force of forty Confederates, with some earthworks and guns, to stop him. This force, commanded by Lieutenant Richard William "Dick" Dowling, along with a couple of "cottonclad" gunboats under General John Bankhead Magruder, did exactly that. They sank the two lead gunboats and forced their crews to surrender, and drove off the rest of the invasion force with heavy losses. Banks was humiliated and fit to be tied. His superiors were not exactly thrilled with his performance either.
The joint Army-Navy attack on Sabine Pass opened as the USS Clifton, under Acting Lieutenant Crocker, crossed the bar and unsuccessfully attempted to draw the fire of the fort and cottonclad steamer CSS Uncle Ben. Clifton was followed across the bar by the USS Sachem, Arizona, Granite City, and Army transports. Sachem and Arizona advanced up the Louisiana (Right) channel and Clifton and Granite City moved up the Texas (Left) channel; they opened on the Confederate batteries preparatory to landing the troops. The Confederate gunners withheld fire until the gunboats were within close range and then countered with a devastating cannonade. A shot through the boiler totally disabled the Sachem, another shot away the wheel rope of Clifton and she grounded under the Confederate guns. Crocker fought his ship until, with 10 men killed and nine others wounded, he deemed it his duty "to stop the slaughter by showing the white flag, which was done, and we fell into the hands of the enemy." Sachem, after flooding her magazine, also surrendered and was taken under tow by the CSS Uncle Ben. With the loss of Clifton's and Sachem's firepower, the two remaining gunboats and troop transports recrossed the bar and departed for New Orleans. The Sabine Pass expedition had, in the words of Commodore H. H. Bell, "totally failed." Nevertheless, Major General Banks reported: "In all respects the cooperation of the naval authorities has been hearty and efficient. Fully comprehending the purposes of the Government, they entered upon the expedition with great spirit. Commodore Bell gave all the assistance in his power, and Captain Crocker, of the Clifton, now a prisoner, deserves especial mention for his conspicuous gallantry." In a vote of thanks to the small defending garrison for the victory which prevented "the invasion of Texas," the Confederate Congress called the action "one of the most brilliant and heroic achievements in the history of this war."
The United States gunboats Clifton and Sachem were captured by the Confederates at Sabine Pass, Louisiana, being disabled by the fire from the fortifications on shore. They were operating for the landing of a column of United States troops under Major General Franklin, to be employed in a movement against Louisiana and Texas. In consequence of the failure at this point, the movement was abandoned.
Chattanooga was evacuated by the Confederates, who retreated to the south.
The bombardment of Fort Moultrie, by the monitors Nahant, Montauk, Patapsco, and Lehigh, was renewed and continued during the first half of the day. A house on Sullivan's Island was set on fire by the shells.
The Washita River expedition, consisting of the greater part of General Logan's old brigade, a regiment of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, returned to Vicksburg from the portion of Louisiana lying adjacent to Washita River. No organized force of the rebels could be found. The detour was made to the north-west, in direction of the village of El Dorado, Ark. A large number of rebel soldiers came voluntarily into the Union lines and surrendered.
The large Federal force at Bath, Virginia, composed of a portion of two companies of Colonel Wynkoop's Seventieth Pennsylvania cavalry, was attacked this morning at three o'clock by a party of Confederates, who were repulsed and driven off.
At Baltimore, Maryland, General Schenck issued an order suppressing the substitute business in Maryland and in his department, it having been found that the agencies for procuring substitutes to go out of the State and department interfered with the operation of the draft and recruiting.
This post was edited on 9/15/13 at 9:12 am
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Posted on 9/8/13 at 8:27 am to BadLeroyDawg
Just a tip, but you don't have to start a new thread every day. You can use the same one as long as you want.
Posted on 9/8/13 at 10:21 am to UMRealist
I realize that was how it was previously published, but do you think it's easier to follow that way? If so, will simply thread to the previous post. Also, do you ever link to the discussion follow up on the Rivals page?
Posted on 9/8/13 at 9:27 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Personally don't read as often as when they were all in the same thread. I don't read them every day but will read 3 or 4 days at one time if I wasn't able to keep current. The problem then was I wasn't going to go back and search for 3 or 4 separate postings to catch up. If they're all in one place, it was convenient to stay caught up.
Posted on 9/9/13 at 4:02 am to reedus23
Wednesday, 9 September 1863
General Braxton Bragg, CSA, commander of the Army of Tennessee, had defended his state from General William Rosecrans’ Federal Army of the Cumberland mostly by advancing to the rear. He had retreated so efficiently that he was now in Chattanooga, almost backing into Georgia. Despite Chattanooga’s superb geography for a defensive battle, Bragg abruptly abandoned the city to its fate this morning for fear that Rosecrans was circling to his rear and would cut him off from any escape. General James Longstreet had been detached from the Army of Northern Virginia to come to Bragg’s aid. Thanks to Bragg’s retreat from Knoxville, which had cost the Confederacy a valuable railroad center, Longstreet and his men had to take a more roundabout route through North Carolina and Atlanta to get there. They would not arrive for ten more days, and even then some of their luggage (guns) got lost along the way.
Rear Admiral John Dahlgren mounted a boat attack on Fort Sumter late at night. Commander Stevens led the assault, comprising more than thirty boats and some 400 sailors and Marines. The Confederates, appraised in advance of the Union's intentions because they had recovered a key to the Northern signal code from the wreck of the USS Keokuk, waited until the boats were nearly ashore before opening a heavy fire and using hand grenades. The CSS Chicora contributed a sweeping, enfilading fire. Dahlgren noted that "...Moultrie fired like the devil, the shells breaking around us and screaming in chorus." The attack was brutally repulsed by the Southerners, and more than 100 men were captured. For the next several weeks, with the Yankees licking their wounds, a period of relative quiet at Charleston prevailed.
Union Colonel Cloud, with his ten thousand plus man division, belonging to the army of General Blunt, attacked a body of less than one thousand Confederates at Dardanelle, Arkansas, and defeated them, capturing their entire camp and a large amount of stores.
Lieutenant Colonel Hays, with companies A, B, H, and parts of E and F, of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry clashed with the Confederate-aligned Thomas' Legion just east of the depot near Telford, Tennessee, ninety-three miles up the railroad. The Confederate force was supported by 4-Howitzer artillery units, commanded by General Alfred "Mudwall" Jackson. The Union troops, losing heavily in killed and wounded, were finally compelled to surrender to the overpowering Southerners. Federal loss by the affair was about three hundred, killed, wounded, and prisoners, of which an undue proportion were commissioned officers.
Chat Discussion
General Braxton Bragg, CSA, commander of the Army of Tennessee, had defended his state from General William Rosecrans’ Federal Army of the Cumberland mostly by advancing to the rear. He had retreated so efficiently that he was now in Chattanooga, almost backing into Georgia. Despite Chattanooga’s superb geography for a defensive battle, Bragg abruptly abandoned the city to its fate this morning for fear that Rosecrans was circling to his rear and would cut him off from any escape. General James Longstreet had been detached from the Army of Northern Virginia to come to Bragg’s aid. Thanks to Bragg’s retreat from Knoxville, which had cost the Confederacy a valuable railroad center, Longstreet and his men had to take a more roundabout route through North Carolina and Atlanta to get there. They would not arrive for ten more days, and even then some of their luggage (guns) got lost along the way.
Rear Admiral John Dahlgren mounted a boat attack on Fort Sumter late at night. Commander Stevens led the assault, comprising more than thirty boats and some 400 sailors and Marines. The Confederates, appraised in advance of the Union's intentions because they had recovered a key to the Northern signal code from the wreck of the USS Keokuk, waited until the boats were nearly ashore before opening a heavy fire and using hand grenades. The CSS Chicora contributed a sweeping, enfilading fire. Dahlgren noted that "...Moultrie fired like the devil, the shells breaking around us and screaming in chorus." The attack was brutally repulsed by the Southerners, and more than 100 men were captured. For the next several weeks, with the Yankees licking their wounds, a period of relative quiet at Charleston prevailed.
Union Colonel Cloud, with his ten thousand plus man division, belonging to the army of General Blunt, attacked a body of less than one thousand Confederates at Dardanelle, Arkansas, and defeated them, capturing their entire camp and a large amount of stores.
Lieutenant Colonel Hays, with companies A, B, H, and parts of E and F, of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry clashed with the Confederate-aligned Thomas' Legion just east of the depot near Telford, Tennessee, ninety-three miles up the railroad. The Confederate force was supported by 4-Howitzer artillery units, commanded by General Alfred "Mudwall" Jackson. The Union troops, losing heavily in killed and wounded, were finally compelled to surrender to the overpowering Southerners. Federal loss by the affair was about three hundred, killed, wounded, and prisoners, of which an undue proportion were commissioned officers.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/10/13 at 4:17 am to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 10 September 1863
These were tough days to be in the newspaper business in Raleigh, North Carolina. The editor of the Raleigh Standard had been printing editorials advocating peace and rejoining the Union, a stand which so angered Confederate troops, belonging to General Benning's Confederate brigade, that they went to the office and tore it apart. Governor Zebulon Vance spoke imperturbably to them and they dispersed without burning the building. Then a a crowd of citizens “gathered and rushed upon the office of the State Journal, in the same place, and totally destroyed the furniture and printing materials...” since they were so vexed with the Journal for having an editor who was just as rabid in his editorials, even if they were pro-secessionist. Governor Vance was obliged to come out and speak soothingly again.
