American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

June 30, 1863 Tuesday
Both Federals and Confederates wondered how long the siege at Vicksburg could continue. In mid-Tennessee Confederates evacuated Tullahoma and began to withdraw to and across the Tennessee River.

From Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and elsewhere Confederates converged on the Gettysburg area. Ewell’s corps left York for Gettysburg. Gen Meade ordered the Federal troops of Gen Reynolds to occupy Gettysburg.

Fighting broke out at Hanover, Fairfield, and at Sporting Hill near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Westminster,Maryland. Skirmishing occurred near Hudson’s Ford, Neosho River, in Missouri, and at Goodrich’s Landing, Louisiana. In the House of Commons Gladstone said that reunion of the North and South was not obtainable.

President Lincoln was resisting clamor to put McClellan back in command of the Army of the Potomac ("Do we gain anything by opening one leak to stop another? Do we gain any thing by quieting one clamor, merely to open another, and probably a larger one?").

Captain Semmes of C.S.S. Alabama wrote in his journal: "It is two years to-day since we ran the blockade of the Mississippi in the Sumter. . . . Two years of almost constant excitement and anxiety, the usual excitement of battling with the sea and the weather and avoiding dangerous shoals and coasts, added to the excitement of the chase, the capture, the escape from the enemy, and the battle. And then there has been the government of my officers and crew, not always a pleasant task, for I have had some senseless and unruly spirits to deal with; and last, though not least, the bother and vexation of being hurried out of port when I have gone into one by scrupulous and timid officials to say nothing of offensive espionage. All these things have produced a constant tension of the nervous system, and the wear and tear of body in these two years would, no doubt, be quite obvious to my friends at home, could they see me on this 30th day of June, 1863."

U.S.S. Ossipee, commanded by Captain Gillis, captured schooner Helena off Mobile.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 1, 1863 Wednesday
At daybreak Confederates of A.P. Hill’s corps moved forward along the Chambersburg-Gettysburg Pike, searching for Union forces near Gettysburg. About four miles west of the town, Southerners collided with John Buford’s Federal cavalry pickets. The field had been chosen by underlings; the tempo steadily mounted. At 8 A.M. two Confederate brigades deployed across the Chambersburg Road, at first opposed by Buford’s dismounted cavalry, and in midmorning by John F. Reynolds’ infantry corps. Along Willoughby Run, McPherson’s Ridge, Herr Ridge, they fought. The Federals held, but in midmorning Maj Gen Reynolds ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Reynolds ), one of the best Federal generals, was killed at the edge of McPherson’s Woods. By afternoon both armies flooded toward Gettysburg, and Confederates of Ewell’s corps came in from the north. The Federal First Corps, now under Abner Doubleday ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Doubleday ), was hard pressed from west and north.

Two divisions of the Eleventh Federal Corps, under O.O. Howard came through town and moved out north toward Oak Ridge. Early’s men of Ewell’s corps struck hard against Howard. The Federals withdrew in some confusion, through the town to Cemetery Hill, southeast of the village. The Federals west of Gettysburg, on Oak Ridge and McPherson’s Ridge, in danger of being flanked, also pulled back toward Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge. Losses were heavy on both sides, but the Federals suffered more and victory on the first day went to the South. Confederates held the town when Lee himself arrived. Despite the commander’s wish, Cemetery Hill was not attacked and an opportunity was lost. More Federals came in during the evening and night as the lines developed. The Federals stretched from Spangler’s Spring and Culp’s Hill on the north, along Cemetery Ridge, to the Little Round Top on the south. The Confederates established a long line from the town south along Seminary Ridge facing the Union army. Federal Gen Meade arrived from Taneytown around midnight. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... _First_Day

Indications at Vicksburg were that the siege could not endure much longer. For Pemberton’s imprisoned army surrender was the only alternative to starvation. Johnston’s force lurking around the edges in Mississippi was unable to cope with constantly enlarging Federal besiegers under Grant. There was skirmishing near Edwards’ Station on the edge of the Vicksburg encirclement. At Port Hudson, too, there appeared only one course.

In middle Tennessee the main part of Rosecrans’ Tullahoma Campaign was ending; Federals occupied Tullahoma and Confederates under Bragg continued to withdraw toward Chattanooga. Skirmishing broke out near Bethpage Bridge, Elk River, and near Bobo’s Cross Roads, not far from Tullahoma.

On the Peninsula secondary Federal movements from White House to the South Anna and Bottom’s Bridge with a skirmish at Baltimore Cross Roads caused some apprehension in Richmond. Major General Daniel Harvey Hill ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Harvey_Hill ), CSA, is assigned temporary command of the troops in the Confederate Department of Richmond, Virginia. President Davis "decided that the obstructions below the city [Richmond] shall not be opened for the steam iron-clad Richmond to go out until another iron-clad be in readiness to accompany her." Other fighting occurred in Christiansburg, Kentucky and Cabin Creek, Indian Territory.

The Missouri State Convention (Union) adopted an ordinance declaring that slavery should cease in the state as of July 4, 1870. The Federal government signed a convention with Great Britain regarding war claims. Erasmus Darwin Keyes, USA, was appointed to Major General. The following appointments were made to Brigadier General: John Parker Hawkins, USA; Joseph Gilbert Totten, USA; and Henry Harrison Walker, CSA.

