Six More Questions on Fort Fisher-- Part 2

Answers below.

6.  The fall of Fort Fisher closed of what Confederate port?

7.  Who was the Confederate general in charge of the whole area who did not attempt to save the fort?

8.  Fort Fisher was built to protect Wilmington and help what kind of ship get into the harbor?

9.  What was the name of the famed Confederate naval officer  who commanded the CSS Albemarle, CSS Florida and also blockade runners?  

10.  Fort Fisher is often called the Malakoff Tower of the South."  In what war was the Malakoff Tower?

11.  Frank Crawford question.  (This means it is really hard.)  Fort Fisher was surrendered buy a Confederate major who had also surrendered Fort Johnston across the Cape Fear River to the Confederate earlier in the war.  What was his name?

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ANSWERS

6.  Wilmington, North Carolina

7.  Braxton Bragg

8.  Blockade Runners

9.  John Newland Maffitt

10.  Crimean War

11.  Major James Reilly

I got them all correct, but, of course, I'm a Fort Fisher nut.

--Old B-Runner

The Good, the Bad & Ugly of Civil War Generals

From the December 26, 2022, Collector  "Six famous generals of the Civil War:  The Good & the Badad" by Curt Smothers.

How he rated them:

Good and Bad was relative to their military skill.  Ugly refers to generals lacking in military skill and undeserving of their rank.

Here they are:

THE GOOD

U.S. Grant & Robert E. Lee

THE BAD

George McClellan & Braxton Bragg

THE UGLY

Benjamin Butler and  John B. Floyd

Read the article to see wht he ranked them like that.

--Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group: The Perryville Campaign

Opening Questions continued.

6.  What were the reasons for Bragg's invasion of Kentucky?

7.  Bragg started from what Tennessee city?

8.  Who's July Raid through Kentucky served as a factor in Confederate plans that led to the Battle of Perryville?

FRANK QUESTION  (These are generally impossible to answer, but in honor of our good buddy Frank who is out of state these days.)

One of the main Union commanders at the Battle of Perryville was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and a member of the West Point class that included 20 future Civil War generals.  What was his name?   (Also, what class from the USMA had all those generals and how many members were in it?)

Answers below.

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6.  Gain support of Confederate symphatizers.  Draw Union Gen. Carlos Buell back across the Ohio River.

7.  Chattanooga

8.  John Hunt Morgan

FRANK QUESTION:  Charles Champion Gilbert.  Class of 1846.  59 members.

--Old Secesh

President Taylor's Grandsons Fought for the Confederacy-- Part 2: Col. Robert Cooke Wood

Service in the Confederate Army:

1861

Captain in the Confederate States Regular Army

Assistant Adjutant General to Gen. Braxton Bragg  in Pensacola

Resigned his rank as captain on October 15, 1861

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1861-1863

Lt. Col. of Adam's Mississippi Cavalry Regiment

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1862

Captured at Lebanon, Tennessee, on May 5, 1862

Prisoner of War held at Johnson's Island Prison in Ohio

Exchanged in prisoner exchange in September of 1862

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1863-1865

Colonel of Wood's Mississippi Cavalry Regiment

1864-1865

Acted as  Brigade Commander Mississippi Cavalry

1864

Acted as commander of Central Sub-District of Mississippi

1865

Paroled in Jackson, Mississippi, on May 17, 1865

--Old Secesh

Edward S. Bragg's Postwar Career and Family

After the war, Bragg returned to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, and continued with his legal career.  He was very involved in politics, serving in the Wisconsin State Senate and as a U.S. Representative.    Most of the time we was very active as a Democrat, but eventually split with that political party, becoming a Republican.

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FAMILY

Bragg married  Cornelia Colman on January 2, 1854.  She was the granddaughter of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, a Revolutionary War soldiers and namesake and one of the founders of Rochester, New York.  They had three sons and three daughters, although two of the sons died young.  One daughter married George Percival Scriven, career soldier and the first chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the forerunner of today's NASA.

Bragg was also a cousin to Frederick William Benteen of the U.S. 7th Cavalry under  George Armstrong Custer.  he was a major figure in the action at the Battle of the Little Big Horn

He was also cousin to Confederate General Braxton Bragg, though they never met each other on the battlefield.