Farther west, Confederate troops evacuated from Little Rock, Arkansas. As Little Rock was falling to Major General Frederick Steele, the USS Hastings, under Lieutenant Commander S.L. Phelps, arrived at Devall's Bluff on the White River to support the land action. Though the river was falling rapidly, Phelps advised the General: "I shall be glad to be of service to you in every way possible." Phelps added that he would have gone over to Little Rock to congratulate Steele if he "could have obtained conveyance...Horseback riding," he wrote dryly, "for such a distance is rather too much for the uninitiated." A week later Phelps reported to Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter: "I have been up this river 150 miles, where we found a bar over which we could not pass. Numerous bodies of men cut off from General Price's army [after the fall of Little Rock to Steele] were fleeing across White River to the eastward. We captured three Rebel soldiers, two cavalry horses and equipments, and brought down a number of escaped conscripts, who have come to enlist in our army." This type of naval operation far into the Confederate interior continued to facilitate shore operations.
Major General S. A. Hurlbut, from his headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee, issued general orders causing reprisals to be made for all Rebel outrages committed within his lines, by levying assessments upon the wealthiest and most notorious sympathizers with the rebellion, adding fifty per cent to the amount of damages proven.
Major General James G. Blunt, from his headquarters at Fort Smith, issued the following address to the people of Arkansas: The flag that two and a half years ago was struck, when a weak garrison of United States troops were compelled to abandon this post, before a superior number of maddened and infuriated men, who had resolved upon the overthrow of the best Government upon earth, now floats in triumph over Fort Smith. In reply to the many inquiries made, ‘Is the occupation of this post by Federal troops to be permanent?’ I answer yes. The flag that floats from yonder staff, shall continue to wave its folds to the breeze, never again to be desecrated by treason's foul pollution. The whole of the Indian Territories and Western Arkansas are now in my possession, and under my control. All the rebel hordes, except a few guerrillas, have been driven beyond the Red River. The most obnoxious of the rebel citizens have followed the army with their families to seek the ‘last ditch.’ It is for you, who have chosen to remain at your homes, to elect whether you will have peace or war. From the unfeigned joy manifested by thousands of your citizens upon the occupation of this city and the neighboring city of Van Buren — from the reports of delegations who have visited me from over one hundred miles in the interior, south of the Arkansas River, as also from the fact that hundreds of true men have come from the mountains to swell the Union ranks in the last few days, and still continue to come from whither they have been driven and hunted like beasts of prey by confederate soldiers — gives assurance that the love and attachment for the Union is not yet extinct in Western Arkansas. Moreover, the bleached and crumbling bones of hundreds of Arkansians who, in this locality, have recently been hung upon the gibbet, by a fiendish and merciless crew of confederate murderers, for no other reason than that they loved the old flag, and would not bow their necks to the behests of treason, is evidence that they were true and devoted heroes, worthy a better fate. Many applications have been made by citizens for safeguards. None will be issued. The best safeguard you can have is the American flag suspended over your premises, and to deport yourselves as becomes good and loyal citizens. Your conduct must be your safeguard. If it shall be your desire to disenthral yourselves from the tyranny and oppression to which you have been subjected, and organize a civil government, under the auspices of the United States authority, every facility will be afforded you to accomplish this purpose. I leave the matter with you, trusting that wise counsels may prevail.
The Eleventh regiment of Kentucky mounted infantry, commanded by Colonel Love, in pursuit of the Confederate guerrillas under Colonel O. P. Hamilton, overtook them at Brimstone Creek, Tennessee, where a brisk skirmish occurred, the guerrillas mounting their horses and making off. Hamilton, who was recognized, rode boldly up to within one hundred and fifty yards of the Union advance, and delivered his fire, then turned and dashed into the bush. He was followed by a volley and retreated to the hills. The morning report of their Adjutant was captured, showing four hundred and eighty men for duty. Four of the guerrillas were killed and found in the brush. Two prisoners were taken, who acknowledged that seven were wounded. The Rebels, who had guerrillas in the hills assisting them, so completely blockaded the road by felling trees, that it was found impossible to pursue them. Colonel Love withdrew, and under orders from Colonel Harney, halted at Ray's Cross Roads.
The following proclamation was found posted on a tree at Tompkinsville, given literally: head Qrs Hamiltons battalion Tomkinsville Ky Sept. 7 1868 I Now Give Notice to Citizens and Soldiers to all Concerned that the principle of Burning and Pilaging must be Stopt as I am ordered to retaliate in Every respect Let us fight and not make war on the Women and Children I am Roundly opposed to Burning and Plundering But I am Compelled to Retaliate tharefore I am Desireous that the Burning and Pilaging may be stopt if it Does not Stop I will Certainly Retaliate I will Certainly Regard Citizens if the Citizens of the South is Regarded. I am your Humble Servt O. P. Hamilton Col. Comdg The Cavalry!
Mathew F. Maury addressed a letter to the London Times, on the reports and war plans of the Federal Government.
A fight occurred at Ringgold, Georgia, between the Federal forces under Colonel Wilder and General Van Cleve, and a portion of the Confederate army which was retreating from Chattanooga, resulting in the expulsion of the latter from the town, with a loss of three killed and eighteen taken prisoners. The Union loss was three men wounded of the Ninety-third Illinois regiment.
Major General William Rosecrans entered Chattanooga.
B. H. Richardson and his son, Frank A. Richardson, and Stephen J. Joyce, proprietors of the Baltimore, Maryland, Republican, were today arrested by order of General Schenck, for publishing in their paper of yesterday evening a piece of poetry entitled the “Southern Cross.” The three were sent across our lines this morning. The proprietors of the Republican were frequently warned by the authorities against the publication of disloyal sentiments in their paper.
Chat Discussion
These were tough days to be in the newspaper business in Raleigh, North Carolina. The editor of the Raleigh Standard had been printing editorials advocating peace and rejoining the Union, a stand which so angered Confederate troops, belonging to General Benning's Confederate brigade, that they went to the office and tore it apart. Governor Zebulon Vance spoke imperturbably to them and they dispersed without burning the building. Then a a crowd of citizens “gathered and rushed upon the office of the State Journal, in the same place, and totally destroyed the furniture and printing materials...” since they were so vexed with the Journal for having an editor who was just as rabid in his editorials, even if they were pro-secessionist. Governor Vance was obliged to come out and speak soothingly again.
Farther west, Confederate troops evacuated from Little Rock, Arkansas. As Little Rock was falling to Major General Frederick Steele, the USS Hastings, under Lieutenant Commander S.L. Phelps, arrived at Devall's Bluff on the White River to support the land action. Though the river was falling rapidly, Phelps advised the General: "I shall be glad to be of service to you in every way possible." Phelps added that he would have gone over to Little Rock to congratulate Steele if he "could have obtained conveyance...Horseback riding," he wrote dryly, "for such a distance is rather too much for the uninitiated." A week later Phelps reported to Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter: "I have been up this river 150 miles, where we found a bar over which we could not pass. Numerous bodies of men cut off from General Price's army [after the fall of Little Rock to Steele] were fleeing across White River to the eastward. We captured three Rebel soldiers, two cavalry horses and equipments, and brought down a number of escaped conscripts, who have come to enlist in our army." This type of naval operation far into the Confederate interior continued to facilitate shore operations.
Major General S. A. Hurlbut, from his headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee, issued general orders causing reprisals to be made for all Rebel outrages committed within his lines, by levying assessments upon the wealthiest and most notorious sympathizers with the rebellion, adding fifty per cent to the amount of damages proven.
Major General James G. Blunt, from his headquarters at Fort Smith, issued the following address to the people of Arkansas: The flag that two and a half years ago was struck, when a weak garrison of United States troops were compelled to abandon this post, before a superior number of maddened and infuriated men, who had resolved upon the overthrow of the best Government upon earth, now floats in triumph over Fort Smith. In reply to the many inquiries made, ‘Is the occupation of this post by Federal troops to be permanent?’ I answer yes. The flag that floats from yonder staff, shall continue to wave its folds to the breeze, never again to be desecrated by treason's foul pollution. The whole of the Indian Territories and Western Arkansas are now in my possession, and under my control. All the rebel hordes, except a few guerrillas, have been driven beyond the Red River. The most obnoxious of the rebel citizens have followed the army with their families to seek the ‘last ditch.’ It is for you, who have chosen to remain at your homes, to elect whether you will have peace or war. From the unfeigned joy manifested by thousands of your citizens upon the occupation of this city and the neighboring city of Van Buren — from the reports of delegations who have visited me from over one hundred miles in the interior, south of the Arkansas River, as also from the fact that hundreds of true men have come from the mountains to swell the Union ranks in the last few days, and still continue to come from whither they have been driven and hunted like beasts of prey by confederate soldiers — gives assurance that the love and attachment for the Union is not yet extinct in Western Arkansas. Moreover, the bleached and crumbling bones of hundreds of Arkansians who, in this locality, have recently been hung upon the gibbet, by a fiendish and merciless crew of confederate murderers, for no other reason than that they loved the old flag, and would not bow their necks to the behests of treason, is evidence that they were true and devoted heroes, worthy a better fate. Many applications have been made by citizens for safeguards. None will be issued. The best safeguard you can have is the American flag suspended over your premises, and to deport yourselves as becomes good and loyal citizens. Your conduct must be your safeguard. If it shall be your desire to disenthral yourselves from the tyranny and oppression to which you have been subjected, and organize a civil government, under the auspices of the United States authority, every facility will be afforded you to accomplish this purpose. I leave the matter with you, trusting that wise counsels may prevail.
