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THE GREAT BATTLES: Splendid Triumph of the Army of the Potomac; ROUT OF LEE’S FORCES ON FRIDAY (7/6/1863)
New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 7/6/1863

Posted on 07/06/2023 6:06:01 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

WASHINGTON, Saturday, July 4 -- 10:10 A.M.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, NEAR GETTYSBURGH, Friday, July 3 -- 8 1/2 P.M.

The following has just been received:

Major-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief:

The enemy opened at 1 P.M., from about one hundred and fifty guns, concentrated upon my left centre, continuing without intermission for about three hours, at the expiration of which time, he assaulted my left centre twice, being, upon both occasions, handsomely repulsed, with severe loss to him, leaving in our hands nearly three thousand prisoners.

Among the prisoners is Brig.-Gen. ARMSTEAD and many Colonels and officers of lesser rank.

The enemy left many dead upon the field, and a large number of wounded in our hands.

The loss upon our side has been considerable. Maj.-Gen. HANCOCK and Brig.-Gen. GIBBON were wounded.

After the repelling of the assaults, indications leading to the belief that the enemy might be withdrawing, a reconnoissance was pushed forward from the left and the enemy found to be in force.

At the present hour all is quiet.

My cavalry have been engaged all day on both flanks of the enemy, harassing and vigorously attacking him with great success, not withstanding they encountered superior numbers both at cavalry and infantry.

The army is in fine spirits.

GEORGE G. MEADE, Maj.-Gen. Commanding.

WASHINGTON, Sunday, July 5 -- 4 P.M.

The latest official dispatch received here, up to this hour, from Gen. MEADE, is dated at Headquarters Army of Potomac, 7 A.M., July 4, which merely states that the enemy had withdrawn from his position, occupied for attack, on Friday. The information in the possession of Gen. MEADE, at that hour, did not develop the character of the enemy's movement, whether it was a retreat or a maneuver for other purposes.

(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/4165445/posts

1 posted on 07/06/2023 6:06:01 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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2 posted on 07/06/2023 6:07:03 AM PDT 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; ...

The Great Battles: Splendid Triumph of the Army of the Potomac – 2-7
POSTSCRIPT-Latest from Gettysburgh: The Retreat of the Rebel Army – 7
Important from Tennessee: Gen. Rosecrans Pressing Bragg Closely – 8
The Siege of Vicksburg: Everything Going Cheeringly – 8
Soldiers Drowned – 8
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 8
Gettysburgh – 8
Editorial: The Triumph of he Army of the Potomac – 8-9
Editorial: What Pennsylvania has Escaped – 9-10
Major-Gen. Sickles – 10
Editorial: Affairs in Louisiana – 10
Richmond Literature – 10
Amusements this Evening – 10
General News – 10


3 posted on 07/06/2023 6:07:49 AM PDT 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

If there’s anyone who hasn’t read ‘The Killer Angels’, well worth your time to do so.


4 posted on 07/06/2023 7:20:31 AM PDT by Roadrunner383
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To: Roadrunner383

Read most of the Sharra father/son books. Excellent. Also enjoyed the Gettysburg tv miniseries.


5 posted on 07/06/2023 10:21:00 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
Catching up again, four battles to report, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Cabin Creek, Oklahoma, Fairfield, Pennsylvania and Helena, Arkansas.
All were Union victories except the engagement at Fairfield, Pennsylvania, which was critical to the escape of Lee's army after Gettysburg.

