American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

October 28, 1863 Wednesday
During the night of Oct 28-29 Confederates under Longstreet, concerned over the attempts to relieve Chattanooga, attacked Brig Gen John W. Geary’s troops of Hooker’s force at Wauhatchie in Lookout Valley. Despite an intense drive with larger numbers, the Confederates failed and by 4 A.M. the confused engagement ended. The cracker line to Chattanooga was safe for the rest of the campaign. Wauhatchie was one of the few fairly important night engagements of the war. Northern losses were 78 killed, 327 wounded, and 15 missing for 420 casualties. Confederates lost an estimated 34 killed, 305 wounded, and 69 missing for 408 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wauhatchie ). Major General John M. Palmer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Palmer_(politician) ), USA, assumes command of the 14th Army Corps, Federal Army of the Tennessee.

In Arkansas Federal cavalry occupied Arkadelphia south of Little Rock. Skirmishing erupted at Clarksville and Leiper’s Ferry, Tennessee. At Charleston 679 shot were fired against the almost wrecked Fort Sumter, but the garrison held on. The fort was more a symbol now than a valuable military objective.

President Lincoln writes to commander of the Department of the Missouri General John M. Schofield and asks him to investigate claims "that the Federal and State authorities are arming the disloyal, and disarming the loyal." Lincoln reviewed "three communications . . . and . . . a large number of affidavits . . . [that] show by name, forty two persons, as disloyal, who have been armed." Lincoln finds no evidence to substantiate the claims. He asks Schofield "to give special attention to this region, particularly on election day. Prevent violence from whatever quarter; and see that the soldiers themselves, do no wrong."

President Lincoln telegraphs Gov Johnson (Tenn.): "If not too inconvenient, please come at once, and have a personal consultation with me."

C.S.S. Georgia, commanded by Lieutenant W. L. Maury, anchored at Cherbourg, France, concluding a 7-month cruise against Union commerce. During this period the raider destroyed a number of prizes and bonded the remainder for a total of $200,000. A short time later, Flag Officer Samuel Barron, CSN, advised Secretary Mallory that the ship had been laid up: "The Georgia, Commander W. L. Maury, arrived in Cherbourg a few days ago almost broken down; she has lost her speed, not now going under a full head of steam over 6 knots an hour, and is good for nothing as a cruiser under sail."

_________________
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

October 29, 1863 Thursday
For the last three days of October, Fort Sumter received the heaviest fire of the prolonged and bitter experience. Some 2961 rounds pounded the rubble and there were 33 casualties. But at month’s end the flag, often replaced, still flew.

Fighting was confined to Warsaw and Ozark, Missouri; Cherokee Station, Alabama; and a Federal scout Oct 29 – Nov 2 from Winchester to Fayetteville, Tennessee. President Davis approved a request of Brig Gen N.B. Forrest ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest ) to be detached from service with Bragg’s army to go into north Mississippi and west Tennessee. President Davis himself was in Atlanta, Georgia and busy writing various generals regarding the many controversies that had arisen in the West. His calls for “harmonious co-operation” did not seem too effective. Edward Higgins, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

_________________
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

October 30, 1863 Friday
The shuddering thunder of guns echoed over Charleston Harbor as the Federal artillery blasted Fort Sumter. Elsewhere, skirmishing occurred at Fourteen Mile Creek, Indian Territory; near Opelousas, Louisiana; at Ford’s Mill near New Berne, North Carolina; Catlett’s Station, Virginia; Salyersville, Kentucky; and Leiper’s Ferry on the Holston River, Tennessee. Unconditional unionists of Arkansas met at Fort Smith, naming a representative to Congress. James Harrison Wilson, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

U.S.S. Vanderbilt, Commander Baldwin, captured bark Saxon, suspected of having rendezvoused with and taken cargo from C.S.S. Tuscaloosa at Angra Pequena, Africa.

U.S.S. Annie, commanded by Acting Ensign Williams, seized blockade running British schooner Meteor off Bayport, 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

October 31, 1863 Saturday
As the third day of tremendous fire made service in Fort Sumter a nightmare, three skirmishes broke out on other fronts; at Washington, Louisiana; Barton’s Station, Alabama, and Yazoo City, Mississippi. Brigadier General (retired) Louis Ludwig Blenker ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Blenker ), USA, dies on his farm, in Rockland County, New York, having resigned from the Union Army on March 31, 1863.