The Eleventh regiment of Kentucky mounted infantry, commanded by Colonel Love, in pursuit of the Confederate guerrillas under Colonel O. P. Hamilton, overtook them at Brimstone Creek, Tennessee, where a brisk skirmish occurred, the guerrillas mounting their horses and making off. Hamilton, who was recognized, rode boldly up to within one hundred and fifty yards of the Union advance, and delivered his fire, then turned and dashed into the bush. He was followed by a volley and retreated to the hills. The morning report of their Adjutant was captured, showing four hundred and eighty men for duty. Four of the guerrillas were killed and found in the brush. Two prisoners were taken, who acknowledged that seven were wounded. The Rebels, who had guerrillas in the hills assisting them, so completely blockaded the road by felling trees, that it was found impossible to pursue them. Colonel Love withdrew, and under orders from Colonel Harney, halted at Ray's Cross Roads.
The following proclamation was found posted on a tree at Tompkinsville, given literally: head Qrs Hamiltons battalion Tomkinsville Ky Sept. 7 1868 I Now Give Notice to Citizens and Soldiers to all Concerned that the principle of Burning and Pilaging must be Stopt as I am ordered to retaliate in Every respect Let us fight and not make war on the Women and Children I am Roundly opposed to Burning and Plundering But I am Compelled to Retaliate tharefore I am Desireous that the Burning and Pilaging may be stopt if it Does not Stop I will Certainly Retaliate I will Certainly Regard Citizens if the Citizens of the South is Regarded. I am your Humble Servt O. P. Hamilton Col. Comdg The Cavalry!
Mathew F. Maury addressed a letter to the London Times, on the reports and war plans of the Federal Government.
A fight occurred at Ringgold, Georgia, between the Federal forces under Colonel Wilder and General Van Cleve, and a portion of the Confederate army which was retreating from Chattanooga, resulting in the expulsion of the latter from the town, with a loss of three killed and eighteen taken prisoners. The Union loss was three men wounded of the Ninety-third Illinois regiment.
Major General William Rosecrans entered Chattanooga.
B. H. Richardson and his son, Frank A. Richardson, and Stephen J. Joyce, proprietors of the Baltimore, Maryland, Republican, were today arrested by order of General Schenck, for publishing in their paper of yesterday evening a piece of poetry entitled the “Southern Cross.” The three were sent across our lines this morning. The proprietors of the Republican were frequently warned by the authorities against the publication of disloyal sentiments in their paper.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/11/13 at 4:39 am to BadLeroyDawg
Friday, 11 September 1863
In the early hours of this morning General Braxton Bragg issued orders for an attack on Union troops camped in a north Georgia region known as McLemore's Cove, a sheltered valley located between the long finger of Lookout Mountain and the thumb-like spur of Pigeon Mountain. This skirmish is also sometimes referred to as the Battle of Davis' Crossroads. Bragg had been withdrawing before the brilliant flanking maneuvers of General William S. Rosecrans, but now the trap appeared ready to be sprung on the overconfident Union troops. Somehow, though, the attack never took place. Despite stout resistance by Confederate cavalrymen on the morning of September 10, Union Major General James Negley was able to deploy his men into a line of battle east of Davis' Crossroads. However, the Federals prepared for an infantry attack that never materialized. The Confederate commanders stalled and vacillated, unable to coordinate an assault. Disappointed but still determined to strike the enemy, Confederate General Braxton Bragg sent orders the night of September 10 for a coordinated attack between Generals Hindman and Hill to begin as early as possible the next morning. The next day, as Hill's men (Patrick Cleburne's Confederate cavalry division) lay waiting in Dug Gap. Hindman again delayed his advance, wasting precious time by reorganizing his order of march. In the meantime, the Federals sent up reinforcements to relieve Negley's position. With fresh troops Negley set up a new line, supported by artillery, west of Davis' Cross Roads. Finally, at 1600 on September 11, Hindman and Hill attacked. Despite Confederate artillery fire that was "well-directed and terrific," Negley disengaged his forces and fell back in good order to Bailey's Cross Roads, where he set up another strong defensive position. The Confederates had waited too long; the element of surprise was lost. By the morning of September 12, all four divisions of Union General George H. Thomas' 14th corps occupied the Cove and Bragg's opportunity was lost. Frustrated, Bragg pulled back again.
The USS Seminole, under Commander Henry Rolando, seized the blockade running British steamer Sir William Peel at the mouth of the Rio Grande River with a large cargo of cotton.
Chat Discussion
In the early hours of this morning General Braxton Bragg issued orders for an attack on Union troops camped in a north Georgia region known as McLemore's Cove, a sheltered valley located between the long finger of Lookout Mountain and the thumb-like spur of Pigeon Mountain. This skirmish is also sometimes referred to as the Battle of Davis' Crossroads. Bragg had been withdrawing before the brilliant flanking maneuvers of General William S. Rosecrans, but now the trap appeared ready to be sprung on the overconfident Union troops. Somehow, though, the attack never took place. Despite stout resistance by Confederate cavalrymen on the morning of September 10, Union Major General James Negley was able to deploy his men into a line of battle east of Davis' Crossroads. However, the Federals prepared for an infantry attack that never materialized. The Confederate commanders stalled and vacillated, unable to coordinate an assault. Disappointed but still determined to strike the enemy, Confederate General Braxton Bragg sent orders the night of September 10 for a coordinated attack between Generals Hindman and Hill to begin as early as possible the next morning. The next day, as Hill's men (Patrick Cleburne's Confederate cavalry division) lay waiting in Dug Gap. Hindman again delayed his advance, wasting precious time by reorganizing his order of march. In the meantime, the Federals sent up reinforcements to relieve Negley's position. With fresh troops Negley set up a new line, supported by artillery, west of Davis' Cross Roads. Finally, at 1600 on September 11, Hindman and Hill attacked. Despite Confederate artillery fire that was "well-directed and terrific," Negley disengaged his forces and fell back in good order to Bailey's Cross Roads, where he set up another strong defensive position. The Confederates had waited too long; the element of surprise was lost. By the morning of September 12, all four divisions of Union General George H. Thomas' 14th corps occupied the Cove and Bragg's opportunity was lost. Frustrated, Bragg pulled back again.
The USS Seminole, under Commander Henry Rolando, seized the blockade running British steamer Sir William Peel at the mouth of the Rio Grande River with a large cargo of cotton.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/12/13 at 3:59 am to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 12 September 1863
Northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee were the scenes of numerous skirmishes, probes, reconnaissances, and general nastiness today. If gathered together they would probably have added up to a sizable battle, but spread out as they were around Chattanooga, they didn’t amount to much separately. Sites where official skirmishes occurred included Rheatown, Tennessee, and Leet’s Tanyard, Alpine, the LaFayette Road, and Dirt Town, Georgia.
The Union blockader USS Eugenie, under Acting Master's Mate F. H. Dyer, captured the steamer Alabama off of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, after the blockade runner was chased ashore by the United States flagship San Jacinto. Before the San Jacinto's cutter could reach the prize, the Eugenie arrived upon the scene and took possession of the Alabama.
The blockade running steamer Fox was destroyed and burned by her own crew to prevent capture at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by the USS Genesee, under Commander William H. Macomb. She was driven ashore by the Genesee, aided by the USS Calhoun and USS Jackson.
Fitzhugh "Fitz" Lee, nephew of General Robert E. Lee, was assigned a cavalry division and promoted to major general, as Wade Hampton III had been, after James Ewell Brown "J.E.B." Stuart gained corps command.
As the second battalion of the Sixty-third Indiana regiment was returning from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, an attempt was made to hang Daniel W. Voorhees, a Democratic representative in Congress, who was re-elected from Indiana during the last election. Mr. Voorhees was traveling as a passenger in the same train with the soldiers. He was rescued by the officers, but compelled by the soldiers to leave the train at Greencastle in Putnam County, Indiana.
The national salute was fired at noon today from the Fort at Sandy Hook, Fort Lafayette, Castle William, and Fort Schuyler, New York, in honor of the Union victories at Morris Island, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.
The schooner Flying Scud was captured by the Federal steamer Princess Royal. She was from Brazos, Texas, and was loaded with cotton.
Chat Discussion
Northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee were the scenes of numerous skirmishes, probes, reconnaissances, and general nastiness today. If gathered together they would probably have added up to a sizable battle, but spread out as they were around Chattanooga, they didn’t amount to much separately. Sites where official skirmishes occurred included Rheatown, Tennessee, and Leet’s Tanyard, Alpine, the LaFayette Road, and Dirt Town, Georgia.
