Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, Dec. 9.

Click 👉TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) Dec. 9 

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 9.

1861: KING COTTON: Cotton planters burn their cotton along the Southern Atlantic coast rather than see it falling into the hands of Northern textile mills. The South would also use cotton in diplomacy and as a source of revenue to buy needed war supplies.

 

Pvt. Burton Marchbanks, Co. E, 30th Texas Cavalry

(Layland Museum/ Cleburne, TX/colorized)

The Battle of Chusto-Talasha, IT (Okla,) took place when pro-South Indians drove out pro-Federal Indians at Bird Creek, which later became Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Confederates, numbering about 1,300 were under the command of Brig. Gen. Douglas H. Cooper and the Federals had between 2,000 and 2,5000 warriors under Chief Opothleyahola. The Confederates struck first, and the fighting lasted about 4 hours and the Federals finally retreated. The Federal casualties were estimated at 500 and the Confederates lost 15 killed and 47 wounded. A more decisive battle would be fought later in the month in the Indian Territory.

Brig. Gen. Stand Watie was the highest-ranking American Indian in the Confederate Army.

   

Battle flag of Gen. Watie's 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles

(Wilson's Creek Battlefield, NPS)

1862: Fredericksburg, Va. Campaign: Federal General Ambrose Burnside decided on this day to attack the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia left, thinking General Lee had strengthened the Confederate right. Lee had Longstreet on the left and Jackson on the right. The Confederates were ready and waiting for the attack.

Pvt. Christopher Swann

Powhatan, Va. Light Artillery

Wounded at Fredericksburg.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

 1863: Mutiny at Fort Jackson: The 4th Regiment, U.S. Infantry, Corps d'Afrique (former Louisiana Native Guards) mutinied at Fort Jackson, La. on the Mississippi River when two of their men were whipped by white Federal officers.  The U.S. Colored troops there were protesting this mistreatment by their officers. The commanding officer, Lt. Col. Augustus Benedict, was found guilty by court martial of inflicting unusual punishment and dismissed from the service. Twelve of the black soldiers were charged with being ringleaders of the mutiny. Two were found guilty and sentenced to be executed. Three were found not guilty and the others were found guilty and sentenced to various years of hard labor. The two death sentences were suspended, and the men ordered to be confined at Fort Jefferson, Fla.

1864: Skirmishing breaks out at Hatcher's Run near Petersburg, Virginia, between Federals scouting the earthworks there, and Confederates.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS

None.