What was the most significant event on September 13 during the U.S. Civil War?

In 1863, George Armstrong Custer distinguishes himself at Culpeper Court House in Virginia.
In 1864, John McIntosh’s brigade of cavalry captured an entire confederate South Carolina regiment of Jubal Early’s forces
In 1863, Meade’s Cavalry captured Culpeper Court House. “These kinds of rumors were heard countless times. Whether they held that Beauregard’s men had come east to help Lee or that Lee’s men had gone west to help Johnston, for the most part, all that ever came from them was nothing. So used to them had Washington become that when the New York Herald wrote that General James Longstreet’s Confederate corps from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia had boarded trains to head west to add troops to Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee near Chattanooga, it was hardly worth a passing glance. Except that this time it was true. Even before Longstreet’s troops had left the station, the news of their ride was in the papers. This was certainly irksome, but what could be done?
Longstreet’s departure sapped Lee’s Army of nearly a third of its strength, bring its strength to 45,000. General George Meade, leading the Union Army of the Potomac, learned about it on the 11th, two days after Longstreet was off. Since the fizzling out of the Gettysburg Campaign, Meade’s Army had rested along the northern banks of the Rappahannock River. For a time, he and Lee’s army stared at each other across the stream, but before long, Lee fell back to the Rapidan, fifteen or so miles south, leaving Jeb Stuart’s Cavalry, based out of Culpeper and Brandy Station, to patrol the land between.
Federal Cavalry under Judson Kilpatrick noticed this first hand, reporting to Meade that many of the posts previously held by infantry were now in the hands of Confederate cavalry. Additionally, Lafayette McLaw’s Division from Longstreet’s Corps was not in its old position. Putting everything together, Meade wrote Washington that his scouts believed Lee to be “falling back from the Rapidan.” This wasn’t true, per se, but Meade had to make sure. “I have other scouts who will endeavor to penetrate nearer Orange Court House,” he wrote in closing, “and if I can get any evidence more positive, I will push to Culpeper and beyond a strong reconnaissance of cavalry and infantry.”
Meade’s scouts returned with the corroborating news, and on the 12th, he ordered General Alfred Pleasonton’s entire Cavalry Corps to cross the Rappahannock. John Buford’s Division would use the bridge near the railroad, holding the center. On his left would be Judson Kilpatrick at Kelly’s Ford, while on his right would be David Gregg, with a division each. As support, Meade elected to send Gouverneur K. Warren’s II Corps (a choice that rankled the brow of I Corps commander, John Newton).
The preparations made on the 12th must have alerted some Southern citizens, who told the tale to Jeb Stuart at Brandy Station. By 3am of this date (the 13th), the legendary cavalry commander was fully aware of the Union move and began to file his supply wagons toward the Rapidan River. Stuart had placed only three of his cavalry brigades in the Brandy Station area. Under the overall command of Lunsford L. Lomax, a young West Point officer who had quickly risen through the ranks, from Lieutenant to Colonel to General, during the Gettysburg Campaign. His own brigade was joined by that of Grumble Jones’ and Rooney Lee’s, though the latter was under the command of Col. Richard Beale.
Troopers from both Lomax’s and Beale’s Brigades held the fords near Brandy Station, and would warmly welcome Buford’s and Kilpatrick’s men come the dawn. Two of Grumble Jones’ regiments rode north to take on Gregg’s advance. The Rebel cavalry remaining were held in reserve near Culpeper.
Buford and Kilpatrick’s advance came quick, the overwhelming numbers easily pushing Stuart’s men beyond the old Brandy Station battlefield toward Culpeper, where, as they neared the town, the resistance was augmented by Rebel artillery. Meanwhile, Gregg was having similar success pushing back the two Confederate regiments facing him to the north.
As the morning wore to afternoon, the Federal Cavalry was ready to make the kill. Gregg had come in from the north, while Buford was poised to strike from the east. Kilpatrick, who was supposed to slide south of Culpeper to cut off the Rebel retreat was late. When Gregg and Buford made their final attack, they cleared the streets of the town, but Kilpatrick was held up by a swollen creek.
He did, however, arrive just in the nick of time to capture some Rebel artillery. At least, that’s how Kilpatrick told it. General Gregg had a different story. He held that Kilpatrick had indeed captured the guns, asserting that he had taken them not from the Rebels, but from Gregg’s own men. Gregg’s troopers had apparently captured the pieces, secured them, and then continued the pursuit of the Rebels past Culpeper. Kilpatrick flatly denied this, insisting that it was George Armstrong Custer who had taken the enemy’s guns. Adding to the drama, General Pleasonton, put forth that not only was it Custer, but that he had been wounded and his horse shot dead in the process. Pleasonton was the only one to mention Custer’s wounding, but the 1st Vermont, the only non-Michigan regiment in Custer’s Brigade, reported they had captured the artillery, though allowed that it was only one gun.
