Posted on Mar 25, 2017
What was the most significant event on October 12 during the U.S. Civil War?
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In 1861, The CSA made another attempt to secure diplomatic relations with England and France. Earlier that year CSA president Jefferson Davis sent William Yancy, Ambrose Mann, and Pierre Rost who were completely unsuccessful in their mission to convince England and France to throw in their lots with the South. On October 12, 1861, “Davis, believing a change was necessary, selected two former Senators, James Mason and John Slidell (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family) to replace the three former envoys.”
Justice was at times fleeting during the US Civil war even as it is today. The old saying that good deeds frequently earn punishment or at least lack of recompense applied in 1863 as Colorado-Territory Indian scout Tom Tobin was sent by the Army to track down and kill the notorious outlaws, Felipe Espinosa and his brother. When Tobin returned to Ft. Garland, when asked how his trip had gone, Tobin reportedly replied, "So-so", then rolled the heads out of the sack and across the floor. The Espinosa brothers had killed more than 30 Anglos in the area in retaliation for relatives killed in the Mexican-American War. The government had posted a reward for several thousand dollars (Dead or Alive) for the Espinosas, but Tobin never collected the full amount.”
Thankfully the Governor of Colorado gave Tom Tobin a coat like Kit Carson’s and the Army gave him a Henry rifle.”
In the 1860s horses were critical for transportation of personnel and supplies. Wood was necessary for construction of housing, fortifications and firewood. Parties of soldiers were dispatched to chop down trees as well as collect firewood. Caring of horses was an important duty which included procuring enough hay to feed them. In 1864 Fort Kearny, Nebraska “was the depot of supplies for the following posts: Mahalla’s Station, Plum Creek, Pawnee Ranch, Little Blue Station and Junction Station. The supply of stores at Fort Kearny is small, being entirely out of some articles most needed. Orders have been made six month ago but have not been filled. Supply of hay has been supplied for the winter and will allow an issue of 10 lbs. per ration. The need for hay is so desperate that much of the hay had been taken from people who were putting up hay for the freighters for the winter and spring and charging double the normal cost. Eighty Cavalry horses and seven mules were deemed unserviceable and recommended to be sold. A supply of two months’ hay for this post secured and arranged, but requires hauling. A wood party of enlisted men are at present, cutting wood a distance of 16 miles from fort. There are four, six-mule teams at this post used for hauling wood and other purposes. There is quite a number of old wagons at this post that can be repaired.”
Man, knows not his time. In 1864, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney died.
Also in 1864, Rear Admiral David D. Porter relieved Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Wilmington, North Carolina.
Saturday, October 12, 1861: Mason and Slidell are off to Europe! “At this point in the War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was clear about several things. For one, the quick victory that many expected after Bull Run was not going to happen. For another, as the War tarried on, the Union blockade of Southern ports would only grow tighter. Also, the Confederacy needed guns, ammunition and ships, and England could provide all three.
For her part, however, Queen Victoria claimed neutrality and refused to recognize the Confederate States as anything more than an official “belligerent,” which gave the South the right to buy arms and seize ships, but stopped short at recognizing it as a sovereign nation. That recognition was important, without it, most European countries would shy away from any actual support.
Early in the War, Davis sent three envoys to Europe (William Yancy, Ambrose Mann, and Pierre Rost) who were completely unsuccessful in their mission to convince England and France to throw in their lots with the South. Davis, believing a change was necessary, selected two former Senators, James Mason and John Slidell, to replace the three former envoys. [1]
Both Mason and Slidell were respected negotiators and Southern statesmen. Mason, who would be the envoy in London, had been the US Senate Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a defender of States Rights and slavery, going so far as to author the Fugitive Slave Law. Slidell, who was to reside in Paris, had been President James K. Polk’s envoy to Mexico towards the end of the Mexican War (though Mexico refused to see him). Their goal was to convince both England and France to recognize the Confederacy and oppose the blockade.
The two envoys had been in Charleston, South Carolina for a couple of weeks and were finding it incredibly difficult to break out of the blockade. Three Union steamers and a sloop-of-war guarded the harbor. At first, they considered chartering the steamer Nashville, a ship fast enough to beat the blockade and large enough to make the entire voyage to England. Word of this plan, however, spread quickly throughout Charleston and it had to be abandoned. For a time, they batted around the idea of leaving via Mexico, but, keeping urgency in mind, kept looking for another ship.
At last, they found a fast steamer named the Gordon, a 500 ton sidewheeler that had already run the blockade several times. It could not, however, make it to England. This was seemingly a blessing in disguise. If the Gordon could make it to Havana, they could take a British ship to England. Once aboard the neutral British ship, they would basically be untouchable by the Union Navy. If the Union captured them from the neutral ship as contraband of war, the Confederacy would be automatically recognized as an official belligerent (something the United States refused to recognize). On the other hand, if the Union captured them as treasonous American citizens while sailing in neutral waters under the British flag, it would be a violation of international law. Either way, it wouldn’t look good for the United States. [2]
On the 9th, Mason and Slidell chartered the Gordon for $10,000, changing its name to the Theodora. By the 11th, James Mason and John Slidell (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family), boarded the steamer and waited for nightfall.
At 1am on this date, the Theodora cast off from Charleston Harbor though rain and clouds. The passengers sat silently as the ship passed within a mile and a half of a Union vessel. [3]
That afternoon, Southern statesman, William Henry Trescot, wired the Confederate Secretary of State: “Charleston, October 12, 1861. Our friends left here last night at 1 o’clock. A fast steamer, good officers, and very dark night, with heavy rain. The guard boat reported that they crossed the bar about 2 o’clock, and that they could neither have been seen nor heard by the fleet. A strong northwest wind helped them, and the fleet this morning seems not to have changed position at all. As soon as we hear further I will telegraph. The steamer ought to be back in about a week, and nothing said until her return. Communicate to Mrs. Mason.” [4]
[1] Gunsmoke Over the Atlantic by Jack Coombe, Random House, 2003.
[2] The Burden of Confederate Diplomacy by Charles M. Hubbard, University of Tennessee Press, 2000.
[3] The Diplomatic History of the Southern Confederacy by James Morton Callahan, The Johns Hopkins Press, 1901.
[4] Official Naval Records, Series 1, Vol. 6, p738.
http://civilwardailygazette.com/mason-and-slidell-are-off-to-europe/
Sunday, October 12, 1862: Lee gives Meade the slip for yet another day. “By dawn, General George Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, may have believed himself a fool. His decision to retreat while the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia swerved around his right flank was hastily made. Now, with a day to think about it and a bit of intelligence gathered, he was ready to reverse course and bring General Lee to battle somewhere in the vicinity of Brandy Station.
Reports had hinted that Lee’s Army was still in the Culpeper and Brandy Station area. Cavalry commander Judson Kilpatrick informed him as much. Other couriers brought news that enemy infantry was at Stevensburg, a few miles south. Even one of his corps commanders, John Sedgwick, insisted that the enemy’s flank march had already been spoiled and they were headed back to their old camps south of the Rapidan.
But none of those things were true. Lee’s Army was not at Brandy Station, just as they were not at Stevensburg, and they most certainly were not retreating back to their Rapidan lines. They were streaming north in two parallel columns, and the only troops in the Union army who knew this were those in David Gregg’s Division of cavalry.
Lee’s designs were upon the town of Warrenton, located well behind Meade’s right and rear. To get there, however, his army would have to cross the Rappahannock and a number of smaller creeks and streams. They would also have to deal with Gregg’s Cavalry, the only Union troops between them and their objective. Just beyond the Jefferson (or Jeffersonton), Jeb Stuart’s Cavalry ran into them. It wasn’t much of a fight at first, but when infantry from Richard Ewell’s Corps, for whom Stuart was screening, deployed, Gregg feared for his flanks and retreated.
Had General Meade learned about this when it happened – that Rebel cavalry and infantry were already on his right flank – he certainly wouldn’t have issued orders dividing his army. Three corps and a division of cavalry under John Buford, were to cross the Rappahannock and feel out Lee’s supposed lines near Brandy Station and Culpeper. All were under the immediate command of General Sedgwick.
Through the late morning and early afternoon, as Lee’s army tramped north on Meade’s right flank, the II, V, and VI Corps, with Buford’s Cavalry in front, splashed south across the Rappahannock, deploying into line on dry land. From there, they moved slowly, while the cavalry lightly skirmished with a Rebel detachment left behind to guard the fords. The infantry eventually halted, holding a three-mile line at Brandy Station, while Buford and his troopers chased the scant smattering of Rebels almost to Culpeper.
This whole ordeal took hours. All the while, the Rebel army marched itself northward, with Stuart’s Cavalry in the front. From Jefferson, they moved to cross the Rappahannock at Sulphur Springs. But it was there that Gregg’s Federals were waiting with artillery booming. With calls upon Ewell for additional guns, Stuart quickly cleared the way as the Yankees retreated east toward Fayetteville, leaving the road to Warrenton wide open.
But dusk had fallen, and the fighting waned. Stuart continued north in the direction of Warrenton, while Ewell’s Corps began to cross the Rappahannock. A.P. Hill’s Corps, whose day was one of only marching, had made it to Amissville, five miles west of Sulphur Springs, though still south of the Rappahannock.
Even by nightfall, Meade had no knowledge of Lee’s movements. By his wording, he was clearly still trying to suss it out. Sedgwick reported that they had just missed Stuart, but that locals claimed Lee’s entire Army was moving into Manassas Gap, which indicated a thrust into the Shenandoah Valley. “I hope during the night to get some information from him [Gregg] to confirm or disprove this report, now derived only from soldiers’ talk with citizens,” wrote Meade. Even by 8pm, Meade had not yet heard anything from Gregg.
Still, with no infantry at Culpeper and reports that Lee was moving north, Meade was quickly figuring it out. “In the meantime,” Meade wrote in conclusion to his 8pm letter to Washington, “it is proper you should be advised of this report, because, if true, Lee may get between me and Washington, and you may be annoyed then.”
If that was true, everyone in Washington would most certainly be annoyed with General Meade. But two hours later, after Lee’s army was encamped, Meade finally heard from Gregg “that the enemy have forced the passage of the river at Sulphur Springs […] There is no doubt the whole of Lee’s army is crossing on my immediate right. If I am not attacked tomorrow, I shall move toward him and attack him.”
Meade’s army was divided, and the first thing he had to do was get the three corps that he had sent to Brandy Station back on the north bank. Immediately after receiving word from Gregg, Meade issued orders for his entire army, recalling the three corps across the Rappahannock and placing them, along with others, in a line near Fayetteville facing northwest. The left was anchored on the river by the V Corps, while the right, which was still falling into position by dawn the next day, was to be held by the I and VI Corps to the south of Warrenton Junction, eight miles east of Warrenton.
