Month: October 2012
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October 31, 1862: A Counterfactual
October 31, 1862 The Confederate offensive of 1862 resulted in defeats at Antietam, Perryville and Corinth. What would happen if the battles of Antietam and Perryville had not taken place? What if Van Dorn had not risked everything attacking Corinth? Over estimating the size of armies is endemic in 1862. Yes, my numbers for Lee, […]
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Before the Seven Days – Advance to the Chickahominy Part 7
Attack Continued The entry of Pickett’s men into the battle renewed the Confederate assault. The 18th Virginia and the 19th Virginia replaced the 10th Alabama and 19th Mississippi. These two regiments retired to reorganize and resupply. The 28th Virginia formed a reserve as the assault continued with fresh troops. The Confederate attack ran directly into […]
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How a phantom Longstreet spooked Shields
When reading about the the Valley Campaign of 1862 I have chuckled at how Gen. James Shields over-reacted to a non-existent threat. Yet recently I wondered if there was something more to it. I haven’t been able to find answers to all my questions, but what I have learned seems interesting. On June 7th, 1862 […]
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Before the Seven Days – Advance to the Chickahominy Part 6
The Battle of Williamsburg Begins As the Union cavalry retired the infantry columns of BG H ooker and BG Smith closed on Fort Magruder from two directions. Smith’s column approached on the Yorktown Road and arrived to support the Union troopers at 1730. Operations in the area were placed under the command of BG Edwin […]
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The Claims of the Negro (September 5, 1864 Richmond Examiner)
As I was copying newspaper articles from the Richmond Examiner from September 1864 for my Siege of Petersburg site, I came across the following interesting article in the September 5, 1864 Richmond Examiner: The Claims of the Negro.–One Benjamin Ruff, claiming to be a member of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, was committed to the Castle […]
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Take Your Choice: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Take Your Choice By Jack McGuire When I think of Assassin’s the name John Wilkes Booth heads the list. A first rate actor according to all accounts of his life, someone who characteristically often played the villain. Booth was arrested and taken before a Provost Marshal in 1862 for saying “So help me holy […]