At any rate, the Federals scoured Culpeper, pushing the Rebels beyond the southern limits of the town to the Rapidan River. There, the Northern troops were met with more Confederate artillery and additional cavalry. With the fall of darkness, the battle limped to a close.
General Pleasonton reported the day’s findings to Meade that evening. Lee’s army, minus Longstreet’s Corps, was still very much along the Rapidan. Richard Ewell’s Corps was near Orange Court House, while A.P. Hill’s Corps was near Raccoon Ford. Meade reminded the general to fall back to the Rappahannock should Lee attack. Until then, Culpeper Court House would remain in Union hands.”
http://civilwardailygazette.com/meades-cavalry-takes-culpeper-court-house/
In 1864, Yankee cavalry captured an entire Rebel Regiment. “The day previous, William Averell’s cavalry scouts learned much of the enemy’s position near Bunker Hill, just north of Winchester, Virginia. In writing to Philip Sheridan, Averell described the findings: “A negro woman came in on the direct road from Winchester, who lives near the Gerrardstown road, last evening with a pass signed by command of Major-General Lomax, dated yesterday. She had been arrested on Saturday, charged with giving information to us. She says she left General Lomax’s headquarters yesterday; he was one mile and a half north of Winchester on this pike. Early’s headquarters were at Stephenson’s Depot; Breckinridge’s, six miles this side of Winchester, division encamped on both sides of the road in line, but with no breast-works; Wharton, half a mile north of Breckinridge, at Reeder’s, encamped on both sides road; Rodes’ division three miles south of Bunker Hill, t. e., nine miles from Winchester.
If true, and there was really no reason to doubt this woman, Jubal Early had arrayed his army along the Valley Pike, mostly facing Opequan Creek.
Along the line much closer to Winchester was the Confederate division under Joseph Kershaw. The entire division had been attempting to leave the Valley to possibly rejoin General Lee’s main body in Petersburg. The week previous, it had been caught up in a skirmish, but it was looking like this day would be a good one to make the escape. It was not.
Sheridan was leery of whatever was going on in Winchester. The bulk of Early’s army was well to the north, but lingering to the south was an entire division. To suss this out, he ordered James Wilson, commanding a cavalry division, to dispatch a brigade to see what they could see. Wilson selected John McIntosh, ordering him to “make a strong reconnaissance toward Winchester for the purpose of determining enemy’s position.”
As McIntosh’s brigade rode forward, taking the Berryville Pike toward Winchester, they met Confederate pickets on a ridge just east of the Opequon. McIntosh devised a plan with the hopes of enveloping and capturing them. “The enemy,” he wrote, “frustrated the movement by hastily evacuating the ridge.”
With nothing before him but the creek, he crossed it, moving swiftly west, and came upon the Rebel cavalry posted on a hill and in some woods. The Confederates were aligned and dismounted, “and gave my advance regiment, the Second Ohio, a hot fire.” In response, McIntosh slid them left, trying to outflank the Southerners.
“As soon as the enemy discovered my movement he hastily withdrew. I then pushed on rapidly over the main road, which ran through a ravine with high hills on each side and very wooded. In advancing rapidly, I overtook some of their dismounted men, who had secreted themselves in a thick skirt of woods.” A New Jersey regiment went in and came out with upwards of thirty prisoners. All the while, McIntosh pushed forward.
Before long, word from his own advance scouts had it that there was infantry before him. But he was hardly intimidated.
“I immediately rode on a hill to the line of skirmishers, saw their force, and sent word to Colonel Suydam of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, to charge one squadron up the road as hard as they could go, and at the same time charged my skirmishers as foragers.”
From the report of Confederate General James Conner, commanding the brigade, as taken from the word of those who escaped: “The Yankee cavalry advanced (mounted) and deployed in front of the main picket; another portion deployed considerably to the left of the main picket; another portion advanced in column at a gallop up the pike, and receiving a volley from the picket dashed past it. Colonel Henagan then fell back into the woods in rear of his picket station, reformed his men, and moved through the woods to the edge of the timber on this side.