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Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 2, 1863 Thursday
By late morning the lines had been drawn south of Gettysburg. The Federal army extended on Cemetery Ridge from beyond Culp’s Hill down to Little Round Top; the Confederate army massed on the somewhat lower Seminary Ridge. The battleground lay between. It was a day of struggle, of death, then years of controversy. Lee ordered Longstreet’s corps to attack the Federal left while Ewell’s corps was to drive on Cemetery and Culp’s hills. But there were delays. Longstreet opposed the plan; the Confederate troops were reshuffled. For the Federals Maj Gen Daniel E. Sickles ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Sickles ), commanding the Third Corps, believed the Confederate line threatened his flank, so he moved forward without permission to the Peach Orchard, the Devil’s Den, and along the Emmitsburg Road, forming an exposed salient. But an observant Federal officer, Maj Gen G.K. Warren ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._K._Warren ), chief engineer for Meade, found the rocky crest of Little Round Top unoccupied by Federals and realized that if that eminence were gained by the enemy, the whole line might collapse.

Warren gathered brigades and hurried to Little Round Top. The Confederates’ attempted end run against Little Round Top and in the vale between it and Big Round Top almost succeeded. But after a bitter, heavy fight, the situation at the Round Tops stabilized and Federals held the position. Then Longstreet’s entire line went into action against the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, along the Emmitsburg Road. Sickles’ exposed corps responded nobly but futilely, and after several hours’ severe fighting the corps fell back to Cemetery Ridge. Sickles suffered a serious leg wound, and the Confederates held the field at Devil’s Den, Peach Orchard, and the lower slopes of the Round Tops. Yet the Federal line remained intact and unflanked.

To the north, on the Confederate left, Early’s men of Ewell’s corps charged gallantly at East Cemetery Hill in the dusk of evening. Early received no help and Federal reinforcements finally forced him off the hill about 10 P.M. On Culps’ Hill a Confederate attack by Maj Gen Edward Johnson’s ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Johnson_(general) ) division gained and held some of the lower works. The day was over and neither army had made any appreciable gain. The poorly coordinated Confederate attack had failed; the Federals had held despite Sickles’ costly move. The years would echo with the charges that Longstreet had been slow, that Sickles had erred in his advance, that Lee had not properly coordinated his attacks, that Federals had failed to see the danger at Little Round Top. The Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, Cemetery Hill, Culp’s Hill, and the Round Tops bore testimony to the day’s violence. On the edges of the battle there was skirmishing near Chambersburg and Hunterstown, Pennsylvania. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... Second_Day

In the West the Vicksburg siege continued. To the south, at Port Hudson, there was an affair at Springfield Landing, Louisiana. In the campaign of movement in middle Tennessee between Rosecrans’ Federals and Bragg’s Confederates there was skirmishing at Morris’s Ford, Elk River, Rock Creek Ford, Estill Springs, Pelham, and Elk River Bridge, Tennessee. Other action included an engagement at Beverly, West Virginia and skirmishing at Baltimore or Crump’s Cross Roads and Baltimore Store, Virginia during a Federal expedition from White House.

In Kentucky John Hunt Morgan ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hunt_Morgan ) and about 2500 cavalry crossed the Cumberland River near Burkesville and headed north. They avoided Federal forces, although skirmishing broke out briefly at Marrowbone, Kentucky. Also in Kentucky troops skirmished at the mouth of Coal Run, in Pike County.

In Washington a deeply concerned President Lincoln spent long hours at the War Department. In Richmond President Davis authorized Vice-President Alexander Stephens to “proceed as a military commissioner under flag of truce to Washington,” primarily to negotiate prisoner exchange, but ready to discuss an end to the war. President Davis wrote President Lincoln in regard to the same matter. But the whole plan, originally suggested by Stephens, came to nought with Lincoln’s reply: “The request is inadmissible.” Meanwhile, President Davis continued to urge that forces in the Trans-Mississippi attempt to relieve Vicksburg.

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Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 3, 1863 Friday
In the little white cottage on Cemetery Ridge, Gen George G. Meade met with his corps commanders shortly after midnight to discuss the future of the army. It was decided to stay at Gettysburg and await Confederate attack. Meade began to dig fortifications on Cemetery Ridge and brought troops there from Culp’s Hill and elsewhere. Guns were moved up. There was a dawn artillery duel at Culp’s Hill and Spangler’s Spring. Union forces attacked the Confederates at Spangler’s Spring heavily and often, and eventually the Southerners retreated.

Now it was up to Lee and the remainder of the Army of Northern Virginia. Both flanks of the Federals had been tried; perhaps a powerful attack at Meade’s center would do the job and crack the enemy line. Once more Longstreet opposed the plan. The possibly 15,000 attacking infantry (other estimates give 10,500) would be the divisions of George E. Pickett ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pickett ), Henry Heth ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Heth ) (commanded by James J. Pettigrew ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Johnston_Pettigrew ) ), and Dorsey Pender ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorsey_Pender ) (commanded by Isaac Trimble ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Trimble ) ).

About 1 P.M. a most thunderous artillery duel opened. Confederates began, and were answered by eighty Federal guns. For two hours the shelling continued. Then the Federals slackened off. Believing the Union line to be weakening, the Confederates prepared to attack. Messages were sent, Longstreet gave a reluctant nod to Pickett, and Pickett’s three brigades moved toward the Emmitsburg Road. Pettigrew and Trimble also marched forward. Near the Emmitsburg Road, the Southerners realigned ranks. Union batteries opened fire, cutting gaps in the solid gray ranks.