Mississippi 1862-'63 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
April 29 - May 30, 1862Corinth, MSUnion Army of the Mississippi (Halleck, Grant, Thomas, Buel ~120,000), Confederate Army of the Mississippi (Beauregard, Bragg, Van Dorn ~65,000)Union 1,000+ total, Confederates 1,000+ totalUSA
Sep 1Denmark, MSUnion Army of the Missippi, (Dennis ~1,000), Confederate Army of the West (Armstrong -4,000)Union 108-total (8-killed), Confederates 288 total (11=killed)CSA
Sep 19-20Iuka, MSUnion Army of Mississippi (Rosecrans, ~4,500), Confederate Army of the West (Price, ~3,179)Union 790-total (144-killed), Confederates 1,516-total (263-killed) USA
Oct 3-4Corinth, MSUnion Army of MS (Rosecran s, 12,000), Confederate Army of West TN (Van Dorn, Price ~22,000)Union 2,520-total (355-killed), Confederates 4.233-total (473-killed)USA
Dec 27-29Chickasaw Bayou, MSUnion Army of TN, MS Squadron (Sherman ~30,720), Confederate Dept of MS (Pemberton, SD Lee~13,792)Union 1,776-total (208-killed), Confederates 187-total (57-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered
Apr 29, 1863Grand Gulf, MSUnion Mississippi squadron (Porter 7-ironclads ~10,000), Confederate Army of Vicksburg batteries (Bowen 4,200)Union 80-total (24-killed), Confederates 22-total (3-killed)CSA (Grant changed his plans)
Apr 29Snyder's Bluff, MSUnion XV Corps, Mississippi squadron (Sherman 8-gunboatss ~10,000), Confederate Herbert's Brigade (Herbert 3,000)Union unkwn-total (unkwn-killed), Confederates unkwn-total (unkwn-killed)CSA (Union feint to fix CSA forces)
May 1Port Gibson, MSUnion Army of TN (Grant ~23,000), Confederate Army of Vicksburg (Bowen, ~8,000)Union 861-total (129?-killed), Confederates 787-total (118?-killed)USA
May 12Raymond, MSUnion Army the Tennessee (McPherson 12,000), Confederate Army of Vicksburg (Gregg, 4,000)Union 446-total (67?-killed), Confederates 515-total (77?-killed)USA
May 14Jackson, MSUnion Army the Tennessee (Grant, Sherman, McPherson ~30,000), Confederate Army of Vicksburg (Johnson, Gregg, 5,000?)Union 332-total (48?-killed), Confederates 850-total (127?-killed)USA
May 16Champion Hill, MSUnion Army the Tennessee (Grant, McClernand, Sherman, McPherson 32,000), Confederate Army of Vicksburg (Pemberton 22,000)Union 2,457-total (410-killed), Confederates 3,840-total (381-killed)USA
May 17Big Black River Bridge, MSUnion Army the Tennessee XIII Corps (McClernand, 5,000), Confederate Army of Vicksburg (Bowen Vaugn, 5,000)Union 275-total (41?-killed), Confederates 1,751-total (262?-killed)USA (Union outnumbered)
May 19-22Assault on VicksburgUnion Army of the TN (Grant, Sherman 77,000), Confederate Army of Mississippi (Pemberton, 33,000)Union 4,141-total (659-killed), Confederates 580-total (75-killed)CSA
May 18 - July 4Vicksburg, MSUnion Army the Tennessee (Grant ~77,000), Confederate Army of Mississippi (Pemberton ~33,000)Union 8,435 total (including 766 killed), Confederates ~32,692 total (including 480?-killed)USA

Oklahoma 1861 - '63 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
Nov 19, 1861Round Mountain, OKUnion: Creeks & Seminoles (Opothleyahola ~1,700) & Confederate Cavalry (Cooper, ~1,400)Union 110-total (unkwn-killed), Confederates 10-total (6-killed) CSA (CSA outnumbered)
Dec 9Chusto-Talasah, OKUnion Creek & Seminole allies (Opothleyahola ~2,500) & Confederate Texas cavalry + Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek & Cherokee allies (Cooper ~1,300)Union 500-total (9-killed), Confederates 467-total (30-killed) CSA (CSA outnumbered)
Dec 26Chustenahlah, OKUnion Creek & Seminole allies (Opothleyahola ~1,700) & Confederate Texas Cavalry (McIntoxh, Stand Watie ~1,380)Union 430-total (2,000 later starved), Confederates 49-total (9-killed) CSA (CSA outnumbered)
Oct 22, 1862Old Fort Wayne, OKUnion Army of the Frontier, 1st Division -- Kansas, Indiana, Cherokee regiments (Blunt, 3,500), Confederate Army of Trans-Mississippi, 1st Brigade -- Cherokee, Chawktaw, Chickasaw, Creek (Cooper ~1,500)Union 14-total (2-killed?), Confederates 150-total (15-killed)USA
July 1-2Cabin Creek, OKUnion elements from 9 units, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas Colored and Indian Home Guard (Williams ~2,000?), Confederate Cherokee & Texas Cavalry (Stand Watie ~1,500?)Union 145-total (including ~15-killed), Confederates ~150?-total (including 65-killed)USA