--Old Secesh

I'd Vote to Rename Fort Bragg after the Union Bragg

The Wisconsin Bragg, Edward S. Bragg, definitely established a good war record for himself, as you have been reading in the last posts,  so I'd be in favor of renaming Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from being for Confederate General Braxton Bragg to being for the Union General Bragg.

It would certainly save a whole lot of money and would accomplish the "Woke" folks' desire to continue with their Confederadication.

--Old Secesh

Edward S. Bragg-- Part 1: Of Wisconsin

From Wikipedia.

I'd never heard of this man until I saw that a Wisconsin senator had suggested that Fort Bragg in North Carolina, named after Confederate general Braxton Bragg had a cousin with the same last name who fought for the Union during the war.  He suggests saving money on the name change and just naming after Edward Bragg.

EDWARD STUYVESANT BRAGG

(February 20, 1827 to June 20, 1912)

American politician, lawyer, soldier, diplomat.  He was an accomplished  Union Army officer during the Civil War and served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Wisconsin.  He was later U.S. Minister to Mexico during the Presidency of Grover Cleveland and consul-general to the Republic of China and British Hong Kong under President Theodore Roosevelt.

He was born in New York and went to Wisconsin in 1850 where he settled in Fond du Lac and was a lawyer.

--Old Secesh

How About Renaming Fort Bragg After the Union General Bragg?

From the May 20, 2021, Fayetteville (NC) Observer  Wisconsin senator proposes  renaming Fort Bragg after  Union cousin of Confederate general" by Rachel Riley.

Wisconsin state senator  Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield,  announced his resolution  that proposes renaming Fort Bragg after Braxton Bragg's cousin, Union General  Edward Stuyvesant Bragg, of Wisconsin.

The senator said that a friend told him about this Bragg and that he didn't know about him before.  he also had been in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg.

I know a fair amount about the Civil War but had never heard of Edward S. Bragg.  Good old Wikipedia here I come.

Fayetteville, North Carolina,  is where Fort Bragg is located.

Think about how much money can be saved by renaming the fort after the Union Bragg?

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group to Meet Saturday, Sept. 26: Topic Is Braxton Bragg

 The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will be meeting this Saturday, September 26, 2020, at the Panera Bread Co in Algonquin, Illinois from 10 am to noon.  Panera is located at 451 S. Randall Road.

We will meet outside and masks must be worn except while eating or drinking.  Then, mask up again.  Weather permitting, of course.

This month's topic is Confederate General Braxton Bragg.  His very name always draws a lot of comment.  So should be interesting.

So, if you need that shot of Civil War history that you've been missing thanks to you-know-what, come on by, everybody's welcome.

So, What's Your Take On the Good general?  --Old Secesh

Defense of Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 3: Not Enough Men To Defend

On February 22, 1865, Frederick Childs wrote Bragg asking what he should do.  Childs feared a Union advance up the Cape Fear River and Sherman was getting closer.

Bragg responded:  "the enemy's superior force will, I fear, enable him to send a detachment against you, which can only be met with your resources."  In other words, you'll get no help.

On February 23, Childs sent a message to Bragg saying that  he had, at most, 250 men to stop an enemy attack, the others of his 500-man force were on duty in other parts of the state..  However, he might be able to scrounge up another 100 or 200 reinforcements at the last minute.

Childs chose to evacuate the arsenal.  Sherman captured Fayetteville on March 11, 1865.

--Old Secesh

Defense of Fayetteville and the Arsenal-- Part 1: Wilmington Evacuation Puts Fayetteville a Major Target

From Civil War North Carolina by Wade Sokolosky.

Braxton Bragg's withdrawal from Wilmington, N.C. on Feb. 21, 1865, made Fayetteville an even bigger target with the link between the two cities with the Cape Fear River.

Bragg was well aware of the straits Fayetteville was in and advised Lt.Col.  Frederick L. Childs, in command at the arsenal to evacuate his "most valuable stores, especially ammunition for small arms." and procure wagons to transport them to the nearest rail depot.  They would be needed for the defense of North Carolina.

