Friday, November 22, 2013

July 1 - 6, 1863

Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President 

Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable


July 1, 1863 - At the Missouri State Convention, a vote passed to completely eliminate slavery in the state on July 4, 1870.

July 1, 1883 - In and around the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, several skirmishes and some sharp fighting takes place. Confederate General Henry Heth's division encounters dismounted Union cavalry commanded by General John Buford. The Union cavalrymen are armed with Spencer carbines and hold off Heth's charge. Confederate General William Pender arrives to assist Heth's division while the Union I Corps of General John Reynolds deploys around Gettysburg. Reynolds is killed and his Iron Brigade is engaged in fierce fighting. The Union XI and III Corps of Generals Oliver O. Howard and Abner Doubleday arrive, as does General Ewell's Confederate II Corps. The Union line is pushed back through Gettysburg in confusion.

July 1, 1863 - General Winfield S. Hancock's Union II Corps occupies high ground along Cemetery Hill and most Union units locate excellent defensive positions. When General George Meade arrives near midnight, he reviews the Union positions and decides to defend in the morning.

July 1, 1863 - A Confederate staff rider locates J.E.B. Stuart and orders him to join General Lee at Gettysburg.

July 1, 1863 - General Rosecrans' Union forces maneuver the Confederate forces to Chattanooga, clearing central Tennessee of Southern troops. This essentially completes the very successful Tullahoma Campaign.

July 1, 1863 - General Joseph E. Johnston pushes his 32,000 men toward Vicksburg. His path is blocked by General W.T. Sherman's XV Corps at the Big Black River.

July 2, 1863 - At Gettysburg 85,000 Union troops occupy a defensive line from Culp's Hill on the north, the entire length of Cemetery Ridge, and extend left to Little Round Top on the south. General Lee is urged by General Longstreet to withdraw but Lee determines to fight where he finds the enemy and he sends his 75,000 Confederates forward. A full day of fighting including at positions with names such as the Wheatfield, Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, and Devel's Den becoming well known. Both sides draw off as daylight wanes.

July 2, 1863 - Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens sends a letter to President Lincoln about arranging prisoner exchange and an end to war. President Lincoln declares he is not interested.

July 2, 1863 - General John H. Morgan leads 2,500 Confederate cavalry across the Cumberland River beginning a foray into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.

July 2, 1863 - The CSS Alabama captures and burns the Union ship Anna F. Schmidt in the south Atlantic.

July 3, 1863 - General Lee masses artillery along Missionary Ridge west of downtown Gettysburg and positions to batter the center of the Union lines. With 140 Confederate cannons and about 100 Union artillery pieces, this is the largest artillery dual in American history. Most of the Confederate bombardment is aimed too high and does little damage. The North fires slowly to conserve ammunition and ceases firing at 3:00 PM. During this lull, General George Pickett along with Generals Johnston Pettigrew and Issac Trimble's divisions advance across an open field. Union artillery opens fire with interlocking fields of fire and accurate rifle fire. Nearly half of the three Confederate divisions are killed or wounded with the other half retreating to Seminary Ridge.

July 3, 1863 - In one last Gettysburg encounter, General J.E.B. Stuart attempts to flank the Union position and attack from the rear. Union cavalry under General David M. Gregg blocks the attempt with General George Custer's brigade distinguishing itself with repeated headlong charges. This is the largest cavalry encounter of the war.

July 3, 1863 - The Battle of Gettysburg ends with the Army of the Potomac losses listed as 2,592 killed, 12,709 wounded, and 5,150 missing (20,4510) but later estimates are around 28,000. Union losses are 3,155 dead, 14,529 wounded, and 5,365 missing (23,049).

July 3, 1863 - At Vicksburg, General Pemberton and General Grant arrange an armistice and conference about surrender terms. Grant is blunt with his directions saying, "You will be allowed to march out, the officers taking with them their side arms and clothing, and the field, staff, and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and file will be allowed all their clothing but no other property."

July 3, 1863 - Morgan's Raiders skirmish with Union defenders at Columbia, Kentucky with heavy losses.

July 4, 1863 - Confederate Vice President Stephens sails down the James River to Hampton Roads, Virginia under a flag of truce intending to meet with Union officials. Federal authorities turn him back.

July 4, 1863 - General Meade is urged by President Lincoln to pursue the fleeing Confederates but Meade declines any attempt to follow.

July 4, 1863 - Vicksburg surrenders ending a seven-week siege.

July 4, 1863 - At Helena, Arkansas, Confederate Generals Theophilus Holmes and Sterling Price attack Union General Benjamin Prentiss' occupying troops. Sterling Price has some success and overruns Union Battery "C" but is driven off by shore batteries and heavy fire from the 'USS Tyler' positioned on the Mississippi River. This opens the way for the Union to capture and control Port Hudson for the rest of the war.

July 5, 1863 - General George Morgan reaches Lebanon and Bardstown, Kentucky and captures 400 Union troops. General Morgan's brother Thomas is killed in this action.

July 5, 1863 - General Sherman leaves Vicksburg to recapture Jackson and drive General Joseph Johnston back from the Big Black River. Sherman has three Corps (11 Divisions) of about 40,000 men. Corps commanders are Frederick Steele, O.C. Ord, and John G. Parke.

July 6, 1863 - The Confederate Army continues to retreat toward Virginia via Hagerstown, Maryland and Williamsport where they construct pontoon bridges to cross the Potomac. The river is rain swollen so there is a delay in crossing. Union Cavalry under Generals Kilpatrick and Buford surprise the Army of Northern Virginia but are held off by General Imboden with reinforcements from General J.E.B. Stuart.

July 6, 1863 - Admiral Samual F. DuPont is relieved of command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron due more to friction with Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells than any failure of the squadron. DuPont was only in this position since June 24th.

July 6, 1863 - The CSS Alabama captures and burns the 'Express,' a Union ship sailing off Brazil. Captain Raphael Semmes has continued success.

First week of July summary - Four major victories occurred this week. The most noted are Vicksburg and Gettysburg but Helena, Arkansas and the Tullahoma Campaign are all-important and mark the beginning of the end of the Confederate hopes.