Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, June 16.

 Click👉Today in History, June 16

 On This Day in Confederate History, June 16.

1862: In the Battle of Secessionville, S.C., Confederate troops repulse a Federal attack on a fort on St. James Island. Northern Brig. Gen. Henry Benham with 6,600 troops against Southern Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans with 2,000 troops. The attack was part of a Federal attempt to capture Charleston, S.C. The main attack was on Fort Johnson, commanded by Col. T.G. Lamar, with 750 men. The Federals lost 607 casualties to 204 for the Confederates.

1863: At the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. Confederate Brig. Gen. John C. Vaughn writes: "The usually sharpshooting on my line yesterday. The artillery fire was directed altogether on my right. The enemy is strengthening their works near the Edwards house and has some new ones in the process of construction, but not any nearer than those erected sometime since. One killed in the Sixty-first Tennessee."

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Col. William R. Miles writes: "The fleet was again quiet last night. The land batteries have fired at intervals during the day. Sharpshooting, as usual, resulted in the killing of 1 man. The enemy's works on my right continue to progress rapidly toward completion. They threw up a parallel and traverse last night, the parallel distant about 150 yards from the brow of the hill upon which Battery No. 11 is placed. The enemy's fatigue parties have been driven from their work several times during the day by shells thrown by Capt. [S.M.] Thomas' pieces in the outer work on the Troth road. He has instructions to fire at distant intervals during the night, to prevent any further work, if possible.

Maj. Boling R. Chinn

9th Battalion, Louisiana Infantry

served in brigade of Col. W.R. Miles at Port Hudson

Click👉9th Battalion Louisiana Infantry

In the Battle of Baton Rouge and Siege of Port Hudson

This is the history of the 9th Battalion Louisiana Infantry 

which fought at the Battle of Baton Rouge and the Siege of Port Hudson, 

Louisiana in the War for Southern Independence. The unit took part in the 

famous charge of Allen's Brigade at Baton Rouge. The men of the unit were

 fighting in defense of their own home area since most were from 

East Baton Rouge and nearby parishes.

1864: On the second day of the Second Battle of Petersburg, Va., Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard managed to assemble 14,000 to repel Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant's 50,000 Federals. While outnumbered, the Confederates have the advantage of fighting from well-built fortifications. Grant launches attacks by three corps, but all are repelled by the fiercely fighting Confederates.

Confederate General Birthdays, June 16.

None.

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthday, June 15

Click 👉Today in History (general history) June 15. 

On This Day in Confederate History, June 15.

1862: Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's command finished its historic ride around the Yankee army on this day. Stuart gathered vital intelligence for General Robert E. Lee, who was planning his Seven Days Campaign to drive the Federal Army away from Richmond, Virginia.

Click👉The Second Louisiana Infantry 

Featured on the cover is Pvt. Edwin Francis Jemison,

Co. C, 2nd La. Inf. Regiment, who lost his life on

1 July 1862 at the Battle of Malvern Hill, VA.

1863: At the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., Brig. Gen. John C. Vaughn wrote this report: "I would respectfully report but little sharpshooting on my line yesterday. The enemy's land batteries were unusually quiet until the evening, when they opened on my left. The enemy's water battery on the Peninsula threw a few shells on the left of my line, but the proximity of their own line has prevented them from shelling it to any extent. Last night the enemy opened fire from the land batteries, on what was supposed to be some boats going in the direction of the gunboat Cincinnati, with what result could not be ascertained."

Pvt. Henry Bitner, Co. B, 2nd Tex. Inf.

Captured at Vicksburg, Miss. July 4, 1863

(Liljenquist Collection/Library of Congress)

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Col. William R. Miles writes: "The fleet shelled us last night. The land batteries have fired on us at intervals throughout the day, and the sharpshooters have been more than ordinarily energetic, productive of no casualties, however. Opposite my extreme right, the enemy busily engaged in throwing up a new chain of rifle pits, which we are unable to prevent."

