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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 12/28/13 at 10:31 pm to BadLeroyDawg
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.
1
Posted on 12/29/13 at 8:42 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 30 December 1863
The governor of North Carolina, Zebulon B. Vance, looked around at the state of his state, and on this day was severely depressed. He was hearing nothing from his citizens at the end of this year but complaints. He today took pen in hand, and wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, “I have concluded that it will perhaps be impossible to remove [the discontent of his people], except by making some effort at negotiation with the enemy.” This was not the sort of "Happy New Year" note for which Davis was hoping.
An expedition under command of Acting Ensign Norman McLeod from the USS Pursuit, destroyed two salt works at the head of St. Joseph's Bay, Florida.
A skirmish took place in the outskirts of St. Augustine, Florida, between a detachment of the Tenth Connecticut regiment, detailed to guard a party of wood-choppers, and a squadron of Confederate cavalry, who attempted to seize the teams. The Rebels were unsuccessful, but in the fight three privates of the Tenth were killed, and Lieutenant Brown, the officer commanding the detachment, was so badly wounded, that he afterward died.
Yesterday an affair was reported, at Matagorda Bay, Texas, between the Union gunboats, a company of the Thirteenth Maine regiment, and a force of Rebel cavalry and a Southern gunboat. The party of Union troops, under General Herron, had landed with the object of cutting off the Confederate pickets, but were attacked by the cavalry, who were driven off by the gunboats. The cavalry, aided by the Rebel gunboat, subsequently attacked the Federals, and caused them to vacate their position; but, this morning, a strong gale of wind drove the steamer ashore, and she was destroyed by fire.
Colonel McChesney, commanding Pamlico Sub-District, North Carolina, while reconnoitering within six miles of Greenville, with about one hundred and forty men of the Twelfth New York cavalry, First North-Carolina volunteers, and Twenty-third New York artillery, was attacked by a superior force under Major Moore, who attempted to cut off his return to Washington. After a hand-to-hand conflict the enemy retired, leaving one lieutenant and five men dead, with one piece of Starr's fine battery, caisson, and horses. Darkness prevented further knowledge of the injury sustained by the rebels. The Union loss was one killed, six slightly wounded, one missing, and three horses disabled. Lieutenant William K. Adams, of Company L, First North Carolina volunteers--"a gallant and dashing officer"--was killed while making a charge at the head of his command.
The Commanding General, Peck, thanked in general orders, Colonel McChesney, the officers, men, and guides, for this bold and successful affair.
The governor of North Carolina, Zebulon B. Vance, looked around at the state of his state, and on this day was severely depressed. He was hearing nothing from his citizens at the end of this year but complaints. He today took pen in hand, and wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, “I have concluded that it will perhaps be impossible to remove [the discontent of his people], except by making some effort at negotiation with the enemy.” This was not the sort of "Happy New Year" note for which Davis was hoping.
An expedition under command of Acting Ensign Norman McLeod from the USS Pursuit, destroyed two salt works at the head of St. Joseph's Bay, Florida.
A skirmish took place in the outskirts of St. Augustine, Florida, between a detachment of the Tenth Connecticut regiment, detailed to guard a party of wood-choppers, and a squadron of Confederate cavalry, who attempted to seize the teams. The Rebels were unsuccessful, but in the fight three privates of the Tenth were killed, and Lieutenant Brown, the officer commanding the detachment, was so badly wounded, that he afterward died.
Yesterday an affair was reported, at Matagorda Bay, Texas, between the Union gunboats, a company of the Thirteenth Maine regiment, and a force of Rebel cavalry and a Southern gunboat. The party of Union troops, under General Herron, had landed with the object of cutting off the Confederate pickets, but were attacked by the cavalry, who were driven off by the gunboats. The cavalry, aided by the Rebel gunboat, subsequently attacked the Federals, and caused them to vacate their position; but, this morning, a strong gale of wind drove the steamer ashore, and she was destroyed by fire.
Colonel McChesney, commanding Pamlico Sub-District, North Carolina, while reconnoitering within six miles of Greenville, with about one hundred and forty men of the Twelfth New York cavalry, First North-Carolina volunteers, and Twenty-third New York artillery, was attacked by a superior force under Major Moore, who attempted to cut off his return to Washington. After a hand-to-hand conflict the enemy retired, leaving one lieutenant and five men dead, with one piece of Starr's fine battery, caisson, and horses. Darkness prevented further knowledge of the injury sustained by the rebels. The Union loss was one killed, six slightly wounded, one missing, and three horses disabled. Lieutenant William K. Adams, of Company L, First North Carolina volunteers--"a gallant and dashing officer"--was killed while making a charge at the head of his command.
The Commanding General, Peck, thanked in general orders, Colonel McChesney, the officers, men, and guides, for this bold and successful affair.
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