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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 11/27/13 at 6:10 am to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 11/27/13 at 6:10 am to BadLeroyDawg
27 November continued...
A party of surgeons belonging to the United States Army, lately prisoners in Richmond, made the following statement:
We the undersigned consider it our duty to publish a few facts that came to our knowledge while we were inmates of the hospital attached to the Libby prison. We enjoyed for several months daily access to the hospitals where the sick and wounded among our Union soldiers were under treatment. As a result of our observation, we hereby declare our belief that, since the battle of Chickamauga, the number of deaths per diem has averaged fully fifty. The prevailing diseases are diarrhoea, dysentery, or typhoid pneumonia. Of late the percentage of deaths has greatly increased from causes that have been long at work, as insufficient food, clothing, and shelter, combined with that depression of spirits brought so often by long confinement. It may seem almost incredible that, in the three hospitals for wounded soldiers, the average mortality is nearly forty per day, and, we are forced to believe, the deaths in the tobacco factories and upon the Island, will raise the total mortality among all the Union soldiers to fifty per day, or fifteen hundred monthly.
The extremely reduced condition of those brought from the island argues that hundreds quite sick are left behind who, with us, would be considered fit subjects for hospital treatment. Such, too, is the fact, as invariably stated by scores we have conversed with from that camp. The same, to a degree, holds true of their prisoners in the city. It would be a reasonable estimate to put the number who are fit subjects for hospitals, but who are refused admittance, at five hundred. One thousand are already under treatment in the three hospitals; and the confederate surgeons themselves say the number of patients is only limited by the small accommodations provided. Thus we have over ten per cent of the whole number of the prisoners held classed as sick men, who need the most assiduous and skilful attention; yet, in the matter of rations, they are receiving nothing but corn-bread and sweet potatoes. Meat is no longer furnished to any class of our prisoners, except to the few officers in Libby Hospital; and all the sick and well officers and privates are now furnished with a very poor article of corn-bread, in place of wheatbread ? an unsuitable diet for hospital patients, prostrated with diarrhea, dysentery, and fever.
To say nothing of many startling instances of individual suffering, and horrid pictures of death from prostrated sickness and semi-starvation, we have had thrust upon our attention, the first demand of the poor creatures from the island was always for something to eat. Self-respect gone, half-clad and covered with vermin and filth, many of them are often beyond all reach of medical skill. In one instance, the ambulances brought sixteen to the hospital, and during the night seven of them died. Again, eighteen were brought, and eleven of them died in twenty-four hours. At another time, fourteen were admitted in a single day, and ten of them died. Judging from what we have ourselves seen and do know, we do not hesitate to say that under a treatment of systematized abuse, neglect, and semi-starvation, the number who are becoming prematurely broken down in their constitutions must be reckoned by thousands. The Confederate daily papers in general terms acknowledge the truth of all we have affirmed, but usually close their abusive editorials by declaring that even such treatment is better than the invading Yankees deserve.
The Examiner, in a recent article, begrudged the little food the prisoners did receive, and the boxes sent to us from home, and closed by eulogizing the system of semi-starvation and exposure as well calculated to dispose of us. Recently several hundred prisoners per day were being removed to Danville, and in two instances we were standing in view of them as their ranks filed past. Numbers were without shoes, nearly all without blankets or overcoats, and not a man did we see who was well fed and fully clad; but to the credit of the prisoners in Richmond, of all ranks, be it recorded, that, although they have shown heroic fortitude under suffering, and spurning the idea that their Government had forgotten them, have held fast their confidence in the final and speedy success of our cause. In addition to the above statement, we wish to be distinctly understood that the Confederate medical officers connected with the hospitals referred to, Surgeons Wilkins, Simmons, and Sobal, and the hospital steward, Hollet, are not in any way, as far as our observation has extended, responsible for the state of things existing there, but on the other hand, we are bound in justice to bear testimony to their kindness and the faithful performance of duties with the limited means at their disposal. The surgeons who signed this statement were, Daniel Meeker, United States Navy; C. T. Liners, Assistant Surgeon Sixth Maine regiment; J. L. Brown, Assistant Surgeon One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry; and A. M. Parker, Assistant Surgeon First Maine cavalry.
Among the prisoners captured at Chattanooga, were found a large number of those paroled at Vicksburg. General Grant inquired whether he should proceed against them according to the established usage in such cases, which is to shoot the persons so found. The War Department forbid, it being manifestly unjust to execute soldiers who were required by the rebel government to break their parole.
General John Hunt Morgan, with six of his officers, escaped from the penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.
A party of surgeons belonging to the United States Army, lately prisoners in Richmond, made the following statement:
We the undersigned consider it our duty to publish a few facts that came to our knowledge while we were inmates of the hospital attached to the Libby prison. We enjoyed for several months daily access to the hospitals where the sick and wounded among our Union soldiers were under treatment. As a result of our observation, we hereby declare our belief that, since the battle of Chickamauga, the number of deaths per diem has averaged fully fifty. The prevailing diseases are diarrhoea, dysentery, or typhoid pneumonia. Of late the percentage of deaths has greatly increased from causes that have been long at work, as insufficient food, clothing, and shelter, combined with that depression of spirits brought so often by long confinement. It may seem almost incredible that, in the three hospitals for wounded soldiers, the average mortality is nearly forty per day, and, we are forced to believe, the deaths in the tobacco factories and upon the Island, will raise the total mortality among all the Union soldiers to fifty per day, or fifteen hundred monthly.
The extremely reduced condition of those brought from the island argues that hundreds quite sick are left behind who, with us, would be considered fit subjects for hospital treatment. Such, too, is the fact, as invariably stated by scores we have conversed with from that camp. The same, to a degree, holds true of their prisoners in the city. It would be a reasonable estimate to put the number who are fit subjects for hospitals, but who are refused admittance, at five hundred. One thousand are already under treatment in the three hospitals; and the confederate surgeons themselves say the number of patients is only limited by the small accommodations provided. Thus we have over ten per cent of the whole number of the prisoners held classed as sick men, who need the most assiduous and skilful attention; yet, in the matter of rations, they are receiving nothing but corn-bread and sweet potatoes. Meat is no longer furnished to any class of our prisoners, except to the few officers in Libby Hospital; and all the sick and well officers and privates are now furnished with a very poor article of corn-bread, in place of wheatbread ? an unsuitable diet for hospital patients, prostrated with diarrhea, dysentery, and fever.
To say nothing of many startling instances of individual suffering, and horrid pictures of death from prostrated sickness and semi-starvation, we have had thrust upon our attention, the first demand of the poor creatures from the island was always for something to eat. Self-respect gone, half-clad and covered with vermin and filth, many of them are often beyond all reach of medical skill. In one instance, the ambulances brought sixteen to the hospital, and during the night seven of them died. Again, eighteen were brought, and eleven of them died in twenty-four hours. At another time, fourteen were admitted in a single day, and ten of them died. Judging from what we have ourselves seen and do know, we do not hesitate to say that under a treatment of systematized abuse, neglect, and semi-starvation, the number who are becoming prematurely broken down in their constitutions must be reckoned by thousands. The Confederate daily papers in general terms acknowledge the truth of all we have affirmed, but usually close their abusive editorials by declaring that even such treatment is better than the invading Yankees deserve.
The Examiner, in a recent article, begrudged the little food the prisoners did receive, and the boxes sent to us from home, and closed by eulogizing the system of semi-starvation and exposure as well calculated to dispose of us. Recently several hundred prisoners per day were being removed to Danville, and in two instances we were standing in view of them as their ranks filed past. Numbers were without shoes, nearly all without blankets or overcoats, and not a man did we see who was well fed and fully clad; but to the credit of the prisoners in Richmond, of all ranks, be it recorded, that, although they have shown heroic fortitude under suffering, and spurning the idea that their Government had forgotten them, have held fast their confidence in the final and speedy success of our cause. In addition to the above statement, we wish to be distinctly understood that the Confederate medical officers connected with the hospitals referred to, Surgeons Wilkins, Simmons, and Sobal, and the hospital steward, Hollet, are not in any way, as far as our observation has extended, responsible for the state of things existing there, but on the other hand, we are bound in justice to bear testimony to their kindness and the faithful performance of duties with the limited means at their disposal. The surgeons who signed this statement were, Daniel Meeker, United States Navy; C. T. Liners, Assistant Surgeon Sixth Maine regiment; J. L. Brown, Assistant Surgeon One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry; and A. M. Parker, Assistant Surgeon First Maine cavalry.
Among the prisoners captured at Chattanooga, were found a large number of those paroled at Vicksburg. General Grant inquired whether he should proceed against them according to the established usage in such cases, which is to shoot the persons so found. The War Department forbid, it being manifestly unjust to execute soldiers who were required by the rebel government to break their parole.
General John Hunt Morgan, with six of his officers, escaped from the penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.
This post was edited on 11/27/13 at 6:17 am
1
Posted on 11/28/13 at 5:34 am to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 28 November 1863
It had been only three days since the Battle of Missionary Ridge had made the Union hold on Tennessee complete. The magnificent fighting force known as the Army of Tennessee, which had smashed the Union armies at Chickamauga and bottled them up in Chattanooga, had basically been left sitting idle ever since. Atop Missionary Ridge east of the city, they had been given no orders to fortify properly, and when the attack came the cannon could not be properly aimed, and were swept away. Today the man responsible for this sorry situation, General Braxton Bragg, finally seemed to see where the problem lay--in his own hands. With this he wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis asking to be relieved of command, and requesting "an investigation" into the causes of the defeat. This was tantamount to requesting his own court-martial.
The USS Chippewa, Lieutenant Commander Thomas C. Harris, convoyed the Army transport Monohassett and Mayflower up Skull Creek, South Carolina, on a reconnaissance mission. Though Confederate troops had established defensive positions from which to resist attacks, Chippewa's effective fire prevented them from halting the movement. "The object of the expedition was fully accomplished," Harris reported, "and the reconnaissance was complete."
A cavalry fight took place at Louisville, Tennessee, between a small party of Confederate partisans and two hundred and twenty-five men belonging to the Sixth Illinois regiment, resulting in the retreat of the Rebels.
It had been only three days since the Battle of Missionary Ridge had made the Union hold on Tennessee complete. The magnificent fighting force known as the Army of Tennessee, which had smashed the Union armies at Chickamauga and bottled them up in Chattanooga, had basically been left sitting idle ever since. Atop Missionary Ridge east of the city, they had been given no orders to fortify properly, and when the attack came the cannon could not be properly aimed, and were swept away. Today the man responsible for this sorry situation, General Braxton Bragg, finally seemed to see where the problem lay--in his own hands. With this he wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis asking to be relieved of command, and requesting "an investigation" into the causes of the defeat. This was tantamount to requesting his own court-martial.
The USS Chippewa, Lieutenant Commander Thomas C. Harris, convoyed the Army transport Monohassett and Mayflower up Skull Creek, South Carolina, on a reconnaissance mission. Though Confederate troops had established defensive positions from which to resist attacks, Chippewa's effective fire prevented them from halting the movement. "The object of the expedition was fully accomplished," Harris reported, "and the reconnaissance was complete."
A cavalry fight took place at Louisville, Tennessee, between a small party of Confederate partisans and two hundred and twenty-five men belonging to the Sixth Illinois regiment, resulting in the retreat of the Rebels.
Posted on 11/29/13 at 1:59 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 29 November 1863
General James Longstreet was one of the greatest corps commanders the South ever produced, but as today’s action demonstrates, he frequently did not do so well when in independent command. It was his final chance to capture the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, and to complicate matters, he had to do it during a sleet storm. The objective was called Fort Sanders in some accounts, Fort Loudon in others, but it was the key to the Union defenses of the city. Attacks started at dawn, in horrid conditions so slick that it was difficult to merely walk, much less charge, fire and reload a gun. Despite these handicaps Longstreet’s men got as far as planting their flag on the parapet of the fort---but they could get no farther, and were finally driven back. Longstreet, knowing that General Braxton Bragg had been defeated at Chattanooga and could provide no assistance, decided he had done all he could, and began making arrangements to move his men back to Virginia. A few hours previous to the assault, the Confederate General issued the following instructions to the commanders of the brigades who were to attempt the attack:
Headquarters, November 29, 1863.
