Month: May 2013
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Gaining a Foothold on Morris Island – July 10-11, 1863 Part 1
Background and Plan The nasty battle for Morris Island, South Carolina in the summer of 1863 was highlighted by the failed attempt of the 54th Massachusetts and other regiments on 18 July. The bold attempt, depicted in the film Glory, is most of what people know about the lengthy fight for control of this island […]
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The Ewell Contribution
A few days ago I wrote about the ‘Ewell Option ‘ — a plan for General Richard Ewell to strike at US forces in northern Virginia in April or May 1862 — and how instead Ewell decided to stick with Stonewall Jackson and support his efforts in the Shenandoah Valley. The resulting campaign became famous and […]
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The Fight at Chapman’s Mill Part 2
“Battle for Right of Way” Word that possession of the gap was in doubt hastened Ricketts march. At Haymarket all unnecessary equipment was discarded into large piles. Skirmishers were posted and a rapid march toward the firing was commenced. About one mile from the gap the advancing column ran into Wyndham’s retreating troopers. Having been […]
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The Ewell Option
We have a tendency to view history as if through a rear view mirror, looking back along the path taken and framing what happened by how it turned out. Since we know that in May and June of 1862 General Thomas Stonewall Jackson led a famous campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, the events leading up […]
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The Fight at Chapman’s Mill Part 1
Introduction The early summer of 1862 saw the fate of Federal forces in the east taking a serious turn for the worse. McClellan’s greatly anticipated Peninsular Campaign had ground to a halt under the weight of Seven Day’s Battle losses and the commander’s timid approach. The result of four months of campaigning left the Army […]