An eyewitness wrote, “Men fire into each other’s faces, not five feet apart. There are bayonet-thrusts, sabre-strokes, pistol-shots; … men going down on their hands and knees, spinning round like tops, throwing out their arms, gulped up blood, falling; legless, armless, headless. There are ghastly heaps of dead men….”

The Confederates moved smartly ahead through the artillery fire; musketry opened, and the infantry charged the dug-in Federals. General officers fell – Armistead ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Addison_Armistead ) reached the stone fence, crossed it, and shouting “Follow me!” he fell. Artillery and Federal infantry closed in mercilessly. Units were broken, battle flags falling with the men. The Confederates retreated across the trampled fields to a sorrowing commander. All Lee could say was, “All this has been my fault.” The Battle of Gettysburg was over ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... _of_battle ).

Meanwhile, a “side show” was going on east of Gettysburg. Stuart’s Confederate horse had finally arrived on July 2 after encircling Meade’s army, and now Lee sent them to the rear of the Federals to cut off a possible retreat. In the afternoon Stuart’s cavalry, three miles east of town, fought with Union cavalry. Stuart was forced to retire after three hours of assault and repulse ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... ry_battles ).

The casualty figures for the three-day battle are staggering. For the Federals, out of a total engaged of over 85,000 men, 3155 died, 14,529 were wounded, and 5365 missing for a total of 23,049. For the Confederates, whose strength was near 65,000, official losses were 2592 killed, 12,709 wounded, and 5150 missing for 20,451.

Hundreds of miles away, on the Mississippi River, white flags of truce flew on Confederate earthworks as Genls Pemberton and Grant conferred under an oak tree for the surrender of the fortress of Vicksburg ( http://www.civilwaralbum.com/vicksburg/surrender.htm ). For over a year the Federals had operated against the city. It had resisted all attempts by land and water, but now six weeks of siege had done the job. Pemberton had no choice. No chance remained that Joseph E. Johnston’s Confederate force could defeat Grant or relieve the city. Food, while not exhausted, was very scarce, and it would only have lasted a few days more. (Mule meat was declared quite palatable by some.) After some discussion the terms were settled upon, including parole of prisoners. The formal surrender would take place July 4.

In middle Tennessee there was a skirmish at Boiling Fork near Winchester, as the successful Federal Tullahoma Campaign concluded with Rosecrans forcing Bragg’s Confederates out of most of Tennessee and eventually to Chattanooga. It was a period of Federal victories that were defensive as well as offensive.

Morgan continued his foray in Kentucky with a skirmish at Columbia, Kentucky. Elsewhere there was a Federal scout from Memphis, Tennessee; in Virginia Federals evacuated Suffolk and pulled back toward Norfolk; in Georgia Union forces undertook an expedition to Ossabaw Island; in North Carolina Federals raided the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad; and for a week another Federal expedition operated from Beaver Creek, Kentucky into southwestern Virginia, with skirmishing at Pond Creek, Kentucky and Gladesville, Virginia.

In Washington President Lincoln was at the War Department reading dispatches from Gettysburg. In Richmond President Davis, too, awaited news of the Confederate invasion of the North, but he had no direct communications with Lee’s army. In New Orleans public gatherings, except church services, were forbidden without written permission; no more than three persons were allowed to congregate at one place on the streets; a 9 P.M. curfew and other restrictions were imposed by the occupying Federal forces.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 4, 1863 Saturday
On this Independence Day Vicksburg, Mississippi was surrendered formally by Confederates under Pemberton to Federals under Grant. About 29,000 Southern soldiers laid down their arms and marched out of the sorely tried city. A quiet Union army observed their departure. Gen Grant himself entered Vicksburg and watched the Stars and Stripes replace the Confederate flag on the courthouse. In the river the naval vessels shrilled their whistles. The Mississippi River was nearly open now, except for Port Hudson, still strongly besieged. But it was clear that the news of Vicksburg’s fall would undoubtedly cause the end at Port Hudson also.

“All will sing ‘Hallelujah!’ ‘The heroic city has fallen!’ ‘Vicksburg is ours!’” proclaimed a Federal captain. A resident of the city who had spent weeks living in a hillside cave said of the surrender: “I wept incessantly, meeting first one group of soldiers and then another many of them with tears streaming down their faces.” The “hateful tunes” of the Yankee bands sounded bitterly in the ears of the heroic defenders, soldiers and civilians alike.

From Seminary Ridge at Gettysburg, a long wagon train of wounded and supplies began to head toward the Potomac River and Virginia in late afternoon. Soon Confederate infantry and artillery followed, pelted by the heavy rains that washed some evidence of the great battle from the soil of Pennsylvania. Meade with his weary Federal army did not immediately pursue, despite urging from Washington.

After the early July days of 1863, military hopes of the Confederacy appeared bleak indeed. War weariness in the North, intervention from overseas, a miracle, were nearly all the hopes that seemed left for the Confederate States of America.

