Posted on 05/04/2023 4:44:34 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
PHILADELPHIA, Sunday, May 3.
The following statement is derived from gentlemen who left the Rappahannock on Saturday:
It is already known that our troops have crossed over with less opposition than was anticipated.
The enemy massed a considerable force on their front on Thursday, and at night there was some artillery practice between our own and the rebel guns at long range.
As soon as the rebels learned on Wednesday that our forces had crossed above, they commenced moving troops out to intercept our advance, and continued it all night and the next day.
Trains have been running constantly with troops from Richmond, and the enemy had all of their available force around Fredericksburgh.
The latest news from Chancellorsville is that Stoneman had cut the railroad. This is stated on the assertion of a gentleman connected with the civil Department of the Government, who arrived at Washington Saturday morning.
There is no doubt of the fact that our army was at last accounts in the most cheerful and hopeful condition, and Gen. HOOKER, it is represented, had issued an address, paying a high compliment to the army for their conduct thus far in this important movement.
OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
Details of the Important Operations of Friday at Chancellorville.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, IN THE FIELD,
NEAR CHANCELLORVILLE, Va.,
Friday Evening, May 1 -- 10 P.M.
Upon my return from United States Ford this morning the first news that greeted my ears was the death of that gallant and indomitable officer, Lieut.-Col. MoVicar, commanding the Sixth New-York Cavalry. It occurred last night, during a brilliant and daring reconnoissance toward Spottsylvania Court-house. The affair was the boldest act of the advance thus far, and as your correspondent, "Z.W.B.," accompanied the column, he will detail the
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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/4150323/posts
From the Army of the Potomac: Our Forces in the Rear of Fredericksburgh – 2-4
News from Washington: Heavy Sales of the Government Five-Twenty Bonds – 4-5
An Important Movement: Extensive Raid on the Rebel Communications in the Southwest – 5
Important from Suffolk: A Reconnoissance Across the Nansemond – 5
The War in Missouri: Return from the Pursuit of Marmaduke – 5
Editorial: Gen. Hooker’s Advance – 5
The Conduct of the War – 5
A Magnificent Raid – 6
Editorial: The Fighting Qualities of the Mexicans – The French Invasion – 6
Movements of Secretary Chase – 6
My great-grandfather (sic) was reported as deserting the Union Army on the march to Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863. He later disputed the allegation, and tried to have his discharge changed to honorable, going so far as having a private bill introduced by his congressman around 1888. He emigrated from Dublin to New York, and fought with the New York Infantry at First Manassas, and was discharged after his 90 day enlistment expired, apparently reenlisting in time for Chancellorsville. I do not know what he was doing a couple of months later in July 1863, though my patronymic great-great-grandfather was in command of a police precinct suppressing riots in New York, consisting largely of Irish immigrants.
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 |
| May 3 | Fredericksburg II, VA | Union Army the Potomac (Sedjwick ~27,100), Confederate Army of N VA (Early, ~12,000) | Union 1,100-total (165?-killed), Confederates 700-total (105-killed) | USA |
| May 3-4 | Salem Church, VA | Union Army the Potomac (Sedjwick ~23,100), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee, ~10,000) | Union 1,100-total (165?-killed), Confederates 700-total (105-killed) | CSA |
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of May 4, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Virginia | 10 | 29 | 12 | 51 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Florida | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 7 | 1 | 17 |
| Arkansas | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Texas | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Alabama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Engagements in CSA | 52 | 48 | 18 | 118 |
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 | 38 | 33 | 6 | 77 |
| Total Engagements to date | 90 | 81 | 24 | 195 |
Casualties at Salem Church totaled over 9,500 including around 1,430 killed in action, bringing the war's totals to 322,000 casualties including over 37,000 killed in action.
In the very early stages of US Grant's Vicksburg campaign, my great grandfather was captured and paroled by CSA Gen. NB Forrest, meaning ggf sat in a Union camp for parolees until spring came and the farm-boys were allowed to go home and help with plowing & planting, which he did, walking from St. Louis back to the area of Quincy, Illinois.
Well, [spoiler alert!] after Grant's victory at Vicksburg there was an exchange of prisoners and my great-grandfather was allowed to return to his unit.
Except, he was at home, farming in Illinois and didn't get the word on time.
So they counted him as a deserter for however long it took him to get back and held that against him years later when they began paying pensions to Civil War veterans.
So, like your great grandfather, mine also had to submit special paperwork to have his pension approved and, if I remember correctly, they reduced it by some calculation for the time he was home farming.
My God! It is horrible—horrible; and to think of it, 130,000 magnificent soldiers so cut to pieces by less than 60,000 half-starved ragamuffins!
— Horace Greeley, New York Tribune
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.