1864: The Second Battle of Petersburg, Va., started today. The South had its two best generals, both outstanding military engineers, Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard, on June 15, with between 5,400 and 38,000 troops. Federal Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant and Maj. G.G. Meade had between 13,700 and 62,000 troops. Beauregard, however, through skillful handling of the situation, thwarts Grant's plans to quickly take Petersburg and Richmond.

Confederate General Birthdays, June 15.

None.

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, June 14.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) June 14. 

On This Day in Confederate History, June 14.

1863: At the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Brig. Gen. John Vaughn writes: "The usual sharpshooting from the enemy yesterday; some cannonading during the day. One wounded in the Sixtieth (Tenn.); one wounded in Sixty-second (Tenn.); one wounded in Loring's division."

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner's Confederate garrison handily beats back an all-out Federal frontal assault on all parts of the Confederate defense line. Maj. Gen. N.P. Banks demanded the surrender of the garrison on June 13, but Gardner summarily rejected it. The attack began at 3:30 a.m. on June 14 but was poorly coordinated and was a debacle for the Yankees. The resulting casualties were perhaps the most lopsided in any single major battle of the war. The Federal casualties amounted to 1,792, while the Confederates lost only 47.

Cpl./2nd Lt. Albert Florestin Aucoin, Co. A,

9th Bn. La. Inf. fought at Port Hudson.

He was killed in action during the siege.

(Port Hudson State Historic Site)

In the Gettysburg Campaign, Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell staged a double-flank attack on the Federal fortifications at Winchester, Va. Fighting continues throughout the day until that night Maj. Gen. Milroy and other officers decided to cut their way out of the trap they are in, starting at midnight. But Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson anticipates Milroy's retreat and positions his division to cut it off at Stephenson's Depot early the next day.

1864: Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk was killed in action on this day on Pine Mountain, Georgia in the Atlanta  Campaign. He was killed instantly when struck by a Federal shell while meeting with generals Joseph Johnston and William Hardee. Polk was a graduate of West Point and was the Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana when the war began. He was a greatly beloved Christian gentleman by his soldiers and by friends and colleagues throughout the South.

Lt.Gen. Leonidas Polk

Confederate General Birthdays, June 14.

None.

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

 Click 👉Today in History (general history) June 13.

On This Day in Confederate History, June 13.

1863: The Second Battle of Winchester, Va., brings an early victory to the Confederates en route to Pennsylvania in the Gettysburg Campaign. Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, numbering 12,500 men (of 19,000 in the corps), fights Maj. Gen. Robert H. Millroy's 7,000 garrison troops occupied Winchester. On the first day of the battle, the Confederates attack, and the Yankees are driven into their forts around the town.                                                                                     

At the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., Brigadier General Francis Shoup reports on his part of the defense line: "June 13.—Enemy again at work on the right. Hid a little last night, but something. Again, urge that the engineers construct inner works. No particular change is observable at other points. This morning, the enemy is unusually active on the right, firing on the [stockade] redan; has cut away the parapet very considerably; Sharpshooting very bitter. Sharpshooters take aim at exposed points, and when one exposes himself in the least a number of guns are discharged simultaneously."

 

Pictured is Pvt. Thomas Booker, Co. B, 28th La. (Thomas') Inf. Reg't.

Shoup's Brigade in the  Siege of Vicksburg. This picture

was probably taken in Vicksburg, since his unit was never

stationed in Corinth, MS, which is the usual place where 

that famous prop, "Jeff Davis and the South" sign, is identified

with. Thomas's 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was 

stationed in Vicksburg from May 1862 until July 1863.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

Click👉The Vicksburg 28th Louisiana Infantry

The Vicksburg 28th/29th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was involved in the 1862-63 defense of the "Gibraltar of the Mississippi," Vicksburg, from the first attack by the Union fleet of Admiral Farragut, to the final siege by Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. The regiment had its finest hour in the war during the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Miss. on Dec. 28, 1862, when it was compared to the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae in Ancient Greece, for holding off an enemy force many times its size. The regiment was made up of men from throughout Louisiana who endured incredible hardships and danger for their sacred cause of Southern Independence. Included in the book is a roster of the regiment, photographs, maps, footnotes, bibliography and index.

