Posted on May 14, 2016
What was the most significant event on May 13 during the U.S. Civil War?
3.17K
28
19
8
8
0
Robert Smalls, an American Civil War hero
The History Guy remembers Robert Smalls, a hero of the U.S. Civil War from South Carolina. Born into slavery, Smalls made a daring escape by commandeering a ...
Political Conventions in 1861 – to secede or not to secede: The First Wheeling Convention in Wheeling, West Virginia and North Carolina voters elect delegates to the Secession Convention.
The C.S.S. Planter Caper 1862: Just before dawn on May 13, 1862, Robert Smalls and a crew composed of fellow slaves, in the absence of the white captain and his two mates, slipped a cotton steamer the C.S.S. Planter off the dock, picked up family members at a rendezvous point, then slowly navigated their way through the harbor.
Re-orienting the lines at Spotsylvania 1864: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia [May 8 – May 19] Hours before dawn, Lee’s troops pull back into the newly-fortified line across the base of the Mule Shoe salient, and skirmishing and firefights continue along that sector of the line. In the meantime, Grant intends to shift the ground of the battle and conduct an attack beyond the far right of the Confederate right flank.
First soldier buried at Arlington in 1864: First soldier died of measles 2 months after enlisting. The next day the first soldier killed in combat was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
End of gentlemen’s agreement leads to “Final Battle” of the Civil War 1865: The Battle of Palmito Ranch, Texas. Col. Theodore H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250 men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and 50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment. Barrett’s force, started out towards Palmito Ranch, skirmishing most of the way. At Palmito Ranch, they destroyed the rest of the supplies not torched the day before and continued on. A few miles forward, they became involved in a sharp firefight. After the fighting stopped, Barrett led his force back to a bluff at Tulosa on the river where the men could prepare dinner and camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Col. John S. “Rip” Ford, approached, and the Federals formed a battle line.
Pictures: 1864 Re-orienting the lines Spotsylvania Court House May 13; 1861 Queen Victoria; 1862 Robert Smalls, USN; 1862 CSS Planter
The US Congressman who Escaped Slavery | The Life & Times of Robert Smalls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Jqp3REwrw
FYI Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PO3 Edward Riddle MAJ Roland McDonald CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw COL (Join to see) SrA Ronald Moore COL Lisandro Murphy LTC Trent Klug CPL Ronald Keyes Jr Cpl Samuel Pope Sr MSG Andrew White Maj Marty HoganSFC Ralph E Kelley SPC Maurice Evans PV2 Larry Sellnow PV2 Scott M.
The C.S.S. Planter Caper 1862: Just before dawn on May 13, 1862, Robert Smalls and a crew composed of fellow slaves, in the absence of the white captain and his two mates, slipped a cotton steamer the C.S.S. Planter off the dock, picked up family members at a rendezvous point, then slowly navigated their way through the harbor.
Re-orienting the lines at Spotsylvania 1864: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia [May 8 – May 19] Hours before dawn, Lee’s troops pull back into the newly-fortified line across the base of the Mule Shoe salient, and skirmishing and firefights continue along that sector of the line. In the meantime, Grant intends to shift the ground of the battle and conduct an attack beyond the far right of the Confederate right flank.
First soldier buried at Arlington in 1864: First soldier died of measles 2 months after enlisting. The next day the first soldier killed in combat was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
End of gentlemen’s agreement leads to “Final Battle” of the Civil War 1865: The Battle of Palmito Ranch, Texas. Col. Theodore H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250 men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and 50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment. Barrett’s force, started out towards Palmito Ranch, skirmishing most of the way. At Palmito Ranch, they destroyed the rest of the supplies not torched the day before and continued on. A few miles forward, they became involved in a sharp firefight. After the fighting stopped, Barrett led his force back to a bluff at Tulosa on the river where the men could prepare dinner and camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Col. John S. “Rip” Ford, approached, and the Federals formed a battle line.
Pictures: 1864 Re-orienting the lines Spotsylvania Court House May 13; 1861 Queen Victoria; 1862 Robert Smalls, USN; 1862 CSS Planter
The US Congressman who Escaped Slavery | The Life & Times of Robert Smalls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Jqp3REwrw
FYI Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PO3 Edward Riddle MAJ Roland McDonald CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw COL (Join to see) SrA Ronald Moore COL Lisandro Murphy LTC Trent Klug CPL Ronald Keyes Jr Cpl Samuel Pope Sr MSG Andrew White Maj Marty HoganSFC Ralph E Kelley SPC Maurice Evans PV2 Larry Sellnow PV2 Scott M.