It was only through exhausting night marches that Meade was able to make up for an entire day spent chasing Lee in the wrong direction. [1]
[1] Sources: Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 29, Part 1, p417, 422; Part 2, p294, 296; The Bristoe Campaign by Adrien Tighe”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/lee-gives-meade-the-slip-for-yet-another-day/
Pictures: 1862-10 MORT KUNSTLER PAINTING - 'Stuart's Ride Around McClellan'; 1863-10-12 Governor of Colorado gave Tom Tobin a coat like Kit Carson’s and the Army gave him a Henry rifle; 1861-10 Mason and Slidell, Confederate commissioners on board the British mail steamer Trent cartoon; 1863-10 to 11 Bristoe, Virginia Campaign Map
A. 1861: Under cover of storm and darkness blockade runner CSS Theodora carried former Senators John Slidell of Louisiana (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family) and James Mason of Virginia, who had been delegated as Commissioners of the Confederacy to France and Britain respectively. Their mission was to be to persuade the governments to which they were being sent to recognize the existence of the Confederate States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
B. 1862: Conclusion of CSA Maj Gen. James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania. – Riding through Hyattstown, Maryland, Stuart heads for the Potomac to cross back to safety in Virginia. But Maj Gen. George B. McClellan had ordered Gen. Stoneman with an entire division of cavalry, and Maj Gen. Ambrose Burnside, with two brigades of infantry, to guard all five fords and trap the Confederate horsemen. Stuart and his column dodge toward a little-used crossing called White’s Ford, where only one Union infantry regiment waits to block them. True to form, Stuart demanded that they surrender or be utterly destroyed in 15 minutes. The Yankees hesitate---and then flee. The Rebels cross the river easily and arrive in Leesburg before dusk. Once again, Gen. Stuart has humiliated McClellan, capturing over 1,500 horses and mounds of supplies, and obtained valuable intelligence and reconnaissance.
C. 1863: Bristoe Station Campaign: Confusing reports begin to convince Meade that Lee is hovering in the Culpeper area, and that perhaps the Federals ought to re-cross to the southwest bank of the Rappahannock and attack Lee where he is. But Lee has accelerated his march northward, and has only the Rappahannock River and Gen. Gregg’s cavalry between his column and Warrenton. Meade sends the II, V, and VI Corps, along with John Buford’s cavalry division, move south across the river at Brandy Station to spar with Lee’s supposed presence there---but after deploying into a three-mile long line and advancing, this force only encounters the small force guarding the fords, and Buford chases them nearly to Culpeper Court House. It is clear Lee is not there. Meanwhile, many miles to the north, Stuart’s gray riders encounter Gregg’s blue cavalry at Sulphur Springs crossing, where Gregg’s guns keep the Rebel troopers at bay for awhile. But when more Rebel artillery from Ewell shows up, Stuart is able to clear the Yankees away from the crossing, and the way to Warrenton is wide open. However, information from Gregg is not forthcoming, and Meade does not know that Lee has again flanked him. Meade gets Gregg’s report long after nightfall, and therefore puts his entire army into motion, and that by forced night marching is barely able to keep Lee from cutting him off.
D. 1864: During the Frankin Campaign, CSA General John Bell Hood issued an ultimatum to the Federal commander Col. Clark Wever at Resaca, Georgia. “Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
FYI SGT Mark Anderson PO3 Edward Riddle Maj William W. 'Bill' Price COL (Join to see) SSgt David M.] SPC Maurice Evans SPC Jon O. SGT Jim ArnoldAmn Dale PreisachCW4 (Join to see) Sgt Jerry GenesioSSG (Join to see)LTC John Griscom LTC Thomas Tennant LTC David Brown LTC (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC (Join to see) CPL Ronald Keyes Jr
Justice was at times fleeting during the US Civil war even as it is today. The old saying that good deeds frequently earn punishment or at least lack of recompense applied in 1863 as Colorado-Territory Indian scout Tom Tobin was sent by the Army to track down and kill the notorious outlaws, Felipe Espinosa and his brother. When Tobin returned to Ft. Garland, when asked how his trip had gone, Tobin reportedly replied, "So-so", then rolled the heads out of the sack and across the floor. The Espinosa brothers had killed more than 30 Anglos in the area in retaliation for relatives killed in the Mexican-American War. The government had posted a reward for several thousand dollars (Dead or Alive) for the Espinosas, but Tobin never collected the full amount.”
Thankfully the Governor of Colorado gave Tom Tobin a coat like Kit Carson’s and the Army gave him a Henry rifle.”
In the 1860s horses were critical for transportation of personnel and supplies. Wood was necessary for construction of housing, fortifications and firewood. Parties of soldiers were dispatched to chop down trees as well as collect firewood. Caring of horses was an important duty which included procuring enough hay to feed them. In 1864 Fort Kearny, Nebraska “was the depot of supplies for the following posts: Mahalla’s Station, Plum Creek, Pawnee Ranch, Little Blue Station and Junction Station. The supply of stores at Fort Kearny is small, being entirely out of some articles most needed. Orders have been made six month ago but have not been filled. Supply of hay has been supplied for the winter and will allow an issue of 10 lbs. per ration. The need for hay is so desperate that much of the hay had been taken from people who were putting up hay for the freighters for the winter and spring and charging double the normal cost. Eighty Cavalry horses and seven mules were deemed unserviceable and recommended to be sold. A supply of two months’ hay for this post secured and arranged, but requires hauling. A wood party of enlisted men are at present, cutting wood a distance of 16 miles from fort. There are four, six-mule teams at this post used for hauling wood and other purposes. There is quite a number of old wagons at this post that can be repaired.”
Man, knows not his time. In 1864, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney died.
Also in 1864, Rear Admiral David D. Porter relieved Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Wilmington, North Carolina.
Saturday, October 12, 1861: Mason and Slidell are off to Europe! “At this point in the War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was clear about several things. For one, the quick victory that many expected after Bull Run was not going to happen. For another, as the War tarried on, the Union blockade of Southern ports would only grow tighter. Also, the Confederacy needed guns, ammunition and ships, and England could provide all three.
For her part, however, Queen Victoria claimed neutrality and refused to recognize the Confederate States as anything more than an official “belligerent,” which gave the South the right to buy arms and seize ships, but stopped short at recognizing it as a sovereign nation. That recognition was important, without it, most European countries would shy away from any actual support.
Early in the War, Davis sent three envoys to Europe (William Yancy, Ambrose Mann, and Pierre Rost) who were completely unsuccessful in their mission to convince England and France to throw in their lots with the South. Davis, believing a change was necessary, selected two former Senators, James Mason and John Slidell, to replace the three former envoys. [1]
Both Mason and Slidell were respected negotiators and Southern statesmen. Mason, who would be the envoy in London, had been the US Senate Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a defender of States Rights and slavery, going so far as to author the Fugitive Slave Law. Slidell, who was to reside in Paris, had been President James K. Polk’s envoy to Mexico towards the end of the Mexican War (though Mexico refused to see him). Their goal was to convince both England and France to recognize the Confederacy and oppose the blockade.
The two envoys had been in Charleston, South Carolina for a couple of weeks and were finding it incredibly difficult to break out of the blockade. Three Union steamers and a sloop-of-war guarded the harbor. At first, they considered chartering the steamer Nashville, a ship fast enough to beat the blockade and large enough to make the entire voyage to England. Word of this plan, however, spread quickly throughout Charleston and it had to be abandoned. For a time, they batted around the idea of leaving via Mexico, but, keeping urgency in mind, kept looking for another ship.
At last, they found a fast steamer named the Gordon, a 500 ton sidewheeler that had already run the blockade several times. It could not, however, make it to England. This was seemingly a blessing in disguise. If the Gordon could make it to Havana, they could take a British ship to England. Once aboard the neutral British ship, they would basically be untouchable by the Union Navy. If the Union captured them from the neutral ship as contraband of war, the Confederacy would be automatically recognized as an official belligerent (something the United States refused to recognize). On the other hand, if the Union captured them as treasonous American citizens while sailing in neutral waters under the British flag, it would be a violation of international law. Either way, it wouldn’t look good for the United States. [2]
On the 9th, Mason and Slidell chartered the Gordon for $10,000, changing its name to the Theodora. By the 11th, James Mason and John Slidell (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family), boarded the steamer and waited for nightfall.
At 1am on this date, the Theodora cast off from Charleston Harbor though rain and clouds. The passengers sat silently as the ship passed within a mile and a half of a Union vessel. [3]
That afternoon, Southern statesman, William Henry Trescot, wired the Confederate Secretary of State: “Charleston, October 12, 1861. Our friends left here last night at 1 o’clock. A fast steamer, good officers, and very dark night, with heavy rain. The guard boat reported that they crossed the bar about 2 o’clock, and that they could neither have been seen nor heard by the fleet. A strong northwest wind helped them, and the fleet this morning seems not to have changed position at all. As soon as we hear further I will telegraph. The steamer ought to be back in about a week, and nothing said until her return. Communicate to Mrs. Mason.” [4]
[1] Gunsmoke Over the Atlantic by Jack Coombe, Random House, 2003.
[2] The Burden of Confederate Diplomacy by Charles M. Hubbard, University of Tennessee Press, 2000.
[3] The Diplomatic History of the Southern Confederacy by James Morton Callahan, The Johns Hopkins Press, 1901.
[4] Official Naval Records, Series 1, Vol. 6, p738.
http://civilwardailygazette.com/mason-and-slidell-are-off-to-europe/
Sunday, October 12, 1862: Lee gives Meade the slip for yet another day. “By dawn, General George Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, may have believed himself a fool. His decision to retreat while the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia swerved around his right flank was hastily made. Now, with a day to think about it and a bit of intelligence gathered, he was ready to reverse course and bring General Lee to battle somewhere in the vicinity of Brandy Station.
Reports had hinted that Lee’s Army was still in the Culpeper and Brandy Station area. Cavalry commander Judson Kilpatrick informed him as much. Other couriers brought news that enemy infantry was at Stevensburg, a few miles south. Even one of his corps commanders, John Sedgwick, insisted that the enemy’s flank march had already been spoiled and they were headed back to their old camps south of the Rapidan.
But none of those things were true. Lee’s Army was not at Brandy Station, just as they were not at Stevensburg, and they most certainly were not retreating back to their Rapidan lines. They were streaming north in two parallel columns, and the only troops in the Union army who knew this were those in David Gregg’s Division of cavalry.
Lee’s designs were upon the town of Warrenton, located well behind Meade’s right and rear. To get there, however, his army would have to cross the Rappahannock and a number of smaller creeks and streams. They would also have to deal with Gregg’s Cavalry, the only Union troops between them and their objective. Just beyond the Jefferson (or Jeffersonton), Jeb Stuart’s Cavalry ran into them. It wasn’t much of a fight at first, but when infantry from Richard Ewell’s Corps, for whom Stuart was screening, deployed, Gregg feared for his flanks and retreated.
Had General Meade learned about this when it happened – that Rebel cavalry and infantry were already on his right flank – he certainly wouldn’t have issued orders dividing his army. Three corps and a division of cavalry under John Buford, were to cross the Rappahannock and feel out Lee’s supposed lines near Brandy Station and Culpeper. All were under the immediate command of General Sedgwick.
