Click 👉Today in History (general history) Aug. 19.
On This Day in Confederate History, Aug. 19.
1861: The Second Confederate Congress passed legislation establishing a Confederate state government in Missouri, which seceded and had a pro-Confederate governor.
1864: The second day of the Battle of Globe Tavern, Va. took place over the vital Weldon Railroad south of Richmond. More reinforcements for both sides poured in with Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard commanding at the Petersburg fortifications and Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill commanding the troops attacking the Federals at the Weldon Railroad. Because of heavy rain, fighting is restricted to skirmishing most of the day. But in the late afternoon Maj. Gen. William Mahone's brigades launch a flank attack on the Federal right. Mahone's Confederate gain the Federal rear and capture large numbers of Yankees. Maj. Gen. Henry Heth's Division launches a frontal assault which is repulsed. The Federal's counterattack and fighting became hand-to-hand which lasts until dusk. The Virginia militia was providing a significant amount of the manpower in the Richmond area defenses.
Confederate General Birthdays, Aug. 19.
Major General John Porter McCowan was born on this day in Sevierville, Tennessee. He graduated from West Point in 1840 ranking 10th out of 42 cadets. McCowan served in the 4th U.S. Artillery in the Mexican American War. He fought in the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico, and was breveted to the rank of captain for his service. He also participated in the Seminole War in Florida and the Utah War during the 1850s. McCown resigned from the U.S. Army on May 17, 1861, and was given commissions in the Confederate Army that predated that. He was also given command of artillery with the rank of colonel on the same date he resigned from the US. Army. He was promoted the brigadier general on Oct. 12, 1861, and participated in the Battle of Belmont, Mo. on Nov. 7, 1861. He was promoted to major general on March 10, 1862, and was in the Battle of Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River. McCowan was also in the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn. but got on Lt. Gen. Braxton Bragg's bad side and was relieved of his command. He finished the war in North Carolina where he was defending a river crossing. Following the war, McCowan was a teacher in Knoxville, Tennessee, and farmed in Arkansas. He died in Little Rock on January 22, 1879, and was buried in City Cemetery in Magnolia, Arkansas.
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