Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, July 17.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) July 17. 

On This Day in Confederate History, July 17.

1861: Both North and South get ready for the first major battle of the war near Manassas, Virginia. The North's Army of the Potomac continues its march to Manassas under Maj. Gen. Irwin McDowell, but 35,000 mostly new soldiers are poorly trained and largely undisciplined and the march goes slowly. Meanwhile, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston is preparing to move his 18,000 men by rail to reinforce Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard's 22,000 at Manassas.

1862: First Battle of Cynthiana, KY -- During CSA Col. John H. Morgan's 1st KY Raid, on July 17, 1862, 875 CSA hit town via the Georgetown Pike. 350 US troops & Home Guard defended the town from houses. Morgan attacked across the Licking River and outflanked US troops, who gave up after 2 hours. Approx. 40 CSA, 90 US killed & wounded. Morgan was surprised because the US defense was unexpectedly strong.-- Text from Commonwealth of Kentucky Historic Marker.

1863: The Battle of Honey Springs, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) takes place on this day. The Confederates were led by Brig. Gen. Douglas H. Cooper and Brig. Gen. William Lewis Cabell with 6,000 troops. The Federals were commanded by Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt and 3,000 bluecoats. American Indians fought on both sides and some African Americans on the Federal side. The Federals attacked the Confederates on the morning of July 17. Rain damaged ammunition but the Confederates counterattacked and were repulsed. Cabell's 3,000-man brigade did not reach the battlefield in time for the battle. The Federals had 17 killed and 60 wounded. The Confederates lost 134 killed or wounded and 47 were captured.

Pvt. Burton Marchbanks, Co. E,

30th Texas Cavalry. Wounded in

the neck at the Battle of Honey Springs, IT.

Discharged on Aug. 8, 1863, he died at home near 

Cleburne, Texas on Feb. 12, 1864. 

(Layland Museum, Cleburne, Texas)

1864: General Joseph E. Johnston was relieved of his command of the Army of Tennessee on this day by President Jefferson Davis because of his failure to stop the Federals from reaching Atlanta, Ga. The president promoted General John Bell Hood to command the army. The rank and file of the Army of Tennessee were highly disgruntled by the change of command.

Confederate General Birthdays, July 17.

NONE.