Through the late morning and early afternoon, as Lee’s army tramped north on Meade’s right flank, the II, V, and VI Corps, with Buford’s Cavalry in front, splashed south across the Rappahannock, deploying into line on dry land. From there, they moved slowly, while the cavalry lightly skirmished with a Rebel detachment left behind to guard the fords. The infantry eventually halted, holding a three-mile line at Brandy Station, while Buford and his troopers chased the scant smattering of Rebels almost to Culpeper.
This whole ordeal took hours. All the while, the Rebel army marched itself northward, with Stuart’s Cavalry in the front. From Jefferson, they moved to cross the Rappahannock at Sulphur Springs. But it was there that Gregg’s Federals were waiting with artillery booming. With calls upon Ewell for additional guns, Stuart quickly cleared the way as the Yankees retreated east toward Fayetteville, leaving the road to Warrenton wide open.
But dusk had fallen, and the fighting waned. Stuart continued north in the direction of Warrenton, while Ewell’s Corps began to cross the Rappahannock. A.P. Hill’s Corps, whose day was one of only marching, had made it to Amissville, five miles west of Sulphur Springs, though still south of the Rappahannock.
Even by nightfall, Meade had no knowledge of Lee’s movements. By his wording, he was clearly still trying to suss it out. Sedgwick reported that they had just missed Stuart, but that locals claimed Lee’s entire Army was moving into Manassas Gap, which indicated a thrust into the Shenandoah Valley. “I hope during the night to get some information from him [Gregg] to confirm or disprove this report, now derived only from soldiers’ talk with citizens,” wrote Meade. Even by 8pm, Meade had not yet heard anything from Gregg.
Still, with no infantry at Culpeper and reports that Lee was moving north, Meade was quickly figuring it out. “In the meantime,” Meade wrote in conclusion to his 8pm letter to Washington, “it is proper you should be advised of this report, because, if true, Lee may get between me and Washington, and you may be annoyed then.”
If that was true, everyone in Washington would most certainly be annoyed with General Meade. But two hours later, after Lee’s army was encamped, Meade finally heard from Gregg “that the enemy have forced the passage of the river at Sulphur Springs […] There is no doubt the whole of Lee’s army is crossing on my immediate right. If I am not attacked tomorrow, I shall move toward him and attack him.”
Meade’s army was divided, and the first thing he had to do was get the three corps that he had sent to Brandy Station back on the north bank. Immediately after receiving word from Gregg, Meade issued orders for his entire army, recalling the three corps across the Rappahannock and placing them, along with others, in a line near Fayetteville facing northwest. The left was anchored on the river by the V Corps, while the right, which was still falling into position by dawn the next day, was to be held by the I and VI Corps to the south of Warrenton Junction, eight miles east of Warrenton.
It was only through exhausting night marches that Meade was able to make up for an entire day spent chasing Lee in the wrong direction. [1]
[1] Sources: Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 29, Part 1, p417, 422; Part 2, p294, 296; The Bristoe Campaign by Adrien Tighe”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/lee-gives-meade-the-slip-for-yet-another-day/
Pictures: 1862-10 MORT KUNSTLER PAINTING - 'Stuart's Ride Around McClellan'; 1863-10-12 Governor of Colorado gave Tom Tobin a coat like Kit Carson’s and the Army gave him a Henry rifle; 1861-10 Mason and Slidell, Confederate commissioners on board the British mail steamer Trent cartoon; 1863-10 to 11 Bristoe, Virginia Campaign Map
A. 1861: Under cover of storm and darkness blockade runner CSS Theodora carried former Senators John Slidell of Louisiana (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family) and James Mason of Virginia, who had been delegated as Commissioners of the Confederacy to France and Britain respectively. Their mission was to be to persuade the governments to which they were being sent to recognize the existence of the Confederate States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
B. 1862: Conclusion of CSA Maj Gen. James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania. – Riding through Hyattstown, Maryland, Stuart heads for the Potomac to cross back to safety in Virginia. But Maj Gen. George B. McClellan had ordered Gen. Stoneman with an entire division of cavalry, and Maj Gen. Ambrose Burnside, with two brigades of infantry, to guard all five fords and trap the Confederate horsemen. Stuart and his column dodge toward a little-used crossing called White’s Ford, where only one Union infantry regiment waits to block them. True to form, Stuart demanded that they surrender or be utterly destroyed in 15 minutes. The Yankees hesitate---and then flee. The Rebels cross the river easily and arrive in Leesburg before dusk. Once again, Gen. Stuart has humiliated McClellan, capturing over 1,500 horses and mounds of supplies, and obtained valuable intelligence and reconnaissance.
C. 1863: Bristoe Station Campaign: Confusing reports begin to convince Meade that Lee is hovering in the Culpeper area, and that perhaps the Federals ought to re-cross to the southwest bank of the Rappahannock and attack Lee where he is. But Lee has accelerated his march northward, and has only the Rappahannock River and Gen. Gregg’s cavalry between his column and Warrenton. Meade sends the II, V, and VI Corps, along with John Buford’s cavalry division, move south across the river at Brandy Station to spar with Lee’s supposed presence there---but after deploying into a three-mile long line and advancing, this force only encounters the small force guarding the fords, and Buford chases them nearly to Culpeper Court House. It is clear Lee is not there. Meanwhile, many miles to the north, Stuart’s gray riders encounter Gregg’s blue cavalry at Sulphur Springs crossing, where Gregg’s guns keep the Rebel troopers at bay for awhile. But when more Rebel artillery from Ewell shows up, Stuart is able to clear the Yankees away from the crossing, and the way to Warrenton is wide open. However, information from Gregg is not forthcoming, and Meade does not know that Lee has again flanked him. Meade gets Gregg’s report long after nightfall, and therefore puts his entire army into motion, and that by forced night marching is barely able to keep Lee from cutting him off.
D. 1864: During the Frankin Campaign, CSA General John Bell Hood issued an ultimatum to the Federal commander Col. Clark Wever at Resaca, Georgia. “Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
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Raids and skirmishes generally occurred daily in the US Civil War. Sometimes they were conducted by soldiers while other times Indians raided. In 1861 both confederate cavalry and Indianans conducted raids.
1. A force of Confederate cavalry attacked a Federal Negro recruiting detachment located near Fort Donelson, Tennessee. After a short skirmish, the Confederates were driven off.
2. Indians attacked the Overland Stage Coach at Freeman’s Ranch near Plum Creek in the Nebraska Territory. Twenty-five Indians near Deserted Ranch attacked the Overland Mail Company coach eight miles west of Plum Creek at 9:00 p.m. in the evening. One stage horse was killed and after a desperate fight lasting two hours, 2 Indians were killed and the rest fled. One of the guards was severely wounded in the head and one passenger had a flesh womb on his leg. The commanding officer at Plum Creek immediately sent out forty men and an additional fifteen men came from Mullaly Station. They met sixty Indian warriors in battle. The Indians lost three, one being a chief who spoke broken English and several others were wounded. The military lost 2 men, with 1 man wounded, 2 horses killed and 10 horses were disabled.
3. In 1862, CSA Cavalry Leader J.E.B. Stuart conclude his raid into Pennsylvania and through evasion capabilities eluded the efforts of the Federal soldiers to trap him in Maryland. He made his way back into Virginia at White’s Ford after bluffing his way through a Federal cavalry regiment.
Sunday, October 12, 1862: Stuart Narrowly Escapes Back into Virginia “As the gray and rainy autumn dawn dimly lit the morning hours, Confederate cavalry under Jeb Stuart were passing through Hayattstown, Maryland. Having spent the past twenty-four hours riding sixty-five miles from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, they found themselves nearing the Potomac River. There were five different crossings that Stuart had to choose from. The only problem was that he had no way of knowing which would be guarded and which left unprotected by the Union cavalry.
The Rebel cavalry had no real fear of their Federal counterparts. Any or all of the crosses could be guarded, but they felt that unless infantry was involved, there would be no great problem. However, unknown to Stuart, Federal infantry was involved.
At least, it was supposed to be. Along with all the cavalry he could muster, General George McClellan, commanding the Union Army of the Potomac, ordered two brigades of infantry under Ambrose Burnside to board trains and wait near the bridge spanning the Monocacy River. Additionally, an entire division under George Stoneman was at Poolesville. McClellan was absolutely certain that with infantry blocking they way, there was no possibility of Stuart crossing the Potomac and returning to Virginia.
While Stoneman positioned three brigades of infantry to cover the fords, the troops under Burnside, for some reason, strode into Frederick, neglecting to remain by the railroad, checking themselves out of the fight before it even happened.
The Confederates were twelve or so miles away from the Potomac when all the pieces began to fall into place. Through intercepted dispatches, Stuart learned that infantry barred the fords and that cavalry was closing in on them.
The column was now led by an officer named Captain White. He had lived all his life in these parts and knew all the back roads. He thought it best to first lead the troopers towards Poolesville, hoping to deceive the enemy. The Rebels chased back a Union scouting party before making a hard left upon a little-used wagon road, perfecting the ruse.
The road took them towards Whites Ford, a seldom-used crossing that they hoped to find lightly protected. They were mostly in luck. Union General Stoneman had placed only a single regiment at Whites Ford. Their position, along the banks of a canal, was a good one. Though Stuart’s men greatly outnumbered the Federal regiment, it would be a tough fight.
Rather than attacking, a message was sent under a flag of truce, demanding that the regiment surrender or be destroyed within fifteen minutes. It was a bluff. Though the Rebels could have bested this individual regiment, it would not happen quickly. The sounds of the battle would draw in other units of both cavalry and infantry. This could all turn out very, very badly.
For the Federals, there would be no surrender. There wouldn’t even be a reply. They simply abandoned their position.
Stuart’s men lost no time in crossing. Guards were posted above and below the ford while the Confederates splashed their way to Virginia soil. As the pursuing Federals began to draw close, the Rebel artillery was unlimbered and several rounds fired, keeping them at a respectful distance.
“We were not half across when the bank we had left was swarming with the enemy who opened a galling fire upon us, the bullets splashing the water around us like a shower of rain. But the guns from the Virginia side immediately opened on them and mitigated their fire considerably, and we soon crossed and stood once more on Virginia soil.” – From War Years with Jeb Stuart by William Willis Blackford.
By the late afternoon, the entire command, which had lost not a soul, rode into Leesburg, where they encamped and rested. The next day, they would return to their camp at The Bower, a large estate south of Martinsburg.
The stated objective of the raid was to take out a railroad bridge just north of Chambersburg. In that, Stuart failed – the bridge was made of iron, not wood, and his men could not destroy it. In every other way imaginable, however, the raid was a great success.
His men and horses covered 126 miles, captured between 1,200 and 1,500 horses, as well as other various supplies and provisions. General Lee didn’t seem at all upset that Stuart didn’t destroy the bridge, later calling the raid “eminently successful.”
Two other important items came from the raid, one for the Confederates and one for the Federals. First, though it was never stated as a objective, Stuart had ridden through Cashtown Gap, covering much of the ground between Chambersburg and Gettysburg. He could now provide Lee with this valuable information, should Lee find it necessary in planning a full scale invasion of Pennsylvania.