“Gaining that point they perceived the Yankee cavalry in front of them; these they fired upon and drove back. Advancing from the woods with the view of coming back to the brigade, they were again met by a considerable body of Yankee cavalry and Colonel Henagan fell back into the wood, some desultory firing going on between his men and the Yankees.
“While this was taking place the Yankee cavalry that had deployed in his front at the commencement (now in his rear) dismounted and advanced into the woods, while the other cavalry rode around the edge of the timber shouting to our men to come out. When the dismounted cavalry were within 50 or 100 yards of our men in the woods the latter surrendered.
“The prisoners were immediately hurried off, the officers of the Yankee cavalry urging their men to be expeditious. The two companies on duty at the picketpost to the right, after skirmishing with the advancing enemy, fell back and escaped,- with the exception of three or four men, who were acting as vedettes at the mill.”
When McIntosh’s Federals surrounded the Rebel regiment, they captured their colonel as well as the battleflag.
Though about to march out of the Valley, Kershaw ordered forward a brigade under James Conner to rescue the South Carolinians. But it was too late. “I dispatched the Third [South Carolina] Regiment to his relief,” wrote General Connors, “with orders to the brigade to follow, and galloped forward myself toward the picket, but as I rose the hill from my camp I saw the Yankee cavalry in rear of our picket. The courier who brought me the intelligence never got back to Colonel Henagan.”
There was now no chance for Kershaw to make his egress. Richard Anderson, commanding the corps in place of the wounded James Longstreet, was with this division and had something to say about the Eighth South Carolina.
“The conduct of Col. Henagan and his regiment on this occasion is inexcusable,” he wrote. “The post was one which might have been defended for some time against any odds.”
Though delayed, it would only for a day. Kershaw would leave the following day, sapping Early’s strength to 15,000. Sheridan, with 40,000, would certainly take notice. http://civilwardailygazette.com/yankee-cavalry-captures-an-entire-rebel-regiment/

Below are several journal entries from 1862 and xx which shed light on what life was like for soldiers and civilians – the good, the bad and the ugly. In 1862, the Lost Special Orders number 191 are discovered by Sergeant John Bloss and Corporate Barton W. Mitchell of the 27th Indiana Infantry Regiment.
Saturday, September 13, 1862: Maryland Campaign - The Lost Orders - In one of the most memorable mischances of the war, Sergeant John Bloss and Corporate Barton W. Mitchell of the 27th Indiana Infantry Regiment, while resting in a field where Confederates had camped just two days earlier, find a copy of Gen. Lee’s Special Orders No. 191, issued a few days ago, lying in the grass wrapped around a few cigars. The soldiers pass the papers on to their colonel, and it gets passed up the chain of command to division commander Gen. Alpheus Williams, whose adjutant recognizes the handwriting of Col. Chilton, the Confederate colonel who wrote the copy of the orders. The orders find their way to Gen. McClellan, who is jubilant and shakes the paper at his staff, saying, "Here is a paper with which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." At this point, Gen. Jacob Cox’s division is a short day’s march from South Mountain, and Gen. Franklin’s VI Corps is within earshot of Harper’s Ferry, where Stonewall Jackson is firing artillery into the Union camp. McClellan orders Pleasanton’s cavalry to cautiously probe South Mountain–and there is a bit of skirmishing there, as a result, but Pleasanton finds out little. Lee’s Lost Orders reveal every detail of splitting up his army into six or more pieces—and that McClellan is only 12 miles away from the nearest piece: D.H. Hill’s lone division, at the passes through South Mountain, the last geographical shield for Lee’s movements. (See Sept. 9, 1862 blog.) However—and with McClellan, there is always a however—Little Mac waits for a full six hours before he issues orders to get his army moving, and even then, the orders do not allow the army to move until first light on Sept. 14, the next day. Still, McClellan sends this telegram to Pres. Lincoln, and is unable to restrain his buoyant and overconfident tone: HEADQUARTERS, Frederick, September 13, 1862–12 m. To the PRESIDENT: “I have the whole rebel force in front of me, but am confident, and no time shall be lost. I have a difficult task to perform, but with God's blessing will accomplish it. I think Lee has made a gross mistake, and that he will be severely punished for it. The army is in motion as rapidly as possible. I hope for a great success if the plans of the rebels remain unchanged. We have possession of Catoctin. I have all the plans of the rebels, and will catch them in their own trap if my men are equal to the emergency. I now feel that I can count on them as of old. All forces of Pennsylvania should be placed to co-operate at Chambersburg. My respects to Mrs. Lincoln. Received most enthusiastically by the ladies. Will send you trophies. All well, and with God's blessing will accomplish it.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN.”
