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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 9/19/13 at 3:50 am to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 9/19/13 at 3:50 am to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 19 September 1863
Both General Braxton Bragg, CSA, and General William Rosecrans, USA, knew that they were going to have a big battle today; they just didn’t know exactly when, because neither knew exactly where the other one was. The matter was settled when General George Thomas, now on the Union left (northern) flank, had the misfortune to be clambering through thick brush when they came upon the men of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the bullets began to fly. Forrest’s men, although called ‘cavalry’, actually functioned as mounted infantry, who traveled on horses but fought on foot. Fight they did today, and as units of both sides moved towards the sounds of battle, the general combat commenced.
A small boat expedition under command of Acting Masters John Y. Beall and Edward McGuire, CSN, captured the schooner Alliance with a cargo of sutlers' stores in Chesapeake Bay. The daring raid was continued two days later when the schooner J.J. Houseman was seized. On the night of the 22nd, the force took two more schooners, Samuel Pearsall and Alexandria. All but the Alliance were cast adrift at Wachapreague Inlet, Virginia. Beall attempted to run the blockade in the Alliance but she grounded at Milford Haven and was burned on the morning of 23 September, after the USS Thomas Freeborn, Acting Master Arthur in charge, opened fire on her. Beall escaped and returned to Richmond. A joint Army-Navy effort was mounted to stop these raids, but Beall and his men destroyed several lighthouses on Maryland 's Eastern Shore prior to being captured on 15 November 1863.
Horace L. Hunley wrote General P.G.T. Beauregard requesting that command of the submarine hearing his name be turned over to him. "I propose," Hunley said, 'if you will place the boat in my hands to furnish a crew (in whole or in part) from Mobile who are well acquainted with its management and make the attempt to destroy a vessel of the enemy as early as practicable." Three days later, Brigadier General Jordan, Beauregard's Chief of Staff, directed that the submarine be "cleaned and turned over to him with the understanding that said Boat shall be ready for service in two weeks." Under Hunley's direction, a crew was brought to Charleston from Mobile, the H. F. Hunley was readied, and a number of practice dives carried out preparatory to making an actual attack.
The coal schooner Manhasset was driven ashore in a gale at Sabine Pass. The wreck was subsequently seized by Confederate troops.
A party belonging to the command of General Buford, swam the Rapidan River, near Raccoon Ford, and after capturing a considerable number of prisoners, returned to their camp in safety.
Chat Discussion
Both General Braxton Bragg, CSA, and General William Rosecrans, USA, knew that they were going to have a big battle today; they just didn’t know exactly when, because neither knew exactly where the other one was. The matter was settled when General George Thomas, now on the Union left (northern) flank, had the misfortune to be clambering through thick brush when they came upon the men of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the bullets began to fly. Forrest’s men, although called ‘cavalry’, actually functioned as mounted infantry, who traveled on horses but fought on foot. Fight they did today, and as units of both sides moved towards the sounds of battle, the general combat commenced.
A small boat expedition under command of Acting Masters John Y. Beall and Edward McGuire, CSN, captured the schooner Alliance with a cargo of sutlers' stores in Chesapeake Bay. The daring raid was continued two days later when the schooner J.J. Houseman was seized. On the night of the 22nd, the force took two more schooners, Samuel Pearsall and Alexandria. All but the Alliance were cast adrift at Wachapreague Inlet, Virginia. Beall attempted to run the blockade in the Alliance but she grounded at Milford Haven and was burned on the morning of 23 September, after the USS Thomas Freeborn, Acting Master Arthur in charge, opened fire on her. Beall escaped and returned to Richmond. A joint Army-Navy effort was mounted to stop these raids, but Beall and his men destroyed several lighthouses on Maryland 's Eastern Shore prior to being captured on 15 November 1863.
Horace L. Hunley wrote General P.G.T. Beauregard requesting that command of the submarine hearing his name be turned over to him. "I propose," Hunley said, 'if you will place the boat in my hands to furnish a crew (in whole or in part) from Mobile who are well acquainted with its management and make the attempt to destroy a vessel of the enemy as early as practicable." Three days later, Brigadier General Jordan, Beauregard's Chief of Staff, directed that the submarine be "cleaned and turned over to him with the understanding that said Boat shall be ready for service in two weeks." Under Hunley's direction, a crew was brought to Charleston from Mobile, the H. F. Hunley was readied, and a number of practice dives carried out preparatory to making an actual attack.