Childs had worried about a Union attack since he assumed command at the arsenal in 1863.  At first, he feared an attack by cavalry from Union-held New Bern.  When he first arrived, he noticed there were no prepared defensive works to protect the city.  Also, his force at the arsenal had no cavalry to warn him of approaching enemy forces.

--Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group Meets Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group will be meeting at Panera Bread Co. in Crystal Lake on US Highway 14, Northwest Highway.

Topic of discussion will be Jefferson Davis.

I'll have something to say about how his friendship with Braxton Bragg and backing of Bragg was not necessarily in the best interest of the Confederacy.

All are welcome.

--Old Secesh

The Tullahoma Campaign

From Wikipedia.

Earlier this year, we had a talk at the McHenry County Civil War Round Table on this little-known Civil War campaign in Tennessee.  It was almost completely overshadowed by  the Battle of Gettysburg and surrender of Vicksburg, but was important nonetheless.

Also called the Middle Tennessee Campaign and lasted from June 24 to July 3, 1863.  Hence the overshadowing.

The Union Army of Cumberland under Major General William Rosecrans effectively drove the Confederates out of Middle Tennessee and threatened the strategic city of Chattanooga as a result of it.

Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his Army of Tennessee were in a strong position on the top of the Nashville Basin rim, south of that city.  But Rosecrans captured the strategic passes through the basin rim, partly aided by the new 7-shot Spencer repeating rifles.

As before mentioned, it was overshadowed by Gettysburg and Vicksburg as well as the Battle of Chickamauga two months later.

--Old Secesh

2nd Texas Infantry-- Part 3: At Battle of Shiloh

The Order of Battle for the 2nd Texas Infantry at the Battle of Shiloh"

2nd Army Corps under Major General Braxton Bragg.

Second Division under Brigadier General Jones M. Withers.

Third Brigade under Brigadier General John K. Jackson

Also in the Third Brigade:

17th Alabama
18th Alabama
19th Alabama
Georgia Battery under Capt. Isadore P. Girardey

At Shiloh, the 2nd Texas was led by Colonel John C. Moore
Lt. Colonel was William P. Rodgers.  (During the Mexican War he had gotten into a quarrel with Jefferson Davis which almost led to a duel.)  He was later killed at the Battle of Corinth on October 4, 1862.  A famous photograph was taken of his body and others in his command who died there.

Of 6.482 men at the Battle of Shiloh, the 2nd Division had 1,918 killed and wounded.

Jackson's 3rd Brigade had 86 killed, 365 wounded and 213 missing.

Heavy Fighting Indeed.  --Old Secesh

Talking About Those Bad Generals-- Part 2: From Bragg to Devins

The McHenry Civil War Round Table Discussion Group meeting Feb. 27, 2016.

Some other suggestions for "Bad Generals":

BRAGG--  The worst.  He fought his subordinates more than the enemy.

BUTLER--  Enough said.  Real funny when he was telling the Committee on the Conduct of the War that Fort Fisher couldn't be taken right when the paper boys outside in the street started yelling that it had.

SIGEL--  Had German connections leading to his generalship.  But after the 1864 election, Lincoln no longer needed the German vote.

BANKS--  Involved with illegal cotton trade.

CHARLES DEVINS--  From Massachusetts.  Commanded 11th Corps at Chancellorsville.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group-- Part 2: Jubal Early's West Point Class of 1837

From Cullom's Register of West Point Graduates.

Jubal Early was in the USMA's Class of 1837 where he graduated #18 out of 50.

Some of his classmates were killed in the Second Seminole War and Mexican War.  the class was very divided in the Civil War.  The best-known class members from the Civil War:

Union  John Sedgwick and Joseph Hooker

Confederate:  Braxton Bragg and John C. Pemberton.

