Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, Nov. 27.

Click 👉 THIS DAY IN HISTORY (general history) Nov. 27

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY.

1861, The "TRENT AFFAIR" became more serious as the illegal seizure of the two Confederate commissioners became a cause célèbre in England as it is characterized as an insult to the British flag.

1863, Confederate scout and "Boy Hero" Sam Davis becomes a martyr to the cause of Southern Independence when he is hung as a spy at Pulaski, Tennessee by the Yankees because he won't betray his friends. Private Davis wrote on the eve of  his execution, “I have got to die tomorrow morning — to be hung by the federals.” 

Pvt. Sam Davis, Confederate 
1st Tenn. Inf./Coleman's Scouts
(Wikipedia Commons)

Federal General Meade's Mine Run offensive is stopped at the Battle of Payne's Farm (also known as the Battle of Mine Run) by Confederate General Edward Johnson's division. The Federal strength was 81,000 and the Confederates fielded 48,000 in the Mine Run Campaign, but far fewer actually fought at Payne's Farm. The battle was fought by Maj. Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's Division of Ewell's Second Corps, ANV.  It was a meeting engagement where they just bumped into each other rather than a planned battle. Johnson launched an attack, not knowing the whole strength of the enemy, on the part of Maj. Gen. William H. French's III Corps and Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick's VI Corps, the two combined corps numbered about 32,000. The Confederate attack failed but it did slow down the Federal advance and saved the Army of Northern Virginia. Gen. Robert E. Lee now had the time to withdraw and build powerful fortifications that spoiled the Federal company of Maj. Gen. George Meade. Federal casualties numbered 1,653 with a total of 629 total casualties for the Confederates.

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS.

Brigadier General Hugh Weedon Mercer, in 1808, Fredericksburg, Virginia. He graduated from West Point in 1828, He resigned in 1835 and became a bank cashier in Savannah, Georgia. However, he was active in the Georgia Militia. In 1861, Mercer joined the Confederate Army and was commissioned a colonel of the 1st Georgia Infantry, and was promoted to brigadier general in  November; He served as district commander in Savannah until 1864. He led a brigade in the Atlanta Campaign and fought at Dalton, Marietta, and  Kennesaw Mountain where his son was wounded. Due to physical debility, Mercer was assigned to command of the 10th Battalion Georgia Infantry in defense of Savannah. He resumed his business career in Savannah, Baltimore, and died in 1877 in Baden Baden, Germany where he was being treated for health problems. He was buried in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

Brig. Gen. Hugh W. Mercer

 

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