Click 👉 TODAY IN HISTORY (general history), Jan. 2.
ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Jan. 2.
1861: U.S. President James Buchanan refuses to recognize South Carolina's independence and orders Federal reinforcements to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, under command of Major Robert Anderson. Also, on this day in Charleston, South Carolina state troops seized Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor, which had been abandoned by the U.S. Army.
1863: Third day of the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn. (aka Stone's River). Fierce fighting resumes with the highest percentage of casualties than any other battle in the war. Major General John C. Breckinridge led attacks with heavy fighting in the "Round Forrest," also called "Hell's Half Acre," but the Yankees counterattacked and drive the Confederates back. Confederate casualties are 1,294 killed, 7,739 wounded, and 2,500 captured or missing for a total of 11,739. Federal casualties were 1,677 killed, 7,543 wounded, and 3,686 captured or missing for a total of 12,906. Among the wounded was Cpl. Sam Watkins, Co. H, 1st Tenn. Inf., who wrote the famous memoir Co. "Aytch." He wrote of his wounding, "When I was wounded, the shell and shot that struck me, knocked me winding. I said, 'O, O, I'm wounded.' and at the same time I grabbed my arm." While he was walking back to the field hospital, he saw another soldier walking along who had his left arm torn away. The soldier suddenly and without a word, dropped dead. "I was filled with wonder and horror at the site," Watkins wrote. The Confederates largely feel they won the battle, but Bragg retreated anyway, causing a lot of discontent and dissatisfaction with the general.
BATTLE OF GALVESTON: AFTERMATH: In the aftermath of the stunning liberation of Galveston, Texas by Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. John Bankhead Magruder, Magruder announced the lifting of the blockade of the port city, and the Confederate Congress passed the following resolution: "The bold, intrepid, and gallant conduct of Maj. Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, Col. Thomas Green, Maj. Leon Smith and other officers, and of the Texan Rangers and soldiers engaged in the attack on, and victory achieved over, the land and naval forces of the enemy at Galveston, on the 1st of January, 1863, eminently entitle them to the thanks of Congress and the country... This brilliant achievement, resulting, under the providence of God, in the capture of the war steamer Harriet Lane and the defeat and ignominious flight of the hostile fleet from the harbor, the recapture of the city, and the raising of the blockade of the port of Galveston, signally evinces that superior force may be overcome by skillful conception and daring courage." Confederate Congress.
Col. Joseph Cook, 1st Tex. Hvy. Arty. (Find A Grave)
Col. Joseph Cook, Cmdr., of the 1st Texas Heavy Artillery regiment led the infantry attack on the 42nd Mass. Inf.'s defenses on Kuhn's Wharf in the battle.
CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Jan. 2.
NONE.
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