Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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.

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