Pennsylvania 1863 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
June 29Oyster Point (Camp Hill), PAUnion Dept of Susquehanna (Couche ~200?), Confederate ANV 2 companies (Ewell, ~200?)Union none, Confederates 2USA (Confederate attack failed)
June 30Hanover, PAUnion Army of Potomac Cavalry Brigade (Kilpactric ~5,000?), Confederate Army of N VA (Stuart ~6,000?)Union 216-total (32?-killed), Confederates 117-total (18? killed) inconclusive (Union held their ground, Stuart bypassed)
June 30Sporting Hill, PAUnion PA & NY Militia (Couch ~2,000?), Confederate Army of N VA Cavalry (Jenkins ~2,000?)Union 11-total (none-killed), Confederates 45-total (16 killed) inconclusive (Union held their ground)
July 2Hunterstown, PAUnion Cavalry (Custer ~2,000?), Confederate Army of N VA Cavalry (Hampton ~1,000?)Union unknown, Confederates unknowninconclusive
July 1-3Gettysburg, PAUnion Army of the Potomac (Mead ~100,000?), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee ~75,000?)Union 23,049*total (including 3,155 killed), Confederates ~25,000 total (including 4,708-killed)USA
July 3Fairfield, PAUnion cavalry (Star ~400), Confederate Cavalry ("Grumble" Jones ~1,050)Union 242-total (including 6-killed), Confederates 34-total (including 8-killed)CSA

Arkansas 1862- '63 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
Feb 17, 1862Little Sugar Creek, ARUnion Army of the Southwest (Curtis ~2,000) & Confederate Army of AR (McCullough ~2,000)Union 33-total (13-killed), Confederates 250-total (23-killed)Inconclusive
Mar 6-8Pea Ridge, AKUnion Army of Southwest (Curtis, Sigel ~10,500)& Confederate Army of the West (Van Dorn, Price, McCulloch, Pike ~16,500)Union 1,384 total (203 killed), Confederate 2,000 total (unknown killed)USA (Union outnumbered)
May 19Whitney's Lane, ARUnion Dept of the SW (Curtis, Steele ~30,000), Confederate Trans-Mississippi (Roane ~1,200)Union 51-total (unkwn-killed), Confederates 10-total (unkwn-killed)USA
June 17St. Charles, ARUnion 4-river boats, 46th Ind Inf (Fitch, Kitty-WIA ~1,000), Confederate AR 29th Inf (Fry-POW)Union 160-total (58-killed), Confederates 40-total (8-killed)USA
July 7Cache River, ARUnion Army of SW (Curtis, Havey ~600, Confederate 12th & 16th Cavalry (Hindman, Rust ~600)Union 63+-total (6-killed), Confederates ~100-total (30-killed)USA
Nov 27Yellville, ARUnion Army of the Frontier, (Wickersham, cavalry from Illinois, Iowa & Wisconsin ), Confederate garrisonUnion none, Confederates 60-total captured & paroledUSA -- salt mining disrupted
Nov 28Yellville, ARUnion Army of the Frontier, (Blunt, Cloud ~5,000), Confederate Trans-Mississippi Dept (Marmaduke, Shelby ~2,000)Union 44-total (8-killed), Confederates 80-total (10-killed)USA
Dec 6Reed's Mountain, ARUnion Army of the Frontier, (Blunt, Basset 3 regiments), Confederate Trans-Mississippi Dept (Shelby's brigade, Monroe +2 regiments)Union 8-total (1-killed), Confederates 37-total (10-killed)Inconclusive -- USA tactical, CSA strategic
Dec 7Prairie Grove, ARUnion Army of the Frontier, (Blunt, Herron ~9,000), Confederate Trans-Mississippi Dept (Hindman ~11,000)Union 1,251-total (175-killed), Confederates 1,317-total (204-killed)USA strategic (Union outnumbered)
Jan 9-10, 1863Arkansas Post, ARUnion Dept of MS, MS Squadron (McClernand, Porter ~ 20,090), Confederate Ft. Hindman garrison (Churchill ~5,000)Union 1,092-total (165?-killed), Confederates 4,931-total (60-killed)USA
May 1-2Chalk Bluff, ARUnion Army the Frontier (Vandever ~10,000), Confederate Army of Trans MS (Marmaduke, ~2,000)Union 120-total (23-killed), Confederates 210-total (30-killed)CSA (Union strategic)
July 4Helena, ARUnion XIII Corp 13th Div (Prentis 4,129), Confederate Dist. of Arkansas (Holmes, Price 7,626)Union 237-total (including 57-killed), Confederates 1,636-total (including 173-killed)USA

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of July 6, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
South Carolina2215
Virginia11331458
North Carolina81110
Florida2002
Louisiana101112
Tennessee117119
Arkansas91212
Georgia1102
Mississippi95014
Texas0101
Alabama1001
Total Engagements in CSA645321138

Engagements in Union states/territories:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
Maryland3014
West Virginia93214
Missouri1413128
New Mexico58013
Kentucky56213
Oklahoma2305
Pennsylvania2136
Total Engagements in Union4134984
Total Engagements to date1058730222

Casualties in four battles, including the surrender at Vicksburg, totaled about 40,000 with 1,570 of those killed in action.

These bring the war's totals to nearly 460,000 casualties, including over 52,000 killed in action.

6 posted on 07/06/2023 1:43:11 PM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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