Posted on 04/19/2023 4:39:22 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
SUFFOLK, VA., Wednesday, April 15.
You have of course been informed of the rebel advance upon Suffolk. The alarm was first given in the Federal camps last Saturday afternoon, and the men were called to arms. Rumors that LONGSTREET was advancing with a large force and heavy pontoon trains had been circulating previously for two or three days, but were generally not credited. They were somewhat confirmed, however, by the reports of our cavalry, who had found the rebel pickets more bold, and in some cases crowding on our lines.
Apprehensions of an attack at headquarters were evident from the movements of a part of Gen. GETTY's division on Thursday and Friday. The alarm on Saturday was occasioned by our pickets in the direction of the Blackwater being suddenly forced back after a slight skirmish, in which several were taken prisoners. A deserter also coming in reported a large body of rebels near. Since Saturday night we have been expecting an attack at any hour, but thus far the fighting has been mostly between the sharp shooters and pickets thrown out on either side.
Our position is strongly fortified. A chain of forts connected by an almost continuous line of breastworks extends around Suffolk in an irregular semicircle nearly nine miles in length. The Nansemond, which here makes a large bend, lies in our rear, almost completing the circuit. Earthworks and rifle pits have been constructed along its banks, and batteries thrown up since Saturday. Five gunboats patrol the river to oppose any attempt to cross by the rebels.
On Monday the Smith Briggs, Argo, Washington, West End, and one other were lying in the river. One of them, the West End, was seriously injured on Tuesday by a rebel battery erected during
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The War in Eastern Virginia: The Investment of Suffolk by the Rebel Gen. Longstreet – 2
The Latest News from Suffolk: Skirmishing on Thursday in Gen. Corcoran’s Front – 2
The Nansemond River Flotilla – 2
The War in North Carolina: Resume of Rebel Operations Against Gen. Foster – 2-3
News from Fortress Monroe: The Latest Rebel Reports from the Richmond Papers – 3
From the Army of the Potomac: The Rumored Capture of Gordonsville by Gen. Stoneman – 3
News from Port Royal: All the Monitors at Port Royal, Undergoing Repairs – 3-4
Interesting from the South: The Question of Food in the Confederacy – 4
Editorial: The Rise and Fall of Rebel Leaders – 4-5
Editorial: The Palmetto Chivalry – 5-6
Lord Palmerston and the Alabama – 6
Information for the Enemy – 6
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 11-May 4 | Suffolk I, VA | Union Dep of VA (Peck 17,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Longstreet 20,000) | Union 260-total (44-killed), Confederates 900-total (75?-killed) | USA? (Confederates withdrew) |
| Apr 19 | Suffolk II, VA | Union Dep of VA (Peck 17,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Longstreet 20,000) | Union 17-total (6-killed), Confederates 148-total (1-killed) | USA |
Total engagements have reached 187, with Union victories beginning to outweigh Confederate victories, even in Confederate states.
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of April 19, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Virginia | 9 | 28 | 12 | 49 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Florida | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 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 | 49 | 44 | 18 | 111 |
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 | 86 | 77 | 24 | 187 |
The war's casualties, by my count, have reached 308,000 including around 35,000 killed in action.
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