The Union blockader USS Eugenie, under Acting Master's Mate F. H. Dyer, captured the steamer Alabama off of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, after the blockade runner was chased ashore by the United States flagship San Jacinto. Before the San Jacinto's cutter could reach the prize, the Eugenie arrived upon the scene and took possession of the Alabama.
The blockade running steamer Fox was destroyed and burned by her own crew to prevent capture at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by the USS Genesee, under Commander William H. Macomb. She was driven ashore by the Genesee, aided by the USS Calhoun and USS Jackson.
Fitzhugh "Fitz" Lee, nephew of General Robert E. Lee, was assigned a cavalry division and promoted to major general, as Wade Hampton III had been, after James Ewell Brown "J.E.B." Stuart gained corps command.
As the second battalion of the Sixty-third Indiana regiment was returning from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, an attempt was made to hang Daniel W. Voorhees, a Democratic representative in Congress, who was re-elected from Indiana during the last election. Mr. Voorhees was traveling as a passenger in the same train with the soldiers. He was rescued by the officers, but compelled by the soldiers to leave the train at Greencastle in Putnam County, Indiana.
The national salute was fired at noon today from the Fort at Sandy Hook, Fort Lafayette, Castle William, and Fort Schuyler, New York, in honor of the Union victories at Morris Island, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.
The schooner Flying Scud was captured by the Federal steamer Princess Royal. She was from Brazos, Texas, and was loaded with cotton.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/13/13 at 5:28 am to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 13 September 1863
Rodney, Mississippi, would have seemed to have been one of the safer places in the Deep South for a group of Union men to be. In fact, it seemed so safe and secure that Acting Master Walter E. H. Fentress was agreeable when a group of his crewmen came to him with a request. The USS Rattler, on which they served, was not so large and impressive a vessel as to carry a clergyman, and they felt themselves in need of spiritual guidance. Fentress therefore granted permission for such men, about 20 crew members, who wished to go ashore and attend services this Sabbath at the local church. Alas, whatever prayers they made went unanswered. A group of Confederate cavalry interrupted the service, captured the seamen, and hustled them off for a restful stay in a prisoner-of-war camp.
The USS Cimarron, under Commander A. K. Hughes, seized the British runner built side-wheel steamer Jupiter, a noted blockade runner-one hundred and eighty-four feet long with a nineteen foot beam, formerly a passenger boat on the Clyde-in Wassaw Sound, Georgia. The steamer was aground when captured and her crew had attempted to scuttle her. She was taken by the Cimarron, at half-past three o'clock this morning, in an attempt to run the blockade into Savannah, by way of the Sound. She had for passengers four officers of the Royal Navy, an agent of the Confederacy named Weaver, and a commercial agent, as well as Nassau and Savannah pilots.
The USS De Soto, Captain W.M. Walker, captured the steamer Montgomery in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola.
A portion of Confederate guerrillas belonging to the band of the Chief Biffles, amounting in number to over one hundred and ten, was surrounded by a detachment of Missouri cavalry and a company of mounted infantry from Paducah, Ky., near Paris, Tenn., and six of them killed, twenty-one wounded, and the rest captured.
A cavalry fight took place near Culpeper Court House, Virginia, between the Federals, under Brigadier General H. Judson Kilpatrick, and the Confederates, under General Tennent Lomas and Colonel Beale, of the Ninth Virginia cavalry. At 4 a.m., the Army of the Potomac's 10,000-man Union cavalry corps under Major General Alfred Pleasonton moved forward nearly two miles in three divisions, then forded the Hazel River and approached Culpeper. Advancing in three columns, the Union troopers drove off scattered Confederate pickets and skirmishers. Near the main Confederate defensive line at 1 p.m., the 1st Division commander General Kilpatrick ordered a mounted charge by the Michigan Brigade of Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer, which carried the Confederate position centered at the railroad depot. Custer seized more than 100 prisoners, as well as three artillery pieces. The three columns converged at Culpeper and continued their advance, driving the Confederates towards the Rapidan River in heavy skirmishing. At nightfall, the victorious Federals encamped near Cedar Mountain, with the Confederates across Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan. Major General Gouverneur K. Warren's II Corps occupied Culpeper Court House, although his infantry took no part in the cavalry skirmishing. Probing actions the next two days indicated the new Confederate position across the Rapidan was too strong to carry.
The Federal troops stationed at Salem, in Dent County, Missouri, were attacked by four hundred Confederates, who were repulsed, with a loss of twenty killed and a number wounded.
The expedition against the Sioux Indians, commanded by General H. H. Sibley, returned to Fort Snelling.
The United States steamer Genesee, and gunboats Calhoun and Jackson, shelled the Rebel ironclad Gaines near the fort at Grant's Pass, below Mobile, and compelled her to retire behind the fort, together with another vessel belonging to the rebel fleet. After the retreat of the Confederate ironclad and the transport steamer behind the fort, the shelling was directed solely against the latter. Twenty-two shells from the Genesee alone, fell inside the fort, and the firing from the other boats was remarkably accurate. Sand, stones, logs of wood, etc., were sent flying upward in great quantities, and before the action terminated every gun was dismounted, and, it is believed, disabled. One large gun in particular was knocked completely end over end, as could be plainly seen from the vessels, and the achievement drew forth hearty cheers from the sailors.
An expedition composed of sailors and marines from the Navy Yard and frigate Potomac, was organized at Pensacola, Florida, and sent up the Blackwater River to destroy a ferry and bridges used by the rebel troops in passing from Alabama into Florida, for the purpose of annoying our garrisons and stealing supplies. Lieutenant Houston, of the United States Marine Corps, employed the captured steamer Bloomer, and accomplished his mission with a loss of two men killed.
Chat Discussion
Rodney, Mississippi, would have seemed to have been one of the safer places in the Deep South for a group of Union men to be. In fact, it seemed so safe and secure that Acting Master Walter E. H. Fentress was agreeable when a group of his crewmen came to him with a request. The USS Rattler, on which they served, was not so large and impressive a vessel as to carry a clergyman, and they felt themselves in need of spiritual guidance. Fentress therefore granted permission for such men, about 20 crew members, who wished to go ashore and attend services this Sabbath at the local church. Alas, whatever prayers they made went unanswered. A group of Confederate cavalry interrupted the service, captured the seamen, and hustled them off for a restful stay in a prisoner-of-war camp.
The USS Cimarron, under Commander A. K. Hughes, seized the British runner built side-wheel steamer Jupiter, a noted blockade runner-one hundred and eighty-four feet long with a nineteen foot beam, formerly a passenger boat on the Clyde-in Wassaw Sound, Georgia. The steamer was aground when captured and her crew had attempted to scuttle her. She was taken by the Cimarron, at half-past three o'clock this morning, in an attempt to run the blockade into Savannah, by way of the Sound. She had for passengers four officers of the Royal Navy, an agent of the Confederacy named Weaver, and a commercial agent, as well as Nassau and Savannah pilots.
The USS De Soto, Captain W.M. Walker, captured the steamer Montgomery in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola.
A portion of Confederate guerrillas belonging to the band of the Chief Biffles, amounting in number to over one hundred and ten, was surrounded by a detachment of Missouri cavalry and a company of mounted infantry from Paducah, Ky., near Paris, Tenn., and six of them killed, twenty-one wounded, and the rest captured.
A cavalry fight took place near Culpeper Court House, Virginia, between the Federals, under Brigadier General H. Judson Kilpatrick, and the Confederates, under General Tennent Lomas and Colonel Beale, of the Ninth Virginia cavalry. At 4 a.m., the Army of the Potomac's 10,000-man Union cavalry corps under Major General Alfred Pleasonton moved forward nearly two miles in three divisions, then forded the Hazel River and approached Culpeper. Advancing in three columns, the Union troopers drove off scattered Confederate pickets and skirmishers. Near the main Confederate defensive line at 1 p.m., the 1st Division commander General Kilpatrick ordered a mounted charge by the Michigan Brigade of Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer, which carried the Confederate position centered at the railroad depot. Custer seized more than 100 prisoners, as well as three artillery pieces. The three columns converged at Culpeper and continued their advance, driving the Confederates towards the Rapidan River in heavy skirmishing. At nightfall, the victorious Federals encamped near Cedar Mountain, with the Confederates across Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan. Major General Gouverneur K. Warren's II Corps occupied Culpeper Court House, although his infantry took no part in the cavalry skirmishing. Probing actions the next two days indicated the new Confederate position across the Rapidan was too strong to carry.
The Federal troops stationed at Salem, in Dent County, Missouri, were attacked by four hundred Confederates, who were repulsed, with a loss of twenty killed and a number wounded.
The expedition against the Sioux Indians, commanded by General H. H. Sibley, returned to Fort Snelling.
The United States steamer Genesee, and gunboats Calhoun and Jackson, shelled the Rebel ironclad Gaines near the fort at Grant's Pass, below Mobile, and compelled her to retire behind the fort, together with another vessel belonging to the rebel fleet. After the retreat of the Confederate ironclad and the transport steamer behind the fort, the shelling was directed solely against the latter. Twenty-two shells from the Genesee alone, fell inside the fort, and the firing from the other boats was remarkably accurate. Sand, stones, logs of wood, etc., were sent flying upward in great quantities, and before the action terminated every gun was dismounted, and, it is believed, disabled. One large gun in particular was knocked completely end over end, as could be plainly seen from the vessels, and the achievement drew forth hearty cheers from the sailors.
