Friday, July 25, 2025

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, July 25.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) July 25. 

On This Day in Confederate History, July 25.

1861: The U.S. Congress, on this day in 1861, passed the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution , which specifically stated the Federals were fighting for the Union and the Constitution, and not for freeing the slaves. The vote was unanimous for the passage of the resolution.

1862: The Camden Confederate newspaper in South Carolina reported on this day in 1862 that the numerical strength of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac was less than previously reported. The paper also reported on a bombardment at Vicksburg, Miss., and exchange of prisoners with "the Yankee Government," and Yankee Maj. Gen. John Pope had taken command of his Army of Virginia, in which he bragged that "I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies. . . ." It also had an outrageous story about Brig. Gen. Benjamin "Beast" Butler's infamous "women's order." The article stated, "Transparent hypocrite and unblushing liar, as well as beast."

1st Lt. William R. Macbeth
Co. B, Confederate Guards Response Battalion
KIA April 6, 1862, in the Battle of Shiloh.
He was, about 26-year-old born in Ireland
and in 1860 had a personal estate of $20,000. 
He was married to Martha Selser Bass and had a daughter,
Lydia Bass Macbeth was born in 1861.
His uniform hat is at the Confederate Memorial  Hall in New Orleans.

1864: Lt. Gen. Jubal Early and his Army of the Valley followed up the victory at Kernstown, Va., by pursuing Maj. Gen. George Crook's Federal forces and heavily skirmishing with them at Martinsburg, Va. Gen. Robert E. Lee reported on this pursuit in a report dated July 26, he wrote, "General Early states he attacked Major-General Crook on the 24th instant on the old battle-field of Kernstown, completely routing him, and pursued him five miles beyond Winchester, where he was compelled to halt from the exhaustion of his men, they had marched twenty-five miles that day. The pursuit was continued by the cavalry. Among the prisoners captured was General [James A.] Mulligan, mortally wounded.  Brigadier-General [Robert D.] Lilley and our other officers and men captured on the 20th were recovered. The strength of the enemy is stated to have been 15,000 infantrymen, besides the cavalry under [William] Averell."

Brig. Gen. Robert D. Lilley, who 
had been captured July 20, 1864, at
Stephenson's Depot but was recovered. He was also
wounded three times and his right arm amputated.

Confederate General Birthdays, July 25.

None.

A history of Company B, 1st Special Battalion (Wheat's), Louisiana Volunteers in the War Between the States. The Tiger Rifles, Company B, of Wheat's Battalion became famous because of their flashy Zouave uniforms, their famous battalion commander, Major Roberdeau Wheat, and their heroics at the First Battle of Manassas. Their nickname, Tigers, became attached, first to the battalion, and then to all Louisiana troops serving in the Army of Northern Virginia. The book tries to separate fact from myth about the Tigers. The men became so notorious for their antics in camp, they got blamed for a lot of things they didn't do, although they did plenty on their own to deserve their reputation. Also examined is the possible real identity of their company commander, Captain Alexander White. His name is an alias, but as far as is known, his real identity has been a mystery. The book focuses tightly on the men of the Tiger Rifles and brings them to life as much as the limited resources allow.

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