Click 👉Today in History (general history) Oct. 31.
On This Day in Confederate History, Oct. 31.
1862: Battle of Port Lavaca, Texas: Two Federal warships, Clifton and Westfield, bombarded the coastal Texas town of Port Lavaca after Confederate defenders refused to surrender. Lt. George E. Conklin [8th Texas Infantry/Capt. B.F. Neal's Artillery Co.], post adjutant at Port Lavaca, reported, "At 1p.m. they sent a boat with a flag of truce on shore, which was met by Major [Daniel] Shea [8th Texas Infantry/4th Battery Texas Artillery], accompanied by four of the citizens of the town. A short interview succeeded, during which a demand was made to surrender the town. They were answered by the commanding officer that he was there to defend it and should do so to the best of his ability with all the means he had at hand. A demand was then made for time to remove the women, children, and sick persons from town. The officer in charge of the flag replied that one hour was the time he was authorized to grant, but in consideration of the fact that an epidemic (yellow fever) was still raging in the town, he would extend the time to one hour and a half; at the expiration of which period, they moved up abreast the town and opened fire from both steamers on both the town and batteries. At this time there were many women and children still in the place, they have been unable, for want of time to leave. Our batteries promptly returned fire." The Confederate batteries struck the gunboats several times causing them to withdraw. They then anchored out of the range of the Confederate batteries and continued their bombardment, which would be continued into the next day.
1863: Bombardment of Charleston, S.C.: The Federal Navy bombarded the iconic Confederate bastion in Charleston, South Carolina harbor reducing it to rubble. Here's the National Park Service summary: "Sumter's 'sea front' (right flank), upright and relatively unscathed till then, was breached now for nearly half its length. The ramparts and arches of its upper casemates were cut down and the interior barracks were demolished. The accumulated debris made ascent easy inside and out. Through the breach, the Federal guns took the channel fronts in reverse.' For the first time, these were exposed to direct fire; soon they were 'cut and jagged.' Still, the gorge ruin remained much the same; to Admiral Dahlgren, that 'heap of rubbish' looked 'invincible.' " The Federal armada fired a total of 2,961 shells at the fort, but the Confederate flag still flew over Charleston until near the end of the war.
1864: Confederate and Federal cavalry units from the Army of Tennessee and Sherman's army skirmished near Shoal Creek, Alabama on this day in 1864. General John Bell Hood plans to move his army into Tennessee which cheered the Tennessee troops in the army.
Confederate General Birthdays, Oct. 31.
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