An expedition composed of sailors and marines from the Navy Yard and frigate Potomac, was organized at Pensacola, Florida, and sent up the Blackwater River to destroy a ferry and bridges used by the rebel troops in passing from Alabama into Florida, for the purpose of annoying our garrisons and stealing supplies. Lieutenant Houston, of the United States Marine Corps, employed the captured steamer Bloomer, and accomplished his mission with a loss of two men killed.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/14/13 at 6:17 am to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 14 September 1863
It was a very dispirited group of United States Navy members who marched away from Rodney, Mississippi, today. Not only was it bad enough to be marching rather than sailing, but they were marching under guard, on their way to a prison camp. The problem had originated yesterday aboard their vessel, the USS Rattler. A group of twenty, whether motivated by a need for spiritual solace or a simple desire to break up a boring patrol, petitioned their captain to go ashore. Acting Master Walter E.H. Fentress agreed to the request. It was a decision Fentress came to regret when the men were captured by a Confederate cavalry patrol as they were attending church.
This evening three squadrons of the First Maryland cavalry, commanded by Major Russell, were ordered to the front to relieve the Sixth Ohio, then engaged with the Confederates at Rapidan Station. When it reached the battleground, the enemy was forming for a charge. One squadron was immediately dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, and the other two formed in line of battle. Scarcely were they formed when the enemy charged with a full regiment upon the line of skirmishers. These two squadrons promptly charged the enemy and drove him back. The enemy soon rallied and charged again; but Major Russell had his men well in hand, and met the enemy the second time and drove him back again, capturing one officer and one private. The enemy was satisfied with charging. All this time the Rebels had four batteries playing at cross-fires upon the Unionists, and yet, strange to say, the only casualties in the regiment of First Maryland cavalry are Captain Joseph Cook, company D, slightly wounded; Corporal John McCowhen, company G, killed; private John Otto, company F, wounded; private John Schmits, company A, wounded, and three privates missing. Never did men charge more gallantly, or behave better than did these squadrons. They met more than double their number, and twice drove them back and held the field. Lieutenant Bankard, company A, distinguished himself by his cool and gallant conduct.
The following circular was issued this day from the headquarters of the army of the Potomac, by command of Major-General Meade: I. Newspaper correspondents will be admonished to hold no communication with prisoners of war, whether on their way to headquarters or temporarily detained in the custody of any guard, or to seek any information from guides, scouts, or refugees, coming from beyond the lines. II. No newspaper correspondent or civilian, not connected with the army, will be permitted to accompany or remain with cavalry serving in the front, or on the flank of the army. The cavalry advance of the army of the Potomac, under the command of General Pleasanton, reached the Rapid Ann River, at Raccoon Ford, after considerable heavy skirmishing between Culpeper and that point. No rebel infantry had been met with, though a strong force of rebel cavalry had been constantly driven back by the National forces.
This morning, at about six o'clock, a regiment of Texas Rangers, the Second Texas cavalry, two hundred and fifty strong, under command of Colonel George Madison, charged on the Union picket stationed about one mile south of the town of Vidalia, La., on the road leading along the levee, near the river. The picket — only one lieutenant and six men strong — had to fall back against such an overwhelming power. The musketry firing was distinctly heard in town, where only two companies of the Thirtieth Missouri regiment were stationed. Colonel Farrar, who happened to be present, at once ordered all his men to “fall in,” and was in a few minutes at the place of attack, having only about twenty men, who were first under arms, along with him, the whole force at Vidalia who were fit for duty consisting only of about fifty men. In the doublequick he rushed forward, and was received by a heavy fire of the enemy, who had taken possession of a pontoon train encamped in the southern part of the town, and were just preparing to burn up the wagons loaded with the pontoons. The Union skirmishers opened a brisk fire on the enemy, who was covered by a live hedge, and could not be seen by the men, though the distance was only about twenty yards. Colonel Farrar seeing that the object of the enemy's attack was the destroying of the pontoon trains, ordered a charge at once, and with cheers his men rushed to the guard, where a lively skirmish for about fifteen minutes took place, and he succeeded in driving the enemy back. The Unionists lost two men killed and four wounded. The enemy lost six killed, eleven wounded, and two prisoners, among whom was a Lieutenant Skinner, of the Twenty-sixth Tennessee cavalry, who stated that the strength of his regiment was two hundred and fifty, and that Brigadier-General Majors, with a body-guard of thirty men from a Louisiana cavalry regiment, was near, but did not take part in the charge; that his regiment had crossed Black River near Trinity City, La., on the evening of the thirteenth, to charge on Vidalia for the purpose of burning down the pontoon train; that besides his regiment there were two Texas cavalry regiments, under command of Colonels Stone and Lane, at Black River, seventeen miles distant, and also one Louisiana and one Arkansas cavalry regiment, all under command of Brigadier General Majors. Colonel Farrar, who had sent notice to Natchez about the attack, at once prepared to have his men mounted to follow up the enemy as quick as reinforcements came. At about eight o'clock two regiments of infantry and a few companies of cavalry had crossed the river and come to his assistance. The enemy was followed up closely and overtaken at Black River, where another skirmish took place, lasting until dark. The enemy was forced to cross the river, and the National forces returned to camp, where they arrived at eleven o'clock P. M.
Chat Discussion
It was a very dispirited group of United States Navy members who marched away from Rodney, Mississippi, today. Not only was it bad enough to be marching rather than sailing, but they were marching under guard, on their way to a prison camp. The problem had originated yesterday aboard their vessel, the USS Rattler. A group of twenty, whether motivated by a need for spiritual solace or a simple desire to break up a boring patrol, petitioned their captain to go ashore. Acting Master Walter E.H. Fentress agreed to the request. It was a decision Fentress came to regret when the men were captured by a Confederate cavalry patrol as they were attending church.
This evening three squadrons of the First Maryland cavalry, commanded by Major Russell, were ordered to the front to relieve the Sixth Ohio, then engaged with the Confederates at Rapidan Station. When it reached the battleground, the enemy was forming for a charge. One squadron was immediately dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, and the other two formed in line of battle. Scarcely were they formed when the enemy charged with a full regiment upon the line of skirmishers. These two squadrons promptly charged the enemy and drove him back. The enemy soon rallied and charged again; but Major Russell had his men well in hand, and met the enemy the second time and drove him back again, capturing one officer and one private. The enemy was satisfied with charging. All this time the Rebels had four batteries playing at cross-fires upon the Unionists, and yet, strange to say, the only casualties in the regiment of First Maryland cavalry are Captain Joseph Cook, company D, slightly wounded; Corporal John McCowhen, company G, killed; private John Otto, company F, wounded; private John Schmits, company A, wounded, and three privates missing. Never did men charge more gallantly, or behave better than did these squadrons. They met more than double their number, and twice drove them back and held the field. Lieutenant Bankard, company A, distinguished himself by his cool and gallant conduct.
The following circular was issued this day from the headquarters of the army of the Potomac, by command of Major-General Meade: I. Newspaper correspondents will be admonished to hold no communication with prisoners of war, whether on their way to headquarters or temporarily detained in the custody of any guard, or to seek any information from guides, scouts, or refugees, coming from beyond the lines. II. No newspaper correspondent or civilian, not connected with the army, will be permitted to accompany or remain with cavalry serving in the front, or on the flank of the army. The cavalry advance of the army of the Potomac, under the command of General Pleasanton, reached the Rapid Ann River, at Raccoon Ford, after considerable heavy skirmishing between Culpeper and that point. No rebel infantry had been met with, though a strong force of rebel cavalry had been constantly driven back by the National forces.
This morning, at about six o'clock, a regiment of Texas Rangers, the Second Texas cavalry, two hundred and fifty strong, under command of Colonel George Madison, charged on the Union picket stationed about one mile south of the town of Vidalia, La., on the road leading along the levee, near the river. The picket — only one lieutenant and six men strong — had to fall back against such an overwhelming power. The musketry firing was distinctly heard in town, where only two companies of the Thirtieth Missouri regiment were stationed. Colonel Farrar, who happened to be present, at once ordered all his men to “fall in,” and was in a few minutes at the place of attack, having only about twenty men, who were first under arms, along with him, the whole force at Vidalia who were fit for duty consisting only of about fifty men. In the doublequick he rushed forward, and was received by a heavy fire of the enemy, who had taken possession of a pontoon train encamped in the southern part of the town, and were just preparing to burn up the wagons loaded with the pontoons. The Union skirmishers opened a brisk fire on the enemy, who was covered by a live hedge, and could not be seen by the men, though the distance was only about twenty yards. Colonel Farrar seeing that the object of the enemy's attack was the destroying of the pontoon trains, ordered a charge at once, and with cheers his men rushed to the guard, where a lively skirmish for about fifteen minutes took place, and he succeeded in driving the enemy back. The Unionists lost two men killed and four wounded. The enemy lost six killed, eleven wounded, and two prisoners, among whom was a Lieutenant Skinner, of the Twenty-sixth Tennessee cavalry, who stated that the strength of his regiment was two hundred and fifty, and that Brigadier-General Majors, with a body-guard of thirty men from a Louisiana cavalry regiment, was near, but did not take part in the charge; that his regiment had crossed Black River near Trinity City, La., on the evening of the thirteenth, to charge on Vidalia for the purpose of burning down the pontoon train; that besides his regiment there were two Texas cavalry regiments, under command of Colonels Stone and Lane, at Black River, seventeen miles distant, and also one Louisiana and one Arkansas cavalry regiment, all under command of Brigadier General Majors. Colonel Farrar, who had sent notice to Natchez about the attack, at once prepared to have his men mounted to follow up the enemy as quick as reinforcements came. At about eight o'clock two regiments of infantry and a few companies of cavalry had crossed the river and come to his assistance. The enemy was followed up closely and overtaken at Black River, where another skirmish took place, lasting until dark. The enemy was forced to cross the river, and the National forces returned to camp, where they arrived at eleven o'clock P. M.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/15/13 at 6:06 am to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 15 September 1863
The “writ of habeas corpus” is a fairly simple concept, despite its Latin name. It refers to the right of an arrested person to know what charges are being brought, and of the obligation of the state to produce evidence that the person charged was the one who committed the offense. It was one of the shining lights of the United States Constitution, and it went right out the window today. Due to the existence of a “state of rebellion”, wrote Abraham Lincoln, the right would be suspended in cases of people arrested by military authorities whenever they deemed fit.