Civil War
American History
Slavery
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
1
1
0
Queen Victoria declaring neutrality is the only thing I see as significant. I think the Southerners and British that thought that England would support the Confederacy that had the institution of Slavery were out of touch with the political realities of Victorian period.
Robert Small was an audacious escape, but neither shortened or lengthened the War.
I don't think either battle was significant. Grant already knew that his strategy would work, the Confederacy had effectively lost with the fall of Vicksburg, splitting the Confederacy, and Gettysburg. The Union had broken out of Chattanooga and would lay siege to Atlanta by July, and Sherman would be in Savannah by Christmas.
Robert Small was an audacious escape, but neither shortened or lengthened the War.
I don't think either battle was significant. Grant already knew that his strategy would work, the Confederacy had effectively lost with the fall of Vicksburg, splitting the Confederacy, and Gettysburg. The Union had broken out of Chattanooga and would lay siege to Atlanta by July, and Sherman would be in Savannah by Christmas.
(1)
(0)
CPT Lawrence Cable
LTC Stephen F. - I had a battalion commander that was an absolute Civil War freak. Any time we were near a Civil War battle site, he would arrange for the Officers, especially the Company Grade Officers, to have a guided tour. He then would correct any mistake that the tour guide made. I learned quick that you didn't question him on specifics of a battle, you would just lose. Anyway, kind of got me interested and I still stop at any I have time to tour.
Haven't made Gettysburg yet.
I'm still know more about WWII, but mainly because most of the survivors were still alive when I grew up.
Haven't made Gettysburg yet.
I'm still know more about WWII, but mainly because most of the survivors were still alive when I grew up.
(1)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend CPT Lawrence Cable - I have visited the Gettysburg, PA civil war battlefield many times since I was a child visiting with my British expatriate parents.
I became interested in Civil War history as a child and appreciate my time as a USMA cadet in military history courses including the Napoleonic Wars and the US Civil War.
I highly recommend visiting Gettysburg as well as Antietam, Maryland.
I became interested in Civil War history as a child and appreciate my time as a USMA cadet in military history courses including the Napoleonic Wars and the US Civil War.
I highly recommend visiting Gettysburg as well as Antietam, Maryland.
(0)
(0)
CPT Lawrence Cable
LTC Stephen F. - I've been to Antietam, Perrysville, Ft Donaldson, Lookout Mountain, Etc. I think I know enough about Gettysburg to be able to self guide and know which units were where and what happened and It's on my list.
The frontier wars prior to the settling of the US east of the Mississippi was my first American History addiction. I grew up in the area of Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone. An author named Allan Eckert wrote a series of historical narratives of the period from the first French and Indian War to the Blackhawk Wars in Illinois. I highly recommend them. Wilderness Empire and The Frontiersman. Some tough and often brutal men.
The frontier wars prior to the settling of the US east of the Mississippi was my first American History addiction. I grew up in the area of Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone. An author named Allan Eckert wrote a series of historical narratives of the period from the first French and Indian War to the Blackhawk Wars in Illinois. I highly recommend them. Wilderness Empire and The Frontiersman. Some tough and often brutal men.
(1)
(0)
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Pretty Significant Day. As an Anglophile I see more of a world picture. since we are noting Queen Victoria and England the Civil War is when Britain switched from getting their Cotton from the Southern US/Confederacy to India. Yes our Civil War had significant Worldwide Repercussions.
(1)
(0)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
LTC Stephen F. - Beginning of a Crappy Life for the Poor Indians in India. They became the New Slave Class thanks to our Civil War that was at least until Ghandi.
(0)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - I know many Indians from south Asia. The upper castes in the Hindu dominant culture lorded it over the lower castes from time immemorial. The British leveraged that tension before during and after our civil war in the Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th century.
(0)
(0)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
LTC Stephen F. - As a German Beer Historian also started something else unique IPAs. The Beer coming from England would be stale by the time it reached India. They figured out the trick of using more Hops (What Makes Beer Dry and Bitter) to preserve the Beer and developed the British Taste for Bitter Beer, India Pale Ales. I'm a Kraut, I love Sweet Beer, Lagers, I hate Bitter Pale Ales.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
LTC Stephen F.
You are very welcome SP5 Mark Kuzinski. Some dates had so many significant actions while others have very few but some interesting activities such as foreign relations or significant covert actions such as the C.S.S. Planter Caper in 1862.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google