Others:

Union:
Alexander B. Dyer,
E. Parker Scammon,
Lewis G. Arnold,
Thomas Williams (Killed at Vicksburg),
Bennett H. Hill
William H. French
Joshua H. Bates
Samuel Woods

Confederate

William W. Mackall
Robert T. Jones  (Killed)
Arthur M. Rutledge
Arnold Elzey
William H.T. Walker (Killed at Atlanta)

--Old Secesh

Mort Kunstler November Civil War Calendar

This month's featured Mort Kunstler print is "Battle Above the Clouds."  The print shows a line of Confederate troops firing downward as Union troops approach.

"LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE, November 23, 1863.

Overlooking Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain was the anchor of Braxton Bragg's left flank.  On the morning of November 23, 1863, troops led by Joseph Hooker bridged Lookout Creek and swept the face of the mountain.

"Among the rocks and tangled growth, Bragg's Confederates fought desperately, while fascinated observers in Chattanooga strained to see through the smoke which covered the fighting.

"Aptly named 'Battle Above the Clouds' opened the door to Confederate defenses on Missionary Ridge."

Impressive Print.  --Old Secesh

Failure in the Saddle: Confederate Cavalry at Chickamauga-- Part 6: Not All Bragg's Fault

Braxton Bragg has often been accused of having lost one of the greatest opportunities of the war at the Battle of Chickamauga and considering his record, that probably has a ring of truth to it.  But, at the same time, his two cavalry corps commanders, Joe Wheeler and Nathan Forrest also need to take their shar of the blame according to David Powell.

Bragg himself admitted that he had achieved as big of a victory as might have been because his cavalry let him down.

And, also his Army commanders let him down because of their incessant squabbling among themselves.  The Army of Tennessee had a major reorganization after the battle.

Prior to Chickamauga, Bragg had a high opinion of Forrest,  That opinion is no longer there afterwards.

As for Joe Wheeler, despite his failings at the battle, he got promoted, partly because he refused to criticize Bragg and remained a Bragg loyalist throughout the war.  He ended up in command of all Confederate cavalry in the West.

This was a very interesting and enlightening presentation.  I sure never thought Forrest to be a military failure, ever.  But he sure did not shine at Chickamauga.

--Old Secesh

Failure in the Saddle: Confederate Cavalry at Chickamauga-- Part 4: Second Failure

So, Joe Wheeler's failure to cover and obstruct the Union Army crossing the Tennessee River southwest of Chattanooga was the first Confederate cavalry failure in the campaign.

Once the Union Army was across the river, Bragg was forced to leave Chattanooga without any fight. Rosecrans entered the city the following day and the Union held this strategic point for the rest of the war.  It served Sherman ably as a key supply link in his drive on Atlanta the following year.

 Bragg retired to Lafayette, Georgia and over the next week the two armies spent maneuvering.

Then, on September 18th, came the second great Confederate cavalry failure on the first day of tyhe Battle of Chickamauga.  This time it was Forrest's turn to blunder.

The Union Army launched a flank attack at Lee & Gordon Mill and Forrest did not report the move despite the massive amounts of dust put up as the Union Army moved and the myriad of fires used to light their way the night before.

David Powell believes that Forrest should have seen and reported this, but Forrest was not used to cavalry operations with an army where they were to screen and locate the enemy.

--Old Secesh

Failure in the Saddle, Confederate Cavalry at Chickamauga-- Part 3: Battle of Chickamauga

In the summer of 1863, Union General William Rosecrans decided to capture Chattanooga.  He determined a direct attack on the city, considering how easily it could be defended and the close quarters his troops would have to operate in to do so, was not in his best interest so decided to flank attack it.

Braxton Bragg had his Army of Tennessee at Chattanooga, but had his cavalry guarding his flanks. Joe Wheeler was guarding the Tennessee River to Chattanooga's southwest.  Forrest was northeast of the city.

Wheeler had only left about a thousand troops to guard the area nearest to Chattanooga while he and the rest of the corps was at Rome, Georgia, some 60 miles away. His command was having rest and recuperation, preparing for the upcoming campaign.

On August 28-29, 1863, Rosecrans began moving his troops across the Tennessee River to the southwest of the city.  This was easily accomplished with the token cavalry Wheeler had left behind.  Wheeler did nothing to stop it like hurry his command northward and also didn't report the Union move.  Bragg was completely in the dark as to what his enemy was doing.

--Old Secesh