General: Please impress your officers and men with the importance of making a rush when they once start to take such a position as that occupied by the enemy yesterday. If the troops, once started, rush forward till the point is carried, the loss will be trifling; whereas, if they hesitate, the enemy gets courage, or, being behind a comparatively sheltered position, will fight the harder.
Beside, if the assaulting party once loses courage and falters, he will not find courage, probably, to make a renewed effort. The men should be cautioned before they start at such work, and told what they are to do, and the importance and great safety of doing it with a rush.
Very respectfully,
J. Longstreet, Lieutenant-General. Major-General McLaws.
The gunboat USS Kanawha, Lieutenant Commander Mayo, captured the schooner Albert (or Wenona Winona) attempting to run the blockade out of Mobile, Alabama, with a full cargo of cotton, rosin, turpentine, and tobacco.
At the request of Major General Nathaniel Banks, a gun crew from the USS Monongahela, Commander James Hooker Strong, went ashore to man howitzers in support of an Army attack on Pass Cavallo, Texas.
General James Longstreet was one of the greatest corps commanders the South ever produced, but as today’s action demonstrates, he frequently did not do so well when in independent command. It was his final chance to capture the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, and to complicate matters, he had to do it during a sleet storm. The objective was called Fort Sanders in some accounts, Fort Loudon in others, but it was the key to the Union defenses of the city. Attacks started at dawn, in horrid conditions so slick that it was difficult to merely walk, much less charge, fire and reload a gun. Despite these handicaps Longstreet’s men got as far as planting their flag on the parapet of the fort---but they could get no farther, and were finally driven back. Longstreet, knowing that General Braxton Bragg had been defeated at Chattanooga and could provide no assistance, decided he had done all he could, and began making arrangements to move his men back to Virginia. A few hours previous to the assault, the Confederate General issued the following instructions to the commanders of the brigades who were to attempt the attack:
Headquarters, November 29, 1863.
General: Please impress your officers and men with the importance of making a rush when they once start to take such a position as that occupied by the enemy yesterday. If the troops, once started, rush forward till the point is carried, the loss will be trifling; whereas, if they hesitate, the enemy gets courage, or, being behind a comparatively sheltered position, will fight the harder.
Beside, if the assaulting party once loses courage and falters, he will not find courage, probably, to make a renewed effort. The men should be cautioned before they start at such work, and told what they are to do, and the importance and great safety of doing it with a rush.
Very respectfully,
J. Longstreet, Lieutenant-General. Major-General McLaws.
The gunboat USS Kanawha, Lieutenant Commander Mayo, captured the schooner Albert (or Wenona Winona) attempting to run the blockade out of Mobile, Alabama, with a full cargo of cotton, rosin, turpentine, and tobacco.
At the request of Major General Nathaniel Banks, a gun crew from the USS Monongahela, Commander James Hooker Strong, went ashore to man howitzers in support of an Army attack on Pass Cavallo, Texas.
Posted on 11/30/13 at 5:27 am to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 30 November 1863
General Braxton Bragg had been commander of the Army of Tennessee almost since its inception, and the Army of Mississippi prior to that. His major triumph had been at the bloody battle of Chickamauga, which had bottled up General William Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga for a good long time. The breakthrough had finally come, though, and a few days ago the disaster at Missionary Ridge had been the final straw. He had submitted a letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis asking to be relived of command. His friendship with Davis was of many years standing, though, and perhaps he thought the request would be denied, as similar requests from General Robert E. Lee had been. It was, however, accepted today, and Bragg was directed to turn over command to General William Joseph Hardee.
Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory emphasized the necessity for the proper training of naval officers in his annual report on the Confederate States Navy. It was, he wrote, "...a subject of the greatest importance." He observed: "The naval powers of the earth are bestowing peculiar care upon the education of their officers, now more than ever demanded by the changes in all the elements of naval warfare. Appointed from civil life and possessing generally but little knowledge of the duties of an officer and rarely even the vocabulary of their profession they have heretofore been sent to vessels or batteries where it is impossible for them to obtain a knowledge of its most important branches, which can be best, if not only, acquired by methodical study." Mallory noted that there were 693 officers and 2,250 enlisted men in the Confederate Navy. He reported that while Union victories at Little Rock and on the Yazoo River had terminated the Department's attempts to construct ships in that area, construction was "...making good progress at Richmond , Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, on the Roanoke, Peedee, Chattahoochee, and Alabama Rivers..." Two immense problems Mallory enumerated troubled the Confederacy throughout the conflict; the lack of skilled labor to build ships and the inability to obtain adequate iron to protect them. In the industrial North, neither was a difficulty. This was a major factor which helped decide the course of the war.
Confederate naval officers and men played vital roles in Southern shore defenses throughout the war. This morning, Secretary Mallory praised the naval command at Drewry's Bluff which guarded the James River approach to Richmond. The battery, he reported, "...composed of seamen and marines, is in a high state of efficiency and the river obstructions are believed to be sufficient, in connection with the shore and submarine batteries, to prevent the passage of the enemy's ships. An active force is employed on submarine batteries and torpedoes."
This afternoon, a Union foraging party along the Mississippi River captured detailed plans of a Triton Company submarine. Confederate General Jeremy Francis Gilmer's evaluation of the boat six weeks earlier suggests the company had built other submarines as well.
General Braxton Bragg had been commander of the Army of Tennessee almost since its inception, and the Army of Mississippi prior to that. His major triumph had been at the bloody battle of Chickamauga, which had bottled up General William Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga for a good long time. The breakthrough had finally come, though, and a few days ago the disaster at Missionary Ridge had been the final straw. He had submitted a letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis asking to be relived of command. His friendship with Davis was of many years standing, though, and perhaps he thought the request would be denied, as similar requests from General Robert E. Lee had been. It was, however, accepted today, and Bragg was directed to turn over command to General William Joseph Hardee.
Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory emphasized the necessity for the proper training of naval officers in his annual report on the Confederate States Navy. It was, he wrote, "...a subject of the greatest importance." He observed: "The naval powers of the earth are bestowing peculiar care upon the education of their officers, now more than ever demanded by the changes in all the elements of naval warfare. Appointed from civil life and possessing generally but little knowledge of the duties of an officer and rarely even the vocabulary of their profession they have heretofore been sent to vessels or batteries where it is impossible for them to obtain a knowledge of its most important branches, which can be best, if not only, acquired by methodical study." Mallory noted that there were 693 officers and 2,250 enlisted men in the Confederate Navy. He reported that while Union victories at Little Rock and on the Yazoo River had terminated the Department's attempts to construct ships in that area, construction was "...making good progress at Richmond , Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, on the Roanoke, Peedee, Chattahoochee, and Alabama Rivers..." Two immense problems Mallory enumerated troubled the Confederacy throughout the conflict; the lack of skilled labor to build ships and the inability to obtain adequate iron to protect them. In the industrial North, neither was a difficulty. This was a major factor which helped decide the course of the war.
Confederate naval officers and men played vital roles in Southern shore defenses throughout the war. This morning, Secretary Mallory praised the naval command at Drewry's Bluff which guarded the James River approach to Richmond. The battery, he reported, "...composed of seamen and marines, is in a high state of efficiency and the river obstructions are believed to be sufficient, in connection with the shore and submarine batteries, to prevent the passage of the enemy's ships. An active force is employed on submarine batteries and torpedoes."
This afternoon, a Union foraging party along the Mississippi River captured detailed plans of a Triton Company submarine. Confederate General Jeremy Francis Gilmer's evaluation of the boat six weeks earlier suggests the company had built other submarines as well.
Posted on 12/1/13 at 5:28 am to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 1 December 1863
The problem of gathering vital supplies was becoming increasingly difficult for all Southern armies, and the commanding generals were constantly pleading with Confederate President Jefferson Davis for assistance for the men now mostly in winter camp. General Joe Wheeler, however, commanded a cavalry unit, and he took the approach that God helps a force which helps itself. The difficulty was, his men were helping themselves to the property of their fellow Confederate citizens of North Carolina. Fed up, Govenor Zebulon B. Vance sent a letter of his own to Davis today, complaining severely about the depredations. "If God Almighty had yet in store another plague for the Egyptians worse than all others, I am sure it must have been a regiment or so of half-armed, half-disciplined Confederate cavalry!" Vance thundered.
The Army of the Potomac withdrew from before the works of the Confederates of the Army of Northern Virginia on Mine Run, General Meade being convinced that they could not be taken without a great sacrifice of life. A soldier, writing from Kelleysville, now in West Virginia on December fourth, gives the following account of the retrograde movement: "Since joining the regiment I have had very tough work, marching great distances in a short space of time, besides living on short rations. We crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, marching through the battlefield of Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, to within six miles of Orange Court House, where we halted. Our impressions were, that we would reach Gordonsville before any serious opposition would be shown, but were mightily mistaken. The army skirmished with the Rebels from the time we crossed the Rapidan until we halted, and through such a perfect wilderness as to be almost indescribable ? the road, the only place where man or beast could walk, with both sides covered with dense woods, overrun with underbrush. So you can readily imagine what a place for troops to advance in line of battle, and manoeuvre for instant action. Yet it was done, and with a hearty good will, for the impression animated the whole army we would give the rebels a sound whipping, as we were on their flank; but alas! they got wind of it, and formed a line of battle on the high ridge of hills on the opposite side of Mine Run. We would have cleared them out from there, but the whole of our army did not arrive in time. Night came on, and they improved the time by fortifying. When morning came, they had one of the most formidable works in view I ever saw. The creek, or run, was crammed with felled trees, to break our ranks when advancing in line, and then came immense breastworks with abattis in front, making it an impossibility to make a charge over. Yet that morning the whole line had orders to take off knapsacks and overcoats, and make the attack, or rather attempt it. When all was ready, and going on the advance, the order was countermanded, and with it came many light hearts, as we knew it was impossible to make any impression on what we saw before us, although we were willing to attempt it. We lay all that day, and the next until evening, when we picked up our traps, and made a splendid retrograde movement. To be sure, the army suffered a little in killed and wounded, but nothing in comparison to what it would have been if we had fought them. One of the men in my company was shot in the breast while skirmishing. We are now near Kelly's Ford, and have arrived at the conclusion that General Meade acted wisely in not giving battle, for he would have been repulsed, and that would not do, when things looked so bright in the West."
The problem of gathering vital supplies was becoming increasingly difficult for all Southern armies, and the commanding generals were constantly pleading with Confederate President Jefferson Davis for assistance for the men now mostly in winter camp. General Joe Wheeler, however, commanded a cavalry unit, and he took the approach that God helps a force which helps itself. The difficulty was, his men were helping themselves to the property of their fellow Confederate citizens of North Carolina. Fed up, Govenor Zebulon B. Vance sent a letter of his own to Davis today, complaining severely about the depredations. "If God Almighty had yet in store another plague for the Egyptians worse than all others, I am sure it must have been a regiment or so of half-armed, half-disciplined Confederate cavalry!" Vance thundered.
The Army of the Potomac withdrew from before the works of the Confederates of the Army of Northern Virginia on Mine Run, General Meade being convinced that they could not be taken without a great sacrifice of life. A soldier, writing from Kelleysville, now in West Virginia on December fourth, gives the following account of the retrograde movement: "Since joining the regiment I have had very tough work, marching great distances in a short space of time, besides living on short rations. We crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, marching through the battlefield of Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, to within six miles of Orange Court House, where we halted. Our impressions were, that we would reach Gordonsville before any serious opposition would be shown, but were mightily mistaken. The army skirmished with the Rebels from the time we crossed the Rapidan until we halted, and through such a perfect wilderness as to be almost indescribable ? the road, the only place where man or beast could walk, with both sides covered with dense woods, overrun with underbrush. So you can readily imagine what a place for troops to advance in line of battle, and manoeuvre for instant action. Yet it was done, and with a hearty good will, for the impression animated the whole army we would give the rebels a sound whipping, as we were on their flank; but alas! they got wind of it, and formed a line of battle on the high ridge of hills on the opposite side of Mine Run. We would have cleared them out from there, but the whole of our army did not arrive in time. Night came on, and they improved the time by fortifying. When morning came, they had one of the most formidable works in view I ever saw. The creek, or run, was crammed with felled trees, to break our ranks when advancing in line, and then came immense breastworks with abattis in front, making it an impossibility to make a charge over. Yet that morning the whole line had orders to take off knapsacks and overcoats, and make the attack, or rather attempt it. When all was ready, and going on the advance, the order was countermanded, and with it came many light hearts, as we knew it was impossible to make any impression on what we saw before us, although we were willing to attempt it. We lay all that day, and the next until evening, when we picked up our traps, and made a splendid retrograde movement. To be sure, the army suffered a little in killed and wounded, but nothing in comparison to what it would have been if we had fought them. One of the men in my company was shot in the breast while skirmishing. We are now near Kelly's Ford, and have arrived at the conclusion that General Meade acted wisely in not giving battle, for he would have been repulsed, and that would not do, when things looked so bright in the West."
