Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, April 19.

Click 👉 TODAY IN HISTORY (general history) April 19. 

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY, April 19.

1861: Baltimore Riot of 1861: While marching through Baltimore, Maryland changing trains on the way to Washington, D.C., troops from the 2nd Massachusetts Militia are attacked by a rioting mob. Four soldiers and 12 civilians were killed in the riot. The city was soon occupied by Northern forces who suppressed the secessionist and made arbitrary arrests. James Ryder Randall was inspired to write a famous song, "Maryland, My Maryland" which became a Confederate war song and the state song of Maryland after the war. One of his friends, Francis X. Ward was killed in the riot. Randall later joined the Confederate Navy.

Baltimore Riot of 1861

(Currier & Ives)

James Randall Ryder at age 22

Northern President Lincoln proclaims a blockade of Southern ports. The blockade was part of the North's Anaconda strategy to cut the South off from trade with foreign nations. However, the blockade also had the legal result of de facto recognition of the Confederate States of America and enabled foreign nations to recognize the Confederacy as a lawful belligerent since under international and maritime law a nation can close its own ports but can only blockade a belligerent nation. The Confederacy responded with blockade running, and Confederate Ironclads and Confederate torpedo boats and submarines attacked the blockade ships. It also commissioned Confederate States Cruisers like the CSS Alabama to attack U.S. Merchant ships worldwide. 

Blockade runner CSS Robert E. Lee

1864: The Battle of Plymouth, North Carolina takes place from April 17-20. In a combined rare Confederate army navy attack, Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's three brigades of infantry, the 8th Va. Cav., the Virginia Horse Artillery battery, and the CSS Albemarle ironclad ram, a total of 4,500 men, attacked the Federal garrison at Plymouth, North Carolina. The Federal garrison consists of 8 regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, two batteries of artillery, five gunboats, and one transport, for a total of 2,500 men. The garrison commander was Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells. The Albemarle sinks one gunboat, damages another, and drives off the rest of the ships. 

Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, April 19.

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