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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 9/9/13 at 4:02 am to reedus23
Posted on 9/9/13 at 4:02 am to reedus23
Wednesday, 9 September 1863
General Braxton Bragg, CSA, commander of the Army of Tennessee, had defended his state from General William Rosecrans’ Federal Army of the Cumberland mostly by advancing to the rear. He had retreated so efficiently that he was now in Chattanooga, almost backing into Georgia. Despite Chattanooga’s superb geography for a defensive battle, Bragg abruptly abandoned the city to its fate this morning for fear that Rosecrans was circling to his rear and would cut him off from any escape. General James Longstreet had been detached from the Army of Northern Virginia to come to Bragg’s aid. Thanks to Bragg’s retreat from Knoxville, which had cost the Confederacy a valuable railroad center, Longstreet and his men had to take a more roundabout route through North Carolina and Atlanta to get there. They would not arrive for ten more days, and even then some of their luggage (guns) got lost along the way.
Rear Admiral John Dahlgren mounted a boat attack on Fort Sumter late at night. Commander Stevens led the assault, comprising more than thirty boats and some 400 sailors and Marines. The Confederates, appraised in advance of the Union's intentions because they had recovered a key to the Northern signal code from the wreck of the USS Keokuk, waited until the boats were nearly ashore before opening a heavy fire and using hand grenades. The CSS Chicora contributed a sweeping, enfilading fire. Dahlgren noted that "...Moultrie fired like the devil, the shells breaking around us and screaming in chorus." The attack was brutally repulsed by the Southerners, and more than 100 men were captured. For the next several weeks, with the Yankees licking their wounds, a period of relative quiet at Charleston prevailed.
Union Colonel Cloud, with his ten thousand plus man division, belonging to the army of General Blunt, attacked a body of less than one thousand Confederates at Dardanelle, Arkansas, and defeated them, capturing their entire camp and a large amount of stores.
Lieutenant Colonel Hays, with companies A, B, H, and parts of E and F, of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry clashed with the Confederate-aligned Thomas' Legion just east of the depot near Telford, Tennessee, ninety-three miles up the railroad. The Confederate force was supported by 4-Howitzer artillery units, commanded by General Alfred "Mudwall" Jackson. The Union troops, losing heavily in killed and wounded, were finally compelled to surrender to the overpowering Southerners. Federal loss by the affair was about three hundred, killed, wounded, and prisoners, of which an undue proportion were commissioned officers.
Chat Discussion
General Braxton Bragg, CSA, commander of the Army of Tennessee, had defended his state from General William Rosecrans’ Federal Army of the Cumberland mostly by advancing to the rear. He had retreated so efficiently that he was now in Chattanooga, almost backing into Georgia. Despite Chattanooga’s superb geography for a defensive battle, Bragg abruptly abandoned the city to its fate this morning for fear that Rosecrans was circling to his rear and would cut him off from any escape. General James Longstreet had been detached from the Army of Northern Virginia to come to Bragg’s aid. Thanks to Bragg’s retreat from Knoxville, which had cost the Confederacy a valuable railroad center, Longstreet and his men had to take a more roundabout route through North Carolina and Atlanta to get there. They would not arrive for ten more days, and even then some of their luggage (guns) got lost along the way.
Rear Admiral John Dahlgren mounted a boat attack on Fort Sumter late at night. Commander Stevens led the assault, comprising more than thirty boats and some 400 sailors and Marines. The Confederates, appraised in advance of the Union's intentions because they had recovered a key to the Northern signal code from the wreck of the USS Keokuk, waited until the boats were nearly ashore before opening a heavy fire and using hand grenades. The CSS Chicora contributed a sweeping, enfilading fire. Dahlgren noted that "...Moultrie fired like the devil, the shells breaking around us and screaming in chorus." The attack was brutally repulsed by the Southerners, and more than 100 men were captured. For the next several weeks, with the Yankees licking their wounds, a period of relative quiet at Charleston prevailed.
Union Colonel Cloud, with his ten thousand plus man division, belonging to the army of General Blunt, attacked a body of less than one thousand Confederates at Dardanelle, Arkansas, and defeated them, capturing their entire camp and a large amount of stores.