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Col. William R. Miles reports from his part of the defense line: ON THE FIELD, June 13, 1863. Very nearly this morning, we were quite severely cannonaded. Later on in the forenoon, the most tremendous affair of the siege came off. From the fleet in the river and from every gun in position onshore came the quick flash and angry roar of threatening annihilation. The air grew thick with smoke and hoarse with sound. After some hours spent in this manner, it became apparent that the enemy was making preparations for a charge. Gen. Beall's line being most threatened, I sent o­ne battalion to his support, keeping the balance of my force in position to repel an attack should o­ne be made on my own line, or move to the further support of Gen. Beall. No attack was made on me, and, after trying several times to bring their lines to the assault, the enemy beat a hasty retreat. Nothing but a few of his sharpshooters approached the breastworks, and the neighborhood soon grew too hot for them. How many of them were killed and wounded, I do not know. Of the battalion sent by me to Gen. Beall's support, 2 men were severely wounded. Besides these, I have lost on my lines today, 1 man killed and 1 wounded. Yesterday, on the extreme right, where Lieut.-Col. [Fred. B. or G.] Brand commands, there were of the pickets 1 man killed. 1 wounded, and 5 captured. I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. MILES, Col.

Pvt. Harden West

Co. H, Miles' Louisiana Legion

He was born about 1845 in St. Landry Parish,

into a large farming family.

Confederate General Birthdays, June 13.

Brigadier General Benjamin Jefferson Hill was born on this day in 1825 in McMinnville, Tennessee. Before the war, he was a Tennessee businessman and state senator. He entered the Confederate service as the colonel of the 5th Tennessee Militia regiment, which became the 35th Tennessee Infantry in the Confederate Army. He and his regiment fought in Brig. Gen. Patrick Cleburne's brigade at Shiloh and at Corinth, Miss. His other battles included Richmond, Ky., Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Franklin, Tenn. Hill was promoted to brigadier general on Nov. 30, 1864, and assigned a cavalry brigade in Lt. Gen. N.B. Forrest's Cavalry Corps which fought at Nashville, Wilson's Raid and was paroled May 16, 1865, at Chattanooga. Hill returned to his business career and practiced law. Hill died Jan. 5, 1880, at McMinnville, Tenn., and was buried there in the Old City Cemetery.

Brig. Gen. Benjamin J. Hill

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

Click 👉 Today in History (general history) June 12.

On This Day in Confederate History, June 12.

1862: Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart, cavalry commander, began his "Ride around the Army of the Potomac" to gather intelligence for General Robert E. Lee. On the ride, he commanded about 1,200 gray-clad horse soldiers to gather intelligence and disrupt the Federate supply line, as well as enemy communications. It was a spectacular event that garnered much publicity. Only one of his men was killed by enemy action. Captain William Latané, 9th Virginia Cavalry, was given a Christian funeral, which was depicted in the famous painting, "The Burial of Latané" by a Virginia artist, William D. Washington.

Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart

Stuart's Ride Around McClelland's Army

(Library of Congress)

The Burial of Latané by William D. Washington, 1864

1863: Confederate Brigadier General John C. Vaughn filed his report on the previous day's activities on his part of the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. defense line: "The usual sharpshooting from the enemy yesterday, which was replied to by my command for the purpose of discharging the guns that were exposed to the rain during the previous day. Some cannonading during the morning resulted in the disabling of one 24-pounder siege gun. One killed in Sixty-second Tennessee Regiment; one wounded, Mississippi State troops."

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Col.  William R. Miles writes a report on this day's activities on his part of the Confederate defense line: "Last night the guns and mortars from the fleet, as well as the guns and mortars from the numerous batteries on shore, kept up a brisk fire upon us, resulting in no loss of life, or wound, even. During the day, their fire has slackened considerably and would fain hope tapering to its final end. Neither of the 24-pounder guns was yet mounted on my lines, and if no more attention shall be given in directing the labor of the large nightly details I am called on to furnish more than has been bestowed heretofore, it is a mere matter of conjecture when they will be put in position. No casualties were reported during the day. The 30-pounder Parrott gun at the extreme right has been dismounted today by the enemy's land batteries. I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. MILES, Col."