Posted on 12/2/13 at 5:03 am to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 2 December 1863
One of the primary duties for the United States Navy ships operating along the Florida coast, along with watching for smugglers and blockade-runners, was keeping an eye out for salt works. Although some salt, in both the South and North, was dug in mines where it had been deposited as ancient ocean beds evaporated, much more came from coastal operations. Sea water would be scooped into kettles and the water boiled off, or placed in shallow pans to evaporate. The USS Restless came upon such an operation today on Lake Ocala, Florida, that was producing an incredible 130 bushels of salt per day. Acting Master William R. Browne ordered the boilers destroyed, along with two flatboats and six oxen carts, and had all the salt returned to the sea from whence it came. He also took 17 prisoners. "They were in the practice of turning out 130 bushels of salt daily." Rear Admiral Bailey reported. "Besides destroying these boilers, a large quantity of salt was thrown into the lake, 2 large flatboats, and 6 ox carts were demolished, and 17 prisoners were taken. . . " These destructive raids, destroying machinery, supplies, armament, and equipment, had a telling and lasting effect on the South, already short of all.
Rear Admiral David D. Porter reported: "In the operations lately carried on up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, the gunboats have been extremely active and have achieved with perfect success all that was desired or required of them. . . . With the help of our barges, General Sherman's troops were all ferried over in an incredibly short time by the gunboats, and he was enabled to bring his formidable corps into action in the late battle of Chattanooga, which has resulted so gloriously for our arms." The Mississippi Squadron continued to patrol the rivers relentlessly, restricting Confederate movements and countering attempts to erect batteries along the banks.
Commodore H. H. Bell, pro-tem commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, reported to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles the estimated Confederate naval strength at Mobile Bay. The CSS Gaines and Morgan mounted ten guns; the CSS Selma mounted four, as did the nearly completed ironclad CSS Nashville. All were sidewheelers. The ironclad rams CSS Baltic, Huntsville , and Tennessee all mounted four guns each. The latter, Admiral Buchanan 's flag ship, was said to be "strong and fast." The CSS Gunnison was fitted as a torpedo boat carrying 150 pounds of powder and another screw steamer was reported being fitted out, though a fire had destroyed her upper works. In addition to two floating batteries mounting 3 guns each and 10 transport steamers at Mobile Bay, the report noted: "At Selma there is a large vessel building, to be launched in January. There are three large rams building on the Tombigbee River , to be launched during the winter." Rear Admira David G. Farragut would face four of these ships in Mobile Bay the following year. Lack of machinery, iron, and skilled mechanics prevented the rest from being little more than the phantoms which rumor frequently includes in estimates of enemy strength.
General Braxton Bragg issued a general order from his headquarters at Dalton, Georgia, transferring the command of the Confederate forces to Lieutenant General William Joseph Hardee who, on assuming the position announced, in orders, that "...there was no cause for discouragement. The overwhelming numbers of the enemy forced us back from Missionary Ridge; but the army is still intact and in good heart; our losses were small, and were rapidly replaced. The country is looking to you with painful interest. I feel I can rely upon you. The weak need to be cheered by the constant successes of the victors of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga, and require such stimulant to sustain their courage and resolution. Let the past take care of itself. We care more to secure the future."
One of the primary duties for the United States Navy ships operating along the Florida coast, along with watching for smugglers and blockade-runners, was keeping an eye out for salt works. Although some salt, in both the South and North, was dug in mines where it had been deposited as ancient ocean beds evaporated, much more came from coastal operations. Sea water would be scooped into kettles and the water boiled off, or placed in shallow pans to evaporate. The USS Restless came upon such an operation today on Lake Ocala, Florida, that was producing an incredible 130 bushels of salt per day. Acting Master William R. Browne ordered the boilers destroyed, along with two flatboats and six oxen carts, and had all the salt returned to the sea from whence it came. He also took 17 prisoners. "They were in the practice of turning out 130 bushels of salt daily." Rear Admiral Bailey reported. "Besides destroying these boilers, a large quantity of salt was thrown into the lake, 2 large flatboats, and 6 ox carts were demolished, and 17 prisoners were taken. . . " These destructive raids, destroying machinery, supplies, armament, and equipment, had a telling and lasting effect on the South, already short of all.
Rear Admiral David D. Porter reported: "In the operations lately carried on up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, the gunboats have been extremely active and have achieved with perfect success all that was desired or required of them. . . . With the help of our barges, General Sherman's troops were all ferried over in an incredibly short time by the gunboats, and he was enabled to bring his formidable corps into action in the late battle of Chattanooga, which has resulted so gloriously for our arms." The Mississippi Squadron continued to patrol the rivers relentlessly, restricting Confederate movements and countering attempts to erect batteries along the banks.
Commodore H. H. Bell, pro-tem commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, reported to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles the estimated Confederate naval strength at Mobile Bay. The CSS Gaines and Morgan mounted ten guns; the CSS Selma mounted four, as did the nearly completed ironclad CSS Nashville. All were sidewheelers. The ironclad rams CSS Baltic, Huntsville , and Tennessee all mounted four guns each. The latter, Admiral Buchanan 's flag ship, was said to be "strong and fast." The CSS Gunnison was fitted as a torpedo boat carrying 150 pounds of powder and another screw steamer was reported being fitted out, though a fire had destroyed her upper works. In addition to two floating batteries mounting 3 guns each and 10 transport steamers at Mobile Bay, the report noted: "At Selma there is a large vessel building, to be launched in January. There are three large rams building on the Tombigbee River , to be launched during the winter." Rear Admira David G. Farragut would face four of these ships in Mobile Bay the following year. Lack of machinery, iron, and skilled mechanics prevented the rest from being little more than the phantoms which rumor frequently includes in estimates of enemy strength.
General Braxton Bragg issued a general order from his headquarters at Dalton, Georgia, transferring the command of the Confederate forces to Lieutenant General William Joseph Hardee who, on assuming the position announced, in orders, that "...there was no cause for discouragement. The overwhelming numbers of the enemy forced us back from Missionary Ridge; but the army is still intact and in good heart; our losses were small, and were rapidly replaced. The country is looking to you with painful interest. I feel I can rely upon you. The weak need to be cheered by the constant successes of the victors of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga, and require such stimulant to sustain their courage and resolution. Let the past take care of itself. We care more to secure the future."
Posted on 12/2/13 at 7:51 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 3 December 1863
Running a naval blockade, especially in the maze of waterways, islands, canals, marshes and areas which are some combination of all of the above like Charleston Harbor, is not as easy as it may seem. Admiral John Dahlgren laid down some ground rules today. Four monitor-class ships were assigned the duty, with two to be in use each night. One was to operate far up the channel of the harbor, where it could keep an eye on Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, as well as watch for commercial shipping trying to sneak out, and at the same time watch for and defend against aggressive vessels such as torpedo boats, picket boats and, oh yes, floating mines. The second ship was to lay further out to keep an eye on the first, and go to its aid if necessary.
Dahlgren issued the following orders to emphasize vigorous enforcement of the blockade and vigilance against Confederate torpedo boats: "Picket duty is to be performed by four monitors, two for each night, one of which is to be well advanced up the harbor, in a position suitable for preventing the entrance or departure of any vessel attempting to pass in or out of Charleston Harbor, and for observing Sumter and Moultrie, or movements in and about them, taking care at the same time not to get aground, and also to change the position when the weather appears to render it unsafe. The second monitor is to keep within proper supporting distance of the first, so as to render aid if needed." The Admiral added: "The general object of the monitors, tugs, and boats on picket is to enforce the blockade rigorously, and to watch and check the movements of the enemy by water whenever it can be done, particularly to detect and destroy the torpedo boats and the picket boats of the rebels."
The USS New London, under Lieutenant Commander Weld N. Allen, captured the blockade running schooner Del Nile near Padre Pass Island, Texas, with a cargo including coffee, sugar, and percussion caps.
A small force of Confederates, under the command of General James Ronald Chalmers, made three desperate charges on a full division of Federal cavalry, stationed at the Wolf River Bridge, Tennessee, but were finally repulsed with heavy loss. The Union troops were commanded by Colonel Hatch's cavalry division, which suffered severely.
Running a naval blockade, especially in the maze of waterways, islands, canals, marshes and areas which are some combination of all of the above like Charleston Harbor, is not as easy as it may seem. Admiral John Dahlgren laid down some ground rules today. Four monitor-class ships were assigned the duty, with two to be in use each night. One was to operate far up the channel of the harbor, where it could keep an eye on Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, as well as watch for commercial shipping trying to sneak out, and at the same time watch for and defend against aggressive vessels such as torpedo boats, picket boats and, oh yes, floating mines. The second ship was to lay further out to keep an eye on the first, and go to its aid if necessary.
Dahlgren issued the following orders to emphasize vigorous enforcement of the blockade and vigilance against Confederate torpedo boats: "Picket duty is to be performed by four monitors, two for each night, one of which is to be well advanced up the harbor, in a position suitable for preventing the entrance or departure of any vessel attempting to pass in or out of Charleston Harbor, and for observing Sumter and Moultrie, or movements in and about them, taking care at the same time not to get aground, and also to change the position when the weather appears to render it unsafe. The second monitor is to keep within proper supporting distance of the first, so as to render aid if needed." The Admiral added: "The general object of the monitors, tugs, and boats on picket is to enforce the blockade rigorously, and to watch and check the movements of the enemy by water whenever it can be done, particularly to detect and destroy the torpedo boats and the picket boats of the rebels."
The USS New London, under Lieutenant Commander Weld N. Allen, captured the blockade running schooner Del Nile near Padre Pass Island, Texas, with a cargo including coffee, sugar, and percussion caps.
A small force of Confederates, under the command of General James Ronald Chalmers, made three desperate charges on a full division of Federal cavalry, stationed at the Wolf River Bridge, Tennessee, but were finally repulsed with heavy loss. The Union troops were commanded by Colonel Hatch's cavalry division, which suffered severely.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 8:33 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Friday, 4 December 1863
General James Longstreet and his corps had been detached from the Army of Northern Virginia and send West in a desperate move to shore up the defenses of Confederate Tennessee. It had been a valiant effort, but in the end it had been too little, too late. Their last assault had been on the ramparts of Fort Sanders at Knoxville, which they had taken but could not hold. With General Hiram U. Grant having ordered reinforcements on the way, Longstreet was now contemplating establishing winter quarters farther east and north, at a place called Greeneville. This was, in terms of travel time, about equidistant from potential battle sites in the west or in Virginia, enabling the force to be shifted to whichever area needed them most.
General Longstreet began to raise the siege of Knoxville, falling back to Morristown, Tennessee, in consequence of the approach of heavy reinforcements to General Ambrose Burnside, under General Granger, as well as the defeats around Chattanooga. General William T. Sherman was headed toward Knoxville with upwards of 30,000 fresh troops. "The whole army will move direct on the enemy at Knoxville and fight them at the earliest moment," ordered Sherman to his corps commanders. Each wing was given specific roads to use and cautioned to be timely. Food had become a problem for Sherman's men. Immediately following the Battle of Chattanooga, they were on their feet and in pursuit of the enemy. They had but two days of rations, a blanket and an overcoat. Now, over a week later, very little sustenance had caught up with them. In his orders, Sherman wished for each man to have not only all his ammunition on his person with a caution to "use it with great prudence", but also that each have three days' cooked rations. For many, this was impossible, but their dear commander remembered them as well: "If rations are not to be had, the men will cheerfully live on meal till their fellows in Knoxville are released from their imprisonment." They were, after all, on a mission. Sherman was well aware of the shortage of food, and was doing everything he could to sustain his troops. To a division commander in the Fourth Corps, Sherman urged him to "use every effort to procure corn and wheat, and to grind all you possibly can." The three small mills that his army had commandeered were hardly sufficient.
