Changes to this blog start tomorrow as a new one is being spun off this one.
This one will continue to have items about the Civil War, but anything dealing with the Navies of that conflict will be on the new one.
I also expect the number of entries on this one to drop significantly.
The new one is at http://runningtheblockade.blogspot.com/.
Nothing is posted there yet, but hopefully tomorrow if I recover from New Year's Eve and Da Bears game.
Someone Talk me Out of It. --Old B-Runner for the last time on this blog signoff. Going to the new blog.
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
The US Army's Second United States Cavalry-- Part 2
On July 20, 1857, Lt. John Bell Hood and 25 men from Co. G fought Indians at devil's River and suffered seven casualties. Lt. Hood suffered a painful wound when an arrow pinned his hand to his saddle.
After secession, the regiment was ordered out of Texas in late February, to the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, barracks under command of Major George H. Thomas. At the US Cavalry reorganization in the fall of 1861, the 2nd became the Fifth US Cavalry.
The regiment consisted of ten companies where each member had horses selected by similar size and stature.
Van Dorn's company was called the "Mobile Grays."
Quite an Organization. --Old B'R'er (Soon to be Old Secesh)
After secession, the regiment was ordered out of Texas in late February, to the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, barracks under command of Major George H. Thomas. At the US Cavalry reorganization in the fall of 1861, the 2nd became the Fifth US Cavalry.
The regiment consisted of ten companies where each member had horses selected by similar size and stature.
Van Dorn's company was called the "Mobile Grays."
Quite an Organization. --Old B'R'er (Soon to be Old Secesh)
The US Army's Second United States Cavalry-- Part 1
From the Texas State Historical Association.
The famous 2nd cavalry was one of four new regiments approved by Congress on March 4, 1855, and organized specifically for service on the Texas frontier.
This was an elite organization, whose troops only rode the finest horses and were issued the latest equipment. Officers were hand-picked by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. The regiment became known as "Jeff Davis' Own." Most officers were West Point graduates and Southern.
Although it existed for just six and a half years, sixteen officers went on to become generals, eleven Confederate.
Four of the eight full Confederate generals: Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee, Kirby Smith and John Bell Hood, came from the unit.
At various times, it was commanded by Johnston, Lee, Earl Van Dorn and George H. Thomas.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner (Soon to be Old Secesh)
The famous 2nd cavalry was one of four new regiments approved by Congress on March 4, 1855, and organized specifically for service on the Texas frontier.
This was an elite organization, whose troops only rode the finest horses and were issued the latest equipment. Officers were hand-picked by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. The regiment became known as "Jeff Davis' Own." Most officers were West Point graduates and Southern.
Although it existed for just six and a half years, sixteen officers went on to become generals, eleven Confederate.
Four of the eight full Confederate generals: Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee, Kirby Smith and John Bell Hood, came from the unit.
At various times, it was commanded by Johnston, Lee, Earl Van Dorn and George H. Thomas.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner (Soon to be Old Secesh)
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Cow Cavalry and Battle of Ft. Myers (Fla)-- Part 2: "I Respectfully Decline"
Three companies of the Cow Cavalry and one cannon set out and arrived at Fort Thomson (LaBelle, Fl.) February 19th and then marched down the river and encamped near Billy's Creek. On Feb. 20th, they surprised some black soldiers on picket duty and shot them. This alerted the Fort Myers, whereupon the Confederates fired their cannon and demanded it surrender.
The fort's commander, Captain James Doyle replied, "I respectfully decline."
He wheeled his two cannons out and the battle was on,continuing throughout the day.
On Feb. 21, 1865, the Cow cavalry returned to Fort Meade, having failed to capture the Union fort. Of 300 Union troops involved, there was one dead and three wounded. Of the 250 Confederates, one was wounded.
Nothing remains of the fort today, but it was located by the downtown Ft. Myers Historical District. The original US-41 (Cleveland Avenue) goes by the former location.
Cow cavalry to the Rescue! --Old B-Runner (Soon to be Old Secesh)
The fort's commander, Captain James Doyle replied, "I respectfully decline."
He wheeled his two cannons out and the battle was on,continuing throughout the day.
On Feb. 21, 1865, the Cow cavalry returned to Fort Meade, having failed to capture the Union fort. Of 300 Union troops involved, there was one dead and three wounded. Of the 250 Confederates, one was wounded.
Nothing remains of the fort today, but it was located by the downtown Ft. Myers Historical District. The original US-41 (Cleveland Avenue) goes by the former location.
Cow cavalry to the Rescue! --Old B-Runner (Soon to be Old Secesh)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Cow Cavalry and the Battle of Fort Myers (Fla.)-- Part 1
Continued from my Feb. 10, 2011 entry
It took place Feb. 25, 1865, and is regarded as the southernmost Civil War battle. The fort was originally built during the Seminole War, but was abandoned after it ended. Reoccupied by Union soldiers in 1863 who intended to use it as a base to attack cattle ranches along the Caloosahatchie River which were supplying beef to the Confederacy. It is estimated that by 1865, some 4,000 head of cattle had been taken by them.
