Posted on 04/15/2023 6:01:49 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
STONO RIVER, S.C., Monday Evening, April 6, 1863.
To-morrow, in all probability, the attack upon Charleston will open, and upon the eve of the event, amid the distractions and excitements of the hour. I shall endeavor to give some account of the progress of our forces since their departure from Port Royal.
As long since as last Thursday some of the vessels of the expedition, consisting of ordnance and supply schooners, got under weigh, for a temporary rendezvous at North Edisto, a capacious and safe harbor, thirty miles up the coast in the direction of Charleston. The sudden and almost simultaneous movement of this fleet of trim fore-and-afters, as they were sped seaward by a stiff fair breeze, was the first portent to us all that the long days of planning were past, and the time of plan-executing was at hand.
The enthusiasm produced by this preliminary sign of active operations was enhanced on Friday morning, the 3d, upon observing that the flag of Admiral DUPONT had been transferred from the Wabash, whose great draft prevents her employment upon the present service, to the steamer James Adger, which left the harbor early, carrying the noble old hero. Following closely the Adger were the iron-clads Weehawken, Patapsco and Keokuk, the other Monitors having preceded them some days to the rendezvous.
Gen. HUNTER did not lag far in the rear of his naval colleague. Leaving the troops to follow under the direction of the division commanders, he embarked with his staff upon the Ben Deford, one of the handsomest steamers in the transport service, which had been chosen for his flag-ship, and she left the dock at 10 1/2 o'clock.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
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Charleston: Full Details of the Expedition from its Opening to its Close – 2-4
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 4
Editorial: The Failure at Charleston in Its Bearings Abroad – 4-5
The Monitors – 5
Editorial: Affairs in Mexico – 5
A Mistake – 5
I read these posts about the ships going up the Stono and Coosaw and remember trying to get our sailboat through those areas without going aground (successfully by the way) and wonder how they did it with shot and shell flying at them at the time. It’s hard enough with a depth finder!
I would NEVER try the Stono without a local pilot!
Louisiana 1861 - '63 Engagements
| Date | Engagement | Military Units | Losses | Victor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1861 | Head of the Passes, Louisiana | Union Navy Blockading Squadron , (Pope 5-ships) & Confederate "Mosquito Fleet" (Hollins 10 boats & fire rafts) | none 4 ships damaged | CSA (Union surprised routed) |
| April 16-28, 1862 | Forts Jackson & St. Philip, LA | Union W. Gulf Squadron (Farragut), Confederate Dept #1 (Duncan) | Union 229-total, Confederate 782-total | USA |
| April 25 - May 1 | New Orleans, LA | Union W. Gulf Blockading Squadron (Farragut, "Beast" Butler ~5,000), Confederate Dept #1 (Lovell) | None | USA |
| Aug 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | Union Dept of the Gulf (Williams (kia), Cahill ~2,500, Confederate Army of W Tennessee (Breckenridge ~2,600) | Union 371-total (55?-killed), Confederates ~478-total (72?-killed) | USA (Union outnumbered) |
| Apr 12-13, 1863 | Fort Bisland, LA | Union XIX Corps (Banks 27,000?), Confederate District of W. LA (Taylor 10,000?) | Union 234-total (35?-killed), Confederates 450-total (68?-killed) | USA |
| Apr 14 | Irish Bend, LA | Union XIX Corps (Banks 27,000?), Confederate District of W. LA (Taylor 10,000?) | Union 353-total (53?-killed), Confederates unkn-total (unkn-killed) | USA |
Virginia 1861 - 1863 Engagements to date
| Date | Engagement | Military Units | Losses | Victor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1 | Arlington Mills, VA | detachments from USA ( ~200 McDowell) & CSA (~9 Bonham) armies | Union 2-total (1 killed); CSA 1 wounded | inconclusive |
| June 10 | Big Bethel, VA | Union (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400 | Union 71-total (18-killed); CSA: 10-total (1-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| 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: 12-total (8 killed); CSA: none reported | CSA |
| June 27 | Matthias' Point, VA | Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500 | Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none | CSA |
| July 18 | Blackburn's Ford, VA (pre-Manassas) | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Richardson) -3,000 vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -5,100 | Union: 83-total; CSA 70-total | CSA |
| July 21 | Bull Run/Manassas, VA | Union 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 7 | CSA burned Hampton, VA | Union (Butler) vs. Confederate Cavalry (Magruder) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | CSA |
| Aug 8 | skirmish at Lovettsville, VA | Union vs. Confederate | Union unknown; Confederates 6-total | USA |
