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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 12/27/13 at 9:46 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 12/27/13 at 9:46 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 28 December 1863
On this morning the Congress of the Confederate States of America faced up to the fact that the struggling new nation was basically broke, and also increasingly short of manpower. To correct the former, there was passed what was called the “tax in kind”, taking from every state one-tenth of all agricultural produce. To correct the manpower shortage, the system whereby a man could purchase a substitute to take his place in the army was abolished. This accomplished little as virtually every white man who could serve was either already doing so, engaged in vital industry or agriculture, or exercising passive resistance to the draft by taking to the hills if a recruiter entered the area.
The Seventh Wisconsin regiment left the army of the Potomac for home to recruit, under the general orders lately issued.
The Legislature of Alabama has voted that the carpets that cover the floor of the Senate Chamber, Hall of Representatives, and all officers' and committee-rooms in the capitol at Montgomery, be cut up and given to the soldiers of the Confederate army for blankets.
An attempt at informal renewal of the cartel was made by the enemy, under the immediate agency of General Benjamin "Spoons" Butler, who initiated his effort by sending five hundred Confederate soldiers to City Point. Commissioner Ould returned five hundred Federal soldiers, but informed Commissioner Hitchcock that the Confederate authorities could hold no communication with General Butler, and that there must be no further effort at a partial exchange. If the enemy desires to renew the cartel, it must be done upon fair terms, and through an agent not outlawed and beyond the pale of military respectability.
A skirmish took place at Charlestown, Tennessee, between a small body of Confederates under General Joseph Wheeler and a larger force of Federal troops, under the command of Colonel Laibold, of the Second regiment of Missouri infantry, resulting in the ultimate retreat of the Rebels.
The following memorial, signed by Generals Hardee, Stevenson, Cheatham, Breckinridge, and nearly all the other officers in command of the Army of the Tennessee, was read in the Confederate House of Representatives:
In the existing condition of affairs it is hoped your honorable bodies will pardon the variance from custom of addressing you from the army. It is done in no spirit of dictation, but in the conscientious conviction that the necessities of the country demand the voice and labor of all, and that delay, even for thirty days, in enacting proper measures, may make present disorders incurable, and the dangers of the moment omnipotent for our destruction.
In our opinion, it is essential to retain, for the term of during the war, without reorganization, the troops now in service; to place in service immediately, for the same term, all other white males between eighteen and fifty years of age, able to perform any military duty; to provide for placing in service, at the discretion of the President, for the same term, all white males between fifteen and eighteen, and between fifty and sixty years of age; to prohibit substitutes; to prohibit exemption, except for the necessary civil offices and employments of the Confederate States and the several States; to prohibit details, except for limited times, and for carrying on works essential to the army; to prohibit discharges, except in cases of permanent disability, from all duty; to prohibit leaves and furloughs, except under uniform rules of universal application, based, as far as practicable, on length of service and meritorious conduct; to prohibit, to the greatest extent, the details of able-bodied officers and men to posts, hospitals, or other interior duty, and to place in service as cooks, laborers, teamsters, and hospital attendants, with the army and elsewhere, able-bodied negroes and mulattoes, bond and free.
These measures, we think, if promptly enacted as laws, so as to give time for organizing and disciplining the new material, would make our armies invincible at the opening of the campaign of next year, and enable us to win back our lost territory and conquer a peace before that campaign shall be ended.
We beg further to suggest that, in our opinion, the dissatisfaction, apprehended or existing, from short rations, depreciated currency, and the retention of old soldiers in service, might be obviated by allowing bounties, with discriminations in favor of retained troops; an increase of pay; the commutation to enlisted men of rations not issued; and rations, or the value thereof, to officers.
Eighty-two Southern prisoners from Camp Douglas, Chicago, went to Boston, Massachusetts, to enter the United States naval service. They were taken directly to the North Carolina, receiving ship.
On this morning the Congress of the Confederate States of America faced up to the fact that the struggling new nation was basically broke, and also increasingly short of manpower. To correct the former, there was passed what was called the “tax in kind”, taking from every state one-tenth of all agricultural produce. To correct the manpower shortage, the system whereby a man could purchase a substitute to take his place in the army was abolished. This accomplished little as virtually every white man who could serve was either already doing so, engaged in vital industry or agriculture, or exercising passive resistance to the draft by taking to the hills if a recruiter entered the area.
