Morning Cromwell. Thank you for your time on this thread.
I have enjoyed reading all you have posted.
December 20th 1860: South Carolina secedes.
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A General in the War between the States that I have been studying is General Edmund Kirby Smith. His victory in the Battle of Richmond in Kentucky was one of the soome complete victories in the War.
He ended the war as the over all commander of the C.S.A west of the Mississippi. Cut off from the rest of the country, he did his best. He did not have the numbers to challenge the Unions control of the Mississippi. The Western Confederacy became known as “Kirby Smithdom”.
He organized the men for the last Southern Victory at Mansfeld, La, which stopped an invasion of East Texas.
Like many in the West, after surrendering, he simply slipped in Mexico.
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January 11th 1861 Alabama voted to leave the Union.
Alabama mobilised many Infantry Regiments. Wilcox’s and Law’s were the best known ones to fight in Northern Virginia. Law’s Brigade was given the task of attacking the flank of the Union army at Gettysburg, but found the terrain and the tenacity of the flank Brigade that day too strong. Many more Alabama Regiments obviously fought in the West with The Army of Tennessee and three surrendered with Pemberton at Vicksburg.
There were no major land battles in Alabama, but the important port of Mobile was a Federal target for most of the war. It eventually fell to Admiral Farragut’s fleet in August of 1864. The Southern commander had an Ironclad battleship, the Tennessee, as his major defence and it fought the Union forces until it could no longer manoeuvre. It is at this battle that Farragut is meant to have said: Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead.
After the fall of Mobile with its protective FortMorgan, only Wilmington NC, remained open for the South.
Alabama certainly did its bit for Southern independence. -
We vacation in the Fort Morgan area, the Fort is a great place to visit. The fort was mostly destroyed by the Union Fleet, it has been rebuilt and is a wonderful visit. Not more than a mile from Fort Morgan are some Spanish American War/ World War One outpost, which reminded me of the Atlantic Wall.
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Al told me about that. I had no idea.
How exciting!
I have seen the figures for some states. Is Texas the state with the most number of signatories so far? -
I believe if the state of Texas voted 30 to 40% of the population, at this moment who choice to seperate, we figure since we were our own Country before, we could do it again. I’m a Texan first.
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Good luck both of you.
It s the way of the world at the moment. Most countries are splitting into smaller ones.
Not sure if you know about Italy too. Northerners are fed up of paying for the South’s debts(many Mafia caused) and see themselves better off alone.
Scotland wants independence from the UK too.
Soon China will be the only big country left! -
Today, the 19th January 1861, Georgia became the 5th state to secede from the Union.
Its population was large, at 1 million(half were slaves) and 100000 fought for he Confederacy. Sometimes as many as 8 Georgia Brigades fought with the Army of North Virginia. The most famous were Cobb’s(Wofford), Toombs’ (Benning), GT Anderson’s and Gordon’s. They were present at all the most famous Virginia battles and the 4 1st Corps ones helped reverse a certain defeat in the Wilderness in May of 1864, when they arrived late on the field with the rest of Longstreet’s corps recently returned from action in the West.
In Summer of 1864 the city of Atlanta saw heavy fighting as the Army of Tennessee retreated before Sherman’s much larger forces and its loss, with all the accumulated war supplies, was a big blow to the Confederate war effort and probably was the main reason Lincoln was reelected in November of 1864.
Savannah, on the coast, besieged since early in the war, was another great loss that December and contributed to the eventual defeat of the greatest Southern army, that of Lee, in April of 1865, when its victor, Sherman turned north into the Carolinas. -
January 26th Louisiana joined the five seceded states today in 1861. It’s population was about 700000, half of which were slaves. It was the state with the largest number of freed slaves, most of whom inhabited the coastal areas. New Orleans was the South’s largest city and its capture by Federal forces was paramount to their initial plans. It fell in April of 62, as most of its garrison had been sent north to fight at the battle of Shiloh. After the City fell, most of the coast and the state East of it were under Union control.
Many resident non native Louisianans, were to rise to high rank: Beauregard, Bragg and an ex President’s son, Richard Taylor, all were planters. Harry Hays led the Louisiana Tigers in Lee’s NVA, again finding himself in the state at the time, though born in Tennessee. In the Army of Tennessee Liddell(Mississippi born) led a Brigade. Louisiana furnished two ANV Brigades, both of which were known for their ferocity. A large contingent from the state also contributed to the victory at Mansfield, Louisiana, in 1864, where a popular Louisiana General, Mouton, lost his life. -
If any of you find yourselves on the Louisana Texas border, visit the Mansfield Battlefield. It’s a great battlefield visit.
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1st February 1861 Texas voted to become the 7th state to leave the Union.
It was the largest state to do so and being the furthest West was the one least occupied by Federal forces. It provided much needed supplies throughout the war, but after the fall of Vicksburg in July of 1863 only to the Transmississippi region. Many goods entered the state through blockaded ports and cotton was exported via Mexico to Europe.
The most famous Texan Generals were not natives of the state. AS Johnston was the ranking Field commander in 1862, but the most famous was another Kentuckian, John Bell Hood. He graduated from West Point and was a Lieutenant in the Cavalry, when he resigned to lead the 4th Texas Inf Regiment. Hood soon got command of the Brigade of 3 Texas Regiments (1,2 and4).This was the hardest hitting unit with the best morale of any of the Brigades in Lee’s ANV and its performance got Hood promoted to Division command before year’s end.
Far more Texan units fought in the West, many as Cavalry units. Of the 70000 Texans who fought for the Confederacy, 2/3 were Cavalry(45Regiments to 23 Inf).
No significant battles were fought in Texas, although the port of Galveston and others were besieged. After the surrender of the Confederate armies, Texas was a way to avoid remaining under the Union yoke as it was the best route to a new life in Mexico. -
Worsham and others: excuse any errors in my last.
Have been busy, so rushed it( a day late!)before bed.
But I could not forget or omit Texas. -
@wittmann:
Worsham and others: excuse any errors in my last.
Have been busy, so rushed it( a day late!)before bed.
But I could not forget or omit Texas.Galveston was taken by the Union and then retaken by the Confederacy.
Texas was also the staging point for the New Mexico Campaign.
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I just learned of another Civil War battle in Texas, the Battle of Laredo. 40 Confederates and held off 200 Unionist in defending 5,000 bales of cotton waiting to get sent into Mexico.
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Thank you Worsham.
Just googled the city. Nice history!
Anniversary of Fort Henry today(the 6th).
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