Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, Oct. 21.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Oct. 21. 

On This Day in Confederate History, Oct. 21.

1861: The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Va. is another early war victory in this promising year of victories for the Confederates, including the First Battle of Manassas, Va., July 21, 1861; the Battle of Oak Hills (Wilson's Creek) Aug. 10, 1861; and the Battle of Ball/s Bluff, Va. Oct. 21, 1861. Brig. Gen. Charles Stone and Brig. Gen. Edward D. Baker (U.S. Sen. & Friend of Lincoln) was in command of about 1,720 Federals. Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans commanded 1,709 Confederates. The battle developed a reconnaissance and an intended raid on Leesburg, Va. They eventually ran into Gen. Evans' Confederates at 3 o'clock that afternoon which developed into a serious battle. The Southerners drove the Northerners to the rear of the bluff, with Baker being killed at about 4:30. The 17th Mississippi Infantry under Col. Winfield Scott Featherston arrived on the scene late in the battle and staged an assault that broke the Federal line and routed the blue coats. Many Northerners drowned while crossing the Potomac River. The Federals lost 223 killed, 226 wounded, and 553 captured. The Confederates lost 36 men killed, 117 wounded, and two captured. Baker is the only sitting U.S. Senator to ever be killed in battle. 

 

Col. Winfield Scott Featherston

of the 17th Miss. Inf. was promoted

to brigadier general for his gallantry

 at Ball's Bluff, Va.

1863: The Battle of Opelousas, La. took place on this day at a railroad crossing three miles south of that important strategic town in St. Landry Parish, La. in the Great Texas Overland Expedition. Confederates have about nine regiments of cavalry, two battalions of infantry, and several artillery pieces under Brig. Gen. Tom Green. Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin commanding the Army of the Gulf had an overwhelming force. The powerful Federal artillery opened on the Southerners and the arrival of infantry drove the Confederates back and the blue coats occupied Opelousas, one of the temporary capitals of the state. Franklin held this area while awaiting further orders. Here's an excerpt from Gen. Richard Taylor's report (Officia Records: Vol. 26, Pt. 1, P. 389):  "October 22,1863. General : I have the honor to report that, on yesterday morning, the advance of the enemy along his whole line compelled me to withdraw from Opelousas. The enemy’s advance of some 5,000 up the Teche road turned our position at Opelousas. This I was prepared to expect. After some skirmishing in front of Opelousas, in which we lost 2 killed, General Green withdrew to Washington, inflicting some loss on the enemy."

 

1st Lt. William B. Champlin, Co.D & F, 2nd La. Cav. 

He was captured on Nov. 30, 1863, near the Salt

Works near New Iberia, La., and exchanged Dec. 31, 1863.

1864: Franklin-Nashville Campaign: Gen. John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee on this day raided the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad in Tennessee which supplied Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Federal army from the major supply depot at Johnsonville, Tenn.

Confederate General History, Oct. 21.

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