Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, July 7.

  Click 👉 Today in History (general history) July 7.

On This Day in Confederate History, July 7.

1863: Gettysburg Campaign: General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia digs in at Hagerstown, Md. waiting for the storm-swollen Potomac River to subside so they can cross. Also. Confederate cavalry under Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden prevents the Yankee cavalry of Brig. Gen. John Buford from taking Williamsport, Md., and destroying the Confederate supply train.

At the Siege of Port Hudson, La., Confederate commander Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner gets word of the fall of Vicksburg, Miss. on July 4, but at first, doesn't believe it and demands that Yankee Maj. Gen. N.P. Banks provide proof. Meanwhile, the fighting continues. Confederate Col. William R. Miles reports that day: "Sharpshooting, though less active today than yesterday, has been quite brisk. One man of the legion was killed. The cannonading has been irregular; at no time very severe, and productive of no result. The enemy still works with the spade in close proximity to my rifle pits, but it is impossible to fathom his designs. His tower grown and his ditch lengthens, o­ne day in o­ne direction, another day in another. This morning all his land batteries fired a salute and followed it immediately with shotted guns, accompanies by vociferous yelling. Later in the day, the fleet fired a salute also. What is meant we do not know? Some of them hollered over, saying that Vicksburg had fallen on the 4th instant. My own impression is that some fictitious good news had been given to his troops in order to raise their spirits; perhaps with a view of stimulating them to a charge in the morning. We will be prepared for them should they do so."

Maj. Micajah (Michael) Rodgers

1st. Ark. Inf. Bn. (aka, 8th Bn. Ark. Inf.)

Wounded at the Siege of Port Hudson.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

1864: Shenandoah Campaign of 1864: After extracting reparations for the destruction wrought by the Federal Army in the Shenandoah Valley from the towns of Hagerstown, $20,000; $1,500 at Middletown and later $200,000 from Frederick in Maryland, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early distributes a new shipment of shoes to his men.

In the Atlanta Campaign, the Federals bombard the Confederate fortifications along the Chattahoochee River all day, followed by an hour of small arms fire at nightfall.

Confederate General Birthdays, July 7.

None.