Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthday, Aug. 3.

  Click 👉 Today in History (general history) Aug. 3.

On This Day in Confederal History, Aug. 3.

1861: The Richmond Times Dispatch reported on this day about the rout of the Federal Army at First Manassas: "What a glorious day Sunday was for the South! When the rout of the enemy came, down the long line of Bull Run up went a shout! Oh! how grand it was! Imagine the quiet woods through which the watching bayonets glittered silently, suddenly alive with triumphant hurrahs! From right to left, and left to right, for seven miles they were repeated! Then came the order to advance, and as we left the woods and gained the high and open ground, the grandest spectacle I ever saw men my eyes. Company after company, regiment after regiment, brigade after brigade, army after army of our troops appeared. We halted to enjoy the sight, and as our glorious artillery and dashing cavalry spurred by in pursuit, shout after shout rent the air. General Longstreet, our Brigade Commander, rode, along our line with his staff, and thousands of men flung their caps in the air or swung them on their bayonets. Col. Corse, our gallant little Colonel got his mead of hurrahs; and an old negro who rode by with his gun got no small salute. And, then the sunset came in a perfect glory of light sifted through the leaves.

An unidentified Zouave soldier. The

image was found at a Baton Rouge, La.

antique store. (9th plate tintype, M.D Jones Collection)

The Tigers played an important

role in delaying the Federal flanking

movement at the beginning of the battle.

(From the Louisiana Centennial Brochure)

1863: The Richmond Times Dispatch reported on a possible victory by Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor in an engagement at Donaldsonville, La.: "The telegraph, as announced on Saturday morning, has again given Gen. Taylor a victory. The enemy's account of the engagement at Donaldsonville encourages the idea that the victory was on our side, or we might seriously doubt the intelligence from our telegraphic agents in that quarter, who have, in the last three months, sent us much startling news that needed confirmation, and which has not to this day received it. While we accept the fact very gratefully that the General has defeated Banks, we are not sure as to the 6,000 prisoners. We trust that part of the story is also true; for we are very much in need of Yankee prisoners at the present time!"

The battle, which occurred on June 28, was a Federal victory. Taylor was not there, and the Confederates were commanded by Brig. Gen. Tom Green with his brigade and Brig. Gen. James Major's Texas cavalry brigade. The Federals were in a strong fort and supported by two gunboats. Several futile Confederate assaults were repulsed by the Federals. The total Confederate casualties were 301 and the total Federal casualties were 23.

Confederate General Birthdays, Aug. 3.

Brigadier General William Miller was born on this day in 1820 at Ithaca, New York. Miller moved with his family to Louisiana as a child and was educated there. During the Mexican-American War, he served under General Zachary Tayor and was awarded a land grant in Florida. In Florida, he became a lawyer and businessman and practiced in Santa Rosa County. During the War for Southern Independence, he organized the 3rd Battalion Florida Infantry with the rank of lieutenant colonel. The battalion was consolidated with other units to form the 1st Florida Infantry which he commanded as colonel. Miller led the regiment at the Battle of Perryville and the Battle of Murfreesboro where he was severely wounded. When he had recovered enough, he was put in command of the Confederate Conscript Bureau for Alabama and Florida. Promoted to brigadier general on August 2, 1864, and given command of the Florida District and the 1st Florida Reserves. Milled led his men in one of the last Confederate victories of the war, the Battle of Natural Bridge on March 6, 1865, saving Tallahassee, the Confederate capital of Florida, from Federal occupation. Following the war, Miller returned to his timber business and served as a justice of the peace and for two terms in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. He died on August 8, 1909, and was buried in Point Washington Cemetery, but then his remains were moved to St. John's Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.

Brig. Gen. William Miller