The fort was also a refugee center for escaped slaves and Union sympathizers with 400 in it at one point.
It was garrisoned by the and Florida Cavalry, a company of the 110th New York and a company of black soldiers from the 2nd USCT, both of these units came from Union Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West.
The Confederates organized a special detachment to stop Federal incursions and became known as the Cattle Guard Battalion, or "Cow Cavalry."
The unit was posted at Fort Meade and in February 1865, ordered to attack Fort Myers.
Get Them Cows, You Cavalry. --Old B-Runner (Soon to Be Old Secesh)
It took place Feb. 25, 1865, and is regarded as the southernmost Civil War battle. The fort was originally built during the Seminole War, but was abandoned after it ended. Reoccupied by Union soldiers in 1863 who intended to use it as a base to attack cattle ranches along the Caloosahatchie River which were supplying beef to the Confederacy. It is estimated that by 1865, some 4,000 head of cattle had been taken by them.
The fort was also a refugee center for escaped slaves and Union sympathizers with 400 in it at one point.
It was garrisoned by the and Florida Cavalry, a company of the 110th New York and a company of black soldiers from the 2nd USCT, both of these units came from Union Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West.
The Confederates organized a special detachment to stop Federal incursions and became known as the Cattle Guard Battalion, or "Cow Cavalry."
The unit was posted at Fort Meade and in February 1865, ordered to attack Fort Myers.
Get Them Cows, You Cavalry. --Old B-Runner (Soon to Be Old Secesh)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Fort Fisher, Dec. 28, 1864: "A Gross and Culpable Failure"
** Morning-- The steamer Banshee runs the blockade into New Inlet.
** 5:30 pm-- President Lincoln queries Grant: "If there be no objection, please tell me what you now understand of the Wilmington expedition, present and prospective."
** An angry Grant replies: "The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable failure. Many of the troops are now back here [in Virginia]. Delays and free talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defeat it.
After the expedition sailed from Fort Monroe three days of fine weather were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself. Who is to blame I hope will be known."
Of course, who was to blame? None other than Butler.
And End to the First Attack. --Old B-Runner (Soon to Be Old Secesh)
** 5:30 pm-- President Lincoln queries Grant: "If there be no objection, please tell me what you now understand of the Wilmington expedition, present and prospective."
** An angry Grant replies: "The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable failure. Many of the troops are now back here [in Virginia]. Delays and free talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defeat it.
After the expedition sailed from Fort Monroe three days of fine weather were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself. Who is to blame I hope will be known."
Of course, who was to blame? None other than Butler.
And End to the First Attack. --Old B-Runner (Soon to Be Old Secesh)
Altered Lincoln Pardon
From the Jan. 31st Washington Post "Archivists won't display altered Lincoln Pardon."
A pardon signed by Lincoln, but whose date was altered to appear to have been one of his last acts before the assassination, has been taken out of circulation.
It was changed by historian Thomas Lowry who wrote a 5 in over the 4 in 1864 sometime in 1998 using a fountain pen.
Lincoln did pardon a mentally incompetent Army Private Patrick Murphy on April 14, 1864. The original has been replaced by a high resolution scan after determining that any attempt to delete the 5 would cause irreparable damage.
Not very Nice of Lowry. --Old B-Runner
A pardon signed by Lincoln, but whose date was altered to appear to have been one of his last acts before the assassination, has been taken out of circulation.
It was changed by historian Thomas Lowry who wrote a 5 in over the 4 in 1864 sometime in 1998 using a fountain pen.
Lincoln did pardon a mentally incompetent Army Private Patrick Murphy on April 14, 1864. The original has been replaced by a high resolution scan after determining that any attempt to delete the 5 would cause irreparable damage.
Not very Nice of Lowry. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
A New Naval Blog January 1st
January 1, 2012, I will be launching a new blog off of this one called "Running the Blockade."
This one will continue with items about North Carolina, Illinois, the Civil War Today and any other item I find of interest. I expect to have 10-15 posts a month.
The new blog will about Fort Fisher and all things Naval. I expect to have 20-25 entries a month in it.
See You Then. --Old B-Runner
This one will continue with items about North Carolina, Illinois, the Civil War Today and any other item I find of interest. I expect to have 10-15 posts a month.
The new blog will about Fort Fisher and all things Naval. I expect to have 20-25 entries a month in it.