The Seventh Wisconsin regiment left the army of the Potomac for home to recruit, under the general orders lately issued.
The Legislature of Alabama has voted that the carpets that cover the floor of the Senate Chamber, Hall of Representatives, and all officers' and committee-rooms in the capitol at Montgomery, be cut up and given to the soldiers of the Confederate army for blankets.
An attempt at informal renewal of the cartel was made by the enemy, under the immediate agency of General Benjamin "Spoons" Butler, who initiated his effort by sending five hundred Confederate soldiers to City Point. Commissioner Ould returned five hundred Federal soldiers, but informed Commissioner Hitchcock that the Confederate authorities could hold no communication with General Butler, and that there must be no further effort at a partial exchange. If the enemy desires to renew the cartel, it must be done upon fair terms, and through an agent not outlawed and beyond the pale of military respectability.
A skirmish took place at Charlestown, Tennessee, between a small body of Confederates under General Joseph Wheeler and a larger force of Federal troops, under the command of Colonel Laibold, of the Second regiment of Missouri infantry, resulting in the ultimate retreat of the Rebels.
The following memorial, signed by Generals Hardee, Stevenson, Cheatham, Breckinridge, and nearly all the other officers in command of the Army of the Tennessee, was read in the Confederate House of Representatives:
In the existing condition of affairs it is hoped your honorable bodies will pardon the variance from custom of addressing you from the army. It is done in no spirit of dictation, but in the conscientious conviction that the necessities of the country demand the voice and labor of all, and that delay, even for thirty days, in enacting proper measures, may make present disorders incurable, and the dangers of the moment omnipotent for our destruction.
In our opinion, it is essential to retain, for the term of during the war, without reorganization, the troops now in service; to place in service immediately, for the same term, all other white males between eighteen and fifty years of age, able to perform any military duty; to provide for placing in service, at the discretion of the President, for the same term, all white males between fifteen and eighteen, and between fifty and sixty years of age; to prohibit substitutes; to prohibit exemption, except for the necessary civil offices and employments of the Confederate States and the several States; to prohibit details, except for limited times, and for carrying on works essential to the army; to prohibit discharges, except in cases of permanent disability, from all duty; to prohibit leaves and furloughs, except under uniform rules of universal application, based, as far as practicable, on length of service and meritorious conduct; to prohibit, to the greatest extent, the details of able-bodied officers and men to posts, hospitals, or other interior duty, and to place in service as cooks, laborers, teamsters, and hospital attendants, with the army and elsewhere, able-bodied negroes and mulattoes, bond and free.
These measures, we think, if promptly enacted as laws, so as to give time for organizing and disciplining the new material, would make our armies invincible at the opening of the campaign of next year, and enable us to win back our lost territory and conquer a peace before that campaign shall be ended.
We beg further to suggest that, in our opinion, the dissatisfaction, apprehended or existing, from short rations, depreciated currency, and the retention of old soldiers in service, might be obviated by allowing bounties, with discriminations in favor of retained troops; an increase of pay; the commutation to enlisted men of rations not issued; and rations, or the value thereof, to officers.
Eighty-two Southern prisoners from Camp Douglas, Chicago, went to Boston, Massachusetts, to enter the United States naval service. They were taken directly to the North Carolina, receiving ship.
1
Posted on 12/28/13 at 10:31 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 29 December 1863
Skirmishing picked up today, for no detectable reason. Aside from a few battles in Arkansas and Texas, most of them were at various points in Tennessee--Mossy Creek, Talbott’s Station, Cleveland and La Vergne being the primary points of disputation. Most actions involved small skirmish parties attempting to break Federal supply lines, with the added benefit of taking the supplies for the skirmishers.
Under Captain Green, the USS Nipsic, Sanford, Geranium, Daffodil, and Ethan Allen all departed Morris Island for Murrells Inlet to destroy a schooner readying to run the blockade and disperse Confederate troops that had been harassing Union gunboats. The force arrived at an anchorage some 15 miles from Murrells Inlet the following day, rendezvousing with the USS George Mangham.
Preparations for landing commenced immediately, but debarkation was delayed by heavy seas. With surprise lost, part of the purpose of the landing was frustrated. However, on 1 January, the USS Nipsic, under Commander James H. Spotts, would land sailors and Marines at Murrells Inlet and succeeded in destroying the blockade runner with a fully loaded cargo of turpentine. The ships then returned to Charleston.
