Thursday, September 28, 2023

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, Sept. 28.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Sept. 28. 

On This Day in Confederate History, Sept. 28.

1863: President Jefferson Davis appointed James Byron Gordon, Thomas Lafayette Rosser, and Pierce Manning Butler Young as brigadier generals. All three were excellent cavalry generals. The cavalry was a vital part of the army at that time. General Lee in the Gettysburg campaign was greatly hampered by not having Stuart's Cavalry with him for most of the Gettysburg Campaign keeping him informed of Federal movements in a timely way. General Pemberton was greatly hampered by not having adequate, timely cavalry intelligence on Grant's movements in the Vicksburg Campaign in Mississippi in 1863. He had been denied Forrest's Cavalry repeatedly by General Johnston. The same can be said of the Federal Army early in the war before proper cavalry doctrine was implemented.

Lt. Col. Elijah V. White
35th Va. Cav. Bn.
(Find A Grave)

Pvt. Philip Carper
35th Va. Cav. Bn.
(Library of Congress)

1864: The Siege of Petersburg, Va., absent major assaults, continues with daily casualties being produced by sharpshooting on both sides and exchanges of artillery. Gen. Robert E. Lee is kept busy opposing Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant's siege tactics.

    While the fighting continued at Petersburg, widespread skirmishing took place across the states of Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. In Georgia, there was skirmishing near Decatur five miles out on Decatur Road. In Mississippi, a skirmish was reported between Confederates and Federals at Brownsville. There was also skirmishing with Confederate Major General Sterling Price at Caledonia and Centralia, in the state of Missouri. In Tennessee, Confederates skirmishes with Maj. Gen. Stephen G. "Butcher" Burbridge's at Federals near Rheatown, Tenn. Also, in Virginia, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's Confederates skirmish in the Shenandoah Valley the Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan's Federals at Port Republic and Rockfish Gap.

Confederate General's Birthday, Sept. 28.

Brigadier General John Gregg was born on this day in 1828 in Lawrence County, Alabama. Gregg was educated at LaGrange College, Alabama, and later studied law and moved to Texas in 1852 where he practiced. He settled in Freestone Couty, married an Alabama girl, and founded a newspaper. A supporter of secession and was a delegate at the Texas secession convention. He entered the Confederate Army in 1861 organized the 7th Texas Infantry and served as its colonel. He was promoted to brigadier general on Aug. 15, 1862, and fought his brigade in the Vicksburg Campaign at the Battle of Raymond and the Battle of Jackson. With the Army of Tennessee, Gregg's Brigade fought at the Battle of Chickamauga where he was severely wounded. After recovery, he was given command of Hood's Texas Brigade and led it at the Battle of the Wilderness, Va. in 1864, where he was again wounded. Back in action, during the Siege of Petersburg, Va., he suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the neck on Oct. 7, 1864, while leading a counterattack in the Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads. General Gregg is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Brig. Gen. John Gregg

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