For the Federals, the raid proved to Lincoln that McClellan was not up to the task. Twice, the Rebel cavalry had ridden around his force, making fools of the Army of the Potomac. When Lincoln heard the news of the escape, he was furious. Though he would again urge McClellan to do something, he would wait until his General filed an official report of the debacle before tearing into him. [1]
[1] Sources: OR, Series 1, Vol. 19, Part 1; Bold Dragoon by Emory Thomas; War Years with Jeb Stuart by William Willis Blackford; Riding in Circles by Arnold M. Pavlovsky.”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/stuart-narrowly-escapes-into-virginia/
Below are several journal entries from 1861, 1862, 1863 and 1864 which shed light on what life was like for soldiers and civilians – the good, the bad and the ugly. … I am including journal entries from Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, "Crocker's Brigade," Sixth Division of the Seventeenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee for each year. I have been spending some time researching Civil War journals and diaries and editing them to fit into this series of Civil War discussions.
In 1861, (a) John Houston Bills wrote about the death of Carpenter who was “one of our soldiers” and (b) Southern statesman, William Henry Trescot, wired the Confederate Secretary of State: Charleston “Our friends [envoys James Mason and John Slidell]
In 1864, Col. Clark Wever wrote in his report about his confrontation with CSA Gen Joh Bell Hood. At Resaca, Georgia
Saturday, October 12, 1861: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, “Crocker's Brigade,” “A number of new recruits are arriving, and the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry is being made up. Drill this afternoon. Five of the boys of my company got passes to go home for two or three days.”
Saturday, October 12, 1861: John Houston Bills writes again; “Cool & pleasant: one of our soldiers, Carpenter died at our Hospital. Carpenter was a good looking young man, lived in Tunica County on Cold Water. He was buried at 4PM with martial honors. News from Our Army in Western Kentucky, our Cavalry had a skirmish with Lincoln’s pickets & James D. Fleming badly wounded & taken prisoner by the enemy.”
The afternoon of October 12, 1861, Southern statesman, William Henry Trescot, wired the Confederate Secretary of State from Charleston, SC. “Our friends [envoys James Mason and John Slidell] left here last night at 1 o’clock. A fast steamer, good officers, and very dark night, with heavy rain. The guard boat reported that they crossed the bar about 2 o’clock, and that they could neither have been seen nor heard by the fleet. A strong northwest wind helped them, and the fleet this morning seems not to have changed position at all. As soon as we hear further I will telegraph. The steamer ought to be back in about a week, and nothing said until her return. Communicate to Mrs. Mason.”
Sunday, October 12, 1862: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, “Crocker's Brigade,” “We started early this morning and marching thirty miles arrived at Corinth just at dark. The soldiers are all very tired and worn, having marched about sixty-five miles over a heavy road in two days. We came into Corinth over the ground we had fought over in the battle of October 3d and 4th. This battlefield is a terrible sight and gives one a horrible picture of war. Our men having hurriedly gone in pursuit of the fleeing rebels, the burial of the dead was left to the convalescents, together with such negroes as could be found to do the job. Many of the dead bodies had become so decomposed that they could not be moved and were simply covered over with a little earth just where they lay.”
Monday, October 12, 1863: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade “Crocker's Brigade,” “We remained here in bivouac all day, and shall probably continue at this place several days. Our brigade was sent here to relieve the Third Brigade of General Tuttle's expedition toward Jackson, Mississippi. It turned very warm today. It is raining this evening, and we have no tents in which to stay.”
Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, “Crocker's Brigade,” “We started early this morning and marched to within five miles of Rome by midnight, when we went into bivouac for the rest of the night. We had to move very slowly on account of the teams giving out. Our horses and mules are getting very thin. This is because of the scarcity of forage, and then, too, the roads are very rough, which made it hard on them. Hood's force is thought to be about thirty thousand, while our army numbers fifty thousand men, of all arms, and the men are in fine shape. We received a large mail at Kingston, when passing through there this evening.”
Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Col. Clark Wever wrote in his report “The firing became quite brisk at this time, and deeming it prudent to keep the enemy beyond the creek as long as possible, I sent Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Hall with four additional companies of his regiment (Fifty-sixth Illinois), instructing him to skirmish with and, if possible, develop the strength of the enemy.”
And so before the coming Rebels stood roughly half a regiment of men and a small creek. This bought Wever some time, but to what end, he was not sure. Before long, the Confederates unlimbered a battery, but before it could speak, Wever replied with one of his own, though the distance was too great for either to do any damage. But when a column of Southern infantry appeared along the railroad about a mile north of town, the guns turned in that direction.
Somehow or another, this skirmishing lasted hours. “The firing was brisk,” Wever continued, “and at times quite heavy, increasing continually until 4:30pm, when Colonel Hall informed me that a flag of truce was approaching.”
Wever knew that it was infantry before him, but was probably unsure who might be in command. This was cleared up when a message came through the lines.
“Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
The Confederate force before Col. Wever was not actually under the immediate command of John Bell Hood. It was helmed by S.D. Lee, who was carrying a general order to surrender signed by Hood.
Lee had been directed by Hood to move upon Resaca, as Hood recalled in his Memoirs, “with instructions to display his forces and demand the surender of the garrison, but not to attack, unless, in his judgement, the capture could be effected with small loss of life.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
This might have been enough to convince S.D. Lee to beg off. “The commanding officer refused to surrender,” wrote Lee in his report, “as he could have easily escaped from teh forts with his forces, and crossed the Oostenaula river; I did not deem it prudent to assault the works, which were strong and well manned, believing that our loss would have been severe.”
A. Saturday, October 12, 1861: Under cover of storm and darkness blockade runner CSS Theodora carried former Senators John Slidell of Louisiana (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family) and James Mason of Virginia, who had been delegated as Commissioners of the Confederacy to France and Britain respectively. Their mission was to be to persuade the governments to which they were being sent to recognize the existence of the Confederate States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
B. Saturday, October 11, 1862: Conclusion of CSA Maj Gen. James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania. – Riding through Hyattstown, Maryland, Stuart heads for the Potomac to cross back to safety in Virginia. But Maj Gen. George B. McClellan had ordered Gen. Stoneman with an entire division of cavalry, and Maj Gen. Ambrose Burnside, with two brigades of infantry, to guard all five fords and trap the Confederate horsemen. Stuart and his column dodge toward a little-used crossing called White’s Ford, where only one Union infantry regiment waits to block them. True to form, Stuart demanded that they surrender or be utterly destroyed in 15 minutes. The Yankees hesitate---and then flee. The Rebels cross the river easily and arrive in Leesburg before dusk. Once again, Gen. Stuart has humiliated McClellan, capturing over 1,500 horses and mounds of supplies, and obtained valuable intelligence and reconnaissance.
B+ Sunday, October 12, 1862: James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart (CSA) had led his cavalrymen on yet another “ride around McClellan,” an event which was in danger of becoming a regular occurrence. In this case, he had crossed the Potomac and ridden straight for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Arriving in that city, he had proceeded to confiscate every horse, burn public buildings, wreck everything that couldn’t be carried, and generally cause a nuisance. Realizing that he had perhaps overstayed his welcome, they departed for Maryland. Today, they crossed back over the Potomac to the safety of Virginia.
C. Monday, October 12, 1863: Bristoe Station Campaign: Confusing reports begin to convince Meade that Lee is hovering in the Culpeper area, and that perhaps the Federals ought to re-cross to the southwest bank of the Rappahannock and attack Lee where he is. But Lee has accelerated his march northward, and has only the Rappahannock River and Gen. Gregg’s cavalry between his column and Warrenton. Meade sends the II, V, and VI Corps, along with John Buford’s cavalry division, move south across the river at Brandy Station to spar with Lee’s supposed presence there---but after deploying into a three-mile long line and advancing, this force only encounters the small force guarding the fords, and Buford chases them nearly to Culpeper Court House. It is clear Lee is not there. Meanwhile, many miles to the north, Stuart’s gray riders encounter Gregg’s blue cavalry at Sulphur Springs crossing, where Gregg’s guns keep the Rebel troopers at bay for awhile. But when more Rebel artillery from Ewell shows up, Stuart is able to clear the Yankees away from the crossing, and the way to Warrenton is wide open. However, information from Gregg is not forthcoming, and Meade does not know that Lee has again flanked him. Meade gets Gregg’s report long after nightfall, and therefore puts his entire army into motion, and that by forced night marching is barely able to keep Lee from cutting him off.
D. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: During the Frankin Campaign, CSA General John Bell Hood issued an ultimatum to the Federal commander Col. Clark Wever at Resaca, Georgia. “Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
This might have been enough to convince CSA S.D. Lee to beg off. “The commanding officer refused to surrender,” wrote Lee in his report, “as he could have easily escaped from teh forts with his forces, and crossed the Oostenaula river; I did not deem it prudent to assault the works, which were strong and well manned, believing that our loss would have been severe.”
Background: During the balance of October, Hood’s Army of Tennessee bivouacked in a different locale almost every evening. After leaving Dallas, they moved first to Van Wert. Advancing toward Rome, the army passed through Cave Spring, Coosaville and Sugar Valley before swinging back to the east, tearing up tracks near Resaca and then marching on Dalton.
Pictures: 1864 Franklin–Nashville Campaign map; 1863-10 civil-discourse Bristoe Campaign from Harper's Weekly; 1862-10 Map of J. E. B. Stuart's raid through Pennsylvania in October, 1862; Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter 1863
1. Saturday, October 12, 1861: John Houston Bills writes again; “Cool & pleasant: one of our soldiers, Carpenter died at our Hospital. Carpenter was a good looking young man, lived in Tunica County on Cold Water. He was buried at 4PM with martial honors. News from Our Army in Western Kentucky, our Cavalry had a skirmish with Lincoln’s pickets & James D. Fleming badly wounded & taken prisoner by the enemy.”
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-a/part-twenty-six
2. Saturday, October 12, 1861: City, Mississippi - On October 12, the ironclad CSS Manassas battled the 2 Union ships, USS Richmond and USS Vincennes, at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The Manassas forced the Union ships to run aground, but they managed to get back into the river and proceeded to retreat. This battle to temporarily halt the Union blockade at this part, but it resumed after a short time.
http://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/1861s.html
3. Saturday, October 12, 1861: The Plans of Missouri’s Own General Jeff Thompson: “Missouri State Guard General Jeff Thompson had been planning operations against Union interests in eastern Missouri for some time now. In late September, he had been ordered by Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston to “relieve the pressure of the Federal forces on General Price… and if possible to embarrass their movements by cutting their Ironton Railroad.” By the beginning of October, he had moved to New Madrid, but had more recently set up camp near Piketon in Stoddard County.
Thompson’s plan was to leave with 3,000 in the morning of this date. The force would consist of 2,500 infantry and 500 dragoons (basically mounted infantry). He hoped to be at the railroad bridge over the Big Black River near Blackwell with his dragoons, a distance of about 120 miles, by the 16th. By that time, his infantry should be able to make Fredericktown, about halfway to the bridge.