Saturday, September 13, 1862: 1st Lt. Josiah Marshall Favill, a young Englishman serving in the 57th New York Infantry, gives this vivid account of the Union troops re-occupying Frederick, Maryland, which is principally a Unionist town: “September 13. Remained in bivouac yesterday near Clarksburg, and this morning marched for Frederick City, arriving in the afternoon. As we entered the main street the drums sounded attention, and the troops marched in regular order, with bands playing and colors flying. We were received with open arms by the inhabitants, who crowded the streets and sidewalks, waving handkerchiefs, and showing every manifestation of delight. Women and girls ran into the ranks handing out water, pies, bouquets and handkerchiefs, and were beside themselves with joy. The crowd, indeed, was so great; that we had all we could do to keep our horses from stepping on them. When the Fifty-second regiment reached the principal part of the town, it broke out into one of its sonorous and magnificent war songs, producing a wonderful effect. This is the first real opportunity we have had of showing off to our grateful countrywomen, and we made the most of it, displaying our horsemanship to the best advantage. We passed through the town, going into bivouac on the western side. As soon as the troops were established in bivouac, Colonel Parisen and I rode back to town, and spent the evening there, meeting a lot of army fellows we had long lost sight of. Frederick City is nearly fifty miles northwest of Washington and is close to the South Mountain range. The whole of the army is near by and the enemy between us and the Potomac.”
Saturday, September 13, 1862: Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, of the 23rd Ohio of Cox’s Division, adds his eyewitness to the scene in Frederick: “We marched in just at sundown, the Twenty-third a good deal of the way in front. There was no mistaking the Union feeling and joy of the people — fine ladies, pretty girls, and children were in all the doors and windows waving flags and clapping hands. Some "jumped up and down" with happiness. Joe enjoyed it and rode up the streets bowing most gracefully. The scene as we approached across the broad bottom-lands in line of battle, with occasional cannon firing and musketry, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in view, the fine town in front, was very magnificent. It is pleasant to be so greeted. The enemy had held the city just a week. "The longest week of our lives," "We thought you were never coming," "This is the happiest hour of our lives," were the common expressions.”
Saturday, September 13, 1862: As a result of Little Mac’s orders to his cavalry, we have this episode from George Michael Neese, of Chew’s Battery, serving with Gen. Stuart’s Rebel cavalry division: “We went into battery near Jefferson and fired on them a while, then fell back slowly toward Middletown. About noon, by pressing and flanking, the enemy forced General Stuart to fall back on the National Road a little faster than the programme called for. Then we made a forced retreat in order to keep the Yankee flankers from interfering with our rear or cutting us off from the main body of our cavalry which was on the National Road. . . . but when we arrived within one mile of Middletown we learned that the Yankee cavalry, which is getting bold, adventurous, mighty, and numerous in these latter days, had forced our cavalry on the National Road back a little faster than common, and had possession of Middletown.”

Tuesday, September 13, 1864: Maj Gen Philip Sheridan was leery of whatever was going on in Winchester. “The bulk of Early’s army was well to the north, but lingering to the south was an entire division. To suss this out, he ordered James Wilson, commanding a cavalry division, to dispatch a brigade to see what they could see. Wilson selected John McIntosh, ordering him to “make a strong reconnaissance toward Winchester for the purpose of determining enemy’s position.”
As McIntosh’s brigade rode forward, taking the Berryville Pike toward Winchester, they met Confederate pickets on a ridge just east of the Opequon. McIntosh devised a plan with the hopes of enveloping and capturing them. “The enemy,” he wrote, “frustrated the movement by hastily evacuating the ridge.”
With nothing before him but the creek, he crossed it, moving swiftly west, and came upon the Rebel cavalry posted on a hill and in some woods. The Confederates were aligned and dismounted, “and gave my advance regiment, the Second Ohio, a hot fire.” In response, McIntosh slid them left, trying to outflank the Southerners.
“As soon as the enemy discovered my movement he hastily withdrew. I then pushed on rapidly over the main road, which ran through a ravine with high hills on each side and very wooded. In advancing rapidly, I overtook some of their dismounted men, who had secreted themselves in a thick skirt of woods.” A New Jersey regiment went in and came out with upwards of thirty prisoners. All the while, McIntosh pushed forward.
Before long, word from his own advance scouts had it that there was infantry before him. But he was hardly intimidated.