Though Longstreet was by this time in flight, Sherman was convinced otherwise. He had captured letters that indicated as such. "Longstreet is yet at Knoxville," agreed one of the army's Inspector Generals. "He assaulted Burnside on Sunday and was badly whipped…. Longstreet is evidently badly puzzled." Of course, Longstreet wasn't puzzled at all. He was simply aware that Sherman's columns were coming and knew he was outnumbered. Bridging the river, however, was no easy task. For all Sherman and his men knew, time was of the essence. The river had been up when the Fifteenth Corps tried to cross it at Morganton. With water as deep as five feet, the General concluded that while the cavalry might be able to cross, the men and artillery could not. And so fording the river was out, and a bridge was indispensable. Sherman was without an engineer, but "we had our pioneers, but only such tools as axes, picks, and spades. But General Wilson, working part with crib-work and part with square trestles, made of the houses of the late town of Morganton, progress apace, and by dark of December 4, troops and animals passed on the bridge…." If Morganton could not yield to Sherman a ford, he would build a bridge out of it. All through the day in Knoxville, it seemed as if Longstreet's presence remained. The skirmishers and pickets were even more active than usual on this date. There were some signs of the Rebels' retreat, such as a line of wagons spotted moving toward the northeast, but even after a quick probe by Burnside's infantry, the Confederate line seemed sound enough. After darkness, Longstreet began to move in earnest. By 2200 hours, the campfires were dimming or flickering out. It would be the next morning until anyone was certain, but the Confederates had just made good their escape.
General James Longstreet and his corps had been detached from the Army of Northern Virginia and send West in a desperate move to shore up the defenses of Confederate Tennessee. It had been a valiant effort, but in the end it had been too little, too late. Their last assault had been on the ramparts of Fort Sanders at Knoxville, which they had taken but could not hold. With General Hiram U. Grant having ordered reinforcements on the way, Longstreet was now contemplating establishing winter quarters farther east and north, at a place called Greeneville. This was, in terms of travel time, about equidistant from potential battle sites in the west or in Virginia, enabling the force to be shifted to whichever area needed them most.
General Longstreet began to raise the siege of Knoxville, falling back to Morristown, Tennessee, in consequence of the approach of heavy reinforcements to General Ambrose Burnside, under General Granger, as well as the defeats around Chattanooga. General William T. Sherman was headed toward Knoxville with upwards of 30,000 fresh troops. "The whole army will move direct on the enemy at Knoxville and fight them at the earliest moment," ordered Sherman to his corps commanders. Each wing was given specific roads to use and cautioned to be timely. Food had become a problem for Sherman's men. Immediately following the Battle of Chattanooga, they were on their feet and in pursuit of the enemy. They had but two days of rations, a blanket and an overcoat. Now, over a week later, very little sustenance had caught up with them. In his orders, Sherman wished for each man to have not only all his ammunition on his person with a caution to "use it with great prudence", but also that each have three days' cooked rations. For many, this was impossible, but their dear commander remembered them as well: "If rations are not to be had, the men will cheerfully live on meal till their fellows in Knoxville are released from their imprisonment." They were, after all, on a mission. Sherman was well aware of the shortage of food, and was doing everything he could to sustain his troops. To a division commander in the Fourth Corps, Sherman urged him to "use every effort to procure corn and wheat, and to grind all you possibly can." The three small mills that his army had commandeered were hardly sufficient.
Though Longstreet was by this time in flight, Sherman was convinced otherwise. He had captured letters that indicated as such. "Longstreet is yet at Knoxville," agreed one of the army's Inspector Generals. "He assaulted Burnside on Sunday and was badly whipped…. Longstreet is evidently badly puzzled." Of course, Longstreet wasn't puzzled at all. He was simply aware that Sherman's columns were coming and knew he was outnumbered. Bridging the river, however, was no easy task. For all Sherman and his men knew, time was of the essence. The river had been up when the Fifteenth Corps tried to cross it at Morganton. With water as deep as five feet, the General concluded that while the cavalry might be able to cross, the men and artillery could not. And so fording the river was out, and a bridge was indispensable. Sherman was without an engineer, but "we had our pioneers, but only such tools as axes, picks, and spades. But General Wilson, working part with crib-work and part with square trestles, made of the houses of the late town of Morganton, progress apace, and by dark of December 4, troops and animals passed on the bridge…." If Morganton could not yield to Sherman a ford, he would build a bridge out of it. All through the day in Knoxville, it seemed as if Longstreet's presence remained. The skirmishers and pickets were even more active than usual on this date. There were some signs of the Rebels' retreat, such as a line of wagons spotted moving toward the northeast, but even after a quick probe by Burnside's infantry, the Confederate line seemed sound enough. After darkness, Longstreet began to move in earnest. By 2200 hours, the campfires were dimming or flickering out. It would be the next morning until anyone was certain, but the Confederates had just made good their escape.
This post was edited on 12/4/13 at 5:05 am
Posted on 12/4/13 at 8:57 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 5 December 1863
It was a day of considerable activity for this late in the year, but each individual action was small and more or less incidental to armies being on the move. In Tennessee, it was the Corps of James Longstreet marching away from Knoxville and toward planned winter quarters in Greeneville, Tennessee. This led to skirmishes around the Clinch River, particularly at Walker's Ford. Other unpleasantness occurred at Raccoon Ford, Virginia, and Crab Gap, Tennessee. Far to the east, another misfortune befell the U.S. Navy at Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina. A party sent ashore in a small boat from the USS Perry was set upon and captured. An almost identical incident had befallen a party from the USS T. A. Ward a few days earlier.
A boat crew under Acting Ensign William B. Arrants from the USS Perry was captured while reconnoitering Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina , to determine if a ship being outfitted there as a blockade runner could be destroyed. Noting that a boat crew from T.A. Ward had been captured in the same area 2 months before, Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote: "These blunders are very annoying, and yet I do not like to discourage enterprise and dash on the part of our officers and men. Better to suffer from the excess than the deficiencies of these qualities."
Major General R. C. Schenck relinquished the command of the Middle Department, and was succeeded by Brigadier General Henry Hayes Lockwood.
Stephen D. Lee, Major General in the Confederate service, sent the following report from his headquarters, at Holly Springs, Mississippi, to General Joseph E. Johnston: "Chased enemy's cavalry, eight hundred strong, from Ripley into Pocahontas, on the first. The enemy concentrated at Pocahontas, and evacuated Salisbury on the second. Two miles of railroad destroyed at Salisbury. Forrest passed safely over. Routed and drove across into Wolf River, at Moscow, two regiments of the enemy's cavalry, killing, wounding, and drowning about one hundred and seventy-five, capturing forty prisoners, and forty horses, and killing about one hundred horses."
A body of Confederate cavalry, with a few pieces of artillery, crossed the Rapidan River, and made a demonstration in front of the Federal lines. After a brief skirmish, it was discovered that the Rebels wished to reestablish signal stations on three peaks overlooking that section of country occupied by the Union army. This was successfully accomplished, and quiet restored.
A train, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, was attacked by a party of partisan guerrillas, at a point two miles east of Bealeton Station.
Georgetown, South Carolina, was destroyed by fire this night.
It was a day of considerable activity for this late in the year, but each individual action was small and more or less incidental to armies being on the move. In Tennessee, it was the Corps of James Longstreet marching away from Knoxville and toward planned winter quarters in Greeneville, Tennessee. This led to skirmishes around the Clinch River, particularly at Walker's Ford. Other unpleasantness occurred at Raccoon Ford, Virginia, and Crab Gap, Tennessee. Far to the east, another misfortune befell the U.S. Navy at Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina. A party sent ashore in a small boat from the USS Perry was set upon and captured. An almost identical incident had befallen a party from the USS T. A. Ward a few days earlier.
A boat crew under Acting Ensign William B. Arrants from the USS Perry was captured while reconnoitering Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina , to determine if a ship being outfitted there as a blockade runner could be destroyed. Noting that a boat crew from T.A. Ward had been captured in the same area 2 months before, Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote: "These blunders are very annoying, and yet I do not like to discourage enterprise and dash on the part of our officers and men. Better to suffer from the excess than the deficiencies of these qualities."
Major General R. C. Schenck relinquished the command of the Middle Department, and was succeeded by Brigadier General Henry Hayes Lockwood.
Stephen D. Lee, Major General in the Confederate service, sent the following report from his headquarters, at Holly Springs, Mississippi, to General Joseph E. Johnston: "Chased enemy's cavalry, eight hundred strong, from Ripley into Pocahontas, on the first. The enemy concentrated at Pocahontas, and evacuated Salisbury on the second. Two miles of railroad destroyed at Salisbury. Forrest passed safely over. Routed and drove across into Wolf River, at Moscow, two regiments of the enemy's cavalry, killing, wounding, and drowning about one hundred and seventy-five, capturing forty prisoners, and forty horses, and killing about one hundred horses."
A body of Confederate cavalry, with a few pieces of artillery, crossed the Rapidan River, and made a demonstration in front of the Federal lines. After a brief skirmish, it was discovered that the Rebels wished to reestablish signal stations on three peaks overlooking that section of country occupied by the Union army. This was successfully accomplished, and quiet restored.
A train, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, was attacked by a party of partisan guerrillas, at a point two miles east of Bealeton Station.
Georgetown, South Carolina, was destroyed by fire this night.
This post was edited on 12/5/13 at 4:43 am
Posted on 12/5/13 at 8:40 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 6 December 1863
Like many horrific accidents, the tragedy of the USS Weehawken today resulted from a number of causes taken together, none of which by themselves would necessarily have been fatal. The ship, under command of Commander Jesse M. Duncan, was patrolling Charleston Harbor. First, the ship was heavily overloaded with extra ammunition, the weight of which caused the vessel to ride unusually low in the water. Secondly, an inlet called a hawse pipe, along with a watertight hatch next to it, were left open when by usual practice they should have been dogged shut. Finally, a combination of a wind and a strong ebb tide cause a wave to wash up over the bow of the ship. Water poured into the open pipe and hatch, and the ship sank almost instantly. Some two dozen officers and men were drowned.
Another report: The United States monitor Weehawken, Commander Jesse Duncan, was sunk off Morris Island, South Carolina, on December 6, 1863. The loss was attributed to improper stowage of ammunition combined with rough seas. Four officers and twenty men drowned. Contemporary accounts tell of the last moments of her "terror stricken crew" and the "vain shrieks" of the firemen manning the pumps, and of "men in irons" that went down with her. The "paymaster's funds and the papers of the ship (went down) with her." The Weehawken was a "Passaic Class" monitor with a single revolving turret. The vessel measured 844 tons, 200' in length, 46' in breath, 12'6? in depth, and 10'6? draft. The gunboat had two Ericsson vibrating engines, and two Martin boilers. The Weehawken was armed with one 15-inch Dahlgren smoothbore and one 11-inch Dahlgren smooth-bore. The vessel had a complement of seventy-five men. The slow moving gunboat was rated at only five knots. The Weehawken was built by contract with Zeno Secor & Company of New York at the yard of Joseph Coldwell at Jersey City, New Jersey, at a total cost of $465,110.73, and was launched on November 5, 1863. At least one hundred and thirty tons of iron was removed from the wreck of the Weehawken by Professor Maillefert's salvage company in 1873.
The USS Violet, Acting Ensign Thomas Stothard, and the USS Aries, Acting Lieutenant Devens, sighted the blockade running British steamer Ceres aground and burning at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. During the night, Ceres floated free and, the flames having been extinguished, was seized by Violet.
Major General William T. Sherman and staff; accompanied by Brigadier General James Harrison Wilson, arrived at General Ambrose E. Burnside's headquarters, at Knoxville, Tennessee, at noon today.
A successful reconnaissance was made to Madison Court House, Virginia, by four squadrons of the First New York Dragoons, under Major Scott, demonstrating that no Rebel force existed in that quarter. At James City, a few Confederates, who retreated on the approach of the large Federal force, were seen. On Thoroughfare Mountain, the Southern signal-station was found in the possession of some thirty Confederate cavalry, who slipped away upon sighting the Yankees. They were pursued some distance by Scott's men, but without capture. It was found to be a good position for its past uses, as well as in turn to be used against them, as from it the position of nearly the whole Rebel army can be seen. The destruction was made as complete as possible.