Lieutenant Colonel Hays, with companies A, B, H, and parts of E and F, of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry clashed with the Confederate-aligned Thomas' Legion just east of the depot near Telford, Tennessee, ninety-three miles up the railroad. The Confederate force was supported by 4-Howitzer artillery units, commanded by General Alfred "Mudwall" Jackson. The Union troops, losing heavily in killed and wounded, were finally compelled to surrender to the overpowering Southerners. Federal loss by the affair was about three hundred, killed, wounded, and prisoners, of which an undue proportion were commissioned officers.
Chat Discussion
1
Posted on 9/10/13 at 4:17 am to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 10 September 1863
These were tough days to be in the newspaper business in Raleigh, North Carolina. The editor of the Raleigh Standard had been printing editorials advocating peace and rejoining the Union, a stand which so angered Confederate troops, belonging to General Benning's Confederate brigade, that they went to the office and tore it apart. Governor Zebulon Vance spoke imperturbably to them and they dispersed without burning the building. Then a a crowd of citizens “gathered and rushed upon the office of the State Journal, in the same place, and totally destroyed the furniture and printing materials...” since they were so vexed with the Journal for having an editor who was just as rabid in his editorials, even if they were pro-secessionist. Governor Vance was obliged to come out and speak soothingly again.
Farther west, Confederate troops evacuated from Little Rock, Arkansas. As Little Rock was falling to Major General Frederick Steele, the USS Hastings, under Lieutenant Commander S.L. Phelps, arrived at Devall's Bluff on the White River to support the land action. Though the river was falling rapidly, Phelps advised the General: "I shall be glad to be of service to you in every way possible." Phelps added that he would have gone over to Little Rock to congratulate Steele if he "could have obtained conveyance...Horseback riding," he wrote dryly, "for such a distance is rather too much for the uninitiated." A week later Phelps reported to Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter: "I have been up this river 150 miles, where we found a bar over which we could not pass. Numerous bodies of men cut off from General Price's army [after the fall of Little Rock to Steele] were fleeing across White River to the eastward. We captured three Rebel soldiers, two cavalry horses and equipments, and brought down a number of escaped conscripts, who have come to enlist in our army." This type of naval operation far into the Confederate interior continued to facilitate shore operations.
Major General S. A. Hurlbut, from his headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee, issued general orders causing reprisals to be made for all Rebel outrages committed within his lines, by levying assessments upon the wealthiest and most notorious sympathizers with the rebellion, adding fifty per cent to the amount of damages proven.
Major General James G. Blunt, from his headquarters at Fort Smith, issued the following address to the people of Arkansas: The flag that two and a half years ago was struck, when a weak garrison of United States troops were compelled to abandon this post, before a superior number of maddened and infuriated men, who had resolved upon the overthrow of the best Government upon earth, now floats in triumph over Fort Smith. In reply to the many inquiries made, ‘Is the occupation of this post by Federal troops to be permanent?’ I answer yes. The flag that floats from yonder staff, shall continue to wave its folds to the breeze, never again to be desecrated by treason's foul pollution. The whole of the Indian Territories and Western Arkansas are now in my possession, and under my control. All the rebel hordes, except a few guerrillas, have been driven beyond the Red River. The most obnoxious of the rebel citizens have followed the army with their families to seek the ‘last ditch.’ It is for you, who have chosen to remain at your homes, to elect whether you will have peace or war. From the unfeigned joy manifested by thousands of your citizens upon the occupation of this city and the neighboring city of Van Buren — from the reports of delegations who have visited me from over one hundred miles in the interior, south of the Arkansas River, as also from the fact that hundreds of true men have come from the mountains to swell the Union ranks in the last few days, and still continue to come from whither they have been driven and hunted like beasts of prey by confederate soldiers — gives assurance that the love and attachment for the Union is not yet extinct in Western Arkansas. Moreover, the bleached and crumbling bones of hundreds of Arkansians who, in this locality, have recently been hung upon the gibbet, by a fiendish and merciless crew of confederate murderers, for no other reason than that they loved the old flag, and would not bow their necks to the behests of treason, is evidence that they were true and devoted heroes, worthy a better fate. Many applications have been made by citizens for safeguards. None will be issued. The best safeguard you can have is the American flag suspended over your premises, and to deport yourselves as becomes good and loyal citizens. Your conduct must be your safeguard. If it shall be your desire to disenthral yourselves from the tyranny and oppression to which you have been subjected, and organize a civil government, under the auspices of the United States authority, every facility will be afforded you to accomplish this purpose. I leave the matter with you, trusting that wise counsels may prevail.
