Click 👉Today in History (general history) August 5.
On This Day in Confederate History, August 5.
1862: The Battle of Baton Rouge, La. occurred on this day 160 years ago when a Confederate Army attacked the Federal garrison in the capital city of Louisiana. Leading the attack was Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge with his Orphan (Kentucky) Brigade, in two divisions with two brigades each, and a brigade in reserve but not engaged. There were also three artillery batteries, a total of 2,600 men. The Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Arkansas was supposed to neutralize the Federal warships docked there, but it had a mechanical breakdown on the way. The Federals, under Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams had one brigade of infantry and four batteries of artillery with 2,500 men. However, there were 10 powerful Federal warships at Baton Rouge. Breckinridge launched his attack at daybreak after an exhausting march from Camp Moore to Baton Rouge. The Confederates drove the Federals back well into the city in bloody fighting, but when they got within range the Federal warships had to stop and wait for the Arkansas, which never showed up. Unable to match the Federal gunboat's heavy naval guns, with his comparatively small field artillery, Breckinridge had no alternative but to withdraw. Confederate casualties were about 84 killed, 315 wounded, and 57 missing for a total of between 446 and 456. Federal casualties included General Williams who was killed in action, 84 killed, 266 wounded, and 33 captured or missing for a total of 383. Although the Federals won the battle, they were so shaken by their vulnerability, that they evacuated Baton Rouge a week later and the Confederates returned and occupied the city without another fight.
1864: The Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama occurs when a Federal fleet under Admiral David G. Farragut blasts its way past forts Morgan and Gaines on either side of the entrance of the bay and engages the Confederate fleet under Admiral Franklin Buchanan. The Federals had 12 wooden warships, two gunboats, and four ironclads. The Confederate had three gunboats and one ironclad, the C.S.S. Tennessee. Federal land forces numbered 5,500 and the Confederate garrisons in the forts numbered about 1,500. The four Federal ironclads led the attack with the U.S.S. Tecumseh the spearhead with action between the forts and ships becoming general. The Tecumseh tried to engage Tennessee but was sunk by an underwater mine, called a torpedo at that time before it could engage the Confederate ironclad. Tennessee engaged with the other warships but its ammunition proved to be defective and it was battered into submission after about three hours. Fort Gaines was captured by the Federals and the bluecoat infantry was moved across the bay out of range of Fort Morgan's guns and put under siege. The fort eventually surrendered on August 23. Confederate casualties amounted to just 13 killed and 22 wounded, but 1,587 men were captured. The Tennessee and two gunboats were also captured. The Federals lost 151 men killed, mostly from the Tecumseh, 177 wounded, and the Tecumseh sunk. It would take a much longer land campaign to capture the city of Mobile, which held out till the end of the war.
Confederate General Birthdays, August 5.
Brigadier General Carnot Posey was born on this day in 1813 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. A lawyer and planter in Woodville, Miss., he gained military experience in the Mexican-American War as a first lieutenant in Col. Jefferson Davis' 1st Mississippi Rifles. Posey was wounded in the Battle of Buena Vista, Mexico. Following that he was appointed by President James Buchanan as the U.S. District Attorney of Southern Mississippi. Posey became a captain in the 16th Mississippi Infantry in 1861 and served in Virginia under General Robert E. Lee. He was promoted to brigadier general on Jan. 18, 1863. His battles included Criss Keys (slightly wounded), Seven Days Battles, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. General Posey was mortally wounded on October 14, 1863, during the Battle of Bristoe Station, Va. When the wound became infected, he died on Nov. 13, 1863, in Richmond, Va., and was buried there in the University of Virginia Cemetery.
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