Boat crews from the USS Stars and Stripes, Acting Master Willcomb in charge, destroyed the blockade running schooner Caroline Gertrude aground on a bar at the mouth of Ochlockonee River, Florida. Attempting to salvage the schooner's cargo of cotton, the Union sailors were taken under heavy fire by Confederate cavalry ashore and returned to their ship after setting the blockade runner ablaze.
The Ninety-third New York, First Delaware, and Fifth Michigan regiments, left the Army of the Potomac for home to recruit, under the general orders lately issued.
The gas company at Norfolk, Virginia, having sealed up their works and refused, for several months, to light the city, General Benjamin "Spoons" Butler ordered the establishment to be seized and "...carried on efficiently and economically, so that the city of Norfolk will be fully lighted, and its peace and quiet in the darkness of the night be assured, until it is made certain, that in case of an attack upon the city of Norfolk, the Rebel proclivities of the owners will not leave the city in darkness, as a means of impairing the defense made by the United States forces, and when the owners have, by their works and not by their lips, convinced the military authorities that they can rely upon their loyalty for aiding in repelling an invasion of the Rebels, and a keeping up of the works to aid us in that behalf; then, and not until then, will the works be returned to their custody. In the meantime, accurate accounts will be kept of the receipts and expenditures, and the excess of profits, which no doubt will be considerable, will be paid to those who are loyal in the sense of the word as understood by loyal men."
The engagement at Mossy Creek resulted from a Federal advance of over six thousand soldiers from Strawberry Plains on December 18, 1863, to pressure the Confederate army of Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet following its repulse at Knoxville. On December 22, the Southern army settled into winter quarters around Russellville, about thirty miles from Strawberry Plains. Longstreet’s cavalry, commanded by William Martin, patrolled a twenty-five-mile arc running from Rutledge to Dandridge centered on Mossy Creek (today’s Jefferson City). Martin kept Longstreet apprised of any Federal movements that might threaten the main Confederate army.
Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis and his Federal army arrived in New Market on December 23, and the next day he ordered two brigades of cavalry and an artillery battery to move to Dandridge and flank Confederate forces to the south of his main position. At the same time, he ordered an infantry division forward to Mossy Creek, leaving one infantry division behind in New Market as a reserve. The southern prong of the offensive met a Confederate brigade, commanded by Col. A. A. Russell, near Hay’s Ferry. During the ensuing engagement, the Federal brigades of Archibald Campbell and Israel Garrard received orders to retreat back to New Market. Garrard’s men rode out without serious opposition, while Campbell’s Brigade was almost encircled and captured. Campbell extricated the brigade with difficulty, but both he and Garrard successfully returned to New Market as directed.
On December 29, General Sturgis again divided his force and sent Colonel LaGrange down toward Dandridge to engage remaining rebel forces there. At 11 a.m., General Martin attacked the Federal line east of Mossy Creek with over two thousand men and two batteries of artillery. The Confederate army began to bend back the flanks of the Union position while the center, anchored by Captain Eli Lilly’s artillery battery, held back the rebel onslaught. At about 2 p.m., Lilly’s battery, low on ammunition and receiving accurate musket fire, retired to another hill behind A. P. Campbell’s brigade. At this point, a Southern victory seemed assured. As the Confederates under Brig. Gen. Frank Armstrong attempted to roll up the Federal line from north to south, Campbell ordered one of his cavalry regiments to attack Armstrong’s men. The Federals charged headlong into the southern line, wreaking havoc and stopping the Confederate advance. Over on the Union right, Colonel LaGrange’s men entered the fight after a hasty summons had brought them back from Dandridge. The cavalry charge and arrival of Federal reinforcements convinced General Martin that the time for retreat had come, and he made an orderly withdrawal to his position held before the start of battle. His army was also low on ammunition. During the evening, the Confederate army fell back to Morristown.
Skirmishing picked up today, for no detectable reason. Aside from a few battles in Arkansas and Texas, most of them were at various points in Tennessee--Mossy Creek, Talbott’s Station, Cleveland and La Vergne being the primary points of disputation. Most actions involved small skirmish parties attempting to break Federal supply lines, with the added benefit of taking the supplies for the skirmishers.
Under Captain Green, the USS Nipsic, Sanford, Geranium, Daffodil, and Ethan Allen all departed Morris Island for Murrells Inlet to destroy a schooner readying to run the blockade and disperse Confederate troops that had been harassing Union gunboats. The force arrived at an anchorage some 15 miles from Murrells Inlet the following day, rendezvousing with the USS George Mangham.