Rear Admiral David D. Porter, writing to the Navy Department from Cairo, Illinois, under this date, says: The river below seems quiet. There has been but one attempt made to obstruct commerce or transportation. A party of guerrillas attacked the gunboat Champion from behind the levee while she was convoying a body of troops below. The troops passed on safely, and the Champion stopped and fought the rebels until she made them retire, losing some of their men — report says fifty-seven. They have not been heard of since, excepting that they were falling back on Alexandria, General Herron having given them a chase with his division. As I came up, I overtook a part of the Marine Brigade under Colonel Curry. He reported to me that he had just captured at Bolivar three rebel paymasters with two million two hundred thousand dollars in confederate money to pay off the soldiers at Little Rock. He also captured the escort consisting of thirty-five men. This will not improve the dissatisfaction now existing General Price's army, and the next news we hear will be that General Steele has possession of Little Rock. The gunboats pick up deserters every day, who say the rebels do not intend to fight in Arkansas, and that with proper steps she will be in the Union again in forty days. Lieutenant Bache captured a Colonel Mattock, who was on a conscription expedition, and it gave unusual satisfaction to all the people.
At Richmond, Virginia, three Irishwomen were charged with buying a load of mush-melons in the Second Market, with intent to retail them, and were fined five dollars, and the melons were ordered to be confiscated. It is well the attention of the efficient clerk of the Second Market has been called to these creatures. They swarm through the market every morning, and buy up the major part of the fruit brought in by the country people, and take it to their houses to retail. As they understand the world, a jug of whiskey and a half dozen melons, and a dozen hard boiled eggs, constitute a respectable store.
M. Larue Harrison, commanding a force of Federal troops three hundred strong, attacked the combined forces of the Confederates Coffee and Brown at Seneca Station, one mile west of Enterprise, at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, Indian Territory, at ten o'clock this morning, and after an engagement of two hours, completely routed them, driving them southward in disorder. As the engagement occurred in a dense grape vine thicket, it was impossible to estimate the loss of the Rebels; five were ascertained to have been killed, among them a Captain W. R. Johnson. Colonel Harrison lost none, either in killed, wounded, or missing.
A magazine on James Island, South Carolina, belonging to the Rebels, exploded, killing a lieutenant and six men. Chat Discussion
The “writ of habeas corpus” is a fairly simple concept, despite its Latin name. It refers to the right of an arrested person to know what charges are being brought, and of the obligation of the state to produce evidence that the person charged was the one who committed the offense. It was one of the shining lights of the United States Constitution, and it went right out the window today. Due to the existence of a “state of rebellion”, wrote Abraham Lincoln, the right would be suspended in cases of people arrested by military authorities whenever they deemed fit.
Rear Admiral David D. Porter, writing to the Navy Department from Cairo, Illinois, under this date, says: The river below seems quiet. There has been but one attempt made to obstruct commerce or transportation. A party of guerrillas attacked the gunboat Champion from behind the levee while she was convoying a body of troops below. The troops passed on safely, and the Champion stopped and fought the rebels until she made them retire, losing some of their men — report says fifty-seven. They have not been heard of since, excepting that they were falling back on Alexandria, General Herron having given them a chase with his division. As I came up, I overtook a part of the Marine Brigade under Colonel Curry. He reported to me that he had just captured at Bolivar three rebel paymasters with two million two hundred thousand dollars in confederate money to pay off the soldiers at Little Rock. He also captured the escort consisting of thirty-five men. This will not improve the dissatisfaction now existing General Price's army, and the next news we hear will be that General Steele has possession of Little Rock. The gunboats pick up deserters every day, who say the rebels do not intend to fight in Arkansas, and that with proper steps she will be in the Union again in forty days. Lieutenant Bache captured a Colonel Mattock, who was on a conscription expedition, and it gave unusual satisfaction to all the people.
At Richmond, Virginia, three Irishwomen were charged with buying a load of mush-melons in the Second Market, with intent to retail them, and were fined five dollars, and the melons were ordered to be confiscated. It is well the attention of the efficient clerk of the Second Market has been called to these creatures. They swarm through the market every morning, and buy up the major part of the fruit brought in by the country people, and take it to their houses to retail. As they understand the world, a jug of whiskey and a half dozen melons, and a dozen hard boiled eggs, constitute a respectable store.
M. Larue Harrison, commanding a force of Federal troops three hundred strong, attacked the combined forces of the Confederates Coffee and Brown at Seneca Station, one mile west of Enterprise, at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, Indian Territory, at ten o'clock this morning, and after an engagement of two hours, completely routed them, driving them southward in disorder. As the engagement occurred in a dense grape vine thicket, it was impossible to estimate the loss of the Rebels; five were ascertained to have been killed, among them a Captain W. R. Johnson. Colonel Harrison lost none, either in killed, wounded, or missing.
A magazine on James Island, South Carolina, belonging to the Rebels, exploded, killing a lieutenant and six men. Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/16/13 at 4:23 am to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 16 September 1863
General William Rosecrans' Federal army had easily taken abandoned Chattanooga four days ago, but Braxton Bragg's Confederate army was nowhere close to being defeated. The Southern forces were strung out on a roughly north-south line on the east side of a ridge called Lookout Mountain. Rosecrans' army was scattered and vulnerable, especially the men with General George Henry Thomas to the south near McLemore's Cove. Thomas could have easily been isolated and defeated, but the orders to do so never got delivered to General Thomas C. Hindman. The man carrying the orders, a French soldier-of-fortune known as Major Nocquot, was not available to testify at the court-martial of Hindman, as he had disappeared. Some $150,000 in Army funds went missing around the same time, but in all the confusion no connection was ever proved.
The Federal flagship USS San Jacinto, under Lieutenant Commander Ralph Chandler, captured the blockade running steamer Lizzie Davis off the west coast of Florida in latitude 25 degrees 58 minutes north, longitude 85 degrees 11 minutes west. She had been bound from Havana to Mobile with a large cargo including lead.
The USS Coeur de Lion, Acting Master W. G. Morris in charge, seized the schooner Robert Knowles on the Potomac River for violating the blockade.
The Confederate forces made an attempt to recross the Rapidan River, but were foiled by Union artillery and cavalry. They advanced in three columns, with artillery, toward the river, but being opposed by the mass of Federal troops on the north side, soon fell back.
A spirited skirmish took place at White Plains, Virginia, in which the Confederates were beaten back by overwhelming numbers.
Chat Discussion
General William Rosecrans' Federal army had easily taken abandoned Chattanooga four days ago, but Braxton Bragg's Confederate army was nowhere close to being defeated. The Southern forces were strung out on a roughly north-south line on the east side of a ridge called Lookout Mountain. Rosecrans' army was scattered and vulnerable, especially the men with General George Henry Thomas to the south near McLemore's Cove. Thomas could have easily been isolated and defeated, but the orders to do so never got delivered to General Thomas C. Hindman. The man carrying the orders, a French soldier-of-fortune known as Major Nocquot, was not available to testify at the court-martial of Hindman, as he had disappeared. Some $150,000 in Army funds went missing around the same time, but in all the confusion no connection was ever proved.
The Federal flagship USS San Jacinto, under Lieutenant Commander Ralph Chandler, captured the blockade running steamer Lizzie Davis off the west coast of Florida in latitude 25 degrees 58 minutes north, longitude 85 degrees 11 minutes west. She had been bound from Havana to Mobile with a large cargo including lead.
The USS Coeur de Lion, Acting Master W. G. Morris in charge, seized the schooner Robert Knowles on the Potomac River for violating the blockade.
The Confederate forces made an attempt to recross the Rapidan River, but were foiled by Union artillery and cavalry. They advanced in three columns, with artillery, toward the river, but being opposed by the mass of Federal troops on the north side, soon fell back.
A spirited skirmish took place at White Plains, Virginia, in which the Confederates were beaten back by overwhelming numbers.
