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

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Aug. 30.

On This Day in Confederate History, Aug. 30.

1862: In the Second Manassas Campaign, Confederate and Federal artillery batteries duel with their big guns across the rain-swollen Rappahannock River in 1862. Meanwhile, generals Stonewall Jackson and JEB Stuart prepare to carry out General Robert E. Lee's plan to outflank the Yankees under the arrogant and pompous Maj. Gen. John Pope. There was also skirmishing across the river at Beverly Ford, Fant's Ford, and Springfield Springs, Va.

Pvt. W.T. (William Thomas) Harbison, Co. B, 11th N.C. Inf.

According to his military service record,

he was 18 (but may have been 17) and from Burke Co., N.C.

 when he enlisted on Feb. 1, 1862. He served in most

of the battles of his regiment and was wounded

in the right leg by a sharpshooter at Cold

Harbor, Va. June 12, 1864, but survived the war.

He farmed in North Carolina after the war,

married, had a family, and died on July 18, 1896.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

1863: The Federal heavy artillery piece they call the Swamp Angel blows up as it bombards the city of Charleston, Morris Island, and Fort Sumter. The massive 16,500 pound rifled-Parrott gun was supposed to terrify the civilian population of Charleston and knock down the walls of Fort Sumter. But the big gun burst after just 36 rounds was fired. It was fired from the Marsh Battery near Morris Island.

A Confederate artillery crew near Charleston, S.C.

1864: Siege of Fort Morgan, Ala.: The Confederate garrison on Fort Morgan at the opening of Mobile Bay surrendered on this day after a siege that started on August 5, 1864. All the fort's guns had been knocked out by the heavy bombardment of both the Federal army's and navy's big guns. Few men were killed and the City of  Mobile will hold out to the end of the war. The commander of the fort, Brig. Gen. Richard Page said he had nothing left to fight with.

Confederate General Birthdays, Aug. 30.

None.