The merchant steamer Chesapeake, commanded by Captain Willets, was seized by a party of partisan Rebels, who had taken passage in her, while on her way from New York to Portand, Maine. The pirates assaulted the crew, killed the engineer, and wounded two other officers, and, after landing the passengers at Partridge Island, successfully escaped with the vessel.
Like many horrific accidents, the tragedy of the USS Weehawken today resulted from a number of causes taken together, none of which by themselves would necessarily have been fatal. The ship, under command of Commander Jesse M. Duncan, was patrolling Charleston Harbor. First, the ship was heavily overloaded with extra ammunition, the weight of which caused the vessel to ride unusually low in the water. Secondly, an inlet called a hawse pipe, along with a watertight hatch next to it, were left open when by usual practice they should have been dogged shut. Finally, a combination of a wind and a strong ebb tide cause a wave to wash up over the bow of the ship. Water poured into the open pipe and hatch, and the ship sank almost instantly. Some two dozen officers and men were drowned.
Another report: The United States monitor Weehawken, Commander Jesse Duncan, was sunk off Morris Island, South Carolina, on December 6, 1863. The loss was attributed to improper stowage of ammunition combined with rough seas. Four officers and twenty men drowned. Contemporary accounts tell of the last moments of her "terror stricken crew" and the "vain shrieks" of the firemen manning the pumps, and of "men in irons" that went down with her. The "paymaster's funds and the papers of the ship (went down) with her." The Weehawken was a "Passaic Class" monitor with a single revolving turret. The vessel measured 844 tons, 200' in length, 46' in breath, 12'6? in depth, and 10'6? draft. The gunboat had two Ericsson vibrating engines, and two Martin boilers. The Weehawken was armed with one 15-inch Dahlgren smoothbore and one 11-inch Dahlgren smooth-bore. The vessel had a complement of seventy-five men. The slow moving gunboat was rated at only five knots. The Weehawken was built by contract with Zeno Secor & Company of New York at the yard of Joseph Coldwell at Jersey City, New Jersey, at a total cost of $465,110.73, and was launched on November 5, 1863. At least one hundred and thirty tons of iron was removed from the wreck of the Weehawken by Professor Maillefert's salvage company in 1873.
The USS Violet, Acting Ensign Thomas Stothard, and the USS Aries, Acting Lieutenant Devens, sighted the blockade running British steamer Ceres aground and burning at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina. During the night, Ceres floated free and, the flames having been extinguished, was seized by Violet.
Major General William T. Sherman and staff; accompanied by Brigadier General James Harrison Wilson, arrived at General Ambrose E. Burnside's headquarters, at Knoxville, Tennessee, at noon today.
A successful reconnaissance was made to Madison Court House, Virginia, by four squadrons of the First New York Dragoons, under Major Scott, demonstrating that no Rebel force existed in that quarter. At James City, a few Confederates, who retreated on the approach of the large Federal force, were seen. On Thoroughfare Mountain, the Southern signal-station was found in the possession of some thirty Confederate cavalry, who slipped away upon sighting the Yankees. They were pursued some distance by Scott's men, but without capture. It was found to be a good position for its past uses, as well as in turn to be used against them, as from it the position of nearly the whole Rebel army can be seen. The destruction was made as complete as possible.
The merchant steamer Chesapeake, commanded by Captain Willets, was seized by a party of partisan Rebels, who had taken passage in her, while on her way from New York to Portand, Maine. The pirates assaulted the crew, killed the engineer, and wounded two other officers, and, after landing the passengers at Partridge Island, successfully escaped with the vessel.
This post was edited on 12/6/13 at 4:54 am
Posted on 12/6/13 at 8:59 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 7 December 1863
As the Constitution of the Confederate States of America was essentially the same document as the one used by the United States (with three significant and important modifications-like term limits, line item veto and banning the international slave trade) it was not surprising that many events, such as the opening of sessions of Congress, occurred at the same time. Such was the case today as legislative bodies were convened in both Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In Richmond, the report from the President was grim. Foreign relations had not improved, Jefferson Davis reported, which meant they basically did not exist. Finances were in dire straits, the prisoner-of-war exchange system remained in limbo, and the army had suffered “grave reverses”, but the level of patriotism remained high. In Washington, Navy Secretary Gideon Welles reported that the blockade was solid “...commencing at Alexandria, Virginia, and terminating at the Rio Grande.”
In his third annual report to the President, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote: "A blockade commencing at Alexandria, in Virginia, and terminating at the Rio Grande, has been effectively maintained. The extent of this blockade . . . . covers a distance of three thousand five hundred and forty-nine statute miles, with one hundred and eighty-nine harbor or pier openings or indentations, and much of the coast presents a double shore to be guarded . . . a naval force of more than one hundred vessels has been employed in patrolling the rivers, cutting off rebel supplies, and co-operating with the armies. . . . The distance thus traversed and patrolled by the gunboats on the Mississippi and its tributaries is 3,615 miles, and the sounds, bayous, rivers and inlets of the States upon the Atlantic and the Gulf, covering an extent of about 2,000 miles, have also been . . . watched with unceasing vigilance." Welles reported a naval strength of 34,000 sea-men and 588 ships displacing 467,967 tons, mounting 4,443 guns. More than 1,000 ships had been captured by alert blockaders, as the results of weakness at sea were driven home to the beleaguered South. The North's mighty force afloat had severed the Confederacy along the Mississippi and pierced ever deeper into her interior; amphibious assaults from the sea had driven her still further from her coasts; and the vise of the blockade clamped down more tightly on an already withering economy and military capability.
Steamer Chesapeake (formerly the Totten, a 460-ton wooden steamship built in 1853 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; rebuilt and renamed Chesapeake in 1857) of the New York and Portland Line, en route to Portland, Maine, was seized off Cape Cod by a group of 17 Confederate sympathizers led by John C. Braine. The bizarre undertaking had been planned at St. John, New Brunswick, by Captain John Parker (whose real name seems to have been Vernon G. Locke), former commander of the Confederate privateer Retribution. Parker ordered Braine and his men to New York where they purchased side arms and boarded Chesapeake as passengers. At the appropriate moment they threw aside their disguises. and after a brief exchange of gunfire in which the second engineer was killed, took possession of the steamer. They intended to make for Wilmington after coaling in Nova Scotia. Captain Parker came on board in the Bay of Fundy and took charge. News of the capture elicited a quick response in the Navy Department. Ships from Philadelphia northward were ordered out in pursuit. On 17 December USS Ella and Annie, Acting Lieutenant J. Frederick Nickels, recaptured Chesapeake in Sambro Harbor, Nova Scotia. She was taken to Halifax where the Vice Admiralty Court ultimately restored the steamer to her original American owners. Most of the Confederates escaped and John Braine would again cause the Union much concern before the war ended.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox transmitted a list of ships reported to be running the blockade and urged Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee to prosecute the blockade even more vigorously. "While the captures are numerous, it is not the less evident that there are many that escape capture." Some ships would successfully run the blockade until the end of the war.
Major General John Gray Foster, from his headquarters at Tazewell, Tennessee, sent the following to the Federal War Department: “Longstreet is on a full retreat up the valley. Your orders about following with cavalry, shall be carried out. My division of cavalry attacked the enemy's cavalry in one of the passes of Clinch Mountains, yesterday P. M., and are pushing them vigorously. Couriers from Knoxville arrived last night. The road is clear. Sherman arrived here yesterday.”
President Abraham Lincoln issued the following recommendation for prayer and thanksgiving, for the defeat of the Rebels under General James Longstreet: “Reliable information having been received that the insurgent force is retreating from East-Tennessee, under circumstances rendering it probable that the Union forces cannot hereafter be dislodged from that important position, and esteeming this to be of high national consequence, I recommend that all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship, and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause.”
A debate on the question of the employment of substitutes in the Southern army was held in the Confederate Congress.
The steamer Von Phul, on a trip from New Orleans to St. Louis, was fired into at a point about eight miles above Bayou Sara, and seriously damaged.
Major General John A. Logan assumed command of the Fifteenth army corps, at Bridgeport, Alabama.
Full and enthusiastic meetings were held in various portions of Indiana. At the capital of the State, General Henry B. Carrington made a strategical speech, illustrated by maps and diagrams, showing how the Rebels could eventually be circumvented.
As the Constitution of the Confederate States of America was essentially the same document as the one used by the United States (with three significant and important modifications-like term limits, line item veto and banning the international slave trade) it was not surprising that many events, such as the opening of sessions of Congress, occurred at the same time. Such was the case today as legislative bodies were convened in both Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In Richmond, the report from the President was grim. Foreign relations had not improved, Jefferson Davis reported, which meant they basically did not exist. Finances were in dire straits, the prisoner-of-war exchange system remained in limbo, and the army had suffered “grave reverses”, but the level of patriotism remained high. In Washington, Navy Secretary Gideon Welles reported that the blockade was solid “...commencing at Alexandria, Virginia, and terminating at the Rio Grande.”
In his third annual report to the President, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote: "A blockade commencing at Alexandria, in Virginia, and terminating at the Rio Grande, has been effectively maintained. The extent of this blockade . . . . covers a distance of three thousand five hundred and forty-nine statute miles, with one hundred and eighty-nine harbor or pier openings or indentations, and much of the coast presents a double shore to be guarded . . . a naval force of more than one hundred vessels has been employed in patrolling the rivers, cutting off rebel supplies, and co-operating with the armies. . . . The distance thus traversed and patrolled by the gunboats on the Mississippi and its tributaries is 3,615 miles, and the sounds, bayous, rivers and inlets of the States upon the Atlantic and the Gulf, covering an extent of about 2,000 miles, have also been . . . watched with unceasing vigilance." Welles reported a naval strength of 34,000 sea-men and 588 ships displacing 467,967 tons, mounting 4,443 guns. More than 1,000 ships had been captured by alert blockaders, as the results of weakness at sea were driven home to the beleaguered South. The North's mighty force afloat had severed the Confederacy along the Mississippi and pierced ever deeper into her interior; amphibious assaults from the sea had driven her still further from her coasts; and the vise of the blockade clamped down more tightly on an already withering economy and military capability.
Steamer Chesapeake (formerly the Totten, a 460-ton wooden steamship built in 1853 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; rebuilt and renamed Chesapeake in 1857) of the New York and Portland Line, en route to Portland, Maine, was seized off Cape Cod by a group of 17 Confederate sympathizers led by John C. Braine. The bizarre undertaking had been planned at St. John, New Brunswick, by Captain John Parker (whose real name seems to have been Vernon G. Locke), former commander of the Confederate privateer Retribution. Parker ordered Braine and his men to New York where they purchased side arms and boarded Chesapeake as passengers. At the appropriate moment they threw aside their disguises. and after a brief exchange of gunfire in which the second engineer was killed, took possession of the steamer. They intended to make for Wilmington after coaling in Nova Scotia. Captain Parker came on board in the Bay of Fundy and took charge. News of the capture elicited a quick response in the Navy Department. Ships from Philadelphia northward were ordered out in pursuit. On 17 December USS Ella and Annie, Acting Lieutenant J. Frederick Nickels, recaptured Chesapeake in Sambro Harbor, Nova Scotia. She was taken to Halifax where the Vice Admiralty Court ultimately restored the steamer to her original American owners. Most of the Confederates escaped and John Braine would again cause the Union much concern before the war ended.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox transmitted a list of ships reported to be running the blockade and urged Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee to prosecute the blockade even more vigorously. "While the captures are numerous, it is not the less evident that there are many that escape capture." Some ships would successfully run the blockade until the end of the war.
Major General John Gray Foster, from his headquarters at Tazewell, Tennessee, sent the following to the Federal War Department: “Longstreet is on a full retreat up the valley. Your orders about following with cavalry, shall be carried out. My division of cavalry attacked the enemy's cavalry in one of the passes of Clinch Mountains, yesterday P. M., and are pushing them vigorously. Couriers from Knoxville arrived last night. The road is clear. Sherman arrived here yesterday.”
President Abraham Lincoln issued the following recommendation for prayer and thanksgiving, for the defeat of the Rebels under General James Longstreet: “Reliable information having been received that the insurgent force is retreating from East-Tennessee, under circumstances rendering it probable that the Union forces cannot hereafter be dislodged from that important position, and esteeming this to be of high national consequence, I recommend that all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship, and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause.”
