Click 👉 Today in History (general history) May 7.
On This Day in Confederate History, May 7.
1862: The Battle of Eltham's Landing, Va. occurs in the Peninsular Campaign. In this battle, the Confederates under Maj. Gen. G.W. Smith and William H.C. Whiting thwart a Federal attempt under Maj. Gen. William Franklin to outflank the Confederate forces still withdrawing to Richmond. Franklin landed his 11,300-man division but they were blocked by 11,000 Confederates in several brigades. The battle was the first battle for Hood's Texas Brigade-1st, 4th & 5th Texas & the 18th Georgia infantry regiments. The Confederates suffered 48 casualties to 194 for the Federals.
1864: The Battle of the Wilderness ends in a victory for General Robert E. Lee in his first direct clash with Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant. With just 61,025 men in the battle, Lee blocked Grant's 101,895-man advance through the Wilderness. Grant made a serious mistake in not taking the advice of his officers who had advised against his strategy. The Federals suffered 17,666 casualties, including 2,246 killed, 12,037 wounded, and 3,383 captured or missing. The Confederates had 11,033 casualties, including 1,477 killed, 7,866 wounded, and 1,690 captured or missing.
In the Red River Campaign in western Louisiana, Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor reports that the previous day there was brisk skirmishing on the Rapides road and some severe fighting on the Robert and Boeuf roads. "After heavy cannonading for some hours, the enemy advanced on our line. His attack threw both our flanks into some confusion when Bagby (Texas Cavalry Brigade) led a charge on the center and drove him across the Lamourie. Our line occupied the scene of fighting and slept last night on their arms. Polignac commanded on the field. Prisoners captured were of the Seventeenth Corps, some of the Vicksburg troops," Taylor reported. (Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 34, Pt. 1, 589.)
Confederate General Birthdays, May 7.
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