See You Then. --Old B-Runner
Fort Fisher 147 Years Ago Today
** Instead of overwhelming Curtis' vulnerable troops, Bragg let them escape from the beach.
** Fort Fisher fires a defiant volley as the Union fleet sails away.
** During the night, the steamer Wild Rover runs the blockade at New Inlet.
** Lamb and Whiting are greatly dissatisfied at Bragg's inactivity and failure to crush the enemy forces ashore.
** Union general U.S. Grant and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles are infuriated to learn the Fort Fisher expedition a failure.
Kind of interesting that a descendant of Bragg is now in charge of the battleship USS North Carolina in Wilmington.
Finally, Good News for the Confederacy, But Not for Long. --Old B-Runner
** Fort Fisher fires a defiant volley as the Union fleet sails away.
** During the night, the steamer Wild Rover runs the blockade at New Inlet.
** Lamb and Whiting are greatly dissatisfied at Bragg's inactivity and failure to crush the enemy forces ashore.
** Union general U.S. Grant and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles are infuriated to learn the Fort Fisher expedition a failure.
Kind of interesting that a descendant of Bragg is now in charge of the battleship USS North Carolina in Wilmington.
Finally, Good News for the Confederacy, But Not for Long. --Old B-Runner
Monday, December 26, 2011
A Southern Response to Nast's Santa
Alright, now Northern children had a Santa Claus bringing them stuff. Would that Santa then ignore the children of the South in those war years?
A Dec. 1862 editorial in the Staunton, Virginia Spectator noted that "as Kris Kringle is a fat Dutchman with Yankee proclivities" and very likely "stingy in the distribution of his presents of candy, cakes, toys, etc., to the little ones.
It urged Staunton's children to hang up their stockings anyway and unless "if he be not wholly Yankeeized" would fill them as before.
I Don't Think They Much Liked Yankees. --Old B-Runner
A Dec. 1862 editorial in the Staunton, Virginia Spectator noted that "as Kris Kringle is a fat Dutchman with Yankee proclivities" and very likely "stingy in the distribution of his presents of candy, cakes, toys, etc., to the little ones.
It urged Staunton's children to hang up their stockings anyway and unless "if he be not wholly Yankeeized" would fill them as before.
I Don't Think They Much Liked Yankees. --Old B-Runner
Nast's Santa Claus Does Nothing for Union Morale 149 Years Ago
From the Dec. 23rd Staunton (Va) News-Leader "Nast's Civil War Santa Claus failed to boost Union morale" by Charles Culbertson.
It had been a long, hard and generally losing war effort for the Union in 1862 and the Christmas season found an essentially stalemate existing.
At this time, however, the North received dear old Santa Claus in his definitive and now-recognized form.
Thomas Nast, a Bavarian-born son of German immigrants had made a name for himself as a political cartoonist and illustrator for Harper's Weekly and Franl Leslie's Illustrated Magazine. He created a character for Santa based on a 4th Century bishop in Asia Minor named St. Nicholas who had become known to the western world as patron saint for children and a symbol of Christmas.
Until 1862, he had been "portrayed as tall and cadaverous," to the point of being frightening to children. Nast fattened him up and dressed him in a gaudy red suit with white trim, a flowing white beard and a bag of toys.
Even so, historians agree that dear old Santa didn't cheer up the Union troops.
How Sad. --Old B-R'er
It had been a long, hard and generally losing war effort for the Union in 1862 and the Christmas season found an essentially stalemate existing.
At this time, however, the North received dear old Santa Claus in his definitive and now-recognized form.
Thomas Nast, a Bavarian-born son of German immigrants had made a name for himself as a political cartoonist and illustrator for Harper's Weekly and Franl Leslie's Illustrated Magazine. He created a character for Santa based on a 4th Century bishop in Asia Minor named St. Nicholas who had become known to the western world as patron saint for children and a symbol of Christmas.
Until 1862, he had been "portrayed as tall and cadaverous," to the point of being frightening to children. Nast fattened him up and dressed him in a gaudy red suit with white trim, a flowing white beard and a bag of toys.
Even so, historians agree that dear old Santa didn't cheer up the Union troops.
How Sad. --Old B-R'er
Confederate Victory at Fort Fisher 147 Years Ago
DECEMBER 26TH
Fort Fisher and its garrison remain intact.
Benjamin Butler and his army departs for Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Six hundred troops from Union General Curtis' First Brigade remain stranded on the beach north of the fort, as weather has deteriorated too much for a safe withdrawal. There are several hundred captured Confederates with them. general Bragg makes no attempt to take advantage of the situation.
Between noon and late afternoon, Bragg arrives at Sugar Loaf north of the fort. Major Gen. Hoke and Hagood's Brigade reach the place, followed by Kirkland's men later in the afternoon.
An Opportunity Missed. --Old B-Runner
Fort Fisher and its garrison remain intact.
