Saturday, July 6, 2024

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, July 5.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) July 5. 

On This Day in Confederate History, July 5.

1861: Lt. Col. Charles Didier Dreux Jr., 29, of New Orleans, La., commander of the 1st Battalion Louisiana Infantry, and Pvt. Stephen Hackett of the Shreveport Greys Company, Dreux's Battalion, became the first two Louisianians killed in the war in a skirmish with Federal cavalry near the Curtis Farm in present-day Newport News, Virginia. Dreux was given a hero's funeral in New Orleans. Now, in modern-day New Orleans, his memorial bust has been repeatedly vandalized. 

Lt. Col. Charles D. Dreux Jr., 1st Bn. La. Inf.
became the first Louisiana officer killed in
the war. (Ancestry.com)

Also in 1861, the Battle of Carthage, Missouri took place between 6,000 Missouri State Guard troops (Confederate), under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price and Gov. Claiborne Jackson, against 1,100 Federal troops who were under the command of Col. Franz Sigel. However, 2,000 of the   Missouri State Guardsmen were unarmed and didn't take part in the battle. In addition, the Federal troops were better armed than the state troops. Eventually, Siegel retreated back to Carthage when he saw State Guard reinforcements arriving. The victory raised the morale of Southern sympathizers and resulted in a recruiting boost for the South. The Missouri State Guard suffered 200 casualties and the Federals 44.

1863: The Confederates at the Siege of Port Hudson, La. having not gotten the news yet of the surrender of Vicksburg, continue holding out against the overwhelming force of Maj. Gen. N.P. Banks's Army of the Gulf. However, the Southerners have been reduced to eating mules, horses, dogs, and rats. But the morale of the defenders was still strong.

1st Lt. William R. Felton
Co. H, 1st Alabama Infantry
Served at Port Hudson.
(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

1864: Early's Raid on Washington, D.C.: Maj. Gen. Jubal Early crossed the Potomac River at Harper's Ferry with his Confederate Division and alarms Washington, D.C. 

Confederate General Birthdays, July 5.

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