“I immediately rode on a hill to the line of skirmishers, saw their force, and sent word to Colonel Suydam of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, to charge one squadron up the road as hard as they could go, and at the same time charged my skirmishers as foragers.”From the report of Confederate General James Conner, commanding the brigade, as taken from the word of those who escaped: “The Yankee cavalry advanced (mounted) and deployed in front of the main picket; another portion deployed considerably to the left of the main picket; another portion advanced in column at a gallop up the pike, and receiving a volley from the picket dashed past it. Colonel Henagan then fell back into the woods in rear of his picket station, reformed his men, and moved through the woods to the edge of the timber on this side.
“Gaining that point they perceived the Yankee cavalry in front of them; these they fired upon and drove back. Advancing from the woods with the view of coming back to the brigade, they were again met by a considerable body of Yankee cavalry and Colonel Henagan fell back into the wood, some desultory firing going on between his men and the Yankees.
“While this was taking place the Yankee cavalry that had deployed in his front at the commencement (now in his rear) dismounted and advanced into the woods, while the other cavalry rode around the edge of the timber shouting to our men to come out. When the dismounted cavalry were within 50 or 100 yards of our men in the woods the latter surrendered.
“The prisoners were immediately hurried off, the officers of the Yankee cavalry urging their men to be expeditious. The two companies on duty at the picketpost to the right, after skirmishing with the advancing enemy, fell back and escaped,- with the exception of three or four men, who were acting as vedettes at the mill.”
When McIntosh’s Federals surrounded the Rebel regiment, they captured their colonel as well as the battleflag.
Though about to march out of the Valley, Kershaw ordered forward a brigade under James Conner to rescue the South Carolinians. But it was too late. “I dispatched the Third [South Carolina] Regiment to his relief,” wrote General Connors, “with orders to the brigade to follow, and galloped forward myself toward the picket, but as I rose the hill from my camp I saw the Yankee cavalry in rear of our picket. The courier who brought me the intelligence never got back to Colonel Henagan.”
There was now no chance for Kershaw to make his egress. Richard Anderson, commanding the corps in place of the wounded James Longstreet, was with this division and had something to say about the Eighth South Carolina.
“The conduct of Col. Henagan and his regiment on this occasion is inexcusable,” he wrote. “The post was one which might have been defended for some time against any odds.”
Though delayed, it would only for a day. Kershaw would leave the following day, sapping Early’s strength to 15,000. Sheridan, with 40,000, would certainly take notice.”

Pictures: 1863-09-13 Union cavalry charge Culpeper; 1863-09 Officers of horse artillery brigade, near Culpeper, Va., September, 1863; setting Charleston harbor torpedoes; 1864 Map of Battle of Mobile Bay

A. Friday, September 13, 1861: 1st naval battle of Civil War off Pensacola, Fl. Entering Confederate-controlled Pensacola harbor, the Union frigate "Colorado" commanded by USN Lt. John Henry Russell destroyed the privateer Judah, marking the first naval action of the Civil War.
B. Saturday, September 13, 1862: Maj Gen George McClellan's men find a copy of Lee's Special Orders No. 191 issued on September 9, detailing deployment of Confederate troops during the initial phase of the invasion of Maryland, including the attack on Harper's Ferry, Maryland.
In an astonishing twist, two Union soldiers found some cigars where Lee had made his camp. They were wrapped in paper. On this paper was written Lee’s next plans for his army – their targets, which part of his army was marching where etc. This was Lee’s Special Order 191. The Confederates knew that they had lost one copy; but must have assumed that it was never going to be found by the North.
C. Sunday, September 13, 1863: The Battle of Culpeper Court House was an American Civil War skirmish, near Culpeper, Virginia, between the cavalry of the Union Army of the Potomac and that of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The Union victory opened up the Culpeper region to Federal control, a prelude to the subsequent Bristoe Campaign.
Background: On September 12, 1863, the Army of the Potomac's 10,000-man Union cavalry corps under Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton left camp near Warrenton, Virginia, and crossed the Rappahannock River, where various elements concentrated near the hamlet of Sulphur Springs. Their objective was to attack Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's headquarters at Culpeper Court House, the seat of Culpeper County.
