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FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: The Great Battle Not Yet Commenced; Our Troops All Over the Rappahannock in Good Order (12/13/1862)
New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 12/13/1862

Posted on 12/13/2022 4:46:28 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, Friday Morning, Dec. 12 -- 10 o'clock.

After occupying the river-front of the city last night, we lost about one hundred men in killed and wounded, while driving the rebels through the city.

They fired on our men as they advanced through the streets, while secreted in and behind houses. Mot much mercy was shown to those who were caught.

This morning a dense fog hid everything from view, but now it is partially passing away.

The troops commenced moving at an early hour, Maj.-Gen. SUMMER's d Division leading the way over in front of the city, to be followed by Maj.-Gen. HOOKER's Grand Division.

Gen. FRANKLIN's Grand Division, which crosses nearly three miles below the city is nearly over. At 9 1/4 o'clock the first gun was fired there, the engagement lasting about half an hour, the rebels not making a very spirited reply.

It is thought the troops will all be over by noon.

Information received during the night and this morning, from deserters and prisoners, show that the rebels have two strong lines of batteries in the rear of the city. The first one being one mile back, and the second a mile from the first.

The whole army is in rapid motion, and well concentrated. The troops are in excellent spirits and anxious to be led upon the enemy's works.

The enemy have concentrated their forces, and it is believed will give battle!

Much will depend upon the result to-day.

All feel sanguine of success.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY POTOMAC,

Friday, Dec. 12 -- Evening.

At 11 o'clock this morning the fog began to clear away, but before 11 the air was again thick, which continued until 2 o'clock, when it entirely disappeared.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: civilwar
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: May 2025.
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/4115668/posts

1 posted on 12/13/2022 4:46:28 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
1

1213-nytimesa

2

1213-nytimesb

3

1213-nytimesc

4

1213-nytimesd

5

1213-nytimese

6

1213-nytimesf

2 posted on 12/13/2022 4:47:16 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: chajin; henkster; CougarGA7; BroJoeK; central_va; Larry Lucido; wagglebee; Colonel_Flagg; Amagi; ...

From the Army of the Potomac: The Great Battle Not Yet Commenced – 2-4
The War in the Southwest: Army Movements Unimportant – 4
News from Washington: What the President Says About Affairs at Fredericksburgh – 4-5
Fearful Work in Texas – 5-6
Yesterday’s News and Want of News – 6
Discovery of a Union Plot in Texas: Execution of About Fifty of the Parties Implicated – 6


3 posted on 12/13/2022 4:48:23 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Why don’t you switch to WWII? At least that would be interesting.


4 posted on 12/13/2022 5:07:07 AM PST by MMusson
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
The Battle of Fredericksburg, the war's 162th engagement, a Confederate victory:

