Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, August 17.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Aug. 17. 

On This Day in Confederate History, Aug. 17.

1863: Siege of Charleston, S.C.: Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard reported on this day an intensification of the bombardment of the Confederate forts guarding Charleston Harbor, S.C. by six Federal ironclad monitors: "Battery Wagner was bombarded heavily by the enemy about daylight on the 17th. About 9 a. m. the Ironsides and six monitors joined in the action. Their guns were turned also on Battery Gregg and Fort Sumter, a heavy cannonade being directed against those three works, but principally against Wagner, which, having only two 10-inch columbiads and one 32-pounder rifle to reply to the enemy’s fleet, maintained the unequal contest more than one hour, when Colonel [L.M.] Keitt, commanding on Morris Island, ordered the brave artillerists and their gallant officers to the cover of the bomb-proofs. During this terrible fire, the engineering department lost the valuable services of a most promising officer, Capt. J. M. Wampler, of Virginia, was killed by the explosion of a 15-inch shell. During the engagement, Captain [C. R. P.] Rodgers, commanding the monitor Weehawken, was killed in the pilothouse of his ship. In the twenty-four hours, 948 [951] shots were fired against Fort Sumter; 448 struck outside, 233 inside, and 270 passed over. The casualties in the fort amounted to 14." *Rodgers was not killed.

Col. Laurence M. Keitt

Pre-war Keitt was a U.S. Congressman

and strong Southern Rights Advocate.

1864: After skirmishing with Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's Army of the Valley, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan's numerically superior Federal Army retreats back toward Berryville, Va. for more supplies. Early's forces engaged in a sharp action with Sheridan's rearguard near Winchester.

Unidentified cavalry soldier in Confederate

 uniform and Valley Rangers, 10th Virginia Infantry Regiment hat,

 with double barrel shotgun. (Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

Confederate General Birthdays, Aug. 17.

None.

CLICK👉A History of the 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment

This is the story of one of the most unique infantry units in the Confederate Army, the 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. It was made up largely are recent immigrants to New Orleans from the cities and farms of Germany and Ireland. Raised by Colonel Augustus Reichard, a naturalized citizen of the U.S. born in Germany who was very prominent in the New Orleans German community, and the consul for several German states. He and other Germans had been active in the Louisiana State Militia and were eager to prove themselves loyal Confederates once the state seceded. They saw plenty of action during the war in such notable battles as Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and Spanish Fort. The book has footnotes, images, maps, a bibliography, an index, and an annotated roster of over 1,000 soldiers who served in the regiment.