Posted on 12/14/2022 4:47:26 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Saturday, Dec. 13, 1862. IN THE FIELD, 11 o'clock, A.M.
The great battle, so long anticipated between the two contending armies, is now progressing.
The morning opened with a dense fog, which has not entirely disappeared.
Gen. REYNOLDS' corps, on the left, advanced at an early hour, and at 9:15, A.M., engaged the enemy's infantry.
Seven minutes afterward the rebels opened a heavy fire of artillery, which has continued so far without intermission.
Their artillery fire must be at random, as the fog obstructs all view of almost everything.
Our heavy guns are answering them rapidly.
It is hoped the fog will soon lift.
At this writing, no results are known.
Not much infantry has yet become engaged.
A portion of the enemy's cavalry crossed a ford above here, and yesterday were found on our right and rear. A sufficient force has been sent out to meet them.
A REBEL RAID ON DUMFRIES.
NEADSCO RIVER, SIX MILES NORTH FROM DUMFRIES, VA., Friday, Dec. 12, 1862--Sunset.
At about daybreak this morning, between one thousand and fifteen hundred of Gen. STUART'S cavalry dashed into Dumfries, capturing ten sutlers, twenty-five pickets, (as it is represented,) and Mr. WILLIAM McINTOSH, a telegraph repairer.
They also cut down a telegraph pole, and cut the wire, destroyed several Government and sutler's wagons, and then hastily retreated.
The wires were subsequently repaired.
Brig.-Gen. STEINWEHR has since occupied Dumfries.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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A Great Battle: Commencement of the Struggle at Fredericksburgh – 2-5
Postscript – A Great Battle: Details Up to Eleven O’Clock Last Night – 6
News from Washington: Our Special Dispatches – 6-7
Order Respecting the Waste of Ammunition – 8
Stonewall Jackson Not a Poet – 8
Honors to Heroes – 8
Editorial: The Army of Gen. Burnside – The Plans on Richmond – 8-9
Editorial: The Proclamation and the Slaves – 9
Concentration – 9
“ and everything betoken success.” Sums up that battle, that war, and nearly all wars. At least one side, if not both, thinks it’ll be a swift, easy victory.
“ and everything betoken success.” Sums up that battle, that war, and nearly all wars. At least one side, if not both, thinks it’ll be a swift, easy victory.
It’s sad. Thousands of years of organized warfare and it’s always the same. We will never learn.
North Carolina 1861-'62 Engagements
| Date | Engagement | Military Units | Losses | Victor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28 | Hatteras Inlet, NC | Union NY 9th & 20th Infantry (Butler -935) plus 7 US Navy ships (including Harriet Lane & Pawnee) vs. Confederate NC 17th Infantry (Barron ~900) | Union 3-total (1 killed); Confederates 715-total (4 killed, 691 captured) | USA |
| Feb 6, 1862 | Roanoke Island, NC | Union Dept of NC + Blockading Squagron (Burnside, Goldsborough ~10,000) & Confederate Wise Legion (Wise ~3,000) | Union 264-total (37-killed), Confederates 2,643-total (23 killed) | USA |
| Mar 14 | New Bern, NC | Union Blockading Squadron (Bernside, Rowen ~11,000 +14 gunboats) & Confederate Dept of NC (Branch ~4,000) | Union 471 total (90-killed), Confederate 578 total (64- killed) | USA |
| April 19 | Camden, NC | Union NC Exped (Reno ~3,000)., Confederate garrison (Wright ~1,000) | Union none, Confederate 28-total (6-killed) | CSA |
| April 25 | Fort Macon, NC | Union NC Dept., NAtlantic Blockading Squadron (Parke, Lockwood ~2,649)., Confederate Ft. Macon Garrison (White ~450) | Union 15-total (2-killed), Confederate 424-total (8-killed) | USA |
| June 5 | Tranter's Creek, NC | Union NC Expedition (Osborn ~500), Confederate NC Infantry (Singletory ~500) | Union 20 total (unkwn-killed), Confederates 20-total (unkwn-killed) | USA |
| Dec 14 | Kinston, NC | Union Army of NC (Foster ~10,000), Confederate Evan's Brigade (Evans ~4,000) | Union 260-total (30?-killed), Confederates 525-total (40?-killed) | USA |
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of December 14, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Virginia | 7 | 27 | 12 | 46 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Florida | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| Arkansas | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Engagements in CSA | 37 | 36 | 16 | 89 |
Engagements in Union states/territories:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| West Virginia | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Missouri | 12 | 13 | 1 | 26 |
| New Mexico | 5 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Engagements in Union | 35 | 33 | 6 | 74 |
| Total Engagements to date | 72 | 69 | 22 | 163 |
The Battle of Kinston, NC's nearly 800 total casualties bring the war's totals to over 265,000 casualties, including over 31,000 killed in action.
John Beauchamp Jones will mention it in his diary tomorrow. In a few days it will be in the NY Times, as much needed good news.
In the 1970s my husband served with a member of a prominent family of Fredericksburg.
While stationed at the Pentagon, his entire unit and their families were invited to the estate, Fall Hill, for everyone to gather firewood.
This activity also helped maintain the acreage for the elderly mother.
The property bordered on the Rappahannock river and as I recall, was used as a command post during the Civil War.
Our hostess served us Rappahannock oyster stew in the main house in front of a roaring fire.
She told us some of the history of the place while dressed in an authentic period costume.
One thing I remember she told us was that the family was afraid that the Union would burn the house so they moved all of the fine furniture to Spotsylvania,
but the Union burnt the Spotsylvania house instead so the furniture was lost.
After the work in the woods was done, we shot skeet off of the back terrace.
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