Friday, March 15, 2024

Today in History (general history), On This Day in Confederate History/Confederate General Birthdays, March 15.

CLICK 👉TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) March 15. 

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, March 15.

1863: Federal gunboats tried to reduce Fort Pemberton (March 11-17, 1863) guarding the northern approach to Vicksburg, Miss., at the Tallahatchie and the Yazoo rivers, north of Vicksburg, Miss., but the fortress proved too much for them and they withdrew March 17. The fort's artillerymen had a highly accurate eight-inch rifle which proved to be too much for them.

1864: In the  Red River Campaign, as Confederate Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor's Army of Western Louisiana continued to retreat, and the Federal fleet under Admiral Porter reached Alexandria, Louisiana on the Red River. The invaders quickly turned the river port city into a major supply depot for their invasion and cotton-stealing expedition. However, Taylor had carefully seen to it that all public property was evacuated before the Federals arrived. The Confederate Army also continued to consolidate and receive reinforcements.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, March 15.

Brigadier General Edward Aylesworth Perry was born on this day in 1831 in Richmond, Massachusetts. He moved to Greenville, Alabama in 1853 to teach and study the law. In 1857 Perry moved to Pensacola, Florida where he served as a county judge. With the advent of war in 1861, Perry enlisted in the 2nd Florida Infantry and was elected captain of Company A. He was elected colonel of the regiment and then appointed brigadier general on August 28, 1862. Perry was wounded at the Battle of Glendale in June 1862 but later fought at the Battle of Chancellorsville, missing the Gettysburg campaign because of typhoid fever. He was able to return to his command for the Bristoe campaign in the Fall of 1863 but was severely wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. Perry tried to return to active duty for the Siege of Petersburg but had to be put on duty in the Confederate Invalid Corps for the rest of the war. Following the war, Perry became an active opponent of Reconstruction, was elected governor of Florida, and took office on Jan. 7, 1885. He died on Oct. 18, 1889, of a stroke while visiting Kerrville, Texas. He was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Pensacola.

Brig. Gen. Edward A. Perry

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