During October instruction began for 52 midshipmen at the Confederate States Naval Academy. Lieutenant W. H. Parker, CSN, was Superintendent of the "floating academy" housed on board C.S.S. Patrick Henry at Drewry's Bluff on the James River.

The initial move to establish a Naval Academy was taken in December 1861 when the Confederate Congress passed a bill calling for "some form of education" for midshipmen. Further legislation in the spring of 1862 provided for the appointment of 106 acting midshipmen to the Naval Academy. In May 1862, the Patrick Henry was designated as the Academy ship, and alterations were undertaken to ready her for this role.
In general the curriculum, studies, and discipline at the new school were patterned after that of the United States Naval Academy. The training was truly realistic as the midshipmen were regularly called upon to take part in actual combat. When they left the Academy, they were seasoned veterans. Commander John M. Brooke, CSN, wrote to Secretary Mallory about the midshipmen as follows: "Though but from 14 to 18 years of age, they eagerly seek every opportunity presented for engaging in hazardous enterprises; and those who are sent upon them uniformly exhibit good discipline, conduct, and courage."

_________________
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

November 1, 1863 Sunday
Seven hundred and eighty-six rounds of artillery fire were thrown against Fort Sumter in the graceful arc of the mortars and the flatter, rapid trajectory of the rifled breaching batteries. One man was wounded. The garrison stood stanchly in the bombproofs, while the wreckage piled up outside.

Near Chattanooga Grant’s new supply line began to function and the siege was no longer a true siege. Federal cavalry under William Woods Averell ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_W._Averell ) left Beverly, West Virginia while another column left Charleston, West Virginia on Nov 3 for an expedition toward Lewisburg, West Virginia. In Virginia another skirmish broke out at Catlett’s Station. Other action included fighting at Eastport and Fayetteville, Tennessee; Quinn and Jackson’s Mill, Mississippi; and a Federal scout from Bovina Station to Baldwin’s Ferry, Mississippi. On the Gulf Coast Federal forces of Gen Franklin retired from Opelousas to New Iberia, Louisiana, ending for a time the operation in the Bayou Teche area. Ulysses Simpson Grant, USA, was appointed to Lieutenant General.

President Jefferson Davis was returning to Richmond from his trip west. From Savannah Davis wrote Bragg of his disappointment that Grant had opened the Chattanooga supply line.

_________________
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

November 2, 1863 Monday
President Lincoln received an invitation to make a “few appropriate remarks” at the dedication of the new National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Although the time was short (Nov 19) and the invitation obviously somewhat of an afterthought, the President accepted.

President Lincoln expressed concern over the possibility of violence at the November elections in some states, including Maryland. In a letter about newspaper comments, the President wrote, “I have endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness, not quite free from ridicule. I am used to it.”

Distinguished citizens, military units, and the general public welcomed President Davis to Charleston, while from the harbor came the sound of 793 Federal shells exploding about Fort Sumter. While Charleston “was now singled out as a particular point of hatred to the Yankees,” Davis said he “did not believe Charleston would ever be taken.” If it should be, he urged that the “whole be left one mass of rubbish.”

On the Rio Grande Gen Banks’ Federal expeditionary force occupied Brazos Island in its effort to gain a toehold in Texas. Skirmishes occurred in Louisiana at Bayou Bourbeau in the Teche operations; in Arkansas in Bates Township; in Mississippi once more at Corinth; and in Tennessee at Centreville and Piney Factory.

U.S.S. Kenwood, Acting Master Swaney, captured steamer Black Hawk off Port Hudson, Louisiana, with cargo of cotton.

_________________
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

November 3, 1863 Tuesday
Still the sound of guns crashed over Charleston Harbor as 661 rounds added to the tremendous total of artillery fire already expended on Fort Sumter. In the lowlands of the Gulf Coast of Louisiana a fierce engagement was fought at Bayou Bourbeau on Grand Coteau, and a skirmish at Carrion Crow Bayou nearby. In the Louisiana engagement Confederates drove back Federal troops but reinforcements regained the position. Federal losses were put at 604, of which 536 were captured or missing; total Confederate casualties were set at 181.

Confederate cavalry operated Nov 3-5 against the important Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Skirmishing developed at Collierville and Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; Quinn and Jackson’s Mill on the Coldwater, Mississippi; and Confederates scouted about Catlett’s Station, Virginia. Federal troops under Alfred N. Duffie ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_N._Duffi%C3%A9 ) left Charleston, West Virginia to join Averell’s Beverly expedition.

