Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, July 11.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) July 11.

On This Day in Confederate History, July 11.

1863:The First Battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina, ended on this day. On the first day of the battle on July 10, the Federals bombarded the fort from Folly Island and from four ironclad warships under Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren. Then the brigade of Federal Brig. Gen. George C. Strong landed at the southern tip of Morris Island and moved up to within three miles of Fort Wagner on the northern tip. On this day, July 11, at dawn, Strong's brigade attacked and was repulsed by Confederate Col. Robert F. Graham, who had 1,770 men under his command. The blue coats lost 49 men killed, 123 wounded, and 167 missing. The Confederates had only 12 casualties.

1864: BATTLE OF FORT STEVENS: Lt. Gen. Jubal Early with his 10,000-man Confederate contingent arrived before Fort Stevens on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. to begin his two-day demonstration. The fort was manned by 9,600 men with Maj. Gen. Alexander M. McCook in command. Among the unwanted spectators was President Lincoln. The Confederates only engaged in skirmishing with the Federals and exchanges of artillery fire. This was really just a demonstration.

 

A typical Confederate infantryman

He appears to the holding a two-band sergeant's

Enfield rifle, as indicated by the size of the gun, the 

sword bayonet, and the chevron that can just barely

be seen on his left arm. The cap box on his belt

also appears to be of the British pattern. His shell jacket

appears to be the Atlanta Depot style, as indicated by the

way the standing collar meets. Thousands of Enfields

were run through the blockade for the Confederacy.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

CLICK👉Lee's Second Louisiana Infantry Brigade

In the Army of Northern Virginia

This is the history of one of the hardest-fighting brigades in Gen. Robert E. Lee's legendary Army of Northern Virginia, the Second Louisiana Infantry Brigade. It was one of Lee's most reliable infantry brigades, often used in some of his most dangerous situations, and it never let him down. The brigade included the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 14th, and 15th infantry regiments, and the 1st Battalion Louisiana Zouaves. The brigade was commanded throughout the war by outstanding brigadiers, including Brig. Gen. William E. Starke, Brig. Gen. Francis T. Nicholls and Brig. Gen. Leroy Stafford. The brigade fought in such epic battles as Second Manassas, Sharpsburg (Antietam), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Petersburg, and many other smaller battles and skirmishes. The men of the brigade were representative of the diverse population of Louisiana of the time, including typical Southern farm boys, ruffians from the New Orleans waterfront, as well as refined gentlemen from some of Louisiana's finest families. There was also a virtual Babylon of foreign languages spoken in the brigade. This is their story, from secession to Appomattox.

Confederate General Birthdays, July 11.

Brigadier General William Paul Roberts was born on this day in 1841 in Gates County, North Carolina. He was the youngest general in the Confederate Army when he was promoted to brigadier general at age 23 on February 23, 1865. He joined the Confederate Army in 1861 as a private in the 19th North Carolina Infantry, which later was converted to the 2nd North Carolin Cavalry Regiment. He was promoted to second lieutenant on Aug. 30, 1861, then first lieutenant on Sept. 13, 1862,  to captain and major in early 1864, and then to colonel in June 1864. His battles included Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Brandy Station, Ream's Station, Five Forks, Petersburg, and Appomattox. Following the war, he resided in Gates County, N.C., and was elected a state representative. Roberts also served as the Auditor of North Carolina, and President Grover Cleveland appointed him the U.S. Consul for Victoria, British Columbia. General Roberts died March 28, 1910, in Norfolk, Virginia, and was buried in Gatesville, N.C.

Brig. Gen. William P. Roberts