The coal schooner Manhasset was driven ashore in a gale at Sabine Pass. The wreck was subsequently seized by Confederate troops.
A party belonging to the command of General Buford, swam the Rapidan River, near Raccoon Ford, and after capturing a considerable number of prisoners, returned to their camp in safety.
Chat Discussion
1
Posted on 9/20/13 at 4:04 am to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 20 September 1863
Both Union and Confederate forces were lined up at the conclusion of the fighting yesterday, knowing pretty much where each other were and had been readying for action all during the night, cutting trees and setting up temporary fortifications. They both also knew that today would brings things to a head and likely settle the matter. The fighting was essentially toe to toe from one end to the other until, due to a mistaken or faulty order, Union troops right in the center under General Thomas J. Wood were pulled out of position. In the Confederate center were the forces of General James Longstreet, who knew exactly what to do with such a gift and lost no time exploiting this opening. The Union line nearly quickly melted, then the right side completely dissolved, except for native Virginian General George Henry Thomas. Gathering his men on a rise called Snodgrass Hill they formed a defensive line that held all afternoon, garnering for Thomas the nickname “Rock of Chickamauga.” After dark, under orders, Thomas withdrew to rejoin the rest of the Union army in Chattanooga. General Braxton Bragg had won his battle.
The general report submitted this date by Lieutenant Commander J.P. Foster, commanding the second district of the Mississippi Squadron, to Rear Admiral David D. Porter, illustrated the restrictive effect gunboat patrols had on Confederate operations along the Mississippi. Foster had taken command of the Donaldsonville, Louisiana past the mouth of the Red River section of the Mississippi in mid-August. From Bayou Sara he wrote: "Since taking command of the Lafayette I have made a tour of my district and find everything quiet below Bayou Sara and very little excitement between this place and Red River, no vessels having been fired into since the rebels were shelled by the Champion [30 August]. The disposition of this ship, Neosho, and Signal, I think, has had a beneficial influence upon the rebels, insomuch as they have not shown themselves upon the river banks since I have been down here."
Lieutenant Earl, of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, in command of a squad of forty cavalry, marched from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as far as the Comite River, and reported capturing fourteen prisoners, with their arms, horses, and equipments. Among the prisoners were Colonel Hunter and Captain Perry, notorious guerrilla chiefs.
Chat Discussion
Both Union and Confederate forces were lined up at the conclusion of the fighting yesterday, knowing pretty much where each other were and had been readying for action all during the night, cutting trees and setting up temporary fortifications. They both also knew that today would brings things to a head and likely settle the matter. The fighting was essentially toe to toe from one end to the other until, due to a mistaken or faulty order, Union troops right in the center under General Thomas J. Wood were pulled out of position. In the Confederate center were the forces of General James Longstreet, who knew exactly what to do with such a gift and lost no time exploiting this opening. The Union line nearly quickly melted, then the right side completely dissolved, except for native Virginian General George Henry Thomas. Gathering his men on a rise called Snodgrass Hill they formed a defensive line that held all afternoon, garnering for Thomas the nickname “Rock of Chickamauga.” After dark, under orders, Thomas withdrew to rejoin the rest of the Union army in Chattanooga. General Braxton Bragg had won his battle.
The general report submitted this date by Lieutenant Commander J.P. Foster, commanding the second district of the Mississippi Squadron, to Rear Admiral David D. Porter, illustrated the restrictive effect gunboat patrols had on Confederate operations along the Mississippi. Foster had taken command of the Donaldsonville, Louisiana past the mouth of the Red River section of the Mississippi in mid-August. From Bayou Sara he wrote: "Since taking command of the Lafayette I have made a tour of my district and find everything quiet below Bayou Sara and very little excitement between this place and Red River, no vessels having been fired into since the rebels were shelled by the Champion [30 August]. The disposition of this ship, Neosho, and Signal, I think, has had a beneficial influence upon the rebels, insomuch as they have not shown themselves upon the river banks since I have been down here."
Lieutenant Earl, of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, in command of a squad of forty cavalry, marched from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as far as the Comite River, and reported capturing fourteen prisoners, with their arms, horses, and equipments. Among the prisoners were Colonel Hunter and Captain Perry, notorious guerrilla chiefs.
Chat Discussion
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