Thompson’s plan was to destroy the bridge and the nearby tunnel on the 16th, ride to Fredericktown, collect his infantry and take Ironton on the 20th.
After writing to two fellow Missouri State Guard Generals for assistance and to General Johnston, he departed with his band of Rebel Missourians. [5]
[5] Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 3, p223-224.
http://civilwardailygazette.com/mason-and-slidell-are-off-to-europe/
4. Sunday, October 12, 1862: At Arrow Rock, Missouri, a small Union force were suddenly attacked by Confederate guerrillas. The Confederates were laying in an ambush waiting on the Federals. The Federals were forced to withdraw after sustaining heavy casualties. In Mississippi, Major General Earl Van Dorn assumes command of Confederate troops.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-b/part-seventy-nine
5. Sunday, October 12, 1862: Arrow Rock, Missouri - On October 12, a small Union force was nearing Arrow Rock when they were suddenly attacked by Confederate guerrillas. The Confederates were laying in an ambush waiting on the Federals. The Federals were forced to withdraw after sustaining heavy casualties.
http://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/1862s.html
6. Sunday, October 12, 1862: J. E. B. Stuart concludes his ride around McClellan's Army for a second time through Pennsylvania and Maryland.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186210
7. Monday, October 12, 1863: Still plenty of fighting going on with skirmishes in Quinn and Jackson's Mill, MS, and at New Market and Fort Morgan, AL, also at Merrill's Crossing, Lamine Crossing, and Dug Ford, near Jonesborough, MO, and six other places in Virginia.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-c/week-131
8. Monday, October 12, 1863: Indian scout in Colorado Territory named Tom Tobin was sent by the Army to track down and kill the notorious outlaw, Felipe Espinosa and his brother. When Tobin returned to Ft. Garland, when asked how his trip had gone, Tobin reportedly replied, "So-so", then rolled the heads out of the sack and across the floor. The Espinosa brothers had killed more than 30 Anglos in the area in retaliation for relatives killed in the Mexican-American War. The government had posted a reward for several thousand dollars (Dead or Alive) for the Espinosas, but Tobin never collected the full amount. The governor of Colorado gave him a coat like Kit Carson’s and the Army gave him a Henry rifle.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-c/week-131
9. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: A force of Confederate cavalry attacked a Federal Negro recruiting detachment located near Fort Donelson, Tennessee. After a short skirmish, the Confederates are driven off.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-183
10. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney died.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186410
11. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Indians attack the Overland Stage Coach at Freeman’s Ranch near Plum Creek in the Nebraska Territory.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-183
12. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Rear Admiral David D. Porter (USN) relieved Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee (USN) as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Wilmington, North Carolina.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-183\
13. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: One of the duties of the soldiers were to guard the mail company stages from Little Blue Station, Nebraska to Julesburg, Colorado Territory each guard being relieved at the next post. At one time in October 1864 the attacks were so bad that one sergeant and 100 men had to be supplied from Plum Creek to Cottonwood Station. There were daily and nightly patrols along the Overland Trail for the many thousands of wagons laden with supplies for the territories west of the Missouri. On September 29th, a train of immigrants returning from the West while camped two miles west of Plum Creek was attacked at 8:00 p.m. One white man killed and two wounded. Captain Thomas J. Weatherwax along with forty men immediately pursued the Indians. Their trail went across the Platte River and the Indians scattered and trail was abandoned.
On Wednesday, October 12th twenty-five Indians near Deserted Ranch attacked the Overland Mail Company coach eight miles west of Plum Creek at 9:00 p.m. in the evening. One stage horse killed and after a desperate fight lasting two hours, 2 Indians killed; rest fled. One of the guards severely wounded in head, one passenger had a flesh womb on his leg. Commanding officer at Plum Creek immediately sent out forty men and an additional fifteen men came from Mullaly Station. Met sixty Indian warriors, a battle incurred, Indians lost three, one being a chief who spoke broken English and several others wounded. The military lost 2 men, with 1 man wounded, 2 horses killed and 10 disabled horses.
Thursday, October 13, 1864 – Fifteen men were attacked near Mollalla’s Ranch by 60 or more Indians. Two were killed (Jackson and Kelley) and 7 still missing. Also seven or eight horses are missing. Our hope for their safety is that they may fall in with Captain Ivory at Plum Creek who has with him about 30 men. The horses were in no condition to pursue the Indians. Captain Ivory reported that if they had good horses, he was confident that they could have caught
Thursday, October 13, 1864 - Fort Kearny is the depot of supplies for the following posts: Mahalla’s Station, Plum Creek, Pawnee Ranch, Little Blue Station and Junction Station. The supply of stores at Fort Kearny is small, being entirely out of some articles most needed. Orders have been made six month ago but have not been filled. Supply of hay has been supplied for the winter and will allow an issue of 10 lbs. per ration. The need for hay is so desperate that much of the hay had been taken from people who were putting up hay for the freighters for the winter and spring and charging double the normal cost. Eighty Cavalry horses and seven mules were deemed unserviceable and recommended to be sold. A supply of two months hay for this post secured and arranged, but requires hauling. A wood party of enlisted men are at present, cutting wood a distance of 16 miles from fort. There are four, six-mule teams at this post used for hauling wood and other purposes. There is quite a number of old wagons at this post that can be repaired.
http://www.nebraskaprairie.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2010-Jan-Stereoscope.pdf
A Saturday, October 12, 1861: Under cover of storm and darkness blockade runner Theodora (CSA) carried John Slidell of Louisiana and James Mason of Virginia, Commissioners of the Confederacy to France and Britain respectively. Their mission was to be to persuade the governments to which they were being sent to recognize the existence of the Confederate States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-a/part-twenty-six
A+ Saturday, October 12, 1861: The Theodora leaves Charleston Harbor for Havana Cuba. On board are the Confederate States of America commissioners to England (James Mason) and France (John Slidell).
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186110
B October 12, 1862: Gen. Stuart’s Wild Ride, Day 3 – Riding through Hyattstown, Maryland, Stuart heads for the Potomac to cross back to safety in Virginia. But Gen. McClellan has ordered Gen. Stoneman with an entire division of cavalry, and Gen. Burnside, with two brigades of infantry, to guard all five fords and trap the Confederate horsemen. Stuart and his column dodge toward a little-used crossing called White’s Ford, where only one Union infantry regiment waits to block them. True to form, Stuart demands that they surrender or be utterly destroyed in 15 minutes. The Yankees hesitate---and then flee. The Rebels cross the river easily and arrive in Leesburg before dusk. Once again, Gen. Stuart has humiliated McClellan, captured over 1,500 horses and mounds of supplies, and obtained valuable intelligence and reconnaissance.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=October+12%2C+1862
B+ Sunday, October 12, 1862: James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart (CSA) had led his cavalrymen on yet another “ride around McClellan,” an event which was in danger of becoming a regular occurrence. In this case, he had crossed the Potomac and ridden straight for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Arriving in that city, he had proceeded to confiscate every horse, burn public buildings, wreck everything that couldn’t be carried, and generally cause a nuisance. Realizing that he had perhaps overstayed his welcome, they departed for Maryland. Today, they crossed back over the Potomac to the safety of Virginia.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-b/part-seventy-nine
C Monday, October 12, 1863: Bristoe Station Campaign: Confusing reports begin to convince Meade that Lee is hovering in the Culpeper area, and that perhaps the Federals ought to re-cross to the southwest bank of the Rappahannock and attack Lee where he is. But Lee has accelerated his march northward, and has only the Rappahannock River and Gen. Gregg’s cavalry between his column and Warrenton. Meade sends the II, V, and VI Corps, along with John Buford’s cavalry division, move south across the river at Brandy Station to spar with Lee’s supposed presence there---but after deploying into a three-mile long line and advancing, this force only encounters the small force guarding the fords, and Buford chases them nearly to Culpeper Court House. It is clear Lee is not there. Meanwhile, many miles to the north, Stuart’s gray riders encounter Gregg’s blue cavalry at Sulphur Springs crossing, where Gregg’s guns keep the Rebel troopers at bay for awhile. But when more Rebel artillery from Ewell shows up, Stuart is able to clear the Yankees away from the crossing, and the way to Warrenton is wide open. However, information from Gregg is not forthcoming, and Meade does not know that Lee has again flanked him. Meade gets Gregg’s report long after nightfall, and therefore puts his entire army into motion, and that by forced night marching is barely able to keep Lee from cutting him off.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=October+12%2C+1863
D Wednesday, October 12, 1864: If You Want It, Come And Take It’ – Federals In Resaca Refuse To Surrender. “The news coming to Col. Clark Wever on the morning of this date wasn’t good, but neither was it especially unexpected. Rumors that the vanguard of John Bell Hood’s was marching upon Resaca, which he was defending with a few regiments, had been swirling in the air for days.
The night previous, he had dispatched a reconnaissance party west toward John’s Mountain to see if they might be able to learn the truth of the Confederates’ movement. After seeing with their own eyes, they reported back that the enemy was coming in force.
Not long after, the telegraph lines and railroad running north toward Tilton and Dalton were severed. Immediately, he called for reinforcements, but the paths taken by the messengers were already blocked.
Since he knew from whence the Rebels were marching, he sent a company as skirmishers out the road leading west from town, and before long, they were exchanging shots and falling back to the picket lines along Sugar Creek. Along this creek, they made a small sort of stand, bolstered by another company.
“The firing became quite brisk at this time,” wrote Wever in his report, “and deeming it prudent to keep the enemy beyond the creek as long as possible, I sent Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Hall with four additional companies of his regiment (Fifty-sixth Illinois), instructing him to skirmish with and, if possible, develope the strength of the enemy.”
And so before the coming Rebels stood roughly half a regiment of men and a small creek. This bought Wever some time, but to what end, he was not sure. Before long, the Confederates unlimbered a battery, but before it could speak, Wever replied with one of his own, though the distance was too great for either to do any damage. But when a column of Southern infantry appeared along the railroad about a mile north of town, the guns turned in that direction.
Somehow or another, this skirmishing lasted hours. “The firing was brisk,” Wever continued, “and at times quite heavy, increasing continually until 4:30pm, when Colonel Hall informed me that a flag of truce was approaching.”
Wever knew that it was infantry before him, but was probably unsure who might be in command. This was cleared up when a message came through the lines.
“Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
The Confederate force before Col. Wever was not actually under the immediate command of John Bell Hood. It was helmed by S.D. Lee, who was carrying a general order to surrender signed by Hood.
Lee had been directed by Hood to move upon Resaca, as Hood recalled in his Memoirs, “with instructions to display his forces and demand the surender of the garrison, but not to attack, unless, in his judgement, the capture could be effected with small loss of life.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
This might have been enough to convince S.D. Lee to beg off. “The commanding officer refused to surrender,” wrote Lee in his report, “as he could have easily escaped from teh forts with his forces, and crossed the Oostenaula rive; I did not deem it prudent to assault the works, which were strong and well manned, believing that our loss would have been severe.”
