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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 4/4/15 at 10:51 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 4/4/15 at 10:51 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 5 April 1865
Commander William Henry Alexander Macomb steadily pushed up the narrowing Chowan River and its tributaries preparing for General William Tecumseh Sherman's move north. This date he reported from "Meherrin River, near Murfreesboro, N.C." near the Virginia border and fat inland: "The steamer Shokokon arrived at Winton yesterday, and I have stationed her a short distance below here near an ugly bluff some 60 or 80 feet high, on which I thought the Rebels might give us some trouble on our return. There were some rifle pits on the brow of this bluff, but I sent a party down there and had them filled up. There is also an old earthwork, made to mount six guns, a short distance below here, which I have had partially destroyed. The river is rather narrower than the Roanoke, but not quite so crooked. I got 50 men (soldiers) from Winton to hold the bluff till we have passed, the river being very crooked and narrow at this point, so much so that we are unable to steam by, but will have to warp the ship round."
Frederick Tracy Dent, USA, is appointed Brigadier General.
Union troops scout from Huntsville to New Market, Maysville, in Alabama.
A Federal expedition travels from Camp Bidwell to Antelope Creek, California.
Skirmishes erupt at Newport Bridge, Florida.
The destruction of Union transports commences on the Neuse River, North Carolina.
A Federal expedition travels from Georgetown to Camden, South Carolina, and skirmishes at Dingle's Mill, near Sumterville, near Statesburg, at Boykins' Mill, at Bradford Springs, at Beech Creek, near Statesburg and at Denkins' Mill. Another Federal expedition moves from Charleston to the Santee River, South Carolina.
The engagement at Amelia Springs, Virginia, occurs as General Robert E. Lee unable to feed his troops, orders food be sent by rail from Lynchburg, and turns his army toward Farmville. Major General George G. Meade refrains Major General Philip H. Sheridan from attacking until more Union reinforcements arrive, in the Appomattox Campaign.
Skirmishing takes place at Paine's Cross Roads, Virginia, in the Appomattox Campaign.
The steamer Harriet DeFord was boarded and seized in the Chesapeake Bay, 30 miles below Annapolis, Maryland, by a party of 27 Confederate guerrillas led by Captain Thaddeus Fitzhugh. A naval detachment under Lieutenant Commander Edward Hooker was sent in pursuit and found the Harriet DeFord trapped in Dimer's Creek, Virginia, burned to the water's edge. A captive reported that a pilot had taken the steamer into the creek and that she went aground several times. Some of the cargo was thrown overboard to lighten the ship and the remainder was unloaded with the help of local farmers before the torch was put to the steamer.
Commander William Henry Alexander Macomb steadily pushed up the narrowing Chowan River and its tributaries preparing for General William Tecumseh Sherman's move north. This date he reported from "Meherrin River, near Murfreesboro, N.C." near the Virginia border and fat inland: "The steamer Shokokon arrived at Winton yesterday, and I have stationed her a short distance below here near an ugly bluff some 60 or 80 feet high, on which I thought the Rebels might give us some trouble on our return. There were some rifle pits on the brow of this bluff, but I sent a party down there and had them filled up. There is also an old earthwork, made to mount six guns, a short distance below here, which I have had partially destroyed. The river is rather narrower than the Roanoke, but not quite so crooked. I got 50 men (soldiers) from Winton to hold the bluff till we have passed, the river being very crooked and narrow at this point, so much so that we are unable to steam by, but will have to warp the ship round."
Frederick Tracy Dent, USA, is appointed Brigadier General.
Union troops scout from Huntsville to New Market, Maysville, in Alabama.
A Federal expedition travels from Camp Bidwell to Antelope Creek, California.
Skirmishes erupt at Newport Bridge, Florida.
The destruction of Union transports commences on the Neuse River, North Carolina.
A Federal expedition travels from Georgetown to Camden, South Carolina, and skirmishes at Dingle's Mill, near Sumterville, near Statesburg, at Boykins' Mill, at Bradford Springs, at Beech Creek, near Statesburg and at Denkins' Mill. Another Federal expedition moves from Charleston to the Santee River, South Carolina.