Preparations for landing commenced immediately, but debarkation was delayed by heavy seas. With surprise lost, part of the purpose of the landing was frustrated. However, on 1 January, the USS Nipsic, under Commander James H. Spotts, would land sailors and Marines at Murrells Inlet and succeeded in destroying the blockade runner with a fully loaded cargo of turpentine. The ships then returned to Charleston.
Boat crews from the USS Stars and Stripes, Acting Master Willcomb in charge, destroyed the blockade running schooner Caroline Gertrude aground on a bar at the mouth of Ochlockonee River, Florida. Attempting to salvage the schooner's cargo of cotton, the Union sailors were taken under heavy fire by Confederate cavalry ashore and returned to their ship after setting the blockade runner ablaze.
The Ninety-third New York, First Delaware, and Fifth Michigan regiments, left the Army of the Potomac for home to recruit, under the general orders lately issued.
The gas company at Norfolk, Virginia, having sealed up their works and refused, for several months, to light the city, General Benjamin "Spoons" Butler ordered the establishment to be seized and "...carried on efficiently and economically, so that the city of Norfolk will be fully lighted, and its peace and quiet in the darkness of the night be assured, until it is made certain, that in case of an attack upon the city of Norfolk, the Rebel proclivities of the owners will not leave the city in darkness, as a means of impairing the defense made by the United States forces, and when the owners have, by their works and not by their lips, convinced the military authorities that they can rely upon their loyalty for aiding in repelling an invasion of the Rebels, and a keeping up of the works to aid us in that behalf; then, and not until then, will the works be returned to their custody. In the meantime, accurate accounts will be kept of the receipts and expenditures, and the excess of profits, which no doubt will be considerable, will be paid to those who are loyal in the sense of the word as understood by loyal men."
The engagement at Mossy Creek resulted from a Federal advance of over six thousand soldiers from Strawberry Plains on December 18, 1863, to pressure the Confederate army of Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet following its repulse at Knoxville. On December 22, the Southern army settled into winter quarters around Russellville, about thirty miles from Strawberry Plains. Longstreet’s cavalry, commanded by William Martin, patrolled a twenty-five-mile arc running from Rutledge to Dandridge centered on Mossy Creek (today’s Jefferson City). Martin kept Longstreet apprised of any Federal movements that might threaten the main Confederate army.
Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis and his Federal army arrived in New Market on December 23, and the next day he ordered two brigades of cavalry and an artillery battery to move to Dandridge and flank Confederate forces to the south of his main position. At the same time, he ordered an infantry division forward to Mossy Creek, leaving one infantry division behind in New Market as a reserve. The southern prong of the offensive met a Confederate brigade, commanded by Col. A. A. Russell, near Hay’s Ferry. During the ensuing engagement, the Federal brigades of Archibald Campbell and Israel Garrard received orders to retreat back to New Market. Garrard’s men rode out without serious opposition, while Campbell’s Brigade was almost encircled and captured. Campbell extricated the brigade with difficulty, but both he and Garrard successfully returned to New Market as directed.
On December 29, General Sturgis again divided his force and sent Colonel LaGrange down toward Dandridge to engage remaining rebel forces there. At 11 a.m., General Martin attacked the Federal line east of Mossy Creek with over two thousand men and two batteries of artillery. The Confederate army began to bend back the flanks of the Union position while the center, anchored by Captain Eli Lilly’s artillery battery, held back the rebel onslaught. At about 2 p.m., Lilly’s battery, low on ammunition and receiving accurate musket fire, retired to another hill behind A. P. Campbell’s brigade. At this point, a Southern victory seemed assured. As the Confederates under Brig. Gen. Frank Armstrong attempted to roll up the Federal line from north to south, Campbell ordered one of his cavalry regiments to attack Armstrong’s men. The Federals charged headlong into the southern line, wreaking havoc and stopping the Confederate advance. Over on the Union right, Colonel LaGrange’s men entered the fight after a hasty summons had brought them back from Dandridge. The cavalry charge and arrival of Federal reinforcements convinced General Martin that the time for retreat had come, and he made an orderly withdrawal to his position held before the start of battle. His army was also low on ammunition. During the evening, the Confederate army fell back to Morristown.
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