A debate on the question of the employment of substitutes in the Southern army was held in the Confederate Congress.
The steamer Von Phul, on a trip from New Orleans to St. Louis, was fired into at a point about eight miles above Bayou Sara, and seriously damaged.
Major General John A. Logan assumed command of the Fifteenth army corps, at Bridgeport, Alabama.
Full and enthusiastic meetings were held in various portions of Indiana. At the capital of the State, General Henry B. Carrington made a strategical speech, illustrated by maps and diagrams, showing how the Rebels could eventually be circumvented.
This post was edited on 12/7/13 at 6:23 am
Posted on 12/7/13 at 9:35 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 8 Dec. 1863
It was Abraham Lincoln’s turn to offer a State of the Union address to his Congress today, as it had been Jefferson Davis’ duty to his yesterday. Lincoln’s message, needless to say, was considerably more upbeat than his Confederate counterpart’s had been. After the usual reports on foreign relations (good) and military matters besides the War (good, aside from some difficulties with Indians), he got to the heart of his message: a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconciliation. The key provisions of this were that anyone who had participated “...directly or by implication...” in the Rebellion against the Union could return to lawful citizenship simply by taking an oath of allegiance. Exceptions were military officers who had renounced their oaths to serve the Confederacy, high-ranking members of the CSA government, and anyone who had treated Union prisoners of war, black or white, in an “...other than lawful...” manner. President Lincoln, in his Message to Congress, also appended his Proclamation of Amnesty.
The disabled merchant steamer Henry Von Phul was shelled by a Confederate shore battery near Morganza, Louisiana. The USS Neosho, under Acting Ensign Edwin P. Brooks, and the USS Signal, Acting Ensign William P. Lee in charge, steamed up to defend the ship and silenced the battery. Union merchantmen were largely free from such attacks when convoyed by a warship.
A brisk cannonade between Fort Moultrie and Battery Gregg, in Charleston Harbor, was carried on this day. The firing on Fort Sumter was moderated.
In a speech before the Confederate Congress, this day, Mr. Henry Stuart Foote expressed great indignation at the course pursued by President Jefferson Davis. “When Pemberton dishonorably surrendered Vicksburg to the enemy, the President made him his companion, and carried him to General Bragg's army, when, as he rode along, soldiers were heard to say: ‘There goes the traitor who delivered us over at Vicksburg.’ The President never visited the army without doing it injury; never yet that it was not followed by disaster. He was instrumental in the Gettysburg affair. He instructed Bragg at Murfreesboro. He has opened Georgia to one hundred thousand of the enemy's troops, and laid South Carolina liable to destruction. I charge him with having almost ruined the country, and will meet his champion anywhere to discuss it. Would to God he would never visit the army again!”
Mr. Foote also referred to abuses in the commissary department. "A certain commissary-general, who was a curse to our country, is invested with authority to control the matter of subsistence. This monster, Northrop, has stealthily placed our government in the attitude charged by the enemy, and has attempted to starve the prisoners in our hands!"
"Meats were furnished the prisoners very irregularly, and in a meager manner. For twelve days the supply was inadequate, and for eight days they had none at all!"
“The commissary-general,” says Mr. Foote, “was a pepper-doctor down in Charleston, and looked like a vegetarian, and actually made an elaborate report to the Secretary of War, showing that for the subsistence of a human Yankee carcass vegetable diet was the most proper! For the honor of the country, this Northrop should be ejected at once.”
The following is an account of an affair that took place today, near Great Western Furnace, Stuart County, Tennessee, about twelve miles from Canton, Ky.: “The guerrilla, Colonel Martin, who lately robbed the citizens in that section of nearly all they possessed, passed through Golden Pond, Tenn., with his gang, taking horses, and plundering indiscriminately. The citizens of the neighborhood organized a squad of fifteen men, composed principally of the late Eighth Kentucky cavalry, headed by John Martin and F. M. Oakley, and started in pursuit of the guerrillas. They came upon them about midnight, in camp, eating a supper furnished them by one Dawsy Griffin. The citizens demanded a surrender, which was refused by the rebel leader, and the order was given by Martin to charge upon them, which was done in a handsome manner, resulting in a complete rout, and the capture of all their arms, horses, clothing, camp equipage, and two contrabands. Three of the rebels were killed on the spot.”
The United States House of Representatives unanimously passed a vote of thanks to General Hiram U. Grant and his army, and ordered that a medal be struck in his honor, in the name of the people of the United States. President Lincoln sent the subjoined congratulatory dispatch to Major General Grant: “Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, my more than thanks — my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all!” This was immediately published to the armies under the command of General Grant.
It was Abraham Lincoln’s turn to offer a State of the Union address to his Congress today, as it had been Jefferson Davis’ duty to his yesterday. Lincoln’s message, needless to say, was considerably more upbeat than his Confederate counterpart’s had been. After the usual reports on foreign relations (good) and military matters besides the War (good, aside from some difficulties with Indians), he got to the heart of his message: a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconciliation. The key provisions of this were that anyone who had participated “...directly or by implication...” in the Rebellion against the Union could return to lawful citizenship simply by taking an oath of allegiance. Exceptions were military officers who had renounced their oaths to serve the Confederacy, high-ranking members of the CSA government, and anyone who had treated Union prisoners of war, black or white, in an “...other than lawful...” manner. President Lincoln, in his Message to Congress, also appended his Proclamation of Amnesty.
The disabled merchant steamer Henry Von Phul was shelled by a Confederate shore battery near Morganza, Louisiana. The USS Neosho, under Acting Ensign Edwin P. Brooks, and the USS Signal, Acting Ensign William P. Lee in charge, steamed up to defend the ship and silenced the battery. Union merchantmen were largely free from such attacks when convoyed by a warship.
A brisk cannonade between Fort Moultrie and Battery Gregg, in Charleston Harbor, was carried on this day. The firing on Fort Sumter was moderated.
In a speech before the Confederate Congress, this day, Mr. Henry Stuart Foote expressed great indignation at the course pursued by President Jefferson Davis. “When Pemberton dishonorably surrendered Vicksburg to the enemy, the President made him his companion, and carried him to General Bragg's army, when, as he rode along, soldiers were heard to say: ‘There goes the traitor who delivered us over at Vicksburg.’ The President never visited the army without doing it injury; never yet that it was not followed by disaster. He was instrumental in the Gettysburg affair. He instructed Bragg at Murfreesboro. He has opened Georgia to one hundred thousand of the enemy's troops, and laid South Carolina liable to destruction. I charge him with having almost ruined the country, and will meet his champion anywhere to discuss it. Would to God he would never visit the army again!”
Mr. Foote also referred to abuses in the commissary department. "A certain commissary-general, who was a curse to our country, is invested with authority to control the matter of subsistence. This monster, Northrop, has stealthily placed our government in the attitude charged by the enemy, and has attempted to starve the prisoners in our hands!"
"Meats were furnished the prisoners very irregularly, and in a meager manner. For twelve days the supply was inadequate, and for eight days they had none at all!"
“The commissary-general,” says Mr. Foote, “was a pepper-doctor down in Charleston, and looked like a vegetarian, and actually made an elaborate report to the Secretary of War, showing that for the subsistence of a human Yankee carcass vegetable diet was the most proper! For the honor of the country, this Northrop should be ejected at once.”
The following is an account of an affair that took place today, near Great Western Furnace, Stuart County, Tennessee, about twelve miles from Canton, Ky.: “The guerrilla, Colonel Martin, who lately robbed the citizens in that section of nearly all they possessed, passed through Golden Pond, Tenn., with his gang, taking horses, and plundering indiscriminately. The citizens of the neighborhood organized a squad of fifteen men, composed principally of the late Eighth Kentucky cavalry, headed by John Martin and F. M. Oakley, and started in pursuit of the guerrillas. They came upon them about midnight, in camp, eating a supper furnished them by one Dawsy Griffin. The citizens demanded a surrender, which was refused by the rebel leader, and the order was given by Martin to charge upon them, which was done in a handsome manner, resulting in a complete rout, and the capture of all their arms, horses, clothing, camp equipage, and two contrabands. Three of the rebels were killed on the spot.”
The United States House of Representatives unanimously passed a vote of thanks to General Hiram U. Grant and his army, and ordered that a medal be struck in his honor, in the name of the people of the United States. President Lincoln sent the subjoined congratulatory dispatch to Major General Grant: “Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, my more than thanks — my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all!” This was immediately published to the armies under the command of General Grant.
Posted on 12/8/13 at 1:46 am to BadLeroyDawg
quote:
Northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee were the scenes of numerous skirmishes, probes, reconnaissances, and general nastiness today.
They were also very much pro-UNION. East, Tennnessee voted overwhelmingly to stay in the Union. When the 2nd Vote was scheduled the Governor of Tennessee (from Middle, TN) sent troops in to suppress the vote (even so we voted overwhelmingly UNION and followed that up with several attempts to secede from the state and join the Union proper -- when Knoxville fell the Union Army was not only treated as a liberating force but thrown a feast that amazed commanders (we begged to be given permission to fight). And before then, East, Tennesseans braved the crossing into Kentucky despite orders from Confederates they'd be shot on sight, many died simply trying to join the Union Army while many more fought from home or made it and joined the Union Army proper).
In Georgia, there were shenanigans as well including their Governor preparing two slates of electors (one for the confederacy and the other should the Union vote win -- that slate was prepared to vote for secession even if the Unionists won). Lincoln himself placed a priority on freeing Tennessee from Condfederates. My SOs grandfather, we are Appalachian after all, lived and died derisively calling democrats 'rebels' ad did his father because 'republicanism' here comes from that time period and is very different than the nouveau Deep South republicanism prevalent today.
The wide ranging bridge burning conspiracy is just one example of how the South was never unified and E.Tn, N. GA, and N. Ala resisted. LINK
Truth is the South was never unified.
Posted on 12/8/13 at 6:24 am to Prof
Good points and we all remember where Andrew Johnson called home. Unfortunately, Andy Jackson was a Democrat and Tennessee became largely Democrat Party in the population centers (as did most Southern States) during his term and after.
The North was actually less unified than the South, however, and Davis lamented the fact that Lincoln could impose martial law, suspend habeas corpus, parts of the First and Second Amendments as well as most of the Constitution when necessary to prosecute the invasion of the South, while he couldn't.
And remember that Missouri and Maryland both voted to secede and join the Confederacy, only to see the Federal Army prevent that by overthrowing the duly elected governments of those sovereign states.
Thanks for the reply.
The North was actually less unified than the South, however, and Davis lamented the fact that Lincoln could impose martial law, suspend habeas corpus, parts of the First and Second Amendments as well as most of the Constitution when necessary to prosecute the invasion of the South, while he couldn't.
And remember that Missouri and Maryland both voted to secede and join the Confederacy, only to see the Federal Army prevent that by overthrowing the duly elected governments of those sovereign states.
Thanks for the reply.
Posted on 12/9/13 at 3:13 am to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 9 December 1863
There was no question that racism was as rampant or more so in the North as it ever was in the slaveholding south, and that certainly included a great many members of the United States military. There were a few dedicated abolitionists like Robert Gould Shaw who were proud to command units of the United States Colored Troops, but many who found it mortifying. One of these latter was in command at Fort Jackson, Louisiana, downriver from New Orleans. His loathing for this posting was translated into cruel and abusive treatment of the black soldiers under his command. Today they decided that this was behavior up with which they would no longer put, and they rose in mutiny. Other white officers at the installation managed to halt the uprising before blood was shed. This was not the first mutiny to happen at Fort Jackson, but the last one was committed by Confederate troops after Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut bypassed them to take New Orleans.
The USS Circassian, under Acting Lieutenant Eaton, seized the blockade running British steamer Minna at sea east of Cape Romain, South Carolina. The steamer was carrying cargo including iron, hardware, and powder. In addition, Eaton reported, "she has also as cargo a propeller and shaft and other parts of a marine engine, perhaps intended for some Rebel ironclad."
President Abraham Lincoln granted a pardon exempting E. W. Gantt, of Arkansas, from the penalty of treason, which he incurred by accepting and exercising the office of Brigadier General in the service of the Rebels. The pardon also reinstated General Gantt in all his rights of property, excepting those relating to slaves.