Battle. At 4 a.m. the following day, Pleasonton's three divisions moved forward nearly two miles, fording the Hazel River and approaching Culpeper. Advancing in three columns, the Union troopers drove off scattered Confederate pickets and skirmishers. Near the main Confederate defensive line at 1 p.m., 1st Division commander Brig. Gen. H. Judson Kilpatrick ordered a mounted charge by the Michigan Brigade of Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer, which carried the Confederate position centered at the railroad depot. Custer seized more than 100 prisoners, as well as three artillery pieces. The three columns converged at Culpeper and continued their advance, driving the Confederates towards the Rapidan River in heavy skirmishing. At nightfall, the victorious Federals encamped near Cedar Mountain, with the Confederates across Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan. Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's II Corps occupied Culpeper Court House, although his infantry took no part in the cavalry skirmishing. Probing actions the next two days indicated the new Confederate position across the Rapidan was too strong to carry.
D. Tuesday, September 13, 1864: Clearing Mobile Bay of Torpedoes. Rear Admiral Farragut’s sailors continue to clear the main ship channel at Mobile Bay of torpedoes (mines). He reported to Secretary Welles that 22 torpedoes had been raised. He added: “This part of the channel is now believed to be clear, for, though beyond doubt many more were originally anchored here, report says they have sunk over one hundred to the bottom.” Despite the Admiral’s efforts, Union ships would be destroyed in the vicinity of Mobile Bay by torpedoes in the months to come.




1. Friday, September, 13, 1861: Confederate forces continued their efforts to capture Lexington, Missouri, where 3,600 Union defenders faced 18,000 Confederate troops. Colonel Mulligan, the Union commander of Lexington, waited for reinforcements unaware that all his messages to General Fremont (US) were being read by the Confederates. He thought that if they could just hold out a few more days, the 38,000 reinforcements Gen. Fremont had promised them would have time to arrive from St. Louis. Fremont, unfortunately, had not even started them marching yet.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-a/part-twenty-two
2. Saturday, September 13, 1862: Maryland Campaign - The Lost Orders - In one of the most memorable mischances of the war, Sergeant John Bloss and Corporate Barton W. Mitchell of the 27th Indiana Infantry Regiment, while resting in a field where Confederates had camped just two days earlier, find a copy of Gen. Lee’s Special Orders No. 191, issued a few days ago, lying in the grass wrapped around a few cigars. The soldiers pass the papers on to their colonel, and it gets passed up the chain of command to division commander Gen. Alpheus Williams, whose adjutant recognizes the handwriting of Col. Chilton, the Confederate colonel who wrote the copy of the orders. The orders find their way to Gen. McClellan, who is jubilant and shakes the paper at his staff, saying, "Here is a paper with which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." At this point, Gen. Jacob Cox’s division is a short day’s march from South Mountain, and Gen. Franklin’s VI Corps is within earshot of Harper’s Ferry, where Stonewall Jackson is firing artillery into the Union camp. McClellan orders Pleasanton’s cavalry to cautiously probe South Mountain–and there is a bit of skirmishing there, as a result, but Pleasanton finds out little. Lee’s Lost Orders reveal every detail of splitting up his army into six or more pieces—and that McClellan is only 12 miles away from the nearest piece: D.H. Hill’s lone division, at the passes through South Mountain, the last geographical shield for Lee’s movements. (See Sept. 9, 1862 blog.) However—and with McClellan, there is always a however—Little Mac waits for a full six hours before he issues orders to get his army moving, and even then, the orders do not allow the army to move until first light on Sept. 14, the next day. Still, McClellan sends this telegram to Pres. Lincoln, and is unable to restrain his buoyant and overconfident tone: HEADQUARTERS, Frederick, September 13, 1862–12 m. To the PRESIDENT: “I have the whole rebel force in front of me, but am confident, and no time shall be lost. I have a difficult task to perform, but with God's blessing will accomplish it. I think Lee has made a gross mistake, and that he will be severely punished for it. The army is in motion as rapidly as possible. I hope for a great success if the plans of the rebels remain unchanged. We have possession of Catoctin. I have all the plans of the rebels, and will catch them in their own trap if my men are equal to the emergency. I now feel that I can count on them as of old. All forces of Pennsylvania should be placed to co-operate at Chambersburg. My respects to Mrs. Lincoln. Received most enthusiastically by the ladies. Will send you trophies. All well, and with God's blessing will accomplish it.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN.”
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
3. September 12 - 15, 1862: Battle of Harpers Ferry. Stonewall Jackson takes 12,000 prisoners
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186209
4. Saturday, September 13, 1862: W. W. Loring advances down the Kanawha Valley. Federal forces evacuate Charleston, West Virginia.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186209
5. Saturday, September 13, 1862: The C.S.S. Alabama captures the whaler Altahama, out of New Bedfore, in Azorean waters, and burns the prize at sea.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
6. Saturday, September 13, 1862: Stonewall Jackson’s troops have fully invested Harper’s Ferry, and Col. Dixon Miles, the garrison commander, makes no serious attempt to break out. Most of his 14,000 men are green troops. The importance of Harper’s Ferry to the Rebels is partly due to the fact that it sits across Lee’s line of supply and retreat. But mostly its arsenals are stocked with modern rifle muskets in large quantity, and munitions and equipment of all sorts. As Jackson’s men occupy Bolivar Heights, he is shocked to see that the Yankees have made no attempt to hold the heights.
