Robert E. Lee's first job was as a military advisor to Jefferson Davis and was in charge of coastal defense along the Atlantic Ocean. He went out in public and said that Fort Pulaski was so strong that it could never be captured.
Lee essentially got whipped during the early part of the war in command in what became West Virginia.
In 1862, Johnston was in charge of forces protecting Richmond. Lee was primarily involved in building up that city's defenses. So much defensive work he directed that Lee got the nickname "Old Spades.
Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines. The top Confederate generals in terms of seniority were Samuel Cooper, Albert Sydney Johnston, Lee, Joe Johnston and Beauregard.
Lee took over command of the Army defending Richmond. He found that he could most rely on Longstreet and the two Hills. As for Confederate generals Magruder, Holmes and Huger not so much.
--Old Secesh
I was unable to post any blogs yesterday, so will do my annual commemoration to that day today.
From the Sptember 11, 2022, DA, West Virginia University's Independent Newspaper "WVU observes 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with annual vigil" by Christina Rufo.
To commemorate the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, West Virginia University held its annual wreath laying ceremony Sunday morning.
As part of the ceremony, cadets with the Army and Air Force ROTC will stand for a 24-hour vigil at the University's 9/11 memorial site, located at the University's 9/11 memorial site, located in front of the Downtown Campus Library.
Cadets played "Taps" and observed a moment of silence Sunday morning in recognition of the exact time that the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.
The vigil will last until 8 a.m., Monday.
Two posts ago, I mentioned that Gen. Charles C. Gilbert was the brother of Brig. Gen. Samuel A. Gilbert. Another Civil War general whom I do not know. Some more research and Wikipedia does not have an article about this man.
But, GENi does have some information. So, we will continue our Roadtrip Through History that started with Charles C. Gilbert.
SAMUEL AUGUSTUS GILBERT
Birthdate: August 15, 1825
Death: June 9, 1868 (age 42), St. Paul, Minnesota
Civil War brevet brigadier general. Was a civil engineer in the U.S. Coast Survey service and took leave of absence during the war and appointed lieutenant colonel of the 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and sent to what became West Virginia to defend Union positions.
On October 14, 1861, he was given command of the 44th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as colonel and later participated in the Battle of Lewisburg, West Virginia.
--Old Secesh
Like I said, John Banks gets down and dirty (and in this case with the copperheads) with his person. he goes there and experiences.
He goes out to where the battle was fought and he's standing there with the Potomac River about 15 yards away and a steep bluff to the other side of River Road where he is standing. He can imagine what a treacherous place this would be for even veteran troops, but especially for the "rookie" 118th Pennsylvania, the Corn Exchange Regiment.
This is their first real action. They are described as "beaten, dismayed, wild with fright" where they now find themselves. Atop the bluffs they had already fought with muskets that proved defective. Some had plunged to their deaths off those bluffs.
Under these circumstances. Lt. Lemuel Crocker and others hastily beat a retreat under fire across a mill dam to the Maryland side of the Potomac River. (They were on the Virginia side (now West Virginia). You can still see the remains of that dam stretching across the river.
Others huddled alongside the river by Boteler's Cement Mill kilns where some were even killed by friendly Union artillery fire from across the river. John Banks said: "You can still see those ruins, too, if you're mentally prepared for the copperheads."
Hard to get More Real Than This. --Old Secesh
I must admit that I was entirely unaware of this Battle before I wrote about it in this blog. On the scale of the Battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, it was not a huge battle, but important in the Maryland Campaign.
The two commanders were Fitz John Porter for the Union and William N. Pendleton on the Confederate side.
Casualties for the North were 366 (73 killed, 163 wounded and 132 captured or missing). For the Confederacy 307 (36 killed, 267 wounded and 6 missing or captured).
From what I've read, this was not William Pendleton's proudest moment.
Of course, learning new stuff is a big reason I started this blog.
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BATTLE OF PRINCETON
This was a key battle during the American Revolution and, like with the case of the Battle of Shepherdstown, one that I was unaware of. It was a follow up to George Washington's much more famous crossing of the Delaware River and surprising the British at Trenton the day after Christmas, December 26, 1776. The Battle of Princeton took place January 3, 1777.
I have been writing about this one in my Cooter's History Thing blog.
Like I Said, I Do These Blogs to Learn Stuff. --Old Secesh
AFTERMATH
The total Union dead and wounded at the Battle of Shepherdstown makes it the bloodiest battle fought in what would become the state of West Virginia.
The battle convinced both commanders that the Maryland Campaign was over. George McClelland decided that an active pursuit of the enemy was not possible at this time and established a defensive line along the Maryland side of the Potomac River.
And, for the Confederates, Robert E. Lee chose to abort his army's movement back into Maryland.
With the Confederates driven from Northern soil, President Abraham Lincoln used the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.
BATTLEFIED PRESERVATION
As of December 2021, the American Battlefield Trust and its partners have acquired and preserved 621 acres of the battlefield in more than ten acquisitions since 2004.
--Old Secesh
Major Charles Lovell's brigade of Regulars encountered Major General A,P, Hill's "Light Division" about a mile from the Potomac River. While withdrawing back to Boteler's Ford, Hill's men attacked under a withering fire from federal artillery causing tremendous casualties.
Union Col. James Barnes' brigade was ordered to the top of the bluffs to cover to cover the retreat and two more federal brigades were ordered to cross over into Virginia (West Virginia). After a violent clash along the heights above the river, Porter ordered a withdrawal.
However, the colonel of the inexperienced 118th Pennsylvania (the "Corn Exchange" regiment) refused to retire until orders were received through the proper chain of command. In this engagement, their first time under fire, the 118th regiment was driven in by four Confederate brigades and suffered 36% casualties.
--Old Secesh
Since I had never written about this battle before this week and actually wasn't even familiar with it, I will write about it here.
From Wikipedia.
Also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford, took place September 19-20, 1862, in Jefferson County, Virginia, (now West Virginia), at the end of the Maryland Campaign which resulted in the Battle of Antietam
After the Battle of Antietam, there was an improvised truce for both sides to recover and exchange their wounded. Lee's forces started withdrawing across the Potomac River on the evening of September 18 and expected to be pursued by the Union Army. he left behind a rear guard of two infantry brigades and 44-45 cannons under Brigadier General William N. Pendleton to hold Boteler's Ford.
Shortly before dusk on September 19, Union Brigadier General Charles Griffin sent two regiments, the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters and the 4th Michigan, across the Potomac at Boteler's Ford. They attacked Pendleton and captured four artillery pieces before being recalled.
Early on September 20, Union Gen. Fitz John Porter sent two brigades across the Potomac for a reconnaissance in force.
Then, the fighting really took off.
--Old Secesh
From the December 2021 American Battlefield Trust calendar.
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
622 acres saved.
Still reeling from America's deadliest day at the Battle of Antietam -- the Union and Confederate armies clashed again at Shepherdstown on September 189-20, 1862.
As Lee's Confederate Army slopped back into Virginia following the battle, he had strategically left two infantry brigades at Shepherdstown to guard Boteler's Ford on the Potomac River. So, when elements of Union Major General Fitz John Porter's V Corps pushed across there, a battle ensued.
The Trust along with the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission has added 622 acres of hallowed ground at Shepherdstown.
I just read an article in the December Civil War Times by noted blogger John Banks about his trip there. Done, of course, in his distinct style.
Of Course, Shepherdstown was in Virginia at the Time.--Old Secesh