The Marine Brigade, under the Command of General Ellet, and a portion of Colonel Gresham's command, returned to Natchez from an unsuccessful expedition going after the partisan Rebels under Wirt Adams, who had mounted a battery on Ellis's Cliff.
There was no question that racism was as rampant or more so in the North as it ever was in the slaveholding south, and that certainly included a great many members of the United States military. There were a few dedicated abolitionists like Robert Gould Shaw who were proud to command units of the United States Colored Troops, but many who found it mortifying. One of these latter was in command at Fort Jackson, Louisiana, downriver from New Orleans. His loathing for this posting was translated into cruel and abusive treatment of the black soldiers under his command. Today they decided that this was behavior up with which they would no longer put, and they rose in mutiny. Other white officers at the installation managed to halt the uprising before blood was shed. This was not the first mutiny to happen at Fort Jackson, but the last one was committed by Confederate troops after Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut bypassed them to take New Orleans.
The USS Circassian, under Acting Lieutenant Eaton, seized the blockade running British steamer Minna at sea east of Cape Romain, South Carolina. The steamer was carrying cargo including iron, hardware, and powder. In addition, Eaton reported, "she has also as cargo a propeller and shaft and other parts of a marine engine, perhaps intended for some Rebel ironclad."
President Abraham Lincoln granted a pardon exempting E. W. Gantt, of Arkansas, from the penalty of treason, which he incurred by accepting and exercising the office of Brigadier General in the service of the Rebels. The pardon also reinstated General Gantt in all his rights of property, excepting those relating to slaves.
The Marine Brigade, under the Command of General Ellet, and a portion of Colonel Gresham's command, returned to Natchez from an unsuccessful expedition going after the partisan Rebels under Wirt Adams, who had mounted a battery on Ellis's Cliff.
Posted on 12/9/13 at 7:47 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 10 Dec. 1863
In this day and age, when the President of the United States undergoes a mandatory physical once a year with the results widely reported in the public press, it is difficult to remember just how recently such candor about the Presidential person has developed. Even in the 1940’s a president could serve most of four terms and not have much of the public aware that he was confined to a wheelchair; in the 1860’s it was not difficult at all to hide an executive affliction from common knowledge. President Abraham Lincoln was becoming more active today, to the great relief of his family and staff. He had suffered for several weeks from an attack of varioloid. The symptoms and suffering were approximately those of adult measles or chickenpox, much worse than those of childhood particularly in the days before aspirin. The disease, in fact, was a mild form of smallpox.
Confederate troops burned the schooner Josephine Truxillo and the barge Stephany on Bayou Lacombe, Louisiana. The next day they burned the schooner Sarah Bladen and the barge Helana on Bayou Bonfouca, both in St. Tammany Parish.
Major General Hiram U. Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued the following congratulatory order to his army: “The General commanding takes this opportunity of returning his sincere thanks and congratulations to the brave armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio, the Tennessee, and their comrades from the Potomac, for the recent splendid and decisive successes achieved over the enemy. In a short time you have recovered from him the control of the Tennessee River from Bridgeport to Knoxville. You dislodged him from his great stronghold upon Lookout Mountain, drove him from Chattanooga Valley, wrested from his determined grasp the possession of Missionary Ridge, repelled with heavy loss to him his repeated assaults upon Knoxville, forcing him to raise the siege there, driving him at all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond the limits of the State. By your noble heroism and determined courage, you have most effectually defeated the plans of the enemy for regaining the possession of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. You have secured positions from which no rebellious power can drive or dislodge you. For all this the General commanding thanks you collectively and individually. The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you. Their hopes and prayers for your success against this unholy rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will yet go to other fields of strife; and with the invincible bravery and unflinching loyalty to justice and right, which have characterized you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can withstand you, and that no defenses, however formidable, can check your onward march.”
General Quincy Adams Gillmore again shelled Charleston, South Carolina, throwing a number of missiles into different parts of the city. The Rebel batteries opened fire, and a heavy bombardment ensued for several hours.
The steamers Ticonderoga, Ella, and Annie left Boston, Massachusetts, in pursuit of the Chesapeake.
The new volunteer fund of New York City reached seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
In this day and age, when the President of the United States undergoes a mandatory physical once a year with the results widely reported in the public press, it is difficult to remember just how recently such candor about the Presidential person has developed. Even in the 1940’s a president could serve most of four terms and not have much of the public aware that he was confined to a wheelchair; in the 1860’s it was not difficult at all to hide an executive affliction from common knowledge. President Abraham Lincoln was becoming more active today, to the great relief of his family and staff. He had suffered for several weeks from an attack of varioloid. The symptoms and suffering were approximately those of adult measles or chickenpox, much worse than those of childhood particularly in the days before aspirin. The disease, in fact, was a mild form of smallpox.
Confederate troops burned the schooner Josephine Truxillo and the barge Stephany on Bayou Lacombe, Louisiana. The next day they burned the schooner Sarah Bladen and the barge Helana on Bayou Bonfouca, both in St. Tammany Parish.
Major General Hiram U. Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued the following congratulatory order to his army: “The General commanding takes this opportunity of returning his sincere thanks and congratulations to the brave armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio, the Tennessee, and their comrades from the Potomac, for the recent splendid and decisive successes achieved over the enemy. In a short time you have recovered from him the control of the Tennessee River from Bridgeport to Knoxville. You dislodged him from his great stronghold upon Lookout Mountain, drove him from Chattanooga Valley, wrested from his determined grasp the possession of Missionary Ridge, repelled with heavy loss to him his repeated assaults upon Knoxville, forcing him to raise the siege there, driving him at all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond the limits of the State. By your noble heroism and determined courage, you have most effectually defeated the plans of the enemy for regaining the possession of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. You have secured positions from which no rebellious power can drive or dislodge you. For all this the General commanding thanks you collectively and individually. The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you. Their hopes and prayers for your success against this unholy rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will yet go to other fields of strife; and with the invincible bravery and unflinching loyalty to justice and right, which have characterized you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can withstand you, and that no defenses, however formidable, can check your onward march.”
General Quincy Adams Gillmore again shelled Charleston, South Carolina, throwing a number of missiles into different parts of the city. The Rebel batteries opened fire, and a heavy bombardment ensued for several hours.
The steamers Ticonderoga, Ella, and Annie left Boston, Massachusetts, in pursuit of the Chesapeake.
The new volunteer fund of New York City reached seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Posted on 12/10/13 at 8:39 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Friday, 11 December 1863
Those who had expected a quick Federal takeover of Charleston, South Carolina at this time of year four years ago, were quite astonished that four years later it still had not succeeded. While there were many reasons for this lapse, including flawed Federal attacks and sometimes-brilliant Confederate defenses, one of the major reasons was the presence of Fort Sumter as a Southern stronghold in Charleston Harbor. The ongoing project of the moment was to pound it with sufficient artillery fire as to reduce it back to the sand from whence it came. Today was one of the rare occasions on which some of the defenders were harmed: one of the 200-plus shells fired at the battered old hulk hit a Confederate ammunition magazine. An immense explosion ensued which killed 11 Confederate soldiers and wounded another 41. Still, no hint of surrender was given, and the shelling was concluded for the year.
Confederate troops fired on USS Indianola in the Mississippi in an attempt to destroy her, but the effective counter fire of USS Carondelet, under Acting Maser James C. Gipson, drove them off. The Union Navy was exerting great effort to get Indianola off the bar on which she had sunk in February, and on 23 November Gipson had written Rear Admiral Porter: "I will do all that lies in my power to protect her from destruction."
Major General D. H. Maury, CSA, wrote of reports that had reached him of a Union naval attack on Mobile "at an early day." Maury prophetically stated that "I expect the fleet to succeed in running past the outer forts," but he added, I shall do all I can to prevent it, and to hold the forts as long as possible."
The annual report of the Confederate Secretary of War was made public. He refers to the operations of the army in its several departments, and says that the campaign in Mississippi was certainly disastrous. It is difficult to resist the impression that its disasters were not inevitable. That a court of inquiry, to investigate the whole campaign, met in Atlanta in September, but in consequence of the vicinity of the enemy, requiring the presence of witnesses and judges at other points, it has been temporarily suspended. It is expected soon to reassemble. A deficiency of resource in men and provisions, rather than reverses in battle, caused the withdrawal of the army to Middle Tennessee. He alludes to desertion, straggling, and absenteeism, and says that the effective force of the army is but little over half or two thirds of the men whose names are on the muster-rolls. He recommends the repeal of the substitute and exemption provisions, and that all having substitutes be put back into the field, and that the privileges which Congress granted to put in substitutes can be regularly and constitutionally abrogated by the same power. He says that no compact was entered into between the government and the person furnishing a substitute, as has been alleged, but only a privilege which government accorded. Instead of complaining of such abrogation, the person ought to feel gratified at what has heretofore been allowed him. He recommends an abridgment of exemptions and the conscription of them all, making details according to the wants of society at home. He says that the three years men, when their terms expire, cannot be finally discharged, and should be retained, allowing them to choose the existing company under its present organization in the same arm of the service. He recommends the consolidation of such companies and regiments as are reduced below a certain complement. He pays a glowing tribute to the heroism, endurance, and unfaltering devotion of the soldier, and of the lamented dead who yielded their lives as sacrifices upon the altar of liberty, and closes by saying that our very reverses, showing a united and determined endurance of every thing for independence, must convince the enemy of the futility of his efforts to subdue us.
The steamboat Brazil, while passing below Rodney, Mississippi, was fired upon by the partisan Rebel guerillas on shore. Three women and one man were killed.
Robert Ould, the Confederate Commissioner of Exchange, addressed the following official letter to Brigadier General Sullivan Amory Meredith, the agent of the Federal Government: “As the assent of the Confederate government to the transmission, by your authorities and people, of food and clothing to the prisoners at Richmond and elsewhere, has been the subject of so much misconstruction and misrepresentation, and has been made the occasion of so much vilification and abuse, I am directed to inform you that no more will be allowed to be delivered at City Point. The clothing and provisions already received will be devoted to the use of your prisoners. When that supply is exhausted, they will receive the same rations as our soldiers in the field.”
Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, in obedience to orders from the War Department, resigned the command of the Army of the Ohio to Major General John G. Foster.
The Confederate government salt-works on West-Bay, Florida, were destroyed by an expedition from the United States armed vessels Restless and Bloomer. The government works were three quarters of a mile square, and one hundred and ninety-nine salt-works belonging to companies and private individuals, with five hundred and seven boilers, kettles, and corresponding equipment, the whole worth three millions of dollars.
Those who had expected a quick Federal takeover of Charleston, South Carolina at this time of year four years ago, were quite astonished that four years later it still had not succeeded. While there were many reasons for this lapse, including flawed Federal attacks and sometimes-brilliant Confederate defenses, one of the major reasons was the presence of Fort Sumter as a Southern stronghold in Charleston Harbor. The ongoing project of the moment was to pound it with sufficient artillery fire as to reduce it back to the sand from whence it came. Today was one of the rare occasions on which some of the defenders were harmed: one of the 200-plus shells fired at the battered old hulk hit a Confederate ammunition magazine. An immense explosion ensued which killed 11 Confederate soldiers and wounded another 41. Still, no hint of surrender was given, and the shelling was concluded for the year.
Confederate troops fired on USS Indianola in the Mississippi in an attempt to destroy her, but the effective counter fire of USS Carondelet, under Acting Maser James C. Gipson, drove them off. The Union Navy was exerting great effort to get Indianola off the bar on which she had sunk in February, and on 23 November Gipson had written Rear Admiral Porter: "I will do all that lies in my power to protect her from destruction."
Major General D. H. Maury, CSA, wrote of reports that had reached him of a Union naval attack on Mobile "at an early day." Maury prophetically stated that "I expect the fleet to succeed in running past the outer forts," but he added, I shall do all I can to prevent it, and to hold the forts as long as possible."