The engagement at Amelia Springs, Virginia, occurs as General Robert E. Lee unable to feed his troops, orders food be sent by rail from Lynchburg, and turns his army toward Farmville. Major General George G. Meade refrains Major General Philip H. Sheridan from attacking until more Union reinforcements arrive, in the Appomattox Campaign.
Skirmishing takes place at Paine's Cross Roads, Virginia, in the Appomattox Campaign.
The steamer Harriet DeFord was boarded and seized in the Chesapeake Bay, 30 miles below Annapolis, Maryland, by a party of 27 Confederate guerrillas led by Captain Thaddeus Fitzhugh. A naval detachment under Lieutenant Commander Edward Hooker was sent in pursuit and found the Harriet DeFord trapped in Dimer's Creek, Virginia, burned to the water's edge. A captive reported that a pilot had taken the steamer into the creek and that she went aground several times. Some of the cargo was thrown overboard to lighten the ship and the remainder was unloaded with the help of local farmers before the torch was put to the steamer.
1
Posted on 4/5/15 at 9:40 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 6 April 1865
The last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and Union Army of the Potomac occurred at Sayler’s Creek, near the Farmville and High Bridge crossings of the Appomattox River. Crossing the stream was imperative for safety and the army attempted to keep together, which was impossible. In the bottom land of Sayler’s Creek, the retreating column split and the Federals moved in forcing a gap in the Confederate line. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant General James Longstreet and Major General William Mahone continued on while Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell and Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson followed behind the gap. The wagons were ordered on a detour to cross the river. Anderson and Ewell were quickly pressed back, but mounted a counter-charge which failed in the face of strong artillery fire. Federal flanks closed in towards the middle and Ewell was forced to surrender. Some 8,000 Confederates surrendered while Federals suffered approximately 1,180 sustained casualties. It is estimated that the Confederates lost about a third of the men that departed Amelia Court House that morning. As Lee witnessed the engagement, he exclaimed, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?” It was clear that the numbers of the once proud Army of Northern Virginia were diminishing rapidly.
Acting Lieutenant John Rogers, commanding both the USS Carondelet and Eastport, Mississippi, station, wrote Brigadier General Edward Hatcher about joint operations in the area and expressed a desire to cooperate to the extent of his ability: "...if you are in danger of being attacked by the Enemy...send timely notice to us, that everything connected with the Army and Navy may work harmoniously together." From the early moments of the War, such as the Battle of Belmont, 7 November 1861, to the last days of conflict, the usual close coordination of the Army and Navy enabled the Union to strike quickly and effectively in the West--first against Confederate positions and later against Confederate threats.
Lieutenant Commander Francis M. Ramsay indicated the extent of the Confederate underwater defenses of the James River as he reported to Rear Admiral David D. Porter on an expedition aimed at clearing out the torpedoes: "All galvanic batteries were carried off or destroyed. At Chaffin's Bluff there was a torpedo containing 1,700 pounds of powder. At Battery Semmes there were two, containing 850 pounds each, and at Howlett's one containing 1,400 pounds. I cut the wires of them all close down, so that they are now perfectly harmless."
Confederate Major General John Austin Wharton is mortally wounded, shot by Colonel George W. Baylor, of the Second Confederate Texas Cavalry, after arguing over general military affairs in General Wharton's Houston, Texas, hotel room.
More skirmishing erupts at King's Store, and near Lanier's Mill, on Sipsey Creek, Alabama, with Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Actions take place at Natural Bridge, Florida.
Skirmishes commence at Flat Creek, near Amelia Springs, and near High Bridge, Virginia, in the Appomattox Campaign.
Confederate Brigadier General James Dearing is mortally wounded during the action at High Bridge from a pistol duel with Union Brevetted Brigadier General Theodore Read who died.
Skirmishing breaks out at Rice's Station, Virginia, as the other Confederate column under Lieutenant General James Longstreet encounters the Federals under Major General Edward O.C. Ord in the Appomattox Campaign.
Actions continue at Wytheville, Virginia, with Major General George Stoneman's Union forces.
