Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, December 13.

Click 👉Today in History: December 13 (historynet.com), Dec. 13

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 13

1861: Battle of Camp Allegheny (Allegheny Mountain), Pocahontas County, (West) Virginia. Confederate Colonel Edward Johnson's Confederates repulsed an attack by Federal Brigadier General Robert Milroy's Federals. The Confederate casualties numbered 146 to the Federals numbered 137. The victory gained Johnson the nickname "Allegheny" Johnson. He was promoted to brigadier general dated from Dec. 13, 1861. Johnson would eventually become a major general and one of General Lee's best division commanders.

Maj. Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson

1862: Third Day of the Battle of Fredericksburg -- General Burnsides launches his Federal Army of the Potomac on a futile and bloody charge on General Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia firmly entrenched in Mayre's Heights. The charge is repulsed with massive casualties on the Federal side. But among the Confederate casualties is the mortally wounded Confederate Brig. Gen. Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb of Georgia, whose brigade was defending the "Sunken Road" part of the Confederate defense line. On the Federal side, Brig. Gen. George Dashiell Bayard was mortally wounded by an enemy shell. Also, Federal Brig. Conrad Feger Jackson was killed in action by a gunshot wound to the head in the attack.

Major Thomas A. Brander

was wounded Dec. 13, 1862

at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va.

Co. A, 20th Va. Infantry Regiment

& Richmond "Letcher" Virginia

Light Artillery Battery

(Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress)

1864: Confederate Fort McAllister, Savannah, Georgia, falls to Sherman's bummers. The fort was defended by only 230 Confederates under Maj. George Wayne Anderson. The fort was quickly overrun by the attacking Federals. Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee, seeing the futility in trying to defend Savannah with his greatly outnumbered 10,000-man garrison, chose to evacuate the city and save his army to fight another day. 

CLICK 👉Confederate States Rangers of the 10th Louisiana Infantry

This is the history of Company K, Confederate States Rangers,

and the regiment to which it belonged, the 10th Louisiana Infantry.

It fought in nearly every major engagement of General Robert E. Lee's

Army of Northern Virginia, including the Yorktown Peninsula of 1862, the

Seven Days, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg (Antietam),

Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, The Wilderness,

Spotsylvania Court House, the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864,

Petersburg, and Appomattox. The book features photographs, illustrations,

maps, a bibliography, and an Index.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Dec. 13

None.

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, December 12.

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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, Dec. 12

1862: The second day of the Battle of Fredericksburg--The Federal army lands more troops in Fredericksburg and fights house to house, clearing out Confederate sharpshooters of Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade. The main Confederate battle line is firmly dug in on Marie Heights beyond the city. Looting and violence in the city by the Northern soldiers became out of control. Federal troops also land south of the city. Confederate Brig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg was among the casualties on this day in the battle. His men were taking a break when they were unexpectedly fired upon by some Federals.

Brig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg

Mortally wounded on this day in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

CLICK 👉Confederate States Rangers of the 10th Louisiana Infantry

This is the history of Company K, Confederate States Rangers,

and the regiment to which it belonged, the 10th Louisiana Infantry.

It fought in nearly every major engagement of General Robert E. Lee's

Army of Northern Virginia, including the Yorktown Peninsula of 1862, the

Seven Days, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg (Antietam),

Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, The Wilderness,

Spotsylvania Court House, the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864,

Petersburg, and Appomattox. The book features photographs, illustrations,

maps, a bibliography, and an Index.

1864: In the Siege of Savannah, Ga., Sherman's army, numbering some 62,000 men, moved into positions north, west, and south of the city. Confederate Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee, with his 10,000-man defense force, is occupying prepared fortifications around the city, and the terrain, including swamps, rivers, and rice fields, helps the Confederates as well. The Southerners now wait for the blue coats, who were in contact with the Federal blockading fleet, to make a move.

 

Lt. Col. Charles C. Jones Jr.

Commanded all Confederate artillery 

during the siege.

( Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.)

CONFEDERATE GENERAL Birthdays, Dec. 12

Brigadier General Paul Octave Hébert was born on this day in 1818 in Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, Louisiana. Hébert graduated from West Point at the top of his class in 1840. He resigned from the army in 1845 but returned the next year for the Mexican-American War. His battles included Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and Mexico City. In the years that followed served as the Louisiana state engineer and the Louisiana governor. During the War for Southern Independence, Hébert commanded the Department of Texas and was in the Battle of Milliken's Bend, La. He returned to Texas and served there for the rest of the war. Following the War, Hébert became a Republican and was appointed to the state Board of Engineers and the U.S. Engineers for the Mississippi River Commission. He died Aug. 29, 1880, on his plantation at Bayou Goula, La., and was buried in St. Paul's Cemetery in Bayou Goula. Later, because of encroachment by the Mississippi River, he had to be reburied at St. Raphael Catholic Church Cemetery in Point Pleasant, La.