Battle of Harper’s Ferry: Day 1 - Col. Miles’ first mistake was not fortifying the heights surrounding the town, and he is left to defend just the town itself, which is at the bottom of a bowl between three high ridges—although across the river, Miles placed four regiments of Federals under Col. Ford on Maryland Heights. In the wee hours of this morning, McLaws sends forward Kershaw’s South Carolinian brigade, while Barksdale’s Mississippians try to turn Ford’s right flank. Ford’s green troops break and run, and all of the high ground is now in Southern hands. Rebel guns begin to shell the Federal positions. Miles smuggles out a small party of cavalry who dash toward Frederick and the Gen. McClellan with news of the siege.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
7. Saturday, September 13, 1862: Kentucky: Realizing that Gen. Bragg and his Confederates are in Glasgow, Kentucky, far to the north of Nashville, Gen. Buell understands that Bragg is not after Nashville, but Kentucky. He orders Gen. George M. Thomas to march quickly north to Bowling Green with two divisions, to stave off a Rebel attack on this vital link in Federal communications.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
8. Saturday, September 13, 1862: The Rebel guerilla chief Col. Porter, at the head of 500 men, raids Palmyra, Missouri this day, and breaks out 40 Rebel prisoners who were being held there by the Federals.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
9. Saturday, September 13, 1862: 1st Lt. Josiah Marshall Favill, a young Englishman serving in the 57th New York Infantry, gives this vivid account of the Union troops re-occupying Frederick, Maryland, which is principally a Unionist town: “September 13. Remained in bivouac yesterday near Clarksburg, and this morning marched for Frederick City, arriving in the afternoon. As we entered the main street the drums sounded attention, and the troops marched in regular order, with bands playing and colors flying. We were received with open arms by the inhabitants, who crowded the streets and sidewalks, waving handkerchiefs, and showing every manifestation of delight. Women and girls ran into the ranks handing out water, pies, bouquets and handkerchiefs, and were beside themselves with joy. The crowd, indeed, was so great; that we had all we could do to keep our horses from stepping on them. When the Fifty-second regiment reached the principal part of the town, it broke out into one of its sonorous and magnificent war songs, producing a wonderful effect. This is the first real opportunity we have had of showing off to our grateful countrywomen, and we made the most of it, displaying our horsemanship to the best advantage. We passed through the town, going into bivouac on the western side. As soon as the troops were established in bivouac, Colonel Parisen and I rode back to town, and spent the evening there, meeting a lot of army fellows we had long lost sight of. Frederick City is nearly fifty miles northwest of Washington and is close to the South Mountain range. The whole of the army is near by and the enemy between us and the Potomac.”
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
10. Saturday, September 13, 1862: Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, of the 23rd Ohio of Cox’s Division, adds his eyewitness to the scene in Frederick: “We marched in just at sundown, the Twenty-third a good deal of the way in front. There was no mistaking the Union feeling and joy of the people — fine ladies, pretty girls, and children were in all the doors and windows waving flags and clapping hands. Some "jumped up and down" with happiness. Joe enjoyed it and rode up the streets bowing most gracefully. The scene as we approached across the broad bottom-lands in line of battle, with occasional cannon firing and musketry, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in view, the fine town in front, was very magnificent. It is pleasant to be so greeted. The enemy had held the city just a week. "The longest week of our lives," "We thought you were never coming," "This is the happiest hour of our lives," were the common expressions.”
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
11. Saturday, September 13, 1862: As a result of Little Mac’s orders to his cavalry, we have this episode from George Michael Neese, of Chew’s Battery, serving with Gen. Stuart’s Rebel cavalry division: “We went into battery near Jefferson and fired on them a while, then fell back slowly toward Middletown. About noon, by pressing and flanking, the enemy forced General Stuart to fall back on the National Road a little faster than the programme called for. Then we made a forced retreat in order to keep the Yankee flankers from interfering with our rear or cutting us off from the main body of our cavalry which was on the National Road. . . . but when we arrived within one mile of Middletown we learned that the Yankee cavalry, which is getting bold, adventurous, mighty, and numerous in these latter days, had forced our cavalry on the National Road back a little faster than common, and had possession of Middletown.”
