THE GREAT REBELLION: Two Important Battles fought in Western Virginia; The Rebels Routed with Great Loss at Laurel Hill; JEFF. DAVIS’ PIRATES AT WORK (7/13/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 7/13/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Friday, July 12.

The Government has accepted a tender from Gov. MORGAN of a troop of three hundred cavalry.

A number of clerks have been removed from the Interior Department. The want of money is the reason of these discharges. The Patent-office receipts are down to almost nothing. The reserved fund of $80,000 that was on hand at the commencement of the year is already reduced to $30,000.

It is almost certain that the rebels are falling back upon Manassas Junction. From there they will go to Richmond, if permitted.

The debates in the House are becoming animated. There was a personal controversy between CAMPBELL, of Pennsylvania, and VALLANDIGHAM, of Ohio, to-day. The latter is beginning to feel the contempt which the public and his colleagues entertain for him and the course he has pursued.

Mr. TALIAFERRO, who was recently removed from a clerkship in one of the Departments, and who has been in that position for several years, has, since his departure from the Government employ, where he has so long fed liberally from the public crib, turned against us, and has indulged very indiscreetly in his secession anathemas. An eye was on him, and he was followed. The steamer Guy went down the river last night and overtook this gentleman at Port Tobacco, in his hotel. A squad of soldiers seized him and brought him to the city. In his pockets were found several important letters to Secessionists in Virginia, and indications that he had furnished to the rebels drawings of the camps, fortifications, etc., around Washington. He is now in custody of the military authorities here.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3975418/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Great Rebellion: Two Important Battles Fought in Western Virginia – 2
Shutting Down the Press – 2-3
Latest from Gen. Patterson’s Column – 3
The War in Western Virginia – 3
Jeff. Davis’ Privateers – 3-4
Perilous Balloon Adventure: Narrow Escape of the Aeronaut – 4
Trouble with the Indians at Yellow Medicine – 4
The Tornado in Illinois – 4
Editorial: Direct Taxation – 4-5
A Threat from Richmond – 5
Editorial: Right Reverend General Polk – 5
Editorial: How to Treat the Vallandighams – 6
Good Fighting in Western Virginia – 6
Editorial: The Duty of Capital – 6

[NohSpinZone]

I’d say the Rebels got their revenge at Laurel Hill a few years later at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court.

[BroJoeK]

July 13 saw the Battle of Corricks Ford, in West Virginia, a Union victory and the first death of a Confederate General -- Garnett.
Confederate losses at Corrick's Ford will increase their total to 2/3 of the ~2,000 casualties so far.

1. Of the seven engagements in Virginia so far, Confederates won 4, three were inconclusive.
2. Of the six engagements in West Virginia so far, the Union won all six.
3. Of the five engagements in Missouri so far, Confederates won three, the Union two.

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
April 12-14	Fort Sumter, SC	Confederate artillery (Beauregard), Union garrison (Anderson)	None	CSA
April 15	Evacuation of Fort Sumter, SC	Union garrison	Two Union soldiers killed, four wounded by accidental explosion	N.A.
April 19	Baltimore Riots, MD	MA 6th, PA 26th vs secessionist crowd	4 Union soldiers killed, 12 civilians killed, hundreds wounded	USA
May 10	St. Louis Riots, MO	Union forces vs secessionist crowd	4 Union soldiers killed, 3 prisoners, 28 civilians killed	USA
May 18-19	Sewell's Point, VA	Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery	10 total	inconclusive
May 29- June 1	Aquila Creek, VA	Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery	10 total	inconclusive
June 1	Fairfax Court House, VA	detachments from CSA & USA armies	8 on each side, 1 each killed	inconclusive
June 3	Philippi, WVA	Union Dept of Ohio (McClellan) -3,000, CSA infantry (Porterfield) -800	Union 4, CSA 26 (killed or wounded)	USA
June 10	Big Bethel, VA	Union (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400	Union 18-killed 53-wounded, CSA: 1-K 9-W	CSA
June 15	Hooe's Ferry (near Mathias Point) VA	Union schooner Christina Keen; CSA Farmer's Fork Grays	none -- Christina Keen captured and burned	CSA
June 17	Vienna, VA	Detachments from both Union & CSA armies	Union: 8 killed, 4 wounded; CSA: none reported	CSA
June 17	Boonville, MO	Union Western Dept (Lyon) -1,700 vs. MO State Guard (Marmaduke) ~1,500	Union: 5-killed, 7-wounded, MO Guard 5-k 17-w	USA
June 18	Camp Cole, MO	Union Home Guards (~500) vs. Confederate State Guards (~350)	Union: 35 killed, 60 wounded 25 captured CSA: 7-K, 25-W	CSA
June 27	Matthias' Point, VA	Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500	Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none	CSA
July 2	Hoke's Run, WVA	Union Army of the Shenandoah (2 brigades, Patterson) -8,000 vs. Confederate Army of the Shenandoah (1 brigade, Stonewall Jackson) - 4,000	Union: 3-killed, 70-total; CSA 9-killed, 23-total	USA
July 5	Carthage, MO	Union Department of the West (Sigel) -- 1,000 vs. Confederate Missouri State Guard (Jackson) -- 4,000	Union: 44-total; CSA 200-total	CSA
July 5	Neosho, MO	Union 3rd Missouri vs. Confederate cavalry	Union: 137-total; CSA zero total	CSA
July 8	Laurel Hill, WVA	Union Dept of Ohio vs. Confederate Army of the Northwest	Union: 8-total; CSA unknown	USA
July 11	Rich Mountain, WVA	Union Department of the Ohio (McClellan & Rosecrans) -7,000 vs. Confederate Army (Pegram & Garnett) -1,300	Union: 46-total; CSA 300-total	USA
July 12	Barboursville, WVA	Union 2nd Kentucky vs. Confederate rangers & locals	Union: 16-total; CSA 1-total	USA
July 13	Corrick's Ford, WVA	Union Department of the Ohio (McClellan & Rosecrans) -20,000 vs. Confederate Army (Garnett) -4,500	Union: 53-total; CSA 620-total CSA Gen. Garnett killed	USA

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Clearly Gen. McClellan would be the go-to general to pull from the bullpen if Gen. McDowell’s Army of the Potomac proves unable to get the job done.

[BroJoeK]

"I’d say the Rebels got their revenge at Laurel Hill a few years later at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court."

So far Confederates have done well in Virginia, winning four battles, the other three were inconclusive.

In Missouri Confederates have won two, lost three.

In West Virginia, Confederates have lost all of six battles so far.
Confederate casualties in West Virginia have exceeded all other states combined.

[BroJoeK]

"Clearly Gen. McClellan would be the go-to general..."

Right, "Little Mac" is a rising star... but... notice his three big victories so far -- Philippi, Rich Mountain & Corrick's Ford.
In every case McClellan's forces outnumbered Confederates more than 4 to 1, and McClellan benefitted from capable Union commanders under him, notably Rosecrans.

This may help explain why, later, McClellan will constantly exaggerate Confederate strengths in hopes of extracting more troops from President Lincoln for his own army.
McClellan knew it was numbers as much as tactical brilliance which won his early battles in West Virginia.