Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, Sept. 2.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Sept. 2. 

On This Day in Confederate History, Sept. 2.

1862: Following the victorious Second Manassas Campaign, President Davis and General Lee planned an invasion of Maryland with the Army of Northern Virginia, while General Bragg planned a movement with the Army of Tennessee to liberate Kentucky which became known as the Confederate Heartland Campaign. In addition, Confederates were strengthening their strongholds in the Mississippi River with their fortresses at Vicksburg and 200 miles south on the Louisiana side of the river at Port Hudson. Chances for Southern Independence looked bright, as well as possible European recognition.

Three unidentified soldiers in 

Confederate artillerymen uniforms.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

1863: General P.G.T. Beauregard reported on the ongoing masterful Confederate defense in the Siege of Charleston, S.C. He reported: "At 11.40 p. m. six monitors opened on Fort Sumter from distances of 800 to 1,000 yards. They were joined at 1 a. m. of the 2d by the Ironsides, and together fired 185 shots, of which 116 struck outside, 35 inside, and 34 passed over. The projectiles used were an 8-inch Parrott rifle shell, an 11 and 15-inch smooth-bore shot, and shell. Fort Sumter was unable to answer, not having a gun in working order; but a heavy fire was kept up on the fleet from Fort Moultrie with good effect, two of the monitors being apparently injured and requiring assistance when they retired. The effect of this fire on Fort Sumter was thus described by the engineer officer: The chief external injury has been done upon the east scarp, which now has lost its integrity, and hangs upon the arches apparently in blocks and detached masses. The remainder of the day passed in comparative quiet. The fleet was occupied in placing sandbags on the decks of the monitors, the enemy’s land batteries firing but 148 shots; 38 of these were directed against Sumter. In the same period, our batteries fired sixty-six times. During the night, the enemy in front of Wagner was engaged in strengthening his advanced position, which was then within 80 or 100 yards of the salient. Owing to the difficulty of transporting ammunition to Battery Wagner, the fire from that work was slack."

Siege of Charleston, South Carolina

1864: At the skirmish at Franklin, Tennessee on this day in Wheeler's Raid on Sherman's supply line, Brigadier General John Herbert Kelly was mortally wounded. Kelly, the youngest Confederate brigadier general, was hit in the chest by a bullet fired by a federal sharpshooter. The young general was taken to the Harrison House where he was treated by Confederate surgeons. However, on the following day, the Confederates had to move but Kelly could not be moved, and he was captured by the Federals. He died September 4, 1864, and was buried the next day in the Harrison House Garden. The community provided a coffin and fresh clothing for the burial, under his uniform. After the war, in 1866, he was moved to the historic Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama, and reburied. He is remembered today in Gordo, Alabama which has a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp named in his honor. Kelly was born March 31, 1840, in Carrollton, Alabama, and became an orphan at age 3. He was raised by his grandmother and an uncle, U.S. Rep. Philemon T. Herbert, who helped him get into West Point. But he resigned a few months before graduation when Alabama seceded. Joining the Confederate Army as a second lieutenant, fought at Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Perryville, Chickamauga, Pickett's Mill, and Franklin-Nashville. He was promoted to brigadier general at age 23 on Nov. 16, 1863.

Brig. Gen. John H. Kelly

Confederate General Birthdays, Sept. 2.

None.