So what had been the purpose of appearing before Resaca at all? Though they had no plans to attack, their appearance concentrated and then pinned down the Federals inside the town, leaving the railroad to the north wide open. This they fell upon with all fury, and before dusk it was aflame.
This conflagration meant little to William Tecumseh Sherman. He had all plans to abandon Hood so that his own Union forces might rage across Georgia to the sea. One thing that he was ordered by General Grant to do before leaving was destroy the railroad. Hood was essentially doing him a favor, though perhaps a week or so earlier than Sherman had wished.
Still, Hood was moving north at an alarming speed. He next set his mind upon the railroad running through Mill Creek Gap, just south of Tunnel Hill. And as with the railroad around Resaca, he needed to immobilize whatever force was in Dalton.
This force was the 44th United States Colored Troops, commanded by Lewis Johnson, who was watching with great intrepidation the events to his south.
“My scouts report rebel force at Villanow and this side,” went one message, “report rebels intend to attack here in the morning or during the night.” In another, he had learned that “the rebels have attacked Resaca, and that they are fighting there now.” He requested “75,000 elongated ball cartridges, caliber .57, as soon as possible.”
While Hood continued north, Sherman remained with most of his army in Rome. The next day, he planned to send not a soldier north of the river, save for those already above. Even no this late date, he had no true idea that Hood had gone north. To discover the truth, he dispatched Jacob Cox’s Twenty-Third Corps from the Army of the Ohio to the crossing used by Hood at Coosaville. Sherman would not fight out until the following morning that Hood had appeared before Resaca, thirty miles northeast of his army and his headquarters in Rome. [1]
[1] Sources: Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 39, Part 1, p753, 801-802, 807, 810-811; Advance and Retreat by John Bell Hood; Memoirs by William Tecumseh Sherman; Military Remembrances by Jacob Cox; The Confederacy’s Last Hurrah by Wiley Sword.”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/if-you-want-it-come-and-take-it-federals-in-resaca-refuse-to-surrender/
FYI GySgt Jack Wallace CWO4 Terrence Clark SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LTC Trent Klug SFC Bernard WalkoSSG Franklin Briant SSG Byron Howard Sr CPL Ronald Keyes Jr SFC William Farrell CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw SPC Lyle MontgomeryPO2 Marco MonsalveSPC Woody Bullard SSG Michael Noll SSG Bill McCoy SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSgt Christopher Collins SPC (Join to see) SPC Gary C. PO3 Lynn Spalding
1. A force of Confederate cavalry attacked a Federal Negro recruiting detachment located near Fort Donelson, Tennessee. After a short skirmish, the Confederates were driven off.
2. Indians attacked the Overland Stage Coach at Freeman’s Ranch near Plum Creek in the Nebraska Territory. Twenty-five Indians near Deserted Ranch attacked the Overland Mail Company coach eight miles west of Plum Creek at 9:00 p.m. in the evening. One stage horse was killed and after a desperate fight lasting two hours, 2 Indians were killed and the rest fled. One of the guards was severely wounded in the head and one passenger had a flesh womb on his leg. The commanding officer at Plum Creek immediately sent out forty men and an additional fifteen men came from Mullaly Station. They met sixty Indian warriors in battle. The Indians lost three, one being a chief who spoke broken English and several others were wounded. The military lost 2 men, with 1 man wounded, 2 horses killed and 10 horses were disabled.
3. In 1862, CSA Cavalry Leader J.E.B. Stuart conclude his raid into Pennsylvania and through evasion capabilities eluded the efforts of the Federal soldiers to trap him in Maryland. He made his way back into Virginia at White’s Ford after bluffing his way through a Federal cavalry regiment.
Sunday, October 12, 1862: Stuart Narrowly Escapes Back into Virginia “As the gray and rainy autumn dawn dimly lit the morning hours, Confederate cavalry under Jeb Stuart were passing through Hayattstown, Maryland. Having spent the past twenty-four hours riding sixty-five miles from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, they found themselves nearing the Potomac River. There were five different crossings that Stuart had to choose from. The only problem was that he had no way of knowing which would be guarded and which left unprotected by the Union cavalry.
The Rebel cavalry had no real fear of their Federal counterparts. Any or all of the crosses could be guarded, but they felt that unless infantry was involved, there would be no great problem. However, unknown to Stuart, Federal infantry was involved.
At least, it was supposed to be. Along with all the cavalry he could muster, General George McClellan, commanding the Union Army of the Potomac, ordered two brigades of infantry under Ambrose Burnside to board trains and wait near the bridge spanning the Monocacy River. Additionally, an entire division under George Stoneman was at Poolesville. McClellan was absolutely certain that with infantry blocking they way, there was no possibility of Stuart crossing the Potomac and returning to Virginia.
While Stoneman positioned three brigades of infantry to cover the fords, the troops under Burnside, for some reason, strode into Frederick, neglecting to remain by the railroad, checking themselves out of the fight before it even happened.
The Confederates were twelve or so miles away from the Potomac when all the pieces began to fall into place. Through intercepted dispatches, Stuart learned that infantry barred the fords and that cavalry was closing in on them.
The column was now led by an officer named Captain White. He had lived all his life in these parts and knew all the back roads. He thought it best to first lead the troopers towards Poolesville, hoping to deceive the enemy. The Rebels chased back a Union scouting party before making a hard left upon a little-used wagon road, perfecting the ruse.
The road took them towards Whites Ford, a seldom-used crossing that they hoped to find lightly protected. They were mostly in luck. Union General Stoneman had placed only a single regiment at Whites Ford. Their position, along the banks of a canal, was a good one. Though Stuart’s men greatly outnumbered the Federal regiment, it would be a tough fight.
Rather than attacking, a message was sent under a flag of truce, demanding that the regiment surrender or be destroyed within fifteen minutes. It was a bluff. Though the Rebels could have bested this individual regiment, it would not happen quickly. The sounds of the battle would draw in other units of both cavalry and infantry. This could all turn out very, very badly.
For the Federals, there would be no surrender. There wouldn’t even be a reply. They simply abandoned their position.
Stuart’s men lost no time in crossing. Guards were posted above and below the ford while the Confederates splashed their way to Virginia soil. As the pursuing Federals began to draw close, the Rebel artillery was unlimbered and several rounds fired, keeping them at a respectful distance.
“We were not half across when the bank we had left was swarming with the enemy who opened a galling fire upon us, the bullets splashing the water around us like a shower of rain. But the guns from the Virginia side immediately opened on them and mitigated their fire considerably, and we soon crossed and stood once more on Virginia soil.” – From War Years with Jeb Stuart by William Willis Blackford.
By the late afternoon, the entire command, which had lost not a soul, rode into Leesburg, where they encamped and rested. The next day, they would return to their camp at The Bower, a large estate south of Martinsburg.
The stated objective of the raid was to take out a railroad bridge just north of Chambersburg. In that, Stuart failed – the bridge was made of iron, not wood, and his men could not destroy it. In every other way imaginable, however, the raid was a great success.
His men and horses covered 126 miles, captured between 1,200 and 1,500 horses, as well as other various supplies and provisions. General Lee didn’t seem at all upset that Stuart didn’t destroy the bridge, later calling the raid “eminently successful.”
Two other important items came from the raid, one for the Confederates and one for the Federals. First, though it was never stated as a objective, Stuart had ridden through Cashtown Gap, covering much of the ground between Chambersburg and Gettysburg. He could now provide Lee with this valuable information, should Lee find it necessary in planning a full scale invasion of Pennsylvania.
For the Federals, the raid proved to Lincoln that McClellan was not up to the task. Twice, the Rebel cavalry had ridden around his force, making fools of the Army of the Potomac. When Lincoln heard the news of the escape, he was furious. Though he would again urge McClellan to do something, he would wait until his General filed an official report of the debacle before tearing into him. [1]
[1] Sources: OR, Series 1, Vol. 19, Part 1; Bold Dragoon by Emory Thomas; War Years with Jeb Stuart by William Willis Blackford; Riding in Circles by Arnold M. Pavlovsky.”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/stuart-narrowly-escapes-into-virginia/
Below are several journal entries from 1861, 1862, 1863 and 1864 which shed light on what life was like for soldiers and civilians – the good, the bad and the ugly. … I am including journal entries from Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, "Crocker's Brigade," Sixth Division of the Seventeenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee for each year. I have been spending some time researching Civil War journals and diaries and editing them to fit into this series of Civil War discussions.
In 1861, (a) John Houston Bills wrote about the death of Carpenter who was “one of our soldiers” and (b) Southern statesman, William Henry Trescot, wired the Confederate Secretary of State: Charleston “Our friends [envoys James Mason and John Slidell]
In 1864, Col. Clark Wever wrote in his report about his confrontation with CSA Gen Joh Bell Hood. At Resaca, Georgia
Saturday, October 12, 1861: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, “Crocker's Brigade,” “A number of new recruits are arriving, and the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry is being made up. Drill this afternoon. Five of the boys of my company got passes to go home for two or three days.”
Saturday, October 12, 1861: John Houston Bills writes again; “Cool & pleasant: one of our soldiers, Carpenter died at our Hospital. Carpenter was a good looking young man, lived in Tunica County on Cold Water. He was buried at 4PM with martial honors. News from Our Army in Western Kentucky, our Cavalry had a skirmish with Lincoln’s pickets & James D. Fleming badly wounded & taken prisoner by the enemy.”
The afternoon of October 12, 1861, Southern statesman, William Henry Trescot, wired the Confederate Secretary of State from Charleston, SC. “Our friends [envoys James Mason and John Slidell] left here last night at 1 o’clock. A fast steamer, good officers, and very dark night, with heavy rain. The guard boat reported that they crossed the bar about 2 o’clock, and that they could neither have been seen nor heard by the fleet. A strong northwest wind helped them, and the fleet this morning seems not to have changed position at all. As soon as we hear further I will telegraph. The steamer ought to be back in about a week, and nothing said until her return. Communicate to Mrs. Mason.”
Sunday, October 12, 1862: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, “Crocker's Brigade,” “We started early this morning and marching thirty miles arrived at Corinth just at dark. The soldiers are all very tired and worn, having marched about sixty-five miles over a heavy road in two days. We came into Corinth over the ground we had fought over in the battle of October 3d and 4th. This battlefield is a terrible sight and gives one a horrible picture of war. Our men having hurriedly gone in pursuit of the fleeing rebels, the burial of the dead was left to the convalescents, together with such negroes as could be found to do the job. Many of the dead bodies had become so decomposed that they could not be moved and were simply covered over with a little earth just where they lay.”
Monday, October 12, 1863: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade “Crocker's Brigade,” “We remained here in bivouac all day, and shall probably continue at this place several days. Our brigade was sent here to relieve the Third Brigade of General Tuttle's expedition toward Jackson, Mississippi. It turned very warm today. It is raining this evening, and we have no tents in which to stay.”
Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Journal of Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, Third Brigade, “Crocker's Brigade,” “We started early this morning and marched to within five miles of Rome by midnight, when we went into bivouac for the rest of the night. We had to move very slowly on account of the teams giving out. Our horses and mules are getting very thin. This is because of the scarcity of forage, and then, too, the roads are very rough, which made it hard on them. Hood's force is thought to be about thirty thousand, while our army numbers fifty thousand men, of all arms, and the men are in fine shape. We received a large mail at Kingston, when passing through there this evening.”
Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Col. Clark Wever wrote in his report “The firing became quite brisk at this time, and deeming it prudent to keep the enemy beyond the creek as long as possible, I sent Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Hall with four additional companies of his regiment (Fifty-sixth Illinois), instructing him to skirmish with and, if possible, develop the strength of the enemy.”
And so before the coming Rebels stood roughly half a regiment of men and a small creek. This bought Wever some time, but to what end, he was not sure. Before long, the Confederates unlimbered a battery, but before it could speak, Wever replied with one of his own, though the distance was too great for either to do any damage. But when a column of Southern infantry appeared along the railroad about a mile north of town, the guns turned in that direction.
Somehow or another, this skirmishing lasted hours. “The firing was brisk,” Wever continued, “and at times quite heavy, increasing continually until 4:30pm, when Colonel Hall informed me that a flag of truce was approaching.”
Wever knew that it was infantry before him, but was probably unsure who might be in command. This was cleared up when a message came through the lines.
“Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
The Confederate force before Col. Wever was not actually under the immediate command of John Bell Hood. It was helmed by S.D. Lee, who was carrying a general order to surrender signed by Hood.
Lee had been directed by Hood to move upon Resaca, as Hood recalled in his Memoirs, “with instructions to display his forces and demand the surender of the garrison, but not to attack, unless, in his judgement, the capture could be effected with small loss of life.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
This might have been enough to convince S.D. Lee to beg off. “The commanding officer refused to surrender,” wrote Lee in his report, “as he could have easily escaped from teh forts with his forces, and crossed the Oostenaula river; I did not deem it prudent to assault the works, which were strong and well manned, believing that our loss would have been severe.”
A. Saturday, October 12, 1861: Under cover of storm and darkness blockade runner CSS Theodora carried former Senators John Slidell of Louisiana (along with his wife and four children, plus his secretary’s entire family) and James Mason of Virginia, who had been delegated as Commissioners of the Confederacy to France and Britain respectively. Their mission was to be to persuade the governments to which they were being sent to recognize the existence of the Confederate States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
B. Saturday, October 11, 1862: Conclusion of CSA Maj Gen. James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania. – Riding through Hyattstown, Maryland, Stuart heads for the Potomac to cross back to safety in Virginia. But Maj Gen. George B. McClellan had ordered Gen. Stoneman with an entire division of cavalry, and Maj Gen. Ambrose Burnside, with two brigades of infantry, to guard all five fords and trap the Confederate horsemen. Stuart and his column dodge toward a little-used crossing called White’s Ford, where only one Union infantry regiment waits to block them. True to form, Stuart demanded that they surrender or be utterly destroyed in 15 minutes. The Yankees hesitate---and then flee. The Rebels cross the river easily and arrive in Leesburg before dusk. Once again, Gen. Stuart has humiliated McClellan, capturing over 1,500 horses and mounds of supplies, and obtained valuable intelligence and reconnaissance.
B+ Sunday, October 12, 1862: James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart (CSA) had led his cavalrymen on yet another “ride around McClellan,” an event which was in danger of becoming a regular occurrence. In this case, he had crossed the Potomac and ridden straight for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Arriving in that city, he had proceeded to confiscate every horse, burn public buildings, wreck everything that couldn’t be carried, and generally cause a nuisance. Realizing that he had perhaps overstayed his welcome, they departed for Maryland. Today, they crossed back over the Potomac to the safety of Virginia.
C. Monday, October 12, 1863: Bristoe Station Campaign: Confusing reports begin to convince Meade that Lee is hovering in the Culpeper area, and that perhaps the Federals ought to re-cross to the southwest bank of the Rappahannock and attack Lee where he is. But Lee has accelerated his march northward, and has only the Rappahannock River and Gen. Gregg’s cavalry between his column and Warrenton. Meade sends the II, V, and VI Corps, along with John Buford’s cavalry division, move south across the river at Brandy Station to spar with Lee’s supposed presence there---but after deploying into a three-mile long line and advancing, this force only encounters the small force guarding the fords, and Buford chases them nearly to Culpeper Court House. It is clear Lee is not there. Meanwhile, many miles to the north, Stuart’s gray riders encounter Gregg’s blue cavalry at Sulphur Springs crossing, where Gregg’s guns keep the Rebel troopers at bay for awhile. But when more Rebel artillery from Ewell shows up, Stuart is able to clear the Yankees away from the crossing, and the way to Warrenton is wide open. However, information from Gregg is not forthcoming, and Meade does not know that Lee has again flanked him. Meade gets Gregg’s report long after nightfall, and therefore puts his entire army into motion, and that by forced night marching is barely able to keep Lee from cutting him off.
D. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: During the Frankin Campaign, CSA General John Bell Hood issued an ultimatum to the Federal commander Col. Clark Wever at Resaca, Georgia. “Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
This might have been enough to convince CSA S.D. Lee to beg off. “The commanding officer refused to surrender,” wrote Lee in his report, “as he could have easily escaped from teh forts with his forces, and crossed the Oostenaula river; I did not deem it prudent to assault the works, which were strong and well manned, believing that our loss would have been severe.”
Background: During the balance of October, Hood’s Army of Tennessee bivouacked in a different locale almost every evening. After leaving Dallas, they moved first to Van Wert. Advancing toward Rome, the army passed through Cave Spring, Coosaville and Sugar Valley before swinging back to the east, tearing up tracks near Resaca and then marching on Dalton.
Pictures: 1864 Franklin–Nashville Campaign map; 1863-10 civil-discourse Bristoe Campaign from Harper's Weekly; 1862-10 Map of J. E. B. Stuart's raid through Pennsylvania in October, 1862; Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter 1863
1. Saturday, October 12, 1861: John Houston Bills writes again; “Cool & pleasant: one of our soldiers, Carpenter died at our Hospital. Carpenter was a good looking young man, lived in Tunica County on Cold Water. He was buried at 4PM with martial honors. News from Our Army in Western Kentucky, our Cavalry had a skirmish with Lincoln’s pickets & James D. Fleming badly wounded & taken prisoner by the enemy.”
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-a/part-twenty-six
2. Saturday, October 12, 1861: City, Mississippi - On October 12, the ironclad CSS Manassas battled the 2 Union ships, USS Richmond and USS Vincennes, at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The Manassas forced the Union ships to run aground, but they managed to get back into the river and proceeded to retreat. This battle to temporarily halt the Union blockade at this part, but it resumed after a short time.
http://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/1861s.html
3. Saturday, October 12, 1861: The Plans of Missouri’s Own General Jeff Thompson: “Missouri State Guard General Jeff Thompson had been planning operations against Union interests in eastern Missouri for some time now. In late September, he had been ordered by Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston to “relieve the pressure of the Federal forces on General Price… and if possible to embarrass their movements by cutting their Ironton Railroad.” By the beginning of October, he had moved to New Madrid, but had more recently set up camp near Piketon in Stoddard County.
Thompson’s plan was to leave with 3,000 in the morning of this date. The force would consist of 2,500 infantry and 500 dragoons (basically mounted infantry). He hoped to be at the railroad bridge over the Big Black River near Blackwell with his dragoons, a distance of about 120 miles, by the 16th. By that time, his infantry should be able to make Fredericktown, about halfway to the bridge.
Thompson’s plan was to destroy the bridge and the nearby tunnel on the 16th, ride to Fredericktown, collect his infantry and take Ironton on the 20th.
After writing to two fellow Missouri State Guard Generals for assistance and to General Johnston, he departed with his band of Rebel Missourians. [5]
[5] Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 3, p223-224.
http://civilwardailygazette.com/mason-and-slidell-are-off-to-europe/
4. Sunday, October 12, 1862: At Arrow Rock, Missouri, a small Union force were suddenly attacked by Confederate guerrillas. The Confederates were laying in an ambush waiting on the Federals. The Federals were forced to withdraw after sustaining heavy casualties. In Mississippi, Major General Earl Van Dorn assumes command of Confederate troops.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-b/part-seventy-nine
5. Sunday, October 12, 1862: Arrow Rock, Missouri - On October 12, a small Union force was nearing Arrow Rock when they were suddenly attacked by Confederate guerrillas. The Confederates were laying in an ambush waiting on the Federals. The Federals were forced to withdraw after sustaining heavy casualties.
http://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/1862s.html
6. Sunday, October 12, 1862: J. E. B. Stuart concludes his ride around McClellan's Army for a second time through Pennsylvania and Maryland.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186210
7. Monday, October 12, 1863: Still plenty of fighting going on with skirmishes in Quinn and Jackson's Mill, MS, and at New Market and Fort Morgan, AL, also at Merrill's Crossing, Lamine Crossing, and Dug Ford, near Jonesborough, MO, and six other places in Virginia.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-c/week-131
8. Monday, October 12, 1863: Indian scout in Colorado Territory named Tom Tobin was sent by the Army to track down and kill the notorious outlaw, Felipe Espinosa and his brother. When Tobin returned to Ft. Garland, when asked how his trip had gone, Tobin reportedly replied, "So-so", then rolled the heads out of the sack and across the floor. The Espinosa brothers had killed more than 30 Anglos in the area in retaliation for relatives killed in the Mexican-American War. The government had posted a reward for several thousand dollars (Dead or Alive) for the Espinosas, but Tobin never collected the full amount. The governor of Colorado gave him a coat like Kit Carson’s and the Army gave him a Henry rifle.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-c/week-131
9. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: A force of Confederate cavalry attacked a Federal Negro recruiting detachment located near Fort Donelson, Tennessee. After a short skirmish, the Confederates are driven off.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-183
10. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney died.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186410
11. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Indians attack the Overland Stage Coach at Freeman’s Ranch near Plum Creek in the Nebraska Territory.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-183
12. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: Rear Admiral David D. Porter (USN) relieved Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee (USN) as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Wilmington, North Carolina.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-183\
13. Wednesday, October 12, 1864: One of the duties of the soldiers were to guard the mail company stages from Little Blue Station, Nebraska to Julesburg, Colorado Territory each guard being relieved at the next post. At one time in October 1864 the attacks were so bad that one sergeant and 100 men had to be supplied from Plum Creek to Cottonwood Station. There were daily and nightly patrols along the Overland Trail for the many thousands of wagons laden with supplies for the territories west of the Missouri. On September 29th, a train of immigrants returning from the West while camped two miles west of Plum Creek was attacked at 8:00 p.m. One white man killed and two wounded. Captain Thomas J. Weatherwax along with forty men immediately pursued the Indians. Their trail went across the Platte River and the Indians scattered and trail was abandoned.