An engagement occurs near Charlestown, West Virginia, where Confederate Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his Virginia Partisan Rangers surprise the camp of the Union Loudoun County Rangers, capturing a number of men and nearly all of their horses. This is to be Mosby's final escapade against the Federal military forces.
Yesterday, President Abraham Lincoln conferred with John A. Campbell again and issued a statement about restoring Virginia to the Union. At 6 p.m., Lincoln received news that Secretary of State William H. Seward had been critically injured in a carriage accident in Washington that afternoon.
The last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and Union Army of the Potomac occurred at Sayler’s Creek, near the Farmville and High Bridge crossings of the Appomattox River. Crossing the stream was imperative for safety and the army attempted to keep together, which was impossible. In the bottom land of Sayler’s Creek, the retreating column split and the Federals moved in forcing a gap in the Confederate line. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant General James Longstreet and Major General William Mahone continued on while Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell and Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson followed behind the gap. The wagons were ordered on a detour to cross the river. Anderson and Ewell were quickly pressed back, but mounted a counter-charge which failed in the face of strong artillery fire. Federal flanks closed in towards the middle and Ewell was forced to surrender. Some 8,000 Confederates surrendered while Federals suffered approximately 1,180 sustained casualties. It is estimated that the Confederates lost about a third of the men that departed Amelia Court House that morning. As Lee witnessed the engagement, he exclaimed, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?” It was clear that the numbers of the once proud Army of Northern Virginia were diminishing rapidly.
Acting Lieutenant John Rogers, commanding both the USS Carondelet and Eastport, Mississippi, station, wrote Brigadier General Edward Hatcher about joint operations in the area and expressed a desire to cooperate to the extent of his ability: "...if you are in danger of being attacked by the Enemy...send timely notice to us, that everything connected with the Army and Navy may work harmoniously together." From the early moments of the War, such as the Battle of Belmont, 7 November 1861, to the last days of conflict, the usual close coordination of the Army and Navy enabled the Union to strike quickly and effectively in the West--first against Confederate positions and later against Confederate threats.
Lieutenant Commander Francis M. Ramsay indicated the extent of the Confederate underwater defenses of the James River as he reported to Rear Admiral David D. Porter on an expedition aimed at clearing out the torpedoes: "All galvanic batteries were carried off or destroyed. At Chaffin's Bluff there was a torpedo containing 1,700 pounds of powder. At Battery Semmes there were two, containing 850 pounds each, and at Howlett's one containing 1,400 pounds. I cut the wires of them all close down, so that they are now perfectly harmless."
Confederate Major General John Austin Wharton is mortally wounded, shot by Colonel George W. Baylor, of the Second Confederate Texas Cavalry, after arguing over general military affairs in General Wharton's Houston, Texas, hotel room.
More skirmishing erupts at King's Store, and near Lanier's Mill, on Sipsey Creek, Alabama, with Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Actions take place at Natural Bridge, Florida.
Skirmishes commence at Flat Creek, near Amelia Springs, and near High Bridge, Virginia, in the Appomattox Campaign.
Confederate Brigadier General James Dearing is mortally wounded during the action at High Bridge from a pistol duel with Union Brevetted Brigadier General Theodore Read who died.
Skirmishing breaks out at Rice's Station, Virginia, as the other Confederate column under Lieutenant General James Longstreet encounters the Federals under Major General Edward O.C. Ord in the Appomattox Campaign.
Actions continue at Wytheville, Virginia, with Major General George Stoneman's Union forces.
An engagement occurs near Charlestown, West Virginia, where Confederate Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his Virginia Partisan Rangers surprise the camp of the Union Loudoun County Rangers, capturing a number of men and nearly all of their horses. This is to be Mosby's final escapade against the Federal military forces.
Yesterday, President Abraham Lincoln conferred with John A. Campbell again and issued a statement about restoring Virginia to the Union. At 6 p.m., Lincoln received news that Secretary of State William H. Seward had been critically injured in a carriage accident in Washington that afternoon.
This post was edited on 4/6/15 at 5:02 am
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