Virginia 1861 - 1862 Engagements to date

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
May 18-19Sewell's Point, VAUnion naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery10 totalinconclusive
May 29- June 1Aquila Creek, VAUnion naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery10 totalinconclusive
June 1Fairfax Court House, VAdetachments from CSA & USA armies8 on each side, 1 each killedinconclusive
June 1Arlington Mills, VAdetachments from USA ( ~200 McDowell) & CSA (~9 Bonham) armiesUnion 2-total (1 killed); CSA 1 woundedinconclusive
June 10Big Bethel, VAUnion (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400Union 71-total (18-killed); CSA: 10-total (1-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
June 15Hooe's Ferry (near Mathias Point) VAUnion schooner Christina Keen; CSA Farmer's Fork Graysnone -- Christina Keen captured and burnedCSA
June 17Vienna, VADetachments from both Union & CSA armiesUnion: 12-total (8 killed); CSA: none reportedCSA
June 27Matthias' Point, VAUnion gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA noneCSA
July 18Blackburn's Ford, VA (pre-Manassas)Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Richardson) -3,000 vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -5,100Union: 83-total; CSA 70-total CSA
July 21Bull Run/Manassas, VAUnion Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Patterson) -54,000 (18,000 engaged) vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -34,000 (18,000 engaged)Union: 2,708-total (481-killed); CSA 1,897-total (387-killed) CSA
Aug 7CSA burned Hampton, VAUnion (Butler) vs. Confederate Cavalry (Magruder)Union unknown; Confederates unknownCSA
Aug 8skirmish at Lovettsville, VA Union vs. Confederate Union unknown; Confederates 6-totalUSA
Aug 25Mason's Hill, VAUnion (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart)Union unknown; Confederates unknownUSA
Aug 31Munson's Hill, VAUnion Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VAUnion 5-total; Confederates unknownUSA
Sep 3Bailey's Cross Roads, VAUnion & Confederat detachmentsUnion 8-total; Confederates noneCSA
Sep 11Lewinsville, VA (McLean, Fairfax County) Union 79th NY Highlanders (Stephens ~1,800) & Confederate 1st & 13th VA (JEB Stuart ~400)Union 12-total (3-killed); Confederates noneCSA (CSA outnumbered)
Oct 21Ball's Bluff, VAUnion MA, NY, MI, MN & CA Infantry, RI Artillery (Stone -1,720) & Confederate VA & MS Infantry, VA cavalry & artillery (Evans -1,709)Union 1,002-total, including Lt. Oliver Wendell Holmes (223-killed including US Senator Edward Baker R-OR)), Confederates 155-total (36-killed) CSA
Nov 26Skirmish at Hunter's Mills, VAUnion 3rd PA Cavalry (Bell ~94) & Confederate 1st NC Cavalry (Ransome ~120)Union 33-total (1-killed), Confederates unknown 0? CSA
Dec 20Drainsville, VAUnion Pennsylvania Volunteers (Ord ~5,000) & Confederate VA, KY & NC Volunteers (Stuart ~4,000)Union 71-total (?-killed), Confederates 230-total (?-killed) USA (1st larger Union victory in VA)
Jan 3, 1862Cockpit Point, VAUnion gun boats (Wyman ) & Confederate shore battery (French ~50)noneInconclusive
Mar 8-9Hampton Roads, VAUnion Navy (Marsten, Worden, USS Monitor +11 ships) & Confederate Navy (Buchanan, Jones CSS Virginia +5 ships)Union 369 total (261 killed, 7 ships sunk), Confederate 24 total (7- killed)Inconclusive (Strategic USA)
Mar 23Kernstown, VAUnion Army of Potomac V Corps (Kimball ~9,000) & Confederate Stonewall Division (Jackson ~4,200)Union 590 total (118-killed), Confederate 718 total (80- killed)USA tactical, CSA strategoc
April 5 - May 4Yorktown, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~103,000) & Confederate Army (Magruder, JE Johnson ~72,000)Union 182-total (unkn-killed), Confederate 300-total (unkn killed)Inconclusive, Confederates retreated
May 5Williamsburg, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~41,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston, Longstreet ~32,000)Union 2,283-total (~342-KIA), Confederates 1,682-total (~252 kia)Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew)
May 7Eltham's Landing, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (Franklin ~11,300), Confederate Army of Northern VA (GW Smith ~11,000)Union 194-total (~29 killed), Confederates 48-total (~7-killed)Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew)
May 8McDowell, VAUnion OH & WVA infantry (Milroy, Schenck ~6,500), Confederate Virginia Infantry (Stonewall Jackson, E Johnson ~9,000)Union 259-total (~28 killed), Confederates 532-total (~146-killed)CSA
May 15Fort Darling, VAUnion VA River Squadron (Rogers 5-river warships), Confederate fort (Farrand, Mahone -fort artillery)Union 27-total (14-killed), Confederates 15-total (7-killed)CSA
May 23Front Royal, VAUnion Dept of Shenandoah (Kenly ~1,063), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~3,0000)Union 773-total (83-killed), Confederates 36-total (unkwn-killed)CSA
May 25Winchester, VAUnion Dept of Shenandoah (Banks ~6,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~16,0000)Union 2,019-total (62-killed), Confederates 397-total (68-killed)CSA
May 27Hanover Court House, VAUnion V-Corps (Porter ~12,000), Confederate NC Infantry (Branch ~4,0000)Union 397-total (62-killed), Confederates 930-total (70-killed)USA
May 31 - June 1Seven Pines / Fair Oaks, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~34,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston ~39,000)Union 5,431-total (790-killed), Confederates 6,134-total (980-killed)Inconclusive (both sides claimed victory)
June 6Good's Farm, Harrisonburg, VAUnion PA Inf, NJ Cav, Confederate Steuart's VA Inf (Ashby+)UnknownCSA
June 8Cross Keys, VAUnion Mountain Dept, (Fremont ~11,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Ewell ~5,800)Union 684-total (114-killed), Confederates 287-total (42-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
June 9Port Republic, VAUnion Dept of Rappahonnock (Tyler ~3,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~6,000)Union 1,002-total (150?-killed), Confederates 816-total (122?-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
June 25 - Jul 1Seven Days, near Richmond, VAUnion Army of Potomac (McClellan ~115,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee ~92,000)Union ~18,000-total (2,100-killed), Confederates ~19,000-total, (~3,200-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
July 3Evelington Heights, VAUnion Army of Potomac, Confederate Army of N VA -- monor skirmishno casualties reportedUSA
Aug 9Cedar Mountain, VAUnion Army of VA (Banks -8,030, Confederate Army of NVA ("Stonewall" Jackson -16,868)Union 2,353-total (314-killed), Confederates ~1,338-total (231-killed)CSA
Aug 23-25Rappahannock Station, VAUnion Army of VA brigades (Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA brigades (Longstreet)Union ~180-total, Confederates ~90-total Inconclusive or CSA Victory?
Aug 26-27Manassas Station, VAUnion Army of VA (Taylor-killed, Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA (Stonewall Jackson, Ewell)Union ~450-total, Confederates ~173-total CSA
Aug 28Thoroughfare Gap, VAUnion Army of VA, (Ricketts -5,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Longstreet -28,000)Union ~50-total, Confederates ~50-total CSA
Aug 28-302nd Bull Run, Manassas, VAUnion Army of VA, (Pope ~62,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Lee -51,000)Union ~14,462-total (1,747-killed), Confederates ~7,298-total (1,096-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
Sep 1Chantilly, VAUnion Army of the Potomac, (Kearny+, Stevens+ ~6,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Stonewall Jackson, JEB Stuart -20,000)Union 1300-total (195-killed?), Confederates 800 total (120=killed?)CSA
Sep 12-15Harper's Ferry, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (Miles+, White ~14,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Stonewall Jackson, AP Hill ~25,000)Union 12,636-total (44-killed), Confederates 286-total (39-killed) CSA (fort held)
Sep 20Blackford's Ford, Sheppardstown, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (Porter, ~2,000), Confederate Army of the N VA (Pendleton, AP Hill ~2,000)Union 363-total (55?-killed), Confederates 298-total (45?-killed) CSA
Oct 31-Nov 2Unison, Loudoun County VAUnion Army of the Potomac, (McClellan, divisions), Confederate Army of Northern VA (Stuert, brigade)Union 12-total (2?-killed), Confederates 18-total (3?-killed)inconclusive
Dec 13Fredericksburg, VAUnion Army of the Potomac (Burnside ~122,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (RE Lee ~78,500)Union 12,653-total (1,284-killed), Confederates 5,377-total (608-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)

