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.
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 days 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-I 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. Total Confederate casualties are 803.
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, and 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.
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