Confederates attacked Helena, Arkansas in a vain and much too late effort to aid Vicksburg. It failed from want of strength and coordination ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Helena ). Cavalry skirmished at Monterey Gay and Fairfield Gap, Pennsylvania and near Emmitsburg, Maryland on the fringes of the Gettysburg area. There was another skirmish at University Depot, Tennessee part of the Tullahoma Campaign. John Hunt Morgan suffered a repulse on the Green River at Tebb’s Bend in his invasion of Kentucky, a momentary setback. As an aftermath of Vicksburg there was a brief skirmish at Messinger’s Ferry on the Big Black River in Mississippi. Still more fighting occurred at Huttonsville and Fayetteville, West Virginia; near Fort Craig, New Mexico Territory; at Cassville and in the Black Ford Hills, Missouri; and at the South Anna Bridge on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad, north of Richmond.

Meanwhile, to the people went the news of Gettysburg, and, more slowly, that of Vicksburg. President Lincoln announced to the country “a great success to the cause of the Union,” for the Army of the Potomac.

The Confederate gunboat Torpedo carried Vice-President Alexander Stephens down the James River to Hampton Roads. But upon President Lincoln’s instructions, Stephens was refused permission to negotiate with the Federal authorities on prisoner exchange or, as he desired, on possible terms to end the war. (There is some question whether this message was sent on July 4 or 6.)

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 5, 1863 Sunday
The beaten Army of Northern Virginia moved toward Hagerstown, Maryland while Lee’s wagon trains went by way of Chambersburg. Meade’s main force did not follow, although there was skirmishing, mainly by cavalry, at Smithsburg, Maryland and near Green Oak, Mercersburg, Fairfield, Greencastle, Cunningham’s Cross Roads, and Stevens’ Furnace or Caledonia Iron Works, Pennsylvania. The North continued to rejoice and yet hoped for a fast pursuit, and even destruction, of the Confederate army.

In Mississippi, following Vicksburg’s surrender, there was an engagement at Birdsong Ferry and Bolton as Federal troops under Sherman once more turned toward the capital at Jackson and Johnston’s army. In Kentucky Morgan’s raiders gained speed, taking Lebanon and Bardstown after light skirmishing. Other fighting took place at Woodburn, Kentucky; Franklin and Yellow Creek, Tennessee; Warsaw and Kenansville, North Carolina. At Vicksburg Grant began the work of paroling Pemberton’s surrendered forces.

I have some catching up to do of events that I missed the past few days:


July 2:

Major General William Dorsey Pender, CSA, is mortally wounded from a shell fragment, requiring the amputation of his leg, during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He dies on July 18,1863. Brigadier General William Barksdale ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Barksdale ), CSA, is mortally wounded leading his Confederate command on the assault of the Round Tops during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He is captured by Federal troops, and dies the next day, July 3,1863. Brigadier General Paul Jones Semmes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Jones_Semmes ), CSA, is mortally wounded leading his Confederate command on the assault of the Round Tops during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He dies eight days later, on July 10,1863. Brigadier General Strong Vincent ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_Vincent ), USA, is mortally wounded leading his Federal command down the slope of Little Round Top to rally his men after Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin's ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain ) bayonet charge down the same slope, during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He dies five days later, on July 7,1863. Brigadier General Samuel Kosciuszko Zook ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_K._Zook ), USA, is mortally wounded in the stomach leading his Federal command in a counterattack against Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet's charge, during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He dies just after midnight, on July 3,1863. Brigadier General Stephen Hinsdale Weed ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_H._Weed ), USA, is killed, receiving a fatal chest wound leading his Federal command in assistance of Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin's bayonet charge down the slope of Little Round Top, during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured ship Anna F. Schmidt in the South Atlantic with cargo of clothes, medicines, clocks, sewing machines, and "the latest invention for killing bed-bugs."
Semmes put the torch to the prize. "We then wheeled about and took the fork of the road again, for the Cape of Good Hope."

U.S.S. Samuel Rotan, commanded by Acting Lieutenant William W. Kennison, seized schooner Champion off the Piankatank River, Virginia.

U.S.S. Cayuga, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Dana, captured blockade running sloop Blue Bell in Mermentau River, Louisiana, with cargo of sugar and molasses.

U.S.S. Covington, commanded by Acting Lieutenant George P. Lord, captured steamer Eureka near Commerce, Mississippi, with cargo of whiskey.

U.S.S. Juniata, under Commander Clitz, seized blockade running British schooner Don Jose at sea with cargo of salt, cotton, and rum.


July 3:

Brigadier General Richard Brooke Garnett ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_B._Garnett ), CSA, dies leading his Confederate command as part of Pickett's Charge during the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His body was never found. Brigadier General Elon John Farnsworth ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_J._Farnsworth ), USA, is killed leading his Federal command in a counterattack against Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet's flank following the repulse of Pickett's Charge during the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Boats from U.S.S. Fort Henry, commanded by Lieutenant Commander McCauley, captured sloop Emma north of Sea Horse Key, Florida, with cargo of tar and Confederate mail.


July 4:

Raphael Semmes later wrote: "This [the surrender of Vicksburg] was a terrible blow to us. It not only lost us an army, but cut the Confederacy in two, by giving the enemy the command of the Mississippi River. . . . Vicksburg and Gettysburg mark an era in the war. . . . We need no better evidence of the shock which had been given to public confidence in the South, by those two disasters, than the simple fact, that our currency depreciated almost immediately a thousand per cent!"