Fredericksburg brings the numbers of engagements won & lost in the Confederacy to... ahem... dead even -- 36 each with 16 inconclusive.
Even in Union states the numbers are nearly even -- 35 USA to 33 CSA victories, 6 inconclusive.

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of December 13, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
South Carolina2215
Virginia7271246
North Carolina5106
Florida2002
Louisiana3104
Tennessee63110
Arkansas6028
Georgia1001
Mississippi3104
Total Engagements in CSA36361688

Engagements in Union states/territories:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
Maryland3014
West Virginia93214
Missouri1213126
New Mexico58013
Kentucky56213
Oklahoma1304
Total Engagements in Union3533674
Total Engagements to date716922162

Casualties on both sides totaled over 18,000, including nearly 1,900 killed.
Those bring the war's totals (by my count) to over 264,000 casualties, including over 36,000 killed in action.

5 posted on 12/13/2022 5:09:03 AM PST by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: MMusson

He already did it. WWII +75. Go to Homer’s home page for the links.


6 posted on 12/13/2022 5:59:32 AM PST by rxh4n1
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

I’m no fan of McClellan, but Burnside is just as slow. He is giving the Rebels plenty of time to get ready. It seems there is some hope the Rebels will just retreat.


7 posted on 12/13/2022 6:01:55 AM PST by rxh4n1
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To: MMusson

We already did that. Where were you?

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2968286/posts


8 posted on 12/13/2022 6:06:15 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: MMusson
MMusso1: " Why don’t you switch to WWII? At least that would be interesting."

My dad served in WWII, a great grandfather served in the Civil War.
Both stories are very interesting, but if anything, my great grandfather's is the more interesting.
Well, for starters, he was wounded and nearly died.

So I am just as interested in the Civil War as in WWII, if not more so.

Also, while nobody today defends Nazis, many still do defend the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, so we sometimes get to see both sides presented on these threads.

How cool is that?

9 posted on 12/13/2022 7:03:33 AM PST by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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