The annual report of the Confederate Secretary of War was made public. He refers to the operations of the army in its several departments, and says that the campaign in Mississippi was certainly disastrous. It is difficult to resist the impression that its disasters were not inevitable. That a court of inquiry, to investigate the whole campaign, met in Atlanta in September, but in consequence of the vicinity of the enemy, requiring the presence of witnesses and judges at other points, it has been temporarily suspended. It is expected soon to reassemble. A deficiency of resource in men and provisions, rather than reverses in battle, caused the withdrawal of the army to Middle Tennessee. He alludes to desertion, straggling, and absenteeism, and says that the effective force of the army is but little over half or two thirds of the men whose names are on the muster-rolls. He recommends the repeal of the substitute and exemption provisions, and that all having substitutes be put back into the field, and that the privileges which Congress granted to put in substitutes can be regularly and constitutionally abrogated by the same power. He says that no compact was entered into between the government and the person furnishing a substitute, as has been alleged, but only a privilege which government accorded. Instead of complaining of such abrogation, the person ought to feel gratified at what has heretofore been allowed him. He recommends an abridgment of exemptions and the conscription of them all, making details according to the wants of society at home. He says that the three years men, when their terms expire, cannot be finally discharged, and should be retained, allowing them to choose the existing company under its present organization in the same arm of the service. He recommends the consolidation of such companies and regiments as are reduced below a certain complement. He pays a glowing tribute to the heroism, endurance, and unfaltering devotion of the soldier, and of the lamented dead who yielded their lives as sacrifices upon the altar of liberty, and closes by saying that our very reverses, showing a united and determined endurance of every thing for independence, must convince the enemy of the futility of his efforts to subdue us.
The steamboat Brazil, while passing below Rodney, Mississippi, was fired upon by the partisan Rebel guerillas on shore. Three women and one man were killed.
Robert Ould, the Confederate Commissioner of Exchange, addressed the following official letter to Brigadier General Sullivan Amory Meredith, the agent of the Federal Government: “As the assent of the Confederate government to the transmission, by your authorities and people, of food and clothing to the prisoners at Richmond and elsewhere, has been the subject of so much misconstruction and misrepresentation, and has been made the occasion of so much vilification and abuse, I am directed to inform you that no more will be allowed to be delivered at City Point. The clothing and provisions already received will be devoted to the use of your prisoners. When that supply is exhausted, they will receive the same rations as our soldiers in the field.”
Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, in obedience to orders from the War Department, resigned the command of the Army of the Ohio to Major General John G. Foster.
The Confederate government salt-works on West-Bay, Florida, were destroyed by an expedition from the United States armed vessels Restless and Bloomer. The government works were three quarters of a mile square, and one hundred and ninety-nine salt-works belonging to companies and private individuals, with five hundred and seven boilers, kettles, and corresponding equipment, the whole worth three millions of dollars.
Posted on 12/11/13 at 7:57 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 12 December 1863
Smoke still rose this morning from the charred wood that until yesterday had been a large salt works in St. Andrew’s Bay, Florida. Acting Master W.R. Browne of the USS Restless, along with two other ships, had found the outpost and launched an attack on it. Artillery fire hit one of the houses of the workers, and wind had spread the flames until nearly the whole compound was incinerated. Brown wrote in his report, “It was in fact a complete village...employing many hands and 16 ox and mule teams constantly to haul salt to Eufaula Sound and from thence conveyed to Montgomery, at which place it is selling at fabulous prices--$40 and $50 per bushel.” The operation included 22 large steam boilers and 300 kettles averaging 200 gallons each, used to evaporate sea water to harvest the salt. The 2000 bushels found were returned to the sea from whence they had come.
General Eliakim Parker Scammon attacked General John Echols at Lewisburg, West Virginia, routing him effectually, killing and wounding quite a number of the Rebels, and capturing many prisoners. This report was filed under General Benjamin Franklin Kelley's dispatch.
Smoke still rose this morning from the charred wood that until yesterday had been a large salt works in St. Andrew’s Bay, Florida. Acting Master W.R. Browne of the USS Restless, along with two other ships, had found the outpost and launched an attack on it. Artillery fire hit one of the houses of the workers, and wind had spread the flames until nearly the whole compound was incinerated. Brown wrote in his report, “It was in fact a complete village...employing many hands and 16 ox and mule teams constantly to haul salt to Eufaula Sound and from thence conveyed to Montgomery, at which place it is selling at fabulous prices--$40 and $50 per bushel.” The operation included 22 large steam boilers and 300 kettles averaging 200 gallons each, used to evaporate sea water to harvest the salt. The 2000 bushels found were returned to the sea from whence they had come.
General Eliakim Parker Scammon attacked General John Echols at Lewisburg, West Virginia, routing him effectually, killing and wounding quite a number of the Rebels, and capturing many prisoners. This report was filed under General Benjamin Franklin Kelley's dispatch.
Posted on 12/12/13 at 8:43 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 13 December 1863
This time of year most armies were in winter camp or heading for them. This did not, however, mean that complete peace prevailed upon the land. Actions happened at Hurricane Bridge in West Virginia; on Powell’s River near Stickleyville in Virginia, along with others at Strasburg and Germantown there. Ringgold, Georgia, saw some action as General James Longstreet’s Corps continued moving for winter camp, and just plain old random fights occurred at Meriwether’s Ferry on Bayou Boeuf, Arkansas.
What should have been a routine family visit in Washington, D.C., was complicated by great hostility, although no gunfire: Mary Todd Lincoln received her sister for a visit at the White House. The complicating factor was that her sister-actually half-sister-Emilie Todd Helm, was the widow of General Benjamin Hardin Helm, officer in the Confederate States of America Army of Tennessee.
In January 1863, Helm was given command of the First Kentucky Brigade, commonly known as the "Orphan Brigade"; since Kentucky never left the Union, these men were considered "orphans" because they could not return to their home state. There were actually demands that Mrs. Helm swear the loyalty oath before being allowed to visit her relatives. When protests were lodged against a "Rebel" being in the White House, the President replied, “Mrs. Lincoln and I will allow anyone we choose to visit us in the White House.”
At 9:30 am on September 20, 1863, the divisions of Generals John C. Breckinridge and Patrick Cleburne were ordered to move forward. Helm's brigade and the others in Breckinridge's division drove hard into the Federals' left. General Cleburne's division, which was intended to strike near the center of the line, was delayed by heavy fire from Union soldiers, leaving the left flank unguarded. Repeated attempts to overwhelm the Federals were in vain, though some of Helm's Kentuckians managed to reach within about 39 yards of the Federal line.
In less than an hour of the order given to advance, fully one third of the Orphan Brigade had been lost. The remainder of Helm's men clashed with the well-fortified Union line. A sharpshooter from the 15th Kentucky Union Infantry shot Helm in the chest. Bleeding profusely, he remained in the saddle a few moments before toppling to the ground. Helm was carried off the battlefield and surgeons immediately realized his wounds were fatal. Helm clung to life for several hours. Knowing that his health was deteriorating, he asked who had won the battle. When assured that the Confederates had carried the day, he muttered: "Victory!, Victory!, Victory!". On September 21, 1863, General Helm succumbed to his wounds.
Major General Hiram U. Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued general orders concerning the property of secessionists in his department. Corps commanders were directed to immediately seize, or cause to be seized, all county records and documents showing titles and claims to property within the revolted States, in their respective districts, and to hold the same until they could be delivered to an authorized tax commissioner of the United States. No regard for the Constitution and Bill of Rights' Fourth and Fifth Amendments was considered.
This time of year most armies were in winter camp or heading for them. This did not, however, mean that complete peace prevailed upon the land. Actions happened at Hurricane Bridge in West Virginia; on Powell’s River near Stickleyville in Virginia, along with others at Strasburg and Germantown there. Ringgold, Georgia, saw some action as General James Longstreet’s Corps continued moving for winter camp, and just plain old random fights occurred at Meriwether’s Ferry on Bayou Boeuf, Arkansas.
What should have been a routine family visit in Washington, D.C., was complicated by great hostility, although no gunfire: Mary Todd Lincoln received her sister for a visit at the White House. The complicating factor was that her sister-actually half-sister-Emilie Todd Helm, was the widow of General Benjamin Hardin Helm, officer in the Confederate States of America Army of Tennessee.
In January 1863, Helm was given command of the First Kentucky Brigade, commonly known as the "Orphan Brigade"; since Kentucky never left the Union, these men were considered "orphans" because they could not return to their home state. There were actually demands that Mrs. Helm swear the loyalty oath before being allowed to visit her relatives. When protests were lodged against a "Rebel" being in the White House, the President replied, “Mrs. Lincoln and I will allow anyone we choose to visit us in the White House.”
At 9:30 am on September 20, 1863, the divisions of Generals John C. Breckinridge and Patrick Cleburne were ordered to move forward. Helm's brigade and the others in Breckinridge's division drove hard into the Federals' left. General Cleburne's division, which was intended to strike near the center of the line, was delayed by heavy fire from Union soldiers, leaving the left flank unguarded. Repeated attempts to overwhelm the Federals were in vain, though some of Helm's Kentuckians managed to reach within about 39 yards of the Federal line.
In less than an hour of the order given to advance, fully one third of the Orphan Brigade had been lost. The remainder of Helm's men clashed with the well-fortified Union line. A sharpshooter from the 15th Kentucky Union Infantry shot Helm in the chest. Bleeding profusely, he remained in the saddle a few moments before toppling to the ground. Helm was carried off the battlefield and surgeons immediately realized his wounds were fatal. Helm clung to life for several hours. Knowing that his health was deteriorating, he asked who had won the battle. When assured that the Confederates had carried the day, he muttered: "Victory!, Victory!, Victory!". On September 21, 1863, General Helm succumbed to his wounds.
Major General Hiram U. Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, issued general orders concerning the property of secessionists in his department. Corps commanders were directed to immediately seize, or cause to be seized, all county records and documents showing titles and claims to property within the revolted States, in their respective districts, and to hold the same until they could be delivered to an authorized tax commissioner of the United States. No regard for the Constitution and Bill of Rights' Fourth and Fifth Amendments was considered.
Posted on 12/13/13 at 9:12 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 14 December 1863
A year after Commanding General Robert E. Lee had breathed his famous wish at Fredericksburg--”I wish these people would go away and leave us alone”--General James Longstreet had to be thinking precisely the same thing. He had withdrawn from the gates of Knoxville after the failure of his last assault in East Tennessee, and now he wanted nothing more than to get his battered, ill-supplied corps to a winter camp where they could rest and rebuild their strength. The problem was getting there. He was set upon today by the forces of Union General James M. Shackelford in a battle at Bean’s Station, Tennessee, and it turned into quite a sharp fight. As the weak winter sun sank into evening, the Confederates had driven Shackelford’s men back some distance but had not broken them. Everyone settled down for an uneasy night.
General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered Lieutenant Dixon, CSA, to proceed with the submarine H. L. Hunley to the mouth of Charleston Harbor and "...sink and destroy any vessel of the enemy with which he can come in conflict." The General directed that "...such assistance- as may he practicable..." he rendered to Lieutenant Dixon.
Between two and three o'clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tennessee, on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the Confederates succeeded in driving the Federals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and his command; and a heavy force of Rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly's Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the program was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The Rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect.
The United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida.
Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.
Colonel Watkins, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from a cavalry reconnaissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a Confederate signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the force of Rebels retreated.
An expedition sent out by General Wistar from Yorktown to Charles City CourtnHouse, Virginia, under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburg, Virginia, having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.
A year after Commanding General Robert E. Lee had breathed his famous wish at Fredericksburg--”I wish these people would go away and leave us alone”--General James Longstreet had to be thinking precisely the same thing. He had withdrawn from the gates of Knoxville after the failure of his last assault in East Tennessee, and now he wanted nothing more than to get his battered, ill-supplied corps to a winter camp where they could rest and rebuild their strength. The problem was getting there. He was set upon today by the forces of Union General James M. Shackelford in a battle at Bean’s Station, Tennessee, and it turned into quite a sharp fight. As the weak winter sun sank into evening, the Confederates had driven Shackelford’s men back some distance but had not broken them. Everyone settled down for an uneasy night.
General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered Lieutenant Dixon, CSA, to proceed with the submarine H. L. Hunley to the mouth of Charleston Harbor and "...sink and destroy any vessel of the enemy with which he can come in conflict." The General directed that "...such assistance- as may he practicable..." he rendered to Lieutenant Dixon.
Between two and three o'clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tennessee, on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the Confederates succeeded in driving the Federals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and his command; and a heavy force of Rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly's Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the program was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The Rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect.
The United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida.
Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.
Colonel Watkins, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from a cavalry reconnaissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a Confederate signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the force of Rebels retreated.
An expedition sent out by General Wistar from Yorktown to Charles City CourtnHouse, Virginia, under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburg, Virginia, having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.
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