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 6, 1863 Monday
Still more light fighting occurred as Lee’s army withdrew from Gettysburg toward the Potomac River: at Boonsborough, Hagerstown, and Williamsport, Maryland. Still no major Federal pursuit was in sight. In Mississippi, however, Sherman, with a sizable portion of Grant’s army, continued to press toward Jackson seeking out Joseph E. Johnston’s elusive Confederates. Fighting at Jones’ and Messinger’s ferries marked the day’s campaigning. Elsewhere, fighting was at Free Bridge near Trenton, North Carolina and Federals raided the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad nearby. John Hunt Morgan’s raiders occupied Garnettsville as they moved rapidly northward now in Kentucky, heading for the Ohio River.

At Huntington, Indiana the Knights of the Golden Circle ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of ... den_Circle ), a Copperhead group, forced their way into the depot and seized guns and ammunition.

Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Dahlgren ) relieved Rear Admiral Du Pont as Commander, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, at Port Royal. Since April, when Du Pont's ironclads had proved unequal to the task of beating down Fort Sumter, Du Pont had wanted to explain to the country the reason for their failure, i.e., the weaknesses of the monitors in their cast-iron and wrought-iron parts. To have published this would have cleared the Admiral, but it also would have lowered the Union Navy's most widely publicized weapon in public opinion. Du Pont and Secretary Welles fell out over this difference, and Du Pont's retirement from active duty resulted. Dahlgren did not fare any better in his later attempts to take Charleston than did his predecessor. It was the end of a career for the brilliant Du Pont.

U.S.S. De Soto, commanded by Captain W. M. Walker, captured blockade runner Lady Maria off Clearwater, Florida, with cargo of cotton.

C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and burned ship Express off the coast of Brazil. She was carrying a cargo of guano.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 7, 1863 Tuesday
Gen Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of Tennessee was now encamped around Chattanooga, Tennessee after losing most of the state to Rosecrans’ Army of the Cumberland.

Federal forces reoccupied Maryland Heights, on the north bank of the Potomac River at Harper’s Ferry. Skirmishing broke out at Downsville and Funkstown, Maryland as well as at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. It was all a part of the aftermath of Gettysburg. In Mississippi skirmishing increased with fighting at Queen’s Hill and near Baker’s Creek, as well as farther north of the Vicksburg area at Ripley and Iuka. In Kentucky Morgan’s men fought at Shepherdsville and at Cummings’ Ferry, as he prepared to cross the Ohio River. Further skirmishing occurred at Dry Wood, Missouri and Grand Pass, Idaho Territory. Col “Kit” Carson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Carson ) began his Federal expeditions against Indians in Arizona Territory, which lasted until Aug 19. Brigadier General Strong Vincent ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_Vincent ), USA, dies in a field hospital outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from his wounds received leading his Federal command down the slopes of Little Round Top to rally his men after Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin's bayonet charge down the same slopes, during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, the Union Conscription Act took effect. Rumblings of discontent arose, especially in New York City and the western states.

From Hagerstown, Maryland Gen Lee wrote President Davis of his decision to withdraw farther southward.

President Lincoln, considerably concerned over Meade’s failure to strike Lee during the retreat, received the good news of Vicksburg’s surrender. The President wrote Halleck, “Now, if General Meade can complete his work, so gloriously prosecuted thus far, by the literal or substantial destruction of Lee’s army, the rebellion will be over.”

U.S.S. Monongahela, under Commander Read ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Read ), and U.S.S. New London, commanded by Lieutenant Commander George H. Perkins, engaged Confederate field batteries behind the levee about 12 miles below Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Read, characterized by Farragut as "one of the most gallant and enterprising officers in my squadron," was mortally wounded in the action.

C.S.S. Florida, under Commander Maffitt, captured ship Sunrise, bound from New York to Liverpool. Maffitt released her on $60,000 bond.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 8, 1863 Wednesday
News of the surrender of Vicksburg slowly spread south to Port Hudson, Louisiana and the last Confederate garrison on the Mississippi River. Seeing that there was no hope, Gen Franklin Gardner asked Federal Gen Banks for terms, and surrendered unconditionally. After six weeks of siege, it was doubtful if Gardner could have held out much longer. About 7000 prisoners were taken by Banks’ 33,000, although figures are contradictory. Soon Union steamers were moving the whole length of the Mississippi River, although subjected to considerable danger from guerrilla attacks. To the north, in Mississippi, as part of Sherman’s campaign against Jackson, there was skirmishing near Bolton Depot and Clinton.

Raider John Hunt Morgan and his men reached the Ohio River at Cummings’ Ferry and Brandenburg, Kentucky west of Louisville, after some brief skirmishing and crossed into Indiana. Only militia and a small gunboat opposed their passage. The news caused consternation along the Ohio River and many feared that the Copperheads would rise and support this invasion. Morgan’s force was only a raiding party – but the propaganda effect was electric.

Lieutenant Commander Fitch, U.S.S. Moose, received word at Cincinnati that General Morgan, CSA, was assaulting Union positions and moving up the banks of the Ohio River. He had also captured steamers John T. McCombs and Alice Dean (see 7 July). Fitch immediately notified the ships under his command stationed along the river, and got underway himself with U.S.S. Victory in company. Next day the ships converged on Brandenburg, Kentucky, only to find that Morgan's troops, 6,000 strong, had just beaten them to the river and crossed into Indiana. "Not knowing which direction Morgan had taken," Fitch reported, "I sent the Fairfield and Silver Lake to patrol from Leavenworth, [Indiana] up to Brandenburg during the night, and the Victory and Springfield to patrol from Louisville down [to Brandenburg]." By thus deploying his forces, Fitch was able to cover the river for some 40 miles. The morning of 10 July Fitch learned the Confederates were moving northward and, joined by U.S.S. Reindeer and Naumkeag, ascended the Ohio, "keeping as near Morgan's right flank as I possibly could." The chase, continuing until 19 July, was conducted by U.S.S. Moose, Reindeer, Victory, Springfield, Naumkeag, and steamer Alleghany Belle. U.S.S. Fairplay and Silver Lake remained to patrol between Louisville and Cannelton, Indiana.