President Lincoln wrote Sec Seward in Auburn, New York (due to illness of his son) that dispatches “from Chattanooga show all quiet and doing well.” He also prepares an order concerning the draft: "It is ordered that every citizen who has paid the $300 commutation shall receive the same credit therefor as if he had furnished a substitute, and is exonerated from military service for the time for which he was drafted, to wit, for three years."

_________________
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

November 4, 1863 Wednesday
Gen Braxton Bragg had arrived at a bold decision: he sent Gen James Longstreet and his corps from the Chattanooga area against the Federals under Burnside in east Tennessee. It was a desperate gambit by the Confederates, for the force under Bragg would be gravely weakened, but a blow must be struck to try to retrieve the Knoxville area and reestablish communications with Virginia. For Grant and the Federal government it was an ominous move. Sherman was on his way from Vicksburg, but until he arrived, Grant believed he could not act at Chattanooga. Meanwhile, Burnside would have to hold on as best he could.

The usual skirmishing continued near Neosho and Lexington, Missouri; Falmouth, Virginia; Rocky Run, North Carolina; Cackleytown, West Virginia; Maysville, Alabama; Motley’s Ford on the Little Tennessee River, Tennessee; and in the Pinal Mountains on the Gila River, Arizona Territory. Federal expeditions and scouts operated from Houston to Jack’s Fork and in Reynolds, Shannon, and Oregon counties of Missouri; and up the Chowan River, North Carolina. Brownsville, Texas was evacuated by the Confederates and the Union foothold on the Mexican border was secured. U.S.S. Virginia, commanded by Acting Lieutenant C. H. Brown, seized blockade running British schooner Matamoras at the mouth of the Rio Grande River with cargo including shoes, axes, and spades. for the Confederate Army.

President Davis visited James Island and forts and batteries around Charleston.

_________________
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

November 5, 1863 Thursday
Federals reduced the bombardment of Fort Sumter to slow, occasional firing. Grant, at Chattanooga, hoped Sherman would arrive in time to allow the Federals to strike Bragg before Longstreet could attack Burnside. Mosby ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_S._Mosby ), the irrepressible Confederate raider, was active most of November in northern Virginia. Also in Virginia, near the main armies, a skirmish broke out at Hartwood Church. Other fighting was at Neosho, Missouri; at Vermillionville, Louisiana; Mill Point, West Virginia; Loudon County, Moscow, and La Fayette, Tennessee; and Holly Springs, Mississippi.

U.S.S. Virginia, commanded by Acting Lieutenant C. H. Brown, seized blockade running British bark Science, and, in company with U.S.S. Owasco, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Henry, captured blockade running British brigs Volante and Dashing Wave at the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

Blockade runner Margaret and Jessie was captured at sea east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, after a prolonged chase by Army transport Fulton and U.S.S. Nansemond, commanded by Lieutenant R. H. Lamson. The chase had been started the preceding evening by U.S.S. Howquah, commanded by Acting Lieutenant MacDiarmid, which kept the steamer in sight throughout the night. U.S.S. Keystone State, Commander Edward Donaldson, joined the chase in the morning and was at hand when the capture was effected, putting an end to the career of a ship that had run the blockade some 15 times.

U.S.S. Beauregard, commanded by Acting Master Burgess, seized blockade running British schooner Volante off Cape Canaveral, Florida, with cargo including salt and dry goods.

President Lincoln wrote Gen Banks, commanding in Louisiana and Texas, of his disappointment that a constitutional government had not yet been set up in Louisiana and urged Banks to “lose no more time.” He emphasized that such a government must “be for and not against” the slaves “on the question of their permanent freedom.”

_________________
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

November 6, 1863 Friday
Moving over the mountains of West Virginia from Beverly, heading for Lewisburg, Federal forces under Brig Gen William W. Averell encountered Confederates blocking the road at Droop Mountain. Averell divided his force, sending a major portion of his men on a lengthy detour to the rear of the Confederates under Brig Gen John Echols ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Echols ). In midafternoon the two Federal forces attacked and the Confederates were forced to pull away down the pike or scatter into the woods ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Droop_Mountain ). The engagement enabled the Federals to proceed toward Lewisburg, West Virginia to effect part of Averell’s over-all plan to clean out the remnants of Southern opposition and destroy important railroad links between Virginia and the Southwest. At the same time a skirmish took place at Little Sewell Mountain, West Virginia. Banks’ Federals extended their holdings near the Mexican border around Point Isabel and Brownsville, Texas. Other fighting broke out near Rogersville, Tennessee and Falmouth, Virginia. Adin Ballou Underwood, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General. C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and destroyed bark Amanda in the East Indies with cargo of hemp and sugar.

