Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, Dec. 23.

Click 👉TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) Dec. 23.

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 23.

1861: Trent Affair: Lord Lyons, Queen Victoria's ambassador in Washington, pressured the U.S. government to release the two Confederate commissioners to Great Britain illegally seized on the high seas by the U.S. warship San Jacinto from the British ship Trent. After a meeting between Lincoln and his cabinet, U.S. Sen. Charles Sumner advised the Northern president to order the political prisoners released.

1862: Confederate President Jefferson Davis proclaims U.S. Brig. Gen. Benjamin Butler of New Orleans occupation infamy to be an enemy of mankind. Butler, who had recently been relieved by General Nathaniel Banks, was labeled by New Orleans residents with such nicknames as "Beast Butler," for his infamous "Women's order," which many take to mean allowing rape, and "Spoons Butler," for his alleged involvement in looting. 

Captain Elijah Petty of the 17th Texas Infantry, Walker's Texas Division, writes home, "We are still here near Little Rock in a state of uncertainty waiting for orders and hoping that they will come for us to go somewhere." (Find A Grave)

Capt. Elijah Petty

17th Texas Infantry

1863: Captain Felix Pierre Poché of Mouton's Louisiana Infantry Brigade, writes in his diary, "We made about 14 miles, and encamped 32 miles from Monroe. I have not had one serious accident on my wagon train. I had today the pleasure of receiving a very acceptable present from my Friend Emile Morvan, a wonderful pair of drawers." (A Louisiana Confederate, 1972).

1864: Skirmishing occurs between General Hood's Army of Tennessee, still in retreat from the Battle of Nashville, skirmishes with pursuing Federals around Columbia, Tennessee. Columbia today is the international headquarters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. 

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Dec. 23.

Brig. Gen. David A. Weisiger

Brigadier General David Addison Weisiger was born in 1818 in Chesterfield County, Virginia. During the Mexican-American War, he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Virginia Volunteers. He also served with the Virginia Militia in the 39th Regiment between 1853 and 1860 rising to the level of colonel.  During the War for Southern Independence, he served as a major in the 4th Infantry Battalion, Virginia Militia then, on May 9, 1961, the colonel of the 12th Virginia Infantry Regiment. He fought at the Battle of Seven Pines, the Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, and as a brigade commander at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, and his promotion as a brigadier general was confirmed on June 7, 1864. His promotion was canceled, but then he was appointed again to the brigadier general rank to date from July 30, 1864, and he carried on as such in the Siege of Petersburg to the end of the war. He was wounded three times during the war and had two horses shot from under him. After the war, he made his living as a bank cashier in Petersburg, Va., and died on Feb. 23, 1899. Weisiger was buried at the historic Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg.