Saturday, May 27, 2023

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History, Confederate General Birthdays, May 27.

  Click 👉 Today in History (general history) May 27.

On This Day in Confederate History, May 27.

1863: At the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., Confederate Heavy Artillery at Fort Hill, which anchors the left flank of the Confederate defense line, wins an artillery duel with the ironclad gunboat USS Cincinnati and sends the vessel to the bottom of the river. The 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery was in command of the heavy guns at Fort Hill. Some 40 bluejackets were either killed or wounded. 

Captain William Parks
1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery
(Library of Congress)

At The Siege of Port Hudson, La., Confederates successfully smash an all-out assault on the Confederate defense line. Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner did a masterful job in shifting troops around to the most endangered points at any one time. Maj. Gen. N.P. Banks' assault is poorly coordinated and the naval bombardment was not effective. On the north side of the assault, soldiers of the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guard (Union) were in one of the strongest Confederate positions, and they were badly slaughtered. On the south end of the attack in the afternoon, Maj. Gen. Thomas Sherman was severely wounded in the assault there. Brigadier General Neal Dow was severely wounded in the center assault. Banks' frontal assault was a disaster for the Federals. Dow was later captured in the rear by Confederate cavalry.

1864: After being defeated at the Battle of New Hope Church, Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman tries again at the Battle of Pickett's Mill when he sends in Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard's men attacked the Confederate right flank, but it repulsed the attack and inflicted high casualties on the Northerners. The Federals lost 1,600 casualties and the Confederates 500.

In the aftermath of the Battle of North Anna River, Va. Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant moves his army toward Cold Harbor while Gen. Robert E. Lee moves his army to block Grant at the coming battle there.

Confederate General Birthdays, May 27.

Maj. Gen. Robert Frederick Hoke was born this day in 1837 at Lincolnton, North Carolina. He graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1854 and then went into the family business. When North Carolina seceded in 1861, Hoke joined the 1st North Carolina Infantry, was promoted to major in September 1861, to colonel of the 21st North Carolina in 1862, to brigadier general Jan. 17, 1863, and to major general on April 23, 1864. His battles and campaigns were Big Bethel, New Bern, Peninsula, 2nd Manassas, Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, Plymouth, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Carolinas, and Bentonville. Following the war, Hoke resumed his business career in insurance, gold mining, and railroad construction. He died July 3, 1912, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.

Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke
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Brigadier General Edwin Gray Lee was born this day in 1836 in Loudoun County, Virginia. He received a law degree in 1859 and after the War for South Independence began, joined the staff of Col. Thomas J. Jackson and participated in the First Battle of Manassas, Va., Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, the Seven Days Battles, and the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Lee was captured and after being exchanged, was given command of the 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment and led it at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. He was promoted to brigadier general on Sept. 23, 1864, and served in the cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley. Lee was assigned to a secret mission in December 1864 and he and his wife slipped through the blockade and went to Canada. They were there in Montreal until the end of the war and didn't return to Virginia until 1866. He died Aug. 24, 1870, at Yellow Sulphur Springs, Virginia, and was buried in Lexington, Va. at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Brig. Gen. Edwin G. Lee
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