1864: The Battle of Trevalian's Station reaches a conclusion this day. Confederate generals Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee, with 6,762 cavalrymen, repel seven assaults by 9,286 Federal cavalrymen under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan. The Northern horse soldiers withdrew and were prevented from destroying the Virginia Central Railroad. The Federals lost 150  men killed, 738 wounded, and 624 captured or missing. The total Confederate casualties are 803. 

Click👉The Fighting First Louisiana Infantry

Regiment In The Army of Northern

Virginia.

The 1st Louisiana Infantry Regiment was one of the

 hardest fighting units of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia

 in the War for Southern Independence. Raised largely in New Orleans from

 local militia units and the immigrant population in 1861,

 the Fighting First fought in the Peninsula Campaign, the Seven Days, 

Cedar Mountain, 2nd Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg

 in 1862; Chancellorsville, Winchester No. 2, Gettysburg,

 and Mine Run in 1863; the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, 

Cold Harbor, Monocacy, Winchester No. 3, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek in

 1864, Petersburg, Hatcher's Run, Fort Stedman, and Appomattox 

Courthouse in 1865. The men of the Fighting First fought

 with courage, gallantry, and self-sacrifice for the causes

 of Southern Independence, States Rights, and limited, 

constitutional government. This is their story.

Confederate General Birthdays, June 12.

General Samuel Cooper was born on this day in 1798 in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Cooper graduated from West Point in 1815, ranking 36th out of a class of 40 cadets. In his long U.S. Army career, his highest rank achieved was a colonel and Adjutant General in 1852. He was active in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican American War. Cooper sided with the South in 1861 and was made the highest-ranking Confederate general, adjutant general, and served directly under President Jefferson Davis. He is credited with bringing the organizational knowledge of creating an effective army for the Confederacy. Following the war, Cooper made his living farming on his plantation, called Cameron, near Alexandria, Va. He died December 3, 1876, at home and was buried in Christ Church Cemetery in Alexandria, Va.

General Samuel Cooper

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

Click 👉 Today in History (general history) June 11.

On This Day in Confederate History, June 11.

1863: Because of the weather, the day before June 11 is relatively quiet in the Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. In his daily report, Confederate Brig. Gen. John C. Vaughn writes, "In consequence of the heavy rain yesterday, but little sharpshooting from the enemy. No artillery fire."  Vaughn's Brigade was stationed along the northern part of the Vicksburg defense line. The brigade consisted of the 60th Tennessee Infantry, Captain J.W. Bachman, Comdr..; 61st Tennessee Infantry, Lt. Col. James G. Rose, Cmdr..; and the 62nd Tennessee Infantry, Col. John A. Rowan, Cmdr.

Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton  Vicksburg  commander

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Confederate Colonel William R. Miles writes, "In addition to the casualties mentioned in my report of yesterday, I have to add four more who were not reported to me until after my report was sent in. None of the wounds were serious, however. Last night, on my extreme right, was Lieut.-Col. [Fred. B.] Brand commands, my picket was surprised, Lieut. [J. A.] Taylor, in command of it, was seriously wounded, 9 privates and 2 non-commissioned officers captured. Today, Capt. R. M. Boone (Boone's battery), while at his post directing his guns, was seriously wounded in the thigh. O­ne other man has been wounded today. The enemy has opened some additional guns on me today, placed in a new position between Troth's road and the river. He has kept up a tremendous fire during the day from all his guns and mortars, and the small number of casualties would seem to indicate that a special Providence is protecting us. I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. MILES, Col."

Col. William R. Miles

1864: In the Battle of Trevilian Station, Va., Confederate cavalry under Brig. Gen. Willams Wickham, with 950 men, attacked Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer's 1,000-man command picketing Marquis Road. The battle continues into the next day.

Brig. Gen. Williams C. Wickham

Confederate General Birthdays, June 11.

