Today in History (general history)/ On This Day in Confederate History/ Confederate General Birthdays, November 7.

Click 👉Today in History (general history) Nov. 7. 

ON THIS DAY IN CONFEDERATE HISTORY

1861: Battle of Belmont, Missouri, Confederate victory. In the battle, Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant with 3,114 blue coats fought against 5,000 Confederates under Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk. Grant's force attacked Polk's small outpost at Belmont. General Polk reacted by sending reinforcements and heavy artillery support from across the Mississippi River, counterattacked, and caught Grant by surprise when they were en route back to the river with 106 prisoners. Grant got most of his troops back across the river. The blue coat general lost his horse, saddle, mess chest, and gold pen. The Federals lost 120 men killed, 383 wounded, and 104 captured or missing. The Confederates suffered 105 killed, 419 wounded, and 117 captured or missing. Historians generally rate Grant a great general and Polk a mediocre one. But when the two met in battle, Polk defeated Grant, and that is a historical fact.

CLICK👉The 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment

This is the story of one of the most unique infantry units in the Confederate Army, the 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. It was made up largely are recent immigrants to New Orleans from the cities and farms of Germany and Ireland. Raised by Colonel Augustus Reichard, a naturalized citizen of the U.S. born in Germany who was very prominent in the New Orleans German community, and the consul for several German states. He and other Germans had been active in the Louisiana State Militia and were eager to prove themselves loyal Confederates once the state seceded. They saw plenty of action during the war in such notable battles as Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and Spanish Fort. The book has footnotes, images, maps, a bibliography, an index, and an annotated roster of over 1,000 soldiers who served in the regiment.

1863: The Battle of Rappahannock Station, Va., took place on this day. In the battle, the Confederates were safeguarding a crossing of the Rappahannock River on the enemy side in advance of the main Confederate defenses on the other side. Both sides had about 2,000 men in combat. Brig. Gen. Henry Hays' Louisiana Tigers Brigade was occupying a position with backup from Capt. Charles A. Green's Louisiana Guards battery of four field pieces. They were also reinforced in the battle by a brigade of 3 North Carolina regiments. They were being attacked by Federal forces under Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick. The bluecoats penetrated the Confederate defenses at several points and managed to capture the bulk of Hays' men. Hays himself was not present when the battle occurred. The Confederates lost 1,670 men, 1600 of whom were captured. The Federal casualties lost 419 men in all.

A well-equipped Louisiana infantryman.

(Liljenquist Collection, Library of Congress)

CONFEDERATE GENERAL BIRTHDAYS, Nov. 7

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