On Wednesday, October 12th twenty-five Indians near Deserted Ranch attacked the Overland Mail Company coach eight miles west of Plum Creek at 9:00 p.m. in the evening. One stage horse killed and after a desperate fight lasting two hours, 2 Indians killed; rest fled. One of the guards severely wounded in head, one passenger had a flesh womb on his leg. Commanding officer at Plum Creek immediately sent out forty men and an additional fifteen men came from Mullaly Station. Met sixty Indian warriors, a battle incurred, Indians lost three, one being a chief who spoke broken English and several others wounded. The military lost 2 men, with 1 man wounded, 2 horses killed and 10 disabled horses.
Thursday, October 13, 1864 – Fifteen men were attacked near Mollalla’s Ranch by 60 or more Indians. Two were killed (Jackson and Kelley) and 7 still missing. Also seven or eight horses are missing. Our hope for their safety is that they may fall in with Captain Ivory at Plum Creek who has with him about 30 men. The horses were in no condition to pursue the Indians. Captain Ivory reported that if they had good horses, he was confident that they could have caught
Thursday, October 13, 1864 - Fort Kearny is the depot of supplies for the following posts: Mahalla’s Station, Plum Creek, Pawnee Ranch, Little Blue Station and Junction Station. The supply of stores at Fort Kearny is small, being entirely out of some articles most needed. Orders have been made six month ago but have not been filled. Supply of hay has been supplied for the winter and will allow an issue of 10 lbs. per ration. The need for hay is so desperate that much of the hay had been taken from people who were putting up hay for the freighters for the winter and spring and charging double the normal cost. Eighty Cavalry horses and seven mules were deemed unserviceable and recommended to be sold. A supply of two months hay for this post secured and arranged, but requires hauling. A wood party of enlisted men are at present, cutting wood a distance of 16 miles from fort. There are four, six-mule teams at this post used for hauling wood and other purposes. There is quite a number of old wagons at this post that can be repaired.
http://www.nebraskaprairie.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2010-Jan-Stereoscope.pdf
A Saturday, October 12, 1861: Under cover of storm and darkness blockade runner Theodora (CSA) carried John Slidell of Louisiana and James Mason of Virginia, Commissioners of the Confederacy to France and Britain respectively. Their mission was to be to persuade the governments to which they were being sent to recognize the existence of the Confederate States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-a/part-twenty-six
A+ Saturday, October 12, 1861: The Theodora leaves Charleston Harbor for Havana Cuba. On board are the Confederate States of America commissioners to England (James Mason) and France (John Slidell).
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186110
B October 12, 1862: Gen. Stuart’s Wild Ride, Day 3 – Riding through Hyattstown, Maryland, Stuart heads for the Potomac to cross back to safety in Virginia. But Gen. McClellan has ordered Gen. Stoneman with an entire division of cavalry, and Gen. Burnside, with two brigades of infantry, to guard all five fords and trap the Confederate horsemen. Stuart and his column dodge toward a little-used crossing called White’s Ford, where only one Union infantry regiment waits to block them. True to form, Stuart demands that they surrender or be utterly destroyed in 15 minutes. The Yankees hesitate---and then flee. The Rebels cross the river easily and arrive in Leesburg before dusk. Once again, Gen. Stuart has humiliated McClellan, captured over 1,500 horses and mounds of supplies, and obtained valuable intelligence and reconnaissance.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=October+12%2C+1862
B+ Sunday, October 12, 1862: James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart (CSA) had led his cavalrymen on yet another “ride around McClellan,” an event which was in danger of becoming a regular occurrence. In this case, he had crossed the Potomac and ridden straight for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Arriving in that city, he had proceeded to confiscate every horse, burn public buildings, wreck everything that couldn’t be carried, and generally cause a nuisance. Realizing that he had perhaps overstayed his welcome, they departed for Maryland. Today, they crossed back over the Potomac to the safety of Virginia.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-b/part-seventy-nine
C Monday, October 12, 1863: Bristoe Station Campaign: Confusing reports begin to convince Meade that Lee is hovering in the Culpeper area, and that perhaps the Federals ought to re-cross to the southwest bank of the Rappahannock and attack Lee where he is. But Lee has accelerated his march northward, and has only the Rappahannock River and Gen. Gregg’s cavalry between his column and Warrenton. Meade sends the II, V, and VI Corps, along with John Buford’s cavalry division, move south across the river at Brandy Station to spar with Lee’s supposed presence there---but after deploying into a three-mile long line and advancing, this force only encounters the small force guarding the fords, and Buford chases them nearly to Culpeper Court House. It is clear Lee is not there. Meanwhile, many miles to the north, Stuart’s gray riders encounter Gregg’s blue cavalry at Sulphur Springs crossing, where Gregg’s guns keep the Rebel troopers at bay for awhile. But when more Rebel artillery from Ewell shows up, Stuart is able to clear the Yankees away from the crossing, and the way to Warrenton is wide open. However, information from Gregg is not forthcoming, and Meade does not know that Lee has again flanked him. Meade gets Gregg’s report long after nightfall, and therefore puts his entire army into motion, and that by forced night marching is barely able to keep Lee from cutting him off.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=October+12%2C+1863
D Wednesday, October 12, 1864: If You Want It, Come And Take It’ – Federals In Resaca Refuse To Surrender. “The news coming to Col. Clark Wever on the morning of this date wasn’t good, but neither was it especially unexpected. Rumors that the vanguard of John Bell Hood’s was marching upon Resaca, which he was defending with a few regiments, had been swirling in the air for days.
The night previous, he had dispatched a reconnaissance party west toward John’s Mountain to see if they might be able to learn the truth of the Confederates’ movement. After seeing with their own eyes, they reported back that the enemy was coming in force.
Not long after, the telegraph lines and railroad running north toward Tilton and Dalton were severed. Immediately, he called for reinforcements, but the paths taken by the messengers were already blocked.
Since he knew from whence the Rebels were marching, he sent a company as skirmishers out the road leading west from town, and before long, they were exchanging shots and falling back to the picket lines along Sugar Creek. Along this creek, they made a small sort of stand, bolstered by another company.
“The firing became quite brisk at this time,” wrote Wever in his report, “and deeming it prudent to keep the enemy beyond the creek as long as possible, I sent Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Hall with four additional companies of his regiment (Fifty-sixth Illinois), instructing him to skirmish with and, if possible, develope the strength of the enemy.”
And so before the coming Rebels stood roughly half a regiment of men and a small creek. This bought Wever some time, but to what end, he was not sure. Before long, the Confederates unlimbered a battery, but before it could speak, Wever replied with one of his own, though the distance was too great for either to do any damage. But when a column of Southern infantry appeared along the railroad about a mile north of town, the guns turned in that direction.
Somehow or another, this skirmishing lasted hours. “The firing was brisk,” Wever continued, “and at times quite heavy, increasing continually until 4:30pm, when Colonel Hall informed me that a flag of truce was approaching.”
Wever knew that it was infantry before him, but was probably unsure who might be in command. This was cleared up when a message came through the lines.
“Sir: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J.B. Hood, General.
Though he knew little about the force before him, Wever replied: General J.B. Hood: “Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that “If this place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.” In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Clark R. Wever, Commanding Officer.”
The Confederate force before Col. Wever was not actually under the immediate command of John Bell Hood. It was helmed by S.D. Lee, who was carrying a general order to surrender signed by Hood.
Lee had been directed by Hood to move upon Resaca, as Hood recalled in his Memoirs, “with instructions to display his forces and demand the surender of the garrison, but not to attack, unless, in his judgement, the capture could be effected with small loss of life.”
According to Col. Wever, with the order to surrender refused, “the fight was resumed.” Directly after it once more started up, 500 cavalrymen from Calhoune, a small outpost to the south, arrived, bringing Wever’s total to 1,200.
This might have been enough to convince S.D. Lee to beg off. “The commanding officer refused to surrender,” wrote Lee in his report, “as he could have easily escaped from teh forts with his forces, and crossed the Oostenaula rive; I did not deem it prudent to assault the works, which were strong and well manned, believing that our loss would have been severe.”
So what had been the purpose of appearing before Resaca at all? Though they had no plans to attack, their appearance concentrated and then pinned down the Federals inside the town, leaving the railroad to the north wide open. This they fell upon with all fury, and before dusk it was aflame.
This conflagration meant little to William Tecumseh Sherman. He had all plans to abandon Hood so that his own Union forces might rage across Georgia to the sea. One thing that he was ordered by General Grant to do before leaving was destroy the railroad. Hood was essentially doing him a favor, though perhaps a week or so earlier than Sherman had wished.
Still, Hood was moving north at an alarming speed. He next set his mind upon the railroad running through Mill Creek Gap, just south of Tunnel Hill. And as with the railroad around Resaca, he needed to immobilize whatever force was in Dalton.
This force was the 44th United States Colored Troops, commanded by Lewis Johnson, who was watching with great intrepidation the events to his south.
“My scouts report rebel force at Villanow and this side,” went one message, “report rebels intend to attack here in the morning or during the night.” In another, he had learned that “the rebels have attacked Resaca, and that they are fighting there now.” He requested “75,000 elongated ball cartridges, caliber .57, as soon as possible.”
While Hood continued north, Sherman remained with most of his army in Rome. The next day, he planned to send not a soldier north of the river, save for those already above. Even no this late date, he had no true idea that Hood had gone north. To discover the truth, he dispatched Jacob Cox’s Twenty-Third Corps from the Army of the Ohio to the crossing used by Hood at Coosaville. Sherman would not fight out until the following morning that Hood had appeared before Resaca, thirty miles northeast of his army and his headquarters in Rome. [1]
[1] Sources: Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 39, Part 1, p753, 801-802, 807, 810-811; Advance and Retreat by John Bell Hood; Memoirs by William Tecumseh Sherman; Military Remembrances by Jacob Cox; The Confederacy’s Last Hurrah by Wiley Sword.”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/if-you-want-it-come-and-take-it-federals-in-resaca-refuse-to-surrender/
FYI GySgt Jack Wallace CWO4 Terrence Clark SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LTC Trent Klug SFC Bernard WalkoSSG Franklin Briant SSG Byron Howard Sr CPL Ronald Keyes Jr SFC William Farrell CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw SPC Lyle MontgomeryPO2 Marco MonsalveSPC Woody Bullard SSG Michael Noll SSG Bill McCoy SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSgt Christopher Collins SPC (Join to see) SPC Gary C. PO3 Lynn Spalding
Stuart Narrowly Escapes Back into Virginia
October 12, 1862 (Sunday) As the gray and rainy autumn dawn dimly lit the morning hours, Confederate cavalry under Jeb Stuart were passing through Hayattstown, Maryland. Having spent the past twent…
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One interesting thing to note is that the history of the war always mentions location of " Stations"or Junctions ,,, Examples are Bristoe Station, Guinea Station, Manassas Junction, Hanover Junction Etc. At approximatley every 15-20 miles along the Railroad there were stations to provide coal/wood (fuel) and water to the engines. These were also key areas to ship supplies from and intersected several important roads. Often battles were fought near or over control of them.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for adding significant value to the discussion, as usual 1stSgt Eugene Harless
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