Brig. Gen. Paul O. Hébert

Brigadier General Joseph Orville Shelby was born on this day in 1830, in Lexington, Kentucky. Before the war, he ran a hemp plantation and sawmill in Missouri. He was involved in the prewar border trouble between Missouri and Kansas. During the War for Southern Independence, he became one of the great cavalry generals of the war with the rank of brigadier general. His battles included Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Shelby's Riad, the Camden Expedition, and Price's Missouri Expedition. Following the war, Shelby led a contingent of Confederates into Mexico with the hope of serving Emperor Maximilian but was declined and given land for the New Virginia Colony near Veracruz. In 1867, Shelby came back to Missouri, served as the U.S. Marshall for the Western District of that state, and died on Feb. 13, 1897, in Bates County, Mo., and was buried in Forest Hill Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, December 11.d

Click👉Today in History, Dec. 11.

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY Dec. 11.

1861: A great fire burns a large swath of Charleston, S.C. on this day. The fire was fueled by high winds. General Robert E. Lee was staying in Charleston at the Mills House Hotel at that time. He helped others evacuate, and then he went to the Edmonston-Alston House on East Battery. The fire roared on until the next day, when it burned itself out. The conflagration consumed 540 acres, 575 homes, and many businesses, as well as five churches. Damages were estimated at between $5 million and $8 million.

Gen. Lee was staying in Charleston

at the time of the great fire.

(Cdv, M.D. Jones Collection)

1862: The First Day of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., saw urban warfare in the town itself when Federals crossed the river on pontoon bridges and were met with blistering fire from Confederate artillery and infantry, primarily from Brig. Gen. William Barksdale Brigade, fighting house to house. The Confederates' main line of defense was as little beyond the town on Mary's Heights. The fighting continued until nightfall, and the Yankees' crossing wasn't completed until the next day.

 

Pvt. Austin A. Trescott, Co. A, 21st Miss. Inf.

Holding the regimental battle flag. The 21st was

in the Barksdale Brigade. (Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

1863:  In the Mississippi River, the Federal Navy ironclad USS Carondelet became stuck on a sandbar and was fired upon by Confederate artillery. However, the heavier fire from the gunboat drove off the Confederate guns.

Click👉1st Louisiana Zouaves: Jeff Davis'd Pet Wolves

    This is the story of one of the most unique and famed Louisiana units in the

 War for Southern Independence, the 1st Louisiana Zouaves. Made up largely 

of foreigners from many countries, the men wore the gaudy French Zouave

 uniform and fought with a fierce determination for the new Southern Republic. 

    The battalion's battles included the burning of Hampton, VA, the battles of

Williamsburg, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, 

2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg, 

Suffolk, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad (aka Jerusalem Plank Road), and went

 on special assignments behind enemy lines to gather intelligence for 

General  Robert E. Lee. Commanding the battalion was Lt. Colonel Georges 

A.G.Coppens and M. Alfred Coppens, and Majors Fulgence 

DeBordenave and Waldemar Hyllested.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, DEC. 11

NONE.

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day In History/ On This Day in Confederate General History/ Confederate General Birthdays, December 10.

 Click 👉 TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) Dec. 10

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 10

1861: The Confederate Congress admits Kentucky to the Confederacy as the 13th State. Both President Davis and President Lincoln are native-born Kentuckians. George W. Johnson was the first Confederate governor of Kentucky and was the one who applied to President Jefferson Davis for his state's admission to the Confederacy. He served as a volunteer aide to Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge at the Battle of Shiloh. He was then sworn in as a private in the 4th Kentucky Infantry and fought on the second day of the battle and was mortally wounded and captured. He died in captivity on April 8, 1862, and his body was shipped to Georgetown, Ky. where he was buried.

Gov. George W. Johnson of Kentucky

He died a hero's death at the Battle of Shiloh

(Kentucky Historical Society)

1862: Port Royal, Virginia, is bombarded by Federal gunboats. The Federals were responding to the Confederate shore batteries that bombarded them.

1864: Confederate Lt. Gen. William Hardee, commander at Savannah, Georgia, floods rice fields to narrow the avenues of attack by the Federals. Sherman's bummers arrive outside the city. Hardee has 18,000 men to defend the city and Sherman has 60,000. The scene was set for the Battle of Fort McAllister, Ga., three days later.

.

Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee

Click👉1st Louisiana Zouaves: Jeff Davis'd Pet Wolves

    This is the story of one of the most unique and famed Louisiana units in the

 War for Southern Independence, the 1st Louisiana Zouaves. Made up largely 

of foreigners from many countries, the men wore the gaudy French Zouave

 uniform and fought with a fierce determination for the new Southern Republic. 

