Click 👉 TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) Dec. 18.
ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 18.
1862: Battle of Lexington, Tenn. General Nathan Bedford Forrest with 2,500 Confederate cavalrymen attacked a Federal outpost of 670 men at Lexington, Tennessee as part of his raid on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The Yankees were routed, and Forrest captured 140 enemies and two artillery pieces. The Confederates had 35 casualties and the Federals had 157 casualties, including those captured.
1864: Battle of Savannah, Ga. At the Battle (siege) of Savannah, Georgia, Confederate commander General William Hardee refused the demand of surrender from Federal General William T. Sherman. Hardee then prepared his command to evacuate by a circuitous route he had planned.
CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Dec. 18.
Major General Arnold Elzey Jones Jr., (who dropped the Jones part of his name at age 28), was born in 1816 in Somerset County, Maryland. He graduated from West Point in the Class of 1837 ranking 33rd in his class. In his pre-war career in the U.S. Army, he served in the Second Seminole War with the 2nd U.S. Artillery, fought in the Mexican-American War, and was cited for his gallantry at the battles of Contreas and Churubusco. Elzey was also breveted captain for his bravery. He was then in the Third Seminole war and commanded the Augusta Arsenal in Georgia. In 1861 he sided with the South and resigned from the U.S. Army, joined the Confederate Army, and became colonel of the 1st Maryland Infantry. Elzey fought at the First Battle of Manassas in 1861 and was promoted to brigadier general by President Davis. In 1862, Elzey fought in Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign and was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Cross Keys, Va. At the Battle of Gaines' Mill, Va. he suffered a gunshot wound to the head. While recovering, he was promoted to major general on Dec. 4,1862. He was assigned command of the Department of Richmond, Va. in 1863, and in 1864 was made the Chief of Artillery in the Army of Tennessee. He was paroled at Washington, Ga. in 1865. After the war, he farmed in Anne Arundel Co., Md., and died Feb. 21, 1871, in Baltimore. He was buried in Green Mount Cemetery.
Brigadier General Thomas Pleasant Dockery was born on this day in 1833 in Montgomery County, North Carolina. He moved to Columbia Co., Arkansas, and served in the Arkansas militia in 1861. His company became part of the 5th Arkansas State Troops and fought at the Battle of Oak Hill, Mo. in 1861. After that, his unit disbanded and he helped raise and was elected colonel of the 19th Arkansas Infantry. Dockery fought in the battles of Pea Ridge, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Big Black River, Siege of Vicksburg, battles of Mount Elba, Prairie D'Ane, Poison Spring, Mark's Mills, and Jenkins' Ferry. Dockery was promoted to brigadier general on August 10, 1864. He died Feb. 26, 1898, in New York City and was buried in Natchez, Miss.
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