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 occupying 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."
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 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.
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, Wilsons 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.
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