| Aug 25 | Mason's Hill, VA | Union (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Aug 31 | Munson's Hill, VA | Union Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VA | Union 5-total; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Sep 3 | Bailey's Cross Roads, VA | Union & Confederat detachments | Union 8-total; Confederates none | CSA |
| Sep 11 | Lewinsville, VA (McLean, Fairfax County) | Union 79th NY Highlanders (Stephens ~1,800) & Confederate 1st & 13th VA (JEB Stuart ~400) | Union 12-total (3-killed); Confederates none | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Oct 21 | Ball's Bluff, VA | Union 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 26 | Skirmish at Hunter's Mills, VA | Union 3rd PA Cavalry (Bell ~94) & Confederate 1st NC Cavalry (Ransome ~120) | Union 33-total (1-killed), Confederates unknown 0? | CSA |
| Dec 20 | Drainsville, VA | Union 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, 1862 | Cockpit Point, VA | Union gun boats (Wyman ) & Confederate shore battery (French ~50) | none | Inconclusive |
| Mar 8-9 | Hampton Roads, VA | Union 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 23 | Kernstown, VA | Union 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 4 | Yorktown, VA | Union 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 5 | Williamsburg, VA | Union 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 7 | Eltham's Landing, VA | Union 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 8 | McDowell, VA | Union 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 15 | Fort Darling, VA | Union 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 23 | Front Royal, VA | Union 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 25 | Winchester, VA | Union 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 27 | Hanover Court House, VA | Union 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 1 | Seven Pines / Fair Oaks, VA | Union 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 6 | Good's Farm, Harrisonburg, VA | Union PA Inf, NJ Cav, Confederate Steuart's VA Inf (Ashby+) | Unknown | CSA |
| June 8 | Cross Keys, VA | Union 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 9 | Port Republic, VA | Union 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 1 | Seven Days, near Richmond, VA | Union 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 3 | Evelington Heights, VA | Union Army of Potomac, Confederate Army of N VA -- monor skirmish | no casualties reported | USA |
| Aug 9 | Cedar Mountain, VA | Union 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 23-25 | Rappahannock Station, VA | Union Army of VA brigades (Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA brigades (Longstreet) | Union ~180-total, Confederates ~90-total | Inconclusive or CSA Victory? |
| Aug 26-27 | Manassas Station, VA | Union Army of VA (Taylor-killed, Pope), Confederate Army of N. VA (Stonewall Jackson, Ewell) | Union ~450-total, Confederates ~173-total | CSA |
| Aug 28 | Thoroughfare Gap, VA | Union Army of VA, (Ricketts -5,000), Confederate Army of N. VA (Longstreet -28,000) | Union ~50-total, Confederates ~50-total | CSA |
| Aug 28-30 | 2nd Bull Run, Manassas, VA | Union 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 1 | Chantilly, VA | Union 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 12-15 | Harper's Ferry, VA | Union 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 20 | Blackford's Ford, Sheppardstown, VA | Union 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 2 | Unison, Loudoun County VA | Union 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 13 | Fredericksburg, VA | Union 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) |
| Mar 17,1863 | Kelly's Ford, VA | Union Cavalry, Army of the Potomac (Averell ~2,100), Confederate Cavalry, Army of North VA (Fitzhugh Lee ~800) | Union 78-total (6-killed), Confederates 133-total (11-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Apr 13-15 | Suffolk I, VA | Union Dep of VA (Peck 17,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Longstreet 20,000) | Union unkn-total (unkn-killed), Confederates unkn-total (unkn-killed) | USA? (Confederates withdrew) |
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of April 15, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Virginia | 8 | 28 | 12 | 48 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Florida | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 7 | 1 | 17 |
| Arkansas | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Texas | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Engagements in CSA | 47 | 44 | 18 | 109 |
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 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 28 |
| New Mexico | 5 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Engagements in Union | 37 | 33 | 6 | 76 |
| Total Engagements to date | 84 | 77 | 24 | 185 |
The war's total casualties remain around 306,000 including over 35,000 killed in action.
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