The Eleventh regiment of Kentucky mounted infantry, commanded by Colonel Love, in pursuit of the Confederate guerrillas under Colonel O. P. Hamilton, overtook them at Brimstone Creek, Tennessee, where a brisk skirmish occurred, the guerrillas mounting their horses and making off. Hamilton, who was recognized, rode boldly up to within one hundred and fifty yards of the Union advance, and delivered his fire, then turned and dashed into the bush. He was followed by a volley and retreated to the hills. The morning report of their Adjutant was captured, showing four hundred and eighty men for duty. Four of the guerrillas were killed and found in the brush. Two prisoners were taken, who acknowledged that seven were wounded. The Rebels, who had guerrillas in the hills assisting them, so completely blockaded the road by felling trees, that it was found impossible to pursue them. Colonel Love withdrew, and under orders from Colonel Harney, halted at Ray's Cross Roads.
The following proclamation was found posted on a tree at Tompkinsville, given literally: head Qrs Hamiltons battalion Tomkinsville Ky Sept. 7 1868 I Now Give Notice to Citizens and Soldiers to all Concerned that the principle of Burning and Pilaging must be Stopt as I am ordered to retaliate in Every respect Let us fight and not make war on the Women and Children I am Roundly opposed to Burning and Plundering But I am Compelled to Retaliate tharefore I am Desireous that the Burning and Pilaging may be stopt if it Does not Stop I will Certainly Retaliate I will Certainly Regard Citizens if the Citizens of the South is Regarded. I am your Humble Servt O. P. Hamilton Col. Comdg The Cavalry!
Mathew F. Maury addressed a letter to the London Times, on the reports and war plans of the Federal Government.
A fight occurred at Ringgold, Georgia, between the Federal forces under Colonel Wilder and General Van Cleve, and a portion of the Confederate army which was retreating from Chattanooga, resulting in the expulsion of the latter from the town, with a loss of three killed and eighteen taken prisoners. The Union loss was three men wounded of the Ninety-third Illinois regiment.
Major General William Rosecrans entered Chattanooga.
B. H. Richardson and his son, Frank A. Richardson, and Stephen J. Joyce, proprietors of the Baltimore, Maryland, Republican, were today arrested by order of General Schenck, for publishing in their paper of yesterday evening a piece of poetry entitled the “Southern Cross.” The three were sent across our lines this morning. The proprietors of the Republican were frequently warned by the authorities against the publication of disloyal sentiments in their paper.
Chat Discussion
These were tough days to be in the newspaper business in Raleigh, North Carolina. The editor of the Raleigh Standard had been printing editorials advocating peace and rejoining the Union, a stand which so angered Confederate troops, belonging to General Benning's Confederate brigade, that they went to the office and tore it apart. Governor Zebulon Vance spoke imperturbably to them and they dispersed without burning the building. Then a a crowd of citizens “gathered and rushed upon the office of the State Journal, in the same place, and totally destroyed the furniture and printing materials...” since they were so vexed with the Journal for having an editor who was just as rabid in his editorials, even if they were pro-secessionist. Governor Vance was obliged to come out and speak soothingly again.
Farther west, Confederate troops evacuated from Little Rock, Arkansas. As Little Rock was falling to Major General Frederick Steele, the USS Hastings, under Lieutenant Commander S.L. Phelps, arrived at Devall's Bluff on the White River to support the land action. Though the river was falling rapidly, Phelps advised the General: "I shall be glad to be of service to you in every way possible." Phelps added that he would have gone over to Little Rock to congratulate Steele if he "could have obtained conveyance...Horseback riding," he wrote dryly, "for such a distance is rather too much for the uninitiated." A week later Phelps reported to Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter: "I have been up this river 150 miles, where we found a bar over which we could not pass. Numerous bodies of men cut off from General Price's army [after the fall of Little Rock to Steele] were fleeing across White River to the eastward. We captured three Rebel soldiers, two cavalry horses and equipments, and brought down a number of escaped conscripts, who have come to enlist in our army." This type of naval operation far into the Confederate interior continued to facilitate shore operations.
Major General S. A. Hurlbut, from his headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee, issued general orders causing reprisals to be made for all Rebel outrages committed within his lines, by levying assessments upon the wealthiest and most notorious sympathizers with the rebellion, adding fifty per cent to the amount of damages proven.
