Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/Confederate General Birthdays, Oct. 5.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Oct. 5. 

On This Day in Confederate History, Oct. 5.

1862:The Battle of Hatchie Bridge, Tenn. happened on this day as the Confederate Army of the West under Major General Earl Van Dorn and Sterling Price withdrew from the failed attempt to retake the important railroad junction at Corinth, Miss. They faced Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord with Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut's division of infantry artillery and cavalry. The Confederates under Price found the Federals blocking their way and were pushed back to the Hatchie River. Van Dorn just found another way to their destination to Holly Springs, Miss. The Federals had about 500 casualties and the Confederates had 400.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Dill Lee 

who led the victory at Chickasaw Bayou, Miss.,

was wounded at Champion's Hill, Miss., 

captured at Vicksburg, led a corps in the

Atlanta Campaign, and gave the SCV its

"Charge," (mission statement) in New Orleans

in 1906. (Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

1863: Maj. Gen. Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler's Confederate cavalry destroyed an important railroad bridge over Stone's River near Murfreesboro, Tenn. which seriously hampered the flow of food to the besieged Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga. 

1864: The Battle of Allatoona Pass, Ga. took place on this day as a division of Confederates of the Army of Tennessee unsuccessfully attacked a Federal garrison under Brig. Gen. John M. Corse. Confederate Maj. Gen. Samuel G. French's division was tasked with clearing the pass, which was solidly fortified by the Yankees. Corse had 2,025 men manning the trenches there while Gen. French had 3,276 men to try to take it. The Confederates bombarded the position for two hours and then asked for a surrender, which was refused. Southern infantry then moved on the forts but the bluecoats held their positions. When he got word that Federal reinforcements were on the way, Gen. French decided to withdraw. Total Federal casualties were 706 to 897 for the Confederates.

Battle of Allatoona Pass, Ga.

Confederate General Birthdays, Oct. 5.

Brigadier General George Washington Gordon was born on this day in 1836 in Giles County, Tennessee. Gorden grew up in Mississippi and Texas and was a graduate of the Western Military Institute in Nashville, Tenn. During the war, he served as colonel of the 11th Tennessee Infantry and was promoted to brigadier general in August of 1864. He led a brigade at the Battle of Franklin, Tenn. After the war, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 10th Congressional District of Tennessee. He died on August 9, 1911, and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Brig. Gen. George W. Gordon