Under command of Acting Ensigns Henry Eason and James J. Russell, two cutters from U.S.S. Restless and Rosalie captured schooner Ann and one sloop (unnamed) in Horse Creek, Florida, with cargoes of cotton."

C.S.S.. Florida, under Commander Maffitt, captured and burned brig W. B. Nash and whaling schooner Rienzi off New York. The latter carried a cargo of oil.

In the final stages of the Gettysburg campaign fighting broke out at Boonsborough and near Williamsport, Maryland. In Tennessee Federals scouted from Germantown. The draft began in Massachusetts. Gabriel Colvin Wharton, CSA, is appointed to Brigadier General.

Gen Lee, from Hagerstown, Maryland told President Davis that the condition of his army was good and that due to the rising Potomac River he might have to accept battle if the enemy attacked. He told the President he was “not in the least discouraged.”

President Lincoln responds to a telegram that Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas sent to the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton regarding Union troops in pursuit of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army. Lincoln writes, "The forces you speak of, will be of no immagineable service, if they can not go forward with a little more expedition." Lincoln explains that the troops must move quickly or they "will, in my unprofessional opinion, be quite as likely to capture the Man-in-the Moon, as any part of Lee's Army."

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 9, 1863 Thursday
The drums beat again for a surrender ceremony; this time at Port Hudson on the eastern shore of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, and the Confederate forces of Gen Gardner formally surrendered to Federal Nathaniel Banks, after capitulating July 8. Federals occupied the fortifications, and the final fortress on the great river was in Northern hands. Anti-climatic to the surrender of Vicksburg, perhaps, but in some ways Port Hudson was a better position to block the river if strongly enough fortified and garrisoned. Now all that remained were extensive mopping-up operations in the Mississippi Valley and the protection of the river. But it did not prove quite that simple for the Federals. Sherman was operating against Joseph E. Johnston near Jackson, Mississippi and there was frequent harassment by guerrillas along the river before war’s end. Skirmishes broke out near Clinton and Jackson, Mississippi as Sherman drew near the state capital.

Just north of Brandenburg, Kentucky, Morgan and his band, safely across the Ohio River, headed into Indiana and skirmished briefly with home guard forces along the way to Corydon, onetime capital of the state. A small fight flared at Corydon itself, but the Confederates had time for plundering homes and businesses.

The retreat from Gettysburg continued with a skirmish at Benevola or Beaver Creek, Maryland. At Charleston the mayor warned the people of South Carolina that the Federals were preparing to attack once more, this time at Morris Island.

To Gen Johnston, President Davis expressed his hopes that Confederates could attack the enemy and that they “may yet be crushed and the late disaster be repaired by a concentration of all forces.” But it was too late now, if it had ever been possible.

Boat crew from U.S.S. Tahoma, commanded by Lieutenant Commander A. A. Semmes, captured an unnamed flatboat with cargo of sugar and molasses near Manatee River, Florida.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 10, 1863 Friday
As anticipated for some time, Federal troops landed on the south end of Morris Island near Charleston, South Carolina. Their object was Fort or Battery Wagner, one of the main defenses of Charleston Harbor. It marked the first action in a siege that was to last until September. The Federals prepared for an assault on Wagner, hoping that a decisive victory there could be combined with naval operations that would secure Charleston itself. Naval support had been extensive, with U.S.S. Catskill hit sixty times. There was also an engagement at Willstown Bluff, Pon Pon River, South Carolina. Quincy Adams Gillmore, USA, is appointed to Major General.

As Lee gathered his retreating forces at the Potomac River in the area of Williamsport,, action increased. Meade followed somewhat more energetically, for the Potomac River was running high. Skirmishing took place near Hagerstown, Jones’ Cross Roads near Williamsport, Funkstown, Old Antietam Forge, near Leitersburg, and near Clear Springs, Maryland. Heavier action occurred at Falling Waters, Maryland. Many wondered how long Lee could remain north of the Potomac River without being attacked. Brigadier General Paul Jones Semmes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Jones_Semmes ), CSA, dies from his wounds received leading his Confederate command on the assault of the Round Tops during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

In the West Morgan’s raiders skirmished at Salem, Indiana before turning eastward toward Ohio. Sherman invested Jackson, Mississippi, held by Joseph E. Johnston. Other fighting was at Florence, Missouri and Martin Creek, Bolivar, and Union City, Tennessee. In New Mexico Territory Federals fought Indians at Cook’s Canon.

President Davis, distressed over Gettysburg, middle Tennessee, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and Jackson, Mississippi now was perturbed over Charleston as well. He wrote Gov M.L. Bonham of South Carolina to send local defense troops immediately to the attacked city and harbor.