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1862
12. Sunday, September 13, 1863: The USS Rattler, a converted riverboat in the U.S. Navy Mississippi River Squadron, is moored off Rodney, Mississippi. A number of crew members attend Sabbath services in the local Presbyterian Church, and a force of Confederate cavalry swoop down upon the service and capture about 20 crew members, including the vessel’s commander.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=September+13%2C+1863
13. Sunday, September 13, 1863: Sensing a change in Lee's lines, George Meade [US] pushes the Army of the Potomac to the Rapidan River, Virginia.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186309
14. Sunday, September 13, 1863: General Robert E. Lee (CSA) had sent General Longstreet (CSA) and his troops from Virginia toward Chattanooga. Sensing a change in Lee's lines, General George Meade (US) pushes the Union’s Army of the Potomac to the Rapidan River, Virginia.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-c/week-127
15. Sunday, September 13, 1863: In Rodney, Mississippi, the captain of the USS Rattler felt things are safe enough in the area to allow his men to attend local church services. He was wrong, as a group of Confederate cavalry interrupted the service, captured the seamen, and hustled them off for a restful stay in prisoner-of-war camp.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-c/week-127

A Friday, September 13, 1861: Entering Confederate-controlled Pensacola harbor, Lt. John Henry Russell destroys the privateer Judah, marking the first naval action of the Civil War.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186109
A+ Friday, September, 13, 1861: 1st naval battle of Civil War, Union frigate "Colorado" sinks privateer "Judah" off Pensacola, Fl.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-a/part-twenty-two
B Saturday, September 13, 1862: George McClellan's men find a copy of Lee's Special Orders No. 191 issued on September 9, detailing deployment of Confederate troops during the initial phase of the invasion of Maryland, including the attack on Harper's Ferry, Maryland.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186209
B+ Saturday, September 13, 1862: In an astonishing twist, two Union soldiers found some cigars where Lee had made his camp. They were wrapped in paper. On this paper was written Lee’s next plans for his army – their targets, which part of his army was marching where etc. This was Lee’s Special Order 191. The Confederates knew that they had lost one copy; but must have assumed that it was never going to be found by the North.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/department-b/part-74
C Sunday, September 13, 1863: The Battle of Culpeper Court House was an American Civil War skirmish fought September 13, 1863, near Culpeper, Virginia, between the cavalry of the Union Army of the Potomac and that of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The Union victory opened up the Culpeper region to Federal control, a prelude to the subsequent Bristoe Campaign.
Background: On September 12, 1863, the Army of the Potomac's 10,000-man Union cavalry corps under Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton left camp near Warrenton, Virginia, and crossed the Rappahannock River, where various elements concentrated near the hamlet of Sulphur Springs. Their objective was to attack Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's headquarters at Culpeper Court House, the seat of Culpeper County.
Battle. At 4 a.m. the following day, Pleasonton's three divisions moved forward nearly two miles, fording the Hazel River and approaching Culpeper. Advancing in three columns, the Union troopers drove off scattered Confederate pickets and skirmishers. Near the main Confederate defensive line at 1 p.m., 1st Division commander Brig. Gen. H. Judson Kilpatrick ordered a mounted charge by the Michigan Brigade of Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer, which carried the Confederate position centered at the railroad depot. Custer seized more than 100 prisoners, as well as three artillery pieces. The three columns converged at Culpeper and continued their advance, driving the Confederates towards the Rapidan River in heavy skirmishing. At nightfall, the victorious Federals encamped near Cedar Mountain, with the Confederates across Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan. Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's II Corps occupied Culpeper Court House, although his infantry took no part in the cavalry skirmishing. Probing actions the next two days indicated the new Confederate position across the Rapidan was too strong to carry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Culpeper_Court_House
D Tuesday, September 13, 1864: Rear Admiral Farragut’s sailors continue to clear the main ship channel at Mobile Bay of torpedoes (mines). He reported to Secretary Welles that 22 torpedoes had been raised. He added: “This part of the channel is now believed to be clear, for, though beyond doubt many more were originally anchored here, report says they have sunk over one hundred to the bottom.” Despite the Admiral’s efforts, Union ships would be destroyed in the vicinity of Mobile Bay by torpedoes in the months to come.
https://sites.google.com/site/civilwarhardemancotn/departments/1864/week-179
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

thanks for the Touch of history...

You truly make history fun to read about. Thank you.