President Davis, en route to Richmond, stopped at Wilmington, North Carolina where he said he recognized the importance of the harbor, the only one really open for trade, even though it was strongly blockaded. In an inspector’s report from the Trans-Mississippi, President Davis was told, “The morale of the army is good and the feelings [sic] of the people is better than it was” in Arkansas, now separated from the remainder of the Confederacy.

_________________
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

November 7, 1863 Saturday
Once more the Virginia front sprang to life as the Army of the Potomac under Meade pushed across the Rappahannock River at Rappahannock Station and Kelly’s Ford, with severe engagements at both places. Lee began withdrawing to the line of the Rapidan River. It was not a major Federal offensive, but essentially restored the same positions that existed before the Bristoe Campaign. In addition to the main fighting on the Rappahannock River, some Union pickets were captured near Warrenton. In West Virginia a skirmish flared near Muddy Creek. Averell’s Federal expedition made contact with other Northern troops under A.N. Duffie and captured Lewisburg, West Virginia. In Arkansas Nov 7-13 there was an expedition by Federals from Fayetteville to Frog Bayou which involved some skirmishing.

Merchant steamer Allen Collier, with cargo of cotton, was burned by Confederate guerrillas at Whitworth's Landing, Mississippi, after she left the protection of U.S.S. Eastport, commanded by Acting Ensign Sylvester Pool. The uneasy quiet on the river required constant gunboat cover.

Cutter from U.S.S. Sagamore, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Charles E. Fleming, captured blockade running British schooner Paul off Bayport, 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

November 8, 1863 Sunday
The Union advance across the Rappahannock River in Virginia continued with fighting at Warrenton, Jeffersonton, Rixeyville, Muddy Creek near Culpeper Court House, Brandy Station, and Stevensburg. None of the fighting in this familiar territory was heavy but it did indicate that Meade and Lee were not entirely idle, but were maneuvering and awaiting a proper opportunity.

In West Virginia the Federal expedition from Beverly fought at Second Creek, on the road to Union. In the Louisiana Teche country there was a skirmish at Vermillionville and fighting at Bayou Tunica or Tunica Bend. U.S.S. James Adger, Commander Thomas H. Patterson, and U.S.S. Niphon, commanded by Acting Master Breck, captured steamer Cornubia north of New Inlet, North Carolina.

In an important command change, Maj Gen John C. Breckinridge ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Breckinridge ) superseded Lt Gen D.H. Hill ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Harvey_Hill ) in command of the Second Corps in Bragg’s Army of Tennessee – another attempt to alleviate the ill-feeling between Bragg and his generals.

_________________
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

November 9, 1863 Monday
The brief furor of activity decreased for the moment, although skirmishing took place in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory; near Bayou Sara and Indian Bayou, Louisiana; and near Weldon, North Carolina and Covington, Virginia. A Federal expedition moved from Williamsburg toward New Kent Court House, Virginia east of Richmond. A fairly heavy early snowstorm fell in Virginia as President Davis returned to Richmond from his southern trip.

President Lincoln attended the theater and saw John Wilkes Booth in The Marble Heart. The President, pleased by the Union advances in West Virginia and Virginia, wired Meade, “Well done.” ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... coln7%3A14 )

President Lincoln writes to treasury department agent Benjamin F. Flanders, of New Orleans, regarding Louisiana's re-entry into the Union. President Lincoln asks Flanders to ponder General Benjamin Butler's proposition that "a vote be taken . . . whether there shall be a State convention to repeal the Ordinance of secession, and remodel the State constitution." In Lincoln's opinion, "the act of secession is legally nothing, and needs no repealing." ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... coln7%3A12 )

U.S.S. James Adger, Commander Patterson, captured blockade runner Robert E. Lee off Cape Lookout Shoals, North Carolina. The steamer had left Bermuda 2 days before with cargo including shoes, blankets, rifles, saltpeter, and lead. She had been one of the most famous and successful blockade runners. Her former captain, Lieutenant John Wilkinson, CSN, later wrote: "She had run the blockade twenty-one times while under my command, and had carried abroad between six thousand and seven thousand bales of cotton, worth at that time about two millions of dollars in gold, and had carried into the Confederacy equally valuable cargoes."