Commander Bulloch informed C.S.A. Secretary Mallory that he was going to sell the bark Agrippina, which had been purchased initially to take stores and armament to C.S.S. Alabama at Terceira. During the year she had made three voyages but had lost contact with Captain Semmes, the unresting commerce raider, and it would be too costly to maintain her as a tender.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 11, 1863 Saturday
Federal troops of Maj Gen Quincy A. Gillmore made a futile assault on Fort or Battery Wagner on Morris Island in Charleston Harbor. Federals gained the parapet of the strong fortifications but were forced to withdraw under heavy fire. The Yankees then settled down to prepare an even more energetic assault.

Lee continued to fortify his defensive position north of the Potomac River and await the falling of the water. Meade slowly began mounting what might be a general attack upon the Army of Northern Virginia. In the West Jackson, Mississippi was under partial siege. In middle Tennessee things remained quiet, with Bragg at Chattanooga and Rosecrans to the north, both consolidating after the Tullahoma Campaign. Morgan skirmished at Pekin, Indiana and other fighting broke out at Stockton, Missouri, and in the Ashby’s Gap area of Virginia. Daniel Harvey Hill, CSA, was appointed to Lieutenant General.

A worried President Davis wrote Johnston that Beauregard at Charleston and Bragg at Chattanooga were both threatened and “The importance of your position is apparent, and you will not fail to employ all available means to ensure success.”

President Lincoln, on the other hand, appeared more satisfied with the operations of Meade and the Army of the Potomac against Lee. He still hoped his general would attack.

U.S.S. Yankee, commanded by Acting Ensign James W. Turner, captured schooner Cassandra at Jones Point on the Rappahannock River with cargo of whiskey and soda.

Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding, Commandant of the New York Navy Yard, stationed gunboats around Manhattan to assist in maintaining order during the Draft Riots.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 12, 1863 Sunday
Just north of the Potomac River in the Williamsport area, the last act of the Gettysburg Campaign was about to open. Meade’s army was preparing to attack Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, which as at Antietam, was again defending its position with its back to the river. President Lincoln at the telegraph office receives word of Gen Meade's plan to attack tomorrow. He paces the floor, wringing his hands and muttering, "Too late." Lee wrote President Davis that if the river continued to subside he could cross the Potomac the next day.

Elsewhere, Sherman’s men fought a skirmish near Canton, Mississippi in the Jackson campaign, and there was also skirmishing near Switzler’s Mill, Chariton County, Missouri. Morgan and his men were now at Vernon, Indiana on an eastward course toward Ohio, but they were beset by straggling and the adverse pressure of an aroused Hoosierdom. As part of the cleanup in the Mississippi Valley, Federal troops began a two-week expedition from Vicksburg to Yazoo City, Mississippi and there was as two-day engagement on the La Fourche near Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

U.S.S. Penobscot, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Joseph E. De Haven, chased blockade runner Kate ashore at Smith's Island, North Carolina. Some 3 weeks later (31 July), Kate was floated by the Confederates and towed under the protecting batteries at New Inlet, but was abandoned on the approach of Union ships.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 13, 1863 Monday
On Saturday, July 11, the first names of the new Federal draft had been drawn in New York City, and they appeared in the papers on Sunday. Seething unrest had long existed in the city over the draft, particularly its provision for substitution and the purchase of exemption. Aggravating the situation were certain politicians who, if not Peace Democrats, were not wholeheartedly in support of the war. On this Monday morning the draft situation came to a head. As the drawing of lots began again, a mob consisting of a high percentage of foreign laborers gathered. Soon a full-scale riot developed. The draft headquarters were stormed, residences raided, and business establishments looted. Authorities (including police, firemen, and the Army) were overpowered as crowds tore through the streets spreading destruction and death ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Draft_Riots ).

Fires broke out in various parts of the city, a Negro church and orphanage were burned, and casualties mounted. Negroes became the primary victims, along with Federal officials, of the rampaging mob, now composed mainly of Irish working people. Only the return of troops from Gettysburg, and firm army control, brought it to an end on July 16. The draft had to be postponed until Aug 19. Figures are uncertain, but one estimate is that a thousand people were killed and wounded, with property losses placed at $1,500,000. The New York draft riot was one of the darkest periods of the Northern home front during the war.

Considerably less destructive riots occurred at Boston; Portsmouth, New Hampshire,; Rutland, Vermont; Wooster, Ohio; and Troy, New York. Eventually the North became acclimated to the draft; but as long as the war continued there was grumbling and resistance.

In Maryland R. E. Lee pulled out of his defensive positions north of the Potomac River and, during the night, crossed the river to safety in Virginia. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia had been resting on a bend of the river and covered Williamsport and Falling Waters. Now with pontoon trains and a fordable river, Lee made good his escape ten days after the conclusion of the Battle of Gettysburg. Meade’s Army of the Potomac had moved cautiously and now was in front of Lee, reconnoitering for an opening and planning an attack or demonstration on the fourteenth. But the next morning instead of an opponent, Meade found abandoned entrenchments. Lee’s last invasion of the North was over. The war returned to where it had started in the east: in northern Virginia.

Meanwhile, John Hunt Morgan, after exploiting southeastern Indiana, crossed into Ohio at Harrison and headed for the Hamilton or Cincinnati area. Federal authorities declared martial law in Cincinnati.