Chat Discussion
This post was edited on 9/16/13 at 4:24 am
Posted on 9/16/13 at 5:08 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Thanks. I'm several (maybe a week) behind. Now I will catch up though.
Posted on 9/17/13 at 4:05 am to reedus23
No problem, reedus. Chickamauga, the second bloodiest battle, starts tomorrow.
Posted on 9/17/13 at 4:08 am to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 17 September 1863
General Braxton Bragg, who had defended Tennessee so well for the Confederacy that he was now backed up into northern Georgia, had had a chance for the last week to attack General William Rosecrans' exceedingly scattered forces. Although several orders had admittedly been issued, for one reason or another no actual attacks had taken place. One result of this was that acrimonious notes, nastiness and name-calling were making the rounds between Bragg and his corps commanders. The other result of this was that the Union army was now reassembled in much better order, and Bragg had no choice but to attack the whole thing at once. The best plan he could come up with was a thrust at the Federal right, to cut off their line of retreat to Chattanooga. Unfortunately for Bragg, this thought had occurred to Rosecrans as well.
Reports of Confederate vessels building in the rivers of North Carolina were a source of grave concern to the Union authorities. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote Secretary of War Edwin Stanton suggesting an attack to insure the destruction of an ironclad– which would be CSS Albemarle and a floating battery, reported nearing completion up the Roanoke River. Should they succeed in getting down the river, Welles cautioned, "...our possession of the sounds would be jeoparded [sic]."
The USS Adolph Hugel, Acting Master Frank, seized the sloop Music off Alexandria, Virginia, for a violation of the blockade.
The steamer Marcella was seized and plundered by Confederate partisan guerrillas, in the vicinity of Dover Landing, ten miles below Lexington, Missouri. Four soldiers of company A, Fifth M. S. M.--Edwin Ross, Chris. Sele, Martin Fisher, and Charles Waggoner — were on the steamer visiting their homes at the latter place, on furloughs. They were taken out and marched off with the assurance that they were to be exchanged for other prisoners or paroled. When the Rebels had marched about two miles, they stopped and divided the plunder and money, which employed them about an hour, after which the prisoners were put in line, and instantly the order was given to fire, at which Ross, Sele, and Fisher fell dead, but young Waggoner, finding himself unhurt, sprang away for safety, and though shot after shot rattled past him, he finally made his way uninjured to the brush, and went into Lexington.
A Confederate raid was made upon a collection of vessels on the eastern shore of Virginia. The schooners Ireland and John J. Houseman were taken out to sea, plundered, and set adrift. The schooner Alexandria was also plundered, and the government schooner Alliance, loaded with stores valued at thirty thousand dollars, was captured.
Chat Discussion
General Braxton Bragg, who had defended Tennessee so well for the Confederacy that he was now backed up into northern Georgia, had had a chance for the last week to attack General William Rosecrans' exceedingly scattered forces. Although several orders had admittedly been issued, for one reason or another no actual attacks had taken place. One result of this was that acrimonious notes, nastiness and name-calling were making the rounds between Bragg and his corps commanders. The other result of this was that the Union army was now reassembled in much better order, and Bragg had no choice but to attack the whole thing at once. The best plan he could come up with was a thrust at the Federal right, to cut off their line of retreat to Chattanooga. Unfortunately for Bragg, this thought had occurred to Rosecrans as well.
Reports of Confederate vessels building in the rivers of North Carolina were a source of grave concern to the Union authorities. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote Secretary of War Edwin Stanton suggesting an attack to insure the destruction of an ironclad– which would be CSS Albemarle and a floating battery, reported nearing completion up the Roanoke River. Should they succeed in getting down the river, Welles cautioned, "...our possession of the sounds would be jeoparded [sic]."
The USS Adolph Hugel, Acting Master Frank, seized the sloop Music off Alexandria, Virginia, for a violation of the blockade.
The steamer Marcella was seized and plundered by Confederate partisan guerrillas, in the vicinity of Dover Landing, ten miles below Lexington, Missouri. Four soldiers of company A, Fifth M. S. M.--Edwin Ross, Chris. Sele, Martin Fisher, and Charles Waggoner — were on the steamer visiting their homes at the latter place, on furloughs. They were taken out and marched off with the assurance that they were to be exchanged for other prisoners or paroled. When the Rebels had marched about two miles, they stopped and divided the plunder and money, which employed them about an hour, after which the prisoners were put in line, and instantly the order was given to fire, at which Ross, Sele, and Fisher fell dead, but young Waggoner, finding himself unhurt, sprang away for safety, and though shot after shot rattled past him, he finally made his way uninjured to the brush, and went into Lexington.
A Confederate raid was made upon a collection of vessels on the eastern shore of Virginia. The schooners Ireland and John J. Houseman were taken out to sea, plundered, and set adrift. The schooner Alexandria was also plundered, and the government schooner Alliance, loaded with stores valued at thirty thousand dollars, was captured.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/18/13 at 4:45 am to BadLeroyDawg
Friday, 18 September 1863
The Army of Tennessee was on the march today. Leaving only three divisions near Ringgold, General Braxton Bragg moved all the rest across West Chickamauga Creek. These men would be joined by General James Longstreet’s Corps from the Army of Northern Virginia, which had been detached after Gettysburg and sent west to help Bragg’s sagging fortunes. On the Union side, General William Rosecrans swung General George Thomas’s men far to the northeast to guard the right flank and the roads to Chattanooga. This required a difficult forced march, as they were far to the south of where they needed to be. As the armies got closer to each other skirmishes flared all along the line, at Pea Vine Ridge, Stevens’ Gap, Spring Creek, and numerous fords and bridges. The Chickamauga may have been only a creek, but it flowed between steep rocky banks and could only be crossed at a few points.
General John McAllister Schofield, in command over Missouri, issued a General Order, stating that martial law would be enforced throughout his department against all persons who should in any manner encourage military insubordination, or endeavor to create disaffection among the troops and against all persons who should publish or utter publicly words calculated to excite insurrection, lawless acts among the people, or who should publish falsehoods or misrepresentations of facts, calculated to embarrass or weaken the military authorities, or in any way interfere with the men in the discharge of their duties. Any person guilty of either of the offenses above mentioned, should be punished by fine and imprisonment at the discretion of a military commission, and any newspaper which might contain said publications in violation of this order would be suppressed.
A party of soldiers, belonging to the Eighty-third Illinois Regiment, was attacked, about five miles above Fort Donelson, Tennessee, by a party of Confederate partisan guerrillas, led by their commander, George Hinson. The guerrillas were secreted in bushes, from which they fired a volley, killing two of the soldiers, named John Pickerel and A. P. Wolfe, of company E. The guerrillas melted away after the firing. The soldiers sent a man to the fort for an ambulance, removed a short distance from the road, and hid in the bushes. The guerrillas soon returned, when the soldiers fired on them five rounds. Hinson was shot in the head. The rest fled.
Major General John Adams Dix issued general orders, thanking the troops quartered in the city of New York, during the difficulties consequent upon the Draft Riots, for their admirable discipline and soldierly deportment.
Colonel Trusten Polk, formerly United States Senator from Missouri, with his wife and daughter, was captured at Bolivar Landing, Arkansas, and delivered to General Buford, commanding at Helena. Colonel Polk was General Holmes's Judge Advocate General, and was with the Confederates at New Madrid.
Chat Discussion
The Army of Tennessee was on the march today. Leaving only three divisions near Ringgold, General Braxton Bragg moved all the rest across West Chickamauga Creek. These men would be joined by General James Longstreet’s Corps from the Army of Northern Virginia, which had been detached after Gettysburg and sent west to help Bragg’s sagging fortunes. On the Union side, General William Rosecrans swung General George Thomas’s men far to the northeast to guard the right flank and the roads to Chattanooga. This required a difficult forced march, as they were far to the south of where they needed to be. As the armies got closer to each other skirmishes flared all along the line, at Pea Vine Ridge, Stevens’ Gap, Spring Creek, and numerous fords and bridges. The Chickamauga may have been only a creek, but it flowed between steep rocky banks and could only be crossed at a few points.
General John McAllister Schofield, in command over Missouri, issued a General Order, stating that martial law would be enforced throughout his department against all persons who should in any manner encourage military insubordination, or endeavor to create disaffection among the troops and against all persons who should publish or utter publicly words calculated to excite insurrection, lawless acts among the people, or who should publish falsehoods or misrepresentations of facts, calculated to embarrass or weaken the military authorities, or in any way interfere with the men in the discharge of their duties. Any person guilty of either of the offenses above mentioned, should be punished by fine and imprisonment at the discretion of a military commission, and any newspaper which might contain said publications in violation of this order would be suppressed.
A party of soldiers, belonging to the Eighty-third Illinois Regiment, was attacked, about five miles above Fort Donelson, Tennessee, by a party of Confederate partisan guerrillas, led by their commander, George Hinson. The guerrillas were secreted in bushes, from which they fired a volley, killing two of the soldiers, named John Pickerel and A. P. Wolfe, of company E. The guerrillas melted away after the firing. The soldiers sent a man to the fort for an ambulance, removed a short distance from the road, and hid in the bushes. The guerrillas soon returned, when the soldiers fired on them five rounds. Hinson was shot in the head. The rest fled.