Intelligence data on the Confederate naval capability in Georgia waters reached Union Army and Navy commanders. C.S.S. Savannah, Commander Robert F. Pinkney, had two 7-inch and two 6-inch Brooke rifled guns and a torpedo mounted on her bow as armament. She carried two other torpedoes in her hold. Her sides were plated with 4 inches of rolled iron and her speed was about seven knots "in smooth water." C.S.S. Isondiga, a wooden steamer, was reported to have old boilers and "unreliable" machinery. The frames for two more rams were said to be on the stocks at Savannah, but no iron could be obtained to complete them. C.S.S. Resolute, thought by the Union commanders to be awaiting an opportunity to run the blockade, had been converted to a tender, and all the cotton at Savannah was being transferred to Wilmington for shipment through the blockade. C.S.S. Georgia, a floating battery commanded by Lieutenant Washington Gwathmey, CSN, was at anchor near Fort Jackson and was reported to be "a failure." Such information as this enabled Union commanders to revise their thinking and adjust their tactics to the new conditions in order to maintain the blockade and move against the coast with increasing effectiveness.

Rear Admiral Porter wrote Secretary Welles suggesting that the Coast Survey make careful maps of the area adjacent to the Mississippi River "where navigation is made up of innumerable lakes and bayous not known to any but the most experienced pilots." The existence of these waterways, he added, "would certainly never be known by examining modern charts." A fortnight later, the Secretary recommended to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase that surveys similar to those completed by the Coast Survey for Rear Admiral S. P. Lee along the North Carolina coast be made in accordance with Porter's request. Welles noted that the operations of the Mississippi Squadron and the transport fleet would be "greatly facilitated" and volunteered naval assistance for such an effort.

Admiral Buchanan ordered Acting Midshipman Edward A. Swain to report to Fort Morgan to take "command of the C.S.S. Gunnison and proceed off the harbor of Mobile and destroy, if possible, the U.S.S. Colorado or any other vessel of the blockading squadron. . . ." Gunnison was a torpedo boat.

U.S.S. Niphon, commanded by Acting Master Breck, captured blockade runner Ella and Annie off Masonboro Inlet, North Carolina, with cargo of arms and provisions. In an effort to escape, Ella and Annie rammed Niphon, but, when the two ships swung broadside, the runner was taken by boarding.

_________________
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

November 10, 1863 Tuesday
Since Nov 7 Fort Sumter had received 1753 rounds in the Federal bombardment in Charleston Harbor. Confederate casualties were limited to a few wounded. For a week expeditions operated from Benton to Mount Ida, Arkansas and from Springfield, Missouri to Huntsville, Carrollton, and Berryville, Arkansas. Both were part of extensive Federal attempts to clear up Confederate guerrilla activities and raids in Missouri and Arkansas. In Mississippi Federal operations from Skipwith’s Landing to Tallulah Court House lasted four days. William Thompson Martin, CSA, and John Austin Wharton, CSA, were appointed to Major General.

U.S.S. Howquah, commanded by Acting Lieutenant MacDiarmid, captured blockade running steamer Ella off Wilmington.

C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and burned clipper ship Winged Racer in the Straits of Sunda off Java, with cargo of sugar, hides, and jute. "She had, besides," wrote Semmes, "a large supply of Manila tobacco, and my sailors' pipes were beginning to want replenishing."

_________________
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

November 11, 1863 Wednesday
Maj Gen Benjamin F. Butler ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_F ... politician) ) returned to active Federal command, superseding Maj Gen John G. Foster ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Foster ) in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina. The ill-famed former commander at New Orleans ordered the arrest of anyone annoying loyal persons by “opprobrious and threatening language.” To the north Confederates raided Suffolk, Virginia with modest results. Skirmishing flared in the Fouche-le-Faix Mountains of Arkansas; Greenleaf Prairie, Indian Territory; near Natchez, Mississippi; and again at Carrion Crow and Vermillion bayous in the Teche country of Louisiana. President Davis suggested to Gen Bragg that he “not allow the enemy to get up all his reinforcements before striking him, if it can be avoided….” The President was deeply concerned about the situation in Chattanooga and Charleston. C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and destroyed clipper ship Contest after a long chase off Gaspar Strait with cargo of Japanese goods for New York.

_________________
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