Aided by the gunboats, Federal troops took Yazoo City, Mississippi and occupied Natchez without fighting. Commander I. N. Brown, commander of the heavy artillery and ships at Yazoo City, ordered shipping in the area destroyed to prevent its falling into Union hands. Subsequently, a correspondent for the Atlanta Appeal wrote: "Though the Yankees gained nothing, our loss is very heavy in boats and material of a character much needed. Commander Brown scuttled and burned the Magenta, Mary Keene, Magnolia, Pargoud, John Walsh, R. J. Lockland, Scotland, Golden Age, Arcadia, Ferd Kennett, E. J. Gay, Peytona, Prince of Wales, Natchez and Parallel in the Yazoo River, and Dewdrop, Emma Bett, Sharp and Meares in the Sunflower. We have only left, of all the splendid fleet which sought refuge in the Yazoo River, the Hope, Hartford City, Ben McCulloch and Cotton Plant, which are up the Tallahatchie and Yalobusha. . . . This closes the history of another strongly defended river." In addition, the Union force captured steamer St. Mary. The spectacular Union victories in the West did not eliminate the need for continued attention by the forces afloat on the rivers. "While a rebel flag floats anywhere," Porter observed, "gunboats must follow it up."

In Tennessee skirmishing occurred on Forked Deer River and at Jackson; in Louisiana at Donaldsonville. Federals carried out expeditions lasting several days each; one from Rosecrans’ army to Huntsville, Alabama; another from Newport Barracks to Cedar Point and White Oak River, North Carolina; and a third from Fayetteville, West Virginia to Wytheville, Virginia.

To add to President Davis’ troubles, Gov F.R. Lubbock of Texas requested more arms to defend Texas. In Washington President Lincoln wrote to Gen Grant, “I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost inestimable service you have done the country…. I thought you should go down the river and join Gen. Banks; and when you turned Northward East of the Big Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now wish to make the personal acknowledgment that you were right, and I was wrong.” The President was also upset by the arrest of William McKee, editor of the Missouri Democrat in St Louis, for publishing a letter of Lincoln’s. The President wrote Gen Schofield, in command in St Louis, “I fear this loses you the middle position I desired you to occupy.”

Colonel Francis J. Lippitt, 2nd California Infantry, is relieved of command of the Humboldt Military District and Lieutenant Colonel Stephen G. Whipple, 1st Battalion of Mountaineers, California Volunteers, assumes command. Major General John Stevens Bowen ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_S._Bowen ), CSA, dies near Raymond, Mississippi, from dysentery developed during the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

U.S.S. Forest Rose, commanded by Acting Lieutenant G. W. Brown, with U.S.S. Petrel in company, captured steamer Elmira on the Tensas River, Louisiana. Meanwhile, another phase of the expedition under Lieutenant Commander Selfridge, U.S.S. Rattler and Manitou, captured steamer Louisville in the Little Red River. She was described as "one of the finest of the Mississippi packets." Selfridge reported to Porter: "The result of the expedition is the capture of the steamers Louisville and Elmira, 2 small steamers burned, 15,000 rounds smoothbore ammunition, 1,000 rounds Enfield [rifle shells], ditto.... He also destroyed a large sawmill "with some 30,000 feet of lumber," and a quantity of rum, sugar and salt.

U.S.S. Katahdin, commanded by Lieutenant Commander P. C. Johnson, seized British blockade runner Excelsior off San Luis Pass, Texas. "With the exception of 2 bales of cotton," Johnson reported, "she had no cargo."

A landing party from U.S.S. Jacob Bell, commanded by Acting Master Gerhard C. Schulze, went ashore near Union Wharf on the Rappahannock River, and seized contraband goods consisting of blockade running flatboats and cargo of alcohol, whisky, salt, and soda. Lacking transport for the captured goods, Schulze destroyed them.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

July 14, 1863 Tuesday
The draft riots raged on in New York as the mobs continued to loot and destroy. Lee’s Confederate army was south of the Potomac River now and Meade’s crestfallen troops trudged through the empty Confederate defenses. In a letter he did not sign or send ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... oln6%3A692 ), President Lincoln wrote to Meade. “… I am very-very-grateful to you for the magnificent success you gave the cause of the country at Gettysburg; and I am sorry now to be the author of the slightest pain to you. But I was in such deep distress myself that I could not restrain some expression of it…. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasureably [sic] because of it.”

Minor skirmishing occurred at Falling Waters and Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia; Williamsport, Maryland; Elk River Bridge in middle Tennessee; and Iuka, Mississippi. Morgan’s raiders fought a skirmish at Camp Dennison, Ohio near Cincinnati. For the Confederates, Maj Gen W.H.C. Whiting ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H.C._Whiting ) was named to command the Department of North Carolina. Farther down the coast Confederates carried out a sortie from Battery Wagner on Morris Island near Charleston, South Carolina. Federal naval forces took Fort Powhatan on the James River. The Union now controlled the James River up to Chaffin’s and Drewry’s bluffs, Virginia. Major General James Johnston Pettigrew ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Johnston_Pettigrew ), CSA, is mortally wounded fighting a rear guard action with Federal cavalry at Falling Waters, Maryland, following the Confederate retreat after the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He dies three days later, on July 17, 1863.

President Davis, struck with numerous defeats, wrote to Sen R.W. Johnson, “In proportion as our difficulties increase, so must we all cling together, judge charitably of each other, and strive to bear and forbear, however great may be the sacrifice and bitter the trial….”

U.S.S. R. R. Cuyler, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Jouett, captured steamer Kate Dale off Tortugas, with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Jasmine, commanded by Acting Master Alfred L. B. Zerega, captured sloop Relampago near the Keys bound from Havana with cargo including copper boiler tubing."

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00