Major General John Adams Dix issued general orders, thanking the troops quartered in the city of New York, during the difficulties consequent upon the Draft Riots, for their admirable discipline and soldierly deportment.
Colonel Trusten Polk, formerly United States Senator from Missouri, with his wife and daughter, was captured at Bolivar Landing, Arkansas, and delivered to General Buford, commanding at Helena. Colonel Polk was General Holmes's Judge Advocate General, and was with the Confederates at New Madrid.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/19/13 at 3:50 am to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 19 September 1863
Both General Braxton Bragg, CSA, and General William Rosecrans, USA, knew that they were going to have a big battle today; they just didn’t know exactly when, because neither knew exactly where the other one was. The matter was settled when General George Thomas, now on the Union left (northern) flank, had the misfortune to be clambering through thick brush when they came upon the men of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the bullets began to fly. Forrest’s men, although called ‘cavalry’, actually functioned as mounted infantry, who traveled on horses but fought on foot. Fight they did today, and as units of both sides moved towards the sounds of battle, the general combat commenced.
A small boat expedition under command of Acting Masters John Y. Beall and Edward McGuire, CSN, captured the schooner Alliance with a cargo of sutlers' stores in Chesapeake Bay. The daring raid was continued two days later when the schooner J.J. Houseman was seized. On the night of the 22nd, the force took two more schooners, Samuel Pearsall and Alexandria. All but the Alliance were cast adrift at Wachapreague Inlet, Virginia. Beall attempted to run the blockade in the Alliance but she grounded at Milford Haven and was burned on the morning of 23 September, after the USS Thomas Freeborn, Acting Master Arthur in charge, opened fire on her. Beall escaped and returned to Richmond. A joint Army-Navy effort was mounted to stop these raids, but Beall and his men destroyed several lighthouses on Maryland 's Eastern Shore prior to being captured on 15 November 1863.
Horace L. Hunley wrote General P.G.T. Beauregard requesting that command of the submarine hearing his name be turned over to him. "I propose," Hunley said, 'if you will place the boat in my hands to furnish a crew (in whole or in part) from Mobile who are well acquainted with its management and make the attempt to destroy a vessel of the enemy as early as practicable." Three days later, Brigadier General Jordan, Beauregard's Chief of Staff, directed that the submarine be "cleaned and turned over to him with the understanding that said Boat shall be ready for service in two weeks." Under Hunley's direction, a crew was brought to Charleston from Mobile, the H. F. Hunley was readied, and a number of practice dives carried out preparatory to making an actual attack.
The coal schooner Manhasset was driven ashore in a gale at Sabine Pass. The wreck was subsequently seized by Confederate troops.
A party belonging to the command of General Buford, swam the Rapidan River, near Raccoon Ford, and after capturing a considerable number of prisoners, returned to their camp in safety.
Chat Discussion
Both General Braxton Bragg, CSA, and General William Rosecrans, USA, knew that they were going to have a big battle today; they just didn’t know exactly when, because neither knew exactly where the other one was. The matter was settled when General George Thomas, now on the Union left (northern) flank, had the misfortune to be clambering through thick brush when they came upon the men of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the bullets began to fly. Forrest’s men, although called ‘cavalry’, actually functioned as mounted infantry, who traveled on horses but fought on foot. Fight they did today, and as units of both sides moved towards the sounds of battle, the general combat commenced.
A small boat expedition under command of Acting Masters John Y. Beall and Edward McGuire, CSN, captured the schooner Alliance with a cargo of sutlers' stores in Chesapeake Bay. The daring raid was continued two days later when the schooner J.J. Houseman was seized. On the night of the 22nd, the force took two more schooners, Samuel Pearsall and Alexandria. All but the Alliance were cast adrift at Wachapreague Inlet, Virginia. Beall attempted to run the blockade in the Alliance but she grounded at Milford Haven and was burned on the morning of 23 September, after the USS Thomas Freeborn, Acting Master Arthur in charge, opened fire on her. Beall escaped and returned to Richmond. A joint Army-Navy effort was mounted to stop these raids, but Beall and his men destroyed several lighthouses on Maryland 's Eastern Shore prior to being captured on 15 November 1863.
Horace L. Hunley wrote General P.G.T. Beauregard requesting that command of the submarine hearing his name be turned over to him. "I propose," Hunley said, 'if you will place the boat in my hands to furnish a crew (in whole or in part) from Mobile who are well acquainted with its management and make the attempt to destroy a vessel of the enemy as early as practicable." Three days later, Brigadier General Jordan, Beauregard's Chief of Staff, directed that the submarine be "cleaned and turned over to him with the understanding that said Boat shall be ready for service in two weeks." Under Hunley's direction, a crew was brought to Charleston from Mobile, the H. F. Hunley was readied, and a number of practice dives carried out preparatory to making an actual attack.
The coal schooner Manhasset was driven ashore in a gale at Sabine Pass. The wreck was subsequently seized by Confederate troops.
A party belonging to the command of General Buford, swam the Rapidan River, near Raccoon Ford, and after capturing a considerable number of prisoners, returned to their camp in safety.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/20/13 at 4:04 am to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 20 September 1863
Both Union and Confederate forces were lined up at the conclusion of the fighting yesterday, knowing pretty much where each other were and had been readying for action all during the night, cutting trees and setting up temporary fortifications. They both also knew that today would brings things to a head and likely settle the matter. The fighting was essentially toe to toe from one end to the other until, due to a mistaken or faulty order, Union troops right in the center under General Thomas J. Wood were pulled out of position. In the Confederate center were the forces of General James Longstreet, who knew exactly what to do with such a gift and lost no time exploiting this opening. The Union line nearly quickly melted, then the right side completely dissolved, except for native Virginian General George Henry Thomas. Gathering his men on a rise called Snodgrass Hill they formed a defensive line that held all afternoon, garnering for Thomas the nickname “Rock of Chickamauga.” After dark, under orders, Thomas withdrew to rejoin the rest of the Union army in Chattanooga. General Braxton Bragg had won his battle.
The general report submitted this date by Lieutenant Commander J.P. Foster, commanding the second district of the Mississippi Squadron, to Rear Admiral David D. Porter, illustrated the restrictive effect gunboat patrols had on Confederate operations along the Mississippi. Foster had taken command of the Donaldsonville, Louisiana past the mouth of the Red River section of the Mississippi in mid-August. From Bayou Sara he wrote: "Since taking command of the Lafayette I have made a tour of my district and find everything quiet below Bayou Sara and very little excitement between this place and Red River, no vessels having been fired into since the rebels were shelled by the Champion [30 August]. The disposition of this ship, Neosho, and Signal, I think, has had a beneficial influence upon the rebels, insomuch as they have not shown themselves upon the river banks since I have been down here."
Lieutenant Earl, of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, in command of a squad of forty cavalry, marched from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as far as the Comite River, and reported capturing fourteen prisoners, with their arms, horses, and equipments. Among the prisoners were Colonel Hunter and Captain Perry, notorious guerrilla chiefs.
Chat Discussion
Both Union and Confederate forces were lined up at the conclusion of the fighting yesterday, knowing pretty much where each other were and had been readying for action all during the night, cutting trees and setting up temporary fortifications. They both also knew that today would brings things to a head and likely settle the matter. The fighting was essentially toe to toe from one end to the other until, due to a mistaken or faulty order, Union troops right in the center under General Thomas J. Wood were pulled out of position. In the Confederate center were the forces of General James Longstreet, who knew exactly what to do with such a gift and lost no time exploiting this opening. The Union line nearly quickly melted, then the right side completely dissolved, except for native Virginian General George Henry Thomas. Gathering his men on a rise called Snodgrass Hill they formed a defensive line that held all afternoon, garnering for Thomas the nickname “Rock of Chickamauga.” After dark, under orders, Thomas withdrew to rejoin the rest of the Union army in Chattanooga. General Braxton Bragg had won his battle.
The general report submitted this date by Lieutenant Commander J.P. Foster, commanding the second district of the Mississippi Squadron, to Rear Admiral David D. Porter, illustrated the restrictive effect gunboat patrols had on Confederate operations along the Mississippi. Foster had taken command of the Donaldsonville, Louisiana past the mouth of the Red River section of the Mississippi in mid-August. From Bayou Sara he wrote: "Since taking command of the Lafayette I have made a tour of my district and find everything quiet below Bayou Sara and very little excitement between this place and Red River, no vessels having been fired into since the rebels were shelled by the Champion [30 August]. The disposition of this ship, Neosho, and Signal, I think, has had a beneficial influence upon the rebels, insomuch as they have not shown themselves upon the river banks since I have been down here."
Lieutenant Earl, of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, in command of a squad of forty cavalry, marched from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as far as the Comite River, and reported capturing fourteen prisoners, with their arms, horses, and equipments. Among the prisoners were Colonel Hunter and Captain Perry, notorious guerrilla chiefs.
Chat Discussion
Posted on 9/20/13 at 11:14 am to BadLeroyDawg
I just have a hard time obsessing over civil war stuff
Posted on 9/20/13 at 6:13 pm to GenesChin
Can see that. But reporting history, as it happened chronologically, might allow one to see what has happened could well influence what will happen. Jes sayin...
This post was edited on 9/20/13 at 7:00 pm
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