Major General James G. Blunt, from his headquarters at Fort Smith, issued the following address to the people of Arkansas: The flag that two and a half years ago was struck, when a weak garrison of United States troops were compelled to abandon this post, before a superior number of maddened and infuriated men, who had resolved upon the overthrow of the best Government upon earth, now floats in triumph over Fort Smith. In reply to the many inquiries made, ‘Is the occupation of this post by Federal troops to be permanent?’ I answer yes. The flag that floats from yonder staff, shall continue to wave its folds to the breeze, never again to be desecrated by treason's foul pollution. The whole of the Indian Territories and Western Arkansas are now in my possession, and under my control. All the rebel hordes, except a few guerrillas, have been driven beyond the Red River. The most obnoxious of the rebel citizens have followed the army with their families to seek the ‘last ditch.’ It is for you, who have chosen to remain at your homes, to elect whether you will have peace or war. From the unfeigned joy manifested by thousands of your citizens upon the occupation of this city and the neighboring city of Van Buren — from the reports of delegations who have visited me from over one hundred miles in the interior, south of the Arkansas River, as also from the fact that hundreds of true men have come from the mountains to swell the Union ranks in the last few days, and still continue to come from whither they have been driven and hunted like beasts of prey by confederate soldiers — gives assurance that the love and attachment for the Union is not yet extinct in Western Arkansas. Moreover, the bleached and crumbling bones of hundreds of Arkansians who, in this locality, have recently been hung upon the gibbet, by a fiendish and merciless crew of confederate murderers, for no other reason than that they loved the old flag, and would not bow their necks to the behests of treason, is evidence that they were true and devoted heroes, worthy a better fate. Many applications have been made by citizens for safeguards. None will be issued. The best safeguard you can have is the American flag suspended over your premises, and to deport yourselves as becomes good and loyal citizens. Your conduct must be your safeguard. If it shall be your desire to disenthral yourselves from the tyranny and oppression to which you have been subjected, and organize a civil government, under the auspices of the United States authority, every facility will be afforded you to accomplish this purpose. I leave the matter with you, trusting that wise counsels may prevail.
The Eleventh regiment of Kentucky mounted infantry, commanded by Colonel Love, in pursuit of the Confederate guerrillas under Colonel O. P. Hamilton, overtook them at Brimstone Creek, Tennessee, where a brisk skirmish occurred, the guerrillas mounting their horses and making off. Hamilton, who was recognized, rode boldly up to within one hundred and fifty yards of the Union advance, and delivered his fire, then turned and dashed into the bush. He was followed by a volley and retreated to the hills. The morning report of their Adjutant was captured, showing four hundred and eighty men for duty. Four of the guerrillas were killed and found in the brush. Two prisoners were taken, who acknowledged that seven were wounded. The Rebels, who had guerrillas in the hills assisting them, so completely blockaded the road by felling trees, that it was found impossible to pursue them. Colonel Love withdrew, and under orders from Colonel Harney, halted at Ray's Cross Roads.
The following proclamation was found posted on a tree at Tompkinsville, given literally: head Qrs Hamiltons battalion Tomkinsville Ky Sept. 7 1868 I Now Give Notice to Citizens and Soldiers to all Concerned that the principle of Burning and Pilaging must be Stopt as I am ordered to retaliate in Every respect Let us fight and not make war on the Women and Children I am Roundly opposed to Burning and Plundering But I am Compelled to Retaliate tharefore I am Desireous that the Burning and Pilaging may be stopt if it Does not Stop I will Certainly Retaliate I will Certainly Regard Citizens if the Citizens of the South is Regarded. I am your Humble Servt O. P. Hamilton Col. Comdg The Cavalry!
Mathew F. Maury addressed a letter to the London Times, on the reports and war plans of the Federal Government.
A fight occurred at Ringgold, Georgia, between the Federal forces under Colonel Wilder and General Van Cleve, and a portion of the Confederate army which was retreating from Chattanooga, resulting in the expulsion of the latter from the town, with a loss of three killed and eighteen taken prisoners. The Union loss was three men wounded of the Ninety-third Illinois regiment.
Major General William Rosecrans entered Chattanooga.
B. H. Richardson and his son, Frank A. Richardson, and Stephen J. Joyce, proprietors of the Baltimore, Maryland, Republican, were today arrested by order of General Schenck, for publishing in their paper of yesterday evening a piece of poetry entitled the “Southern Cross.” The three were sent across our lines this morning. The proprietors of the Republican were frequently warned by the authorities against the publication of disloyal sentiments in their paper.
Chat Discussion
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