Major General James Lawson Kemper was born on this day in 1823 in Madison County, Virginia. A Virginia lawyer and politician, during the Mexican American War, he served as captain and quartermaster but saw no battle action. He then served as a brigadier general in the Virginia militia. Kemper was also the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. During the War for Southern Independence, he fought as the colonel of the 7th Virginia Infantry Regiment at the First Battle of Manassas. He was promoted to brigadier general on June 3, 1862, and then to major general on September 19, 1864. He was severely wounded in Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg and captured but recovered. After being exchanged, he was unable to serve in field command. Following the war, Kemper resumed his legal and political career and was elected governor of Virginia in 1873 and served from January 1, 1874, to January 1, 1878. He died in April 1895 in Orange County, Virginia, and was buried in a family cemetery.

Maj. Gen. James L. Kemper

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

 Click 👉Today in History (general history) June 10. 

Click👉General Mouton's Regiment

The 18th Louisiana Infantry

The 18th Louisiana Infantry was one of the hardest fight

 Louisiana regiments in the War for Southern Independence.

 The original commander of the regiment was Brig. Gen.

 Alfred Mouton, one of the most beloved and charismatic

 leaders in the Confederacy. The 18th Louisiana's

 battles included Shiloh and the Bayou Lafourche Campaign

 in 1862; the Bayou Teches Campaign and the Great

 Texas Overland Expedition in 1863, and the Red River

 Campaign in 1864. Perhaps their greatest battle victory

 of the war was the Battle of Mansfield, LA, on April 8, 1864,

 when they played a key role in crushing the Union center

 in that battle. The regiment was predominantly made up

 of the legendary French speaking Louisiana Cajuns. This

 is their story. The book contains photographs,

 maps, illustrations, bibliography and index.

On This Day in Confederate History, June 10.

1863: Confederate officer prisoners of war were transported to northern prison camps on the passenger steamship Maple Leaf, overpowered their 12 Federal soldier guards, and captured the ship. The prisoners then liberated themselves and escaped to Richmond, Va. There were 70 Confederate P.O.W.s who participated in the seizure and escape. Among them was Captain Oliver John Semmes of the 1st Confederate Battery (Semmes Battery). He was the son of Admiral Raphael Semmes. He was born on Aug. 29, 1839, at Norfolk Navy Yard, Va., and was a third-year student at West Point, N.Y., in 1861 when he resigned to join the Confederate Army. Semmes was appointed a second lieutenant of infantry but in February 1862 organized the 1st Confederate Regular Artillery Battery, better known as Semmes Battery, and served well at the Battle of Baton Rouge and was captured while commanding the CSS Diana in the Battle of Irish Bend, La., on April 14, 1863. After he escaped from the Maple Leaf, he was promoted to major and commanded artillery in the Trans-Mississippi Department. After the war, he became a judge in Mobile, Alabama, and married Amante Electra Gaines there in 1873. The couple was blessed with three children, Amante Electra, Oliver John, and Raphael Owen Semmes. His wife died in 1889, and he died on Jan. 18, 1918, and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Ala.

Major Oliver John Semmes

Escaped the Maple Leaf

Maple Leaf steamship

It was later sunk by a Confederate torpedo.

1864: The Battle of Brice's Crossroads, near Baldwyn, Miss. A Federal expedition from Memphis, Tenn., led by Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis, includes 4,800 infantry, 3,300 cavalry, and 22 artillery pieces, clashed with 3,500 Confederate cavalrymen under Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. The outnumbered Confederates routed the Federals, inflicting them with 223 killed, 394 wounded, 1,632 captured or missing, and captured 18 Federal artillery pieces. The Confederates suffered 96 killed and 396 wounded. The battle was a great victory for General Forrest and his men.

Confederate General Birthdays, June 10.

Brigadier General Thomas Fentress Toon was born on this day in 1840 in Columbus County, North Carolina. He was attending Wake Forest College when the war began in 1861 and left to join the Confederate Army. He was elected the first lieutenant of the 20th North Carolina Infantry and fought in nearly all the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. He was wounded severely on March 25, 1865, at the Battle of Fort Stedman and was recuperating when the war ended. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1864. Following the war, Toon returned to North Carolina and in 1900 was elected superintendent of public education for North Carolina. Toon died at Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 19, 1902, and was buried in Historic Oakwood Cemetery there.

Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Toon