Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthday, Dec. 20.

Click👉Today in History, (general history) Dec. 20.

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 20.

1860: South Carolina secedes from the Union. The state justified its secession by citing the U.S. Declaration of Independence that whenever any "form of government becomes destructive of the ends for which it was established, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government." South Carolina continued preparations to defend its right to independence and awaited actions of other Southern states, six more of which followed its lead and instituted the Confederate States of America by February 1861.

A young Southron wearing a Secession cockade and ribbon.

(9th plate ambrotype, M.D. Jones Collection)

British sergeant, 47th

Regiment of Foot

Circa 1860s

(CDV, M.D. Jones Collection)

1861: In case of war with the United States over the Trent Affair, Great Britain sent two advance ships to Canada. The 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot was among the troops sent to Canada. It also helped the Canadians repel the Fenian invasion from the United States in 1866.

1862: Confederate General Earl Van Dorn attacked the Federal supply depot at Holly Springs Holly Springs, Mississippi and destroyed $1.5 million worth of supplies, and captured 1,500 bluecoats. Grant's campaign against Vicksburg is delayed and he failed to join Sherman in consequence the outnumbered Confederates there scored a signal victory over the Federals.

Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn

1864: General Hardee's Escape from Savannah: General Hardee moves his Confederate Army out of Savannah before being trapped by Sherman. The Confederates march northward in hopes of finding reinforcements.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Dec. 20.

Brigadier General Richard Lucian Page was born on this day in 1807 in Clarke County, Virginia. He started his military as a U.S. Navy midshipman in 1824 and served with distinction and achieved the rank of commander by the time he resigned in 1861. Page initially served in the Virginia Navy and was commissioned a commander in the Confederate Navy on June 10, 1861. He was promoted to captain soon after, equivalent to a colonel in the army, and served naval forces on land and sea. On March 1, 1864, he joined the C.S. Army and was commissioned a brigadier general. He was given command of the outer defenses of Mobile, Ala. at Fort Morgan. He surrendered the fort on Aug. 23, 1864. He was imprisoned at Fort Delaware, Del. until Sept. 1865. After the war, he was superintendent of public schools from 1875 to 1883. Page died in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. on Aug. 9, 1861. His final resting place is in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.

Brig. Gen. Richard L. Page