    The battalion's battles included the burning of Hampton, VA, the battles of

Williamsburg, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, 

2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg, 

Suffolk, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad (aka Jerusalem Plank Road), and went

 on special assignments behind enemy lines to gather intelligence for 

General  Robert E. Lee. Commanding the battalion was Lt. Colonel Georges 

A.G.Coppens and M. Alfred Coppens, and Majors Fulgence 

DeBordenave and Waldemar Hyllested.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Dec. 10

None

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

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, December 8.

  Click 👉TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) Dec. 8 

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 8.

1861: The Confederate cruiser C.S.S. Sumter seizes a Yankee whaler, Eben Dodge, in the Atlantic Ocean. The Sumter was commanded by legendary Captain Raphael Semmes and was a converted merchant steamer named Habana, which was built in 1859. It had a top speed of 10 knots and was armed with one 8-inch shell gun and four 32-pounders.

CSS Sumter flying an Argentine flag while 

stalking Yankee merchant ships.

1864: EBENEZER CREEK MASSACRE: Confederate cavalry was following Sherman's Federals on their march of destruction across Georgia. At rain-swollen Ebenezer Creek near Bryan Court House, Georgia, Confederate cavalry under Gen. "Fighting Joe" Wheeler was harassing the rear guard of the U.S. 14th Army Corps. The Federals were being followed by thousands of runaway slaves, but after the bluecoats crossed the rain-swollen creek, orders were given by the Federals were given to pull up the pontoons and not allow the desperate slaves to cross. Hundreds or thousands are estimated to have drowned attempting to cross the creek between Dec. 8-10.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Dec. 8.

Brigadier General Robert Bullock was born on this day in 1828, in Greenville, North Carolina. He moved to Sumter County, Florida, where he taught school. Bullock served in the Seminole War of 1856 as a captain of Florida mounted volunteers. During the War for Southern Independence, he was a captain in the 7th Florida Infantry in the Confederate Army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1863 and to brigadier general on Nov. 29, 1864. Bullock's battles and campaigns included Chickamauga and the Atlanta Campaign, and he was severely wounded in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Following the war, Bullock became a lawyer, was elected to Congress, and to a judgeship in Marion County, Florida in 1903. He died July 27, 1905, in Ocala, Florida, and was buried there in Evergreen Cemetery.

Brig. Gen. Robert Bullock is seen here as a 

postwar member of the U.S. Congress.

(Library of Congress)

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate General Birthdays, December 7.

Click 👉 THIS DAY IN HISTORY (general history) Dec. 7

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, Dec. 7.

1861: Confederates and Federals clash at Dam Number Five on the Potomac River in Virginia.

Another Confederate citizen, James Waters Zacharie of New Orleans, Louisiana, a Confederate purchasing agent, is illegally seized on the British ship Eugenia Smith, by the USS Santiago de Cuba. He was a veteran of the Battle of New Orleans in 1814-15. His son, Howard Henderson Zacharie who was a major in the Confederate Army with a distinguished record and was in command of a cavalry division at the end of the war. The 1st Louisiana Zouaves' battles include the Raid on Hampton, VA,

 

Maj. Howard H. Zacharie

He originally was commisioned the captain

of Co. C, 1st Bn. La. Zouaves, he was later

ordered to report to Maj. Gen. J.B. Magruder

to serve as the staff A.I.G. in Brig. Gen. J.P.

Major's Cavalry Brigade.

(Find A Grave) 

Click👉1st Louisiana Zouaves: Jeff Davis'd Pet Wolves

This is the story of one of the most unique and famed Louisiana units in the

 War for Southern Independence, the 1st Louisiana Zouaves. Made up largely 

of foreigners from many countries, the men wore the gaudy French Zouave

 uniform and fought with a fierce determination for the new Southern Republic. 

The battalion's battles included the burning of Hampton, VA, the battles of

Williamsburg, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, 

2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg, 

Suffolk, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad (aka Jerusalem Plank Road) and went

 on special assignments behind enemy lines to gather intelligence for General 

Robert E. Lee. Commanding the battalion were Lt. Colonel Georges A.G.

 Coppens and M. Alfred Coppens, and Majors Fulgence DeBordenave and 

Waldemar Hyllested.

1862: Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee -- Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan, operating on Federal communication lines, attacks a crossing of the Cumberland River at Hartsville, Tennessee, captures the Federal outpost after a bombardment and charge, and withdraws with 2,004 prisoners.

The Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas -- A Confederate force under General Thomas Hindman attacks a Federal Force under General James G. Blunt. The Federals numbered about 9,000 men and the Confederates about 11,000. After the indecisive fight, the Confederates retreated, giving the Federals control of Northwestern Arkansas. Federal casualties numbered 1,251 and Confederate casualties, 1,251.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Hindman

1863: The fourth session of the First Confederate Congress convenes in Richmond, Virginia.

1864: Third Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, ends in defeat for the Confederates when two brigades of Federals venture out of their fortifications and drive off General Bates's infantry, while General Forrest's cavalry conducts an orderly retreat.

CONFEDERATE VETERAN HISTORY, Dec. 7.

NONE