Benjamin Butler and his army departs for Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Six hundred troops from Union General Curtis' First Brigade remain stranded on the beach north of the fort, as weather has deteriorated too much for a safe withdrawal. There are several hundred captured Confederates with them. general Bragg makes no attempt to take advantage of the situation.
Between noon and late afternoon, Bragg arrives at Sugar Loaf north of the fort. Major Gen. Hoke and Hagood's Brigade reach the place, followed by Kirkland's men later in the afternoon.
An Opportunity Missed. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Fort Fisher Attacked 147 Years Ago
Every year, I write about the two battles fought at Fort Fisher at this time.
Today, 147 years ago, the experiment to blow up a US ship full of gunpowder in hopes of knocking down the fort's earthen parapets had happened at 1:40 am in the morning. the fort still stood.
At dawn, the 64-ship Union fleet moves into position to attack the fort., opening at 12:40 pm, in about an hour from now. The navy's five largest frigates ate on hand: Susquehannah, Wabash, Colorado, Powhattan and Minnesota. The Colorado alone mounted more guns than the whole fort.
Eventually, around 10,000 shells fired at Fisher. At dusk, the Union fleet withdraws to positions further out at sea.
The next day, the bombardment continued and troops were landed, but later taken off.
No entry tomorrow because of it being Sunday.
Merry Christmas. --Old B-R'er
Today, 147 years ago, the experiment to blow up a US ship full of gunpowder in hopes of knocking down the fort's earthen parapets had happened at 1:40 am in the morning. the fort still stood.
At dawn, the 64-ship Union fleet moves into position to attack the fort., opening at 12:40 pm, in about an hour from now. The navy's five largest frigates ate on hand: Susquehannah, Wabash, Colorado, Powhattan and Minnesota. The Colorado alone mounted more guns than the whole fort.
Eventually, around 10,000 shells fired at Fisher. At dusk, the Union fleet withdraws to positions further out at sea.
The next day, the bombardment continued and troops were landed, but later taken off.
No entry tomorrow because of it being Sunday.
Merry Christmas. --Old B-R'er
Christmas in 1861: "The Young Ones Ransacked"
From AP's This Week in the Civil War for week of December 25th. A look back 150 years ago.
The Trent Affair is still a major issue and Lincoln holds a cabinet meeting about it on Christmas Day. That evening, he presided over a Christmas party at the White House attempting some holiday cheer in the absence of his nation's "Peace on Earth."
The New York Herald-Tribune reported that churches were filled to overflowing on Christmas with lots of people out ice skating on frozen ponds and making merry.
"The little ones ransacked the repositories of Chris Kringle, shouted the elve's house with delight over treasures which the jolly old fellow had dropped on them over-night...and that after that the winged hours of the long Winter evening passed imperceptibly away, with song and dance, and jest and laugh, lightening the heart, and making each participant more happy and content with his burden, brightening the future with new hope."
Sounds Like a Good Christmas. --Old B-Runner
The Trent Affair is still a major issue and Lincoln holds a cabinet meeting about it on Christmas Day. That evening, he presided over a Christmas party at the White House attempting some holiday cheer in the absence of his nation's "Peace on Earth."
The New York Herald-Tribune reported that churches were filled to overflowing on Christmas with lots of people out ice skating on frozen ponds and making merry.
"The little ones ransacked the repositories of Chris Kringle, shouted the elve's house with delight over treasures which the jolly old fellow had dropped on them over-night...and that after that the winged hours of the long Winter evening passed imperceptibly away, with song and dance, and jest and laugh, lightening the heart, and making each participant more happy and content with his burden, brightening the future with new hope."
Sounds Like a Good Christmas. --Old B-Runner
Friday, December 23, 2011
This Week in the War 150 Years Ago: Washington DC Under Blockade
Also, at this time, the Confederacy had a blockade of the nation's capital along the Potomac River. Union vessels still were able to get by it, though according to AP reports Dec. 18th: "Some eight or ten schooners have run the blockade on the Potomac during the past forty-eight hours."
But, "The new batteries which the rebels have recently disclosed, show that it is their intention to make the blockade as effectual as they can."
Before these last several months, I was unaware that the Confederates had a blockade of their own along the Potomac, figuring that Union forces had immediately seized all ground on the south bank of the river.
You always hear of the Union blockade of the Southern coast, but here, the Confederates had their own little blockade going. And, the North had their own blockade-runners.
Stuff I Didn't Know. --Old B-Runner
But, "The new batteries which the rebels have recently disclosed, show that it is their intention to make the blockade as effectual as they can."
Before these last several months, I was unaware that the Confederates had a blockade of their own along the Potomac, figuring that Union forces had immediately seized all ground on the south bank of the river.
You always hear of the Union blockade of the Southern coast, but here, the Confederates had their own little blockade going. And, the North had their own blockade-runners.
Stuff I Didn't Know. --Old B-Runner
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