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THE IMPENDING BATTLE: No Fighting Yesterday Except Skirmishing; Gen. Meade’s Forces Ready to Advance (7/12/1863)
New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 7/12/1863

Posted on 07/12/2023 7:17:58 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Saturday, July 11.

There has been no fighting to-day beyond a few unimportant skirmishes.

Gen. MEADE's force are in a position to advance and give battle when the proper time arrives.

ANTIETAM BRIDGE. WILLIAMSPORT ROAD, Friday, July 10 -- 8 P.M.

Our cavalry to-day forced the rebel advance back to Funks town on the right and beyond Bakersville on the left.

The fighting was not heavy but very handsome.

Our fine to-night crosses the Antietam at a point between the Hagerstown and the Williamsport Road. The enemy is in force and shows fight. He has renewed his supplies of ammunition, and as our forces are well concentrated a battle will probably be begun to-morrow.

Our army is in exceedingly fine condition.

Lieut. PARSONS, of Gen. PLEASANTON's Staff, returned to-night from the perilous work of opening communication with Gen. SMITH. He had to pass through the mountains along the enemy's flank. Lieut. PARSONS reports the country full of deserting rebels as well as of hundreds of our own men, including many offices who have escaped from the enemy after capture. The weather is very hot.

L.L. CROUNSE.

HAGERSTOWN, Md., Saturday, June 11.

The rebels commenced evacuating Hagerstown at six o'clock last evening. Their rear guard left at nine this morning. Their army was divided into three columns, each column marching in the direction of the Upper Potomac, taking three different roads. Not a rebel, wounded or well, was left behind. The army had with it its entire supply and ammunition train.

The rebels had not built any earthworks in the immediate vicinity of Hagerstown. They admitted they were short of ammunition, and had a scarcity of provisions. The citizens believe the enemy has retreated to Williamsport, for the purpose of effecting a crossing.

(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/4167025/posts

1 posted on 07/12/2023 7:17:58 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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2 posted on 07/12/2023 7:18:54 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 Impending Battle: No Fighting Yesterday Excerpt Skirmishing – 2-4
The Late Battle-Field: Condition of the Wounded – 4-5
The Fight at Helena, Ark. – 5
From Port Hudson: Life Inside the Fortifications – 5-6
Movements of John Morgan: Particulars of the Capture of the Steamers J.T. McCoombs and Alice Dean – 6-7
The Fall of Vicksburgh: Particulars of the Surrender from Our Own Correspondent – 7-8
Operations on the Mississippi: Admiral Farragut’s Report to the Navy Department – 8-9
Our Red River Correspondence: An Exodus of Contrabands – 9
The Readmission of Louisiana: Important Letter from President Lincoln – 9
Editorial: Gen. Meade’s Army – 9-10
Editorial: The Confederacy and Slavery – 10
Editorial: Use of Balloons in War – 10-11
Editorial: The Rebel Conduct Toward Maryland – 11
Editorial: What Intervention Means – 11
General News – 11
A Woman Killed by Her Husband – 11
Fernando Wood Drafted – 11


3 posted on 07/12/2023 7:19:41 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

Optimism, but almost two more years of war.


4 posted on 07/12/2023 8:10:39 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
Three recent battles, one each in Maryland (CSA victory), South Carolina (CSA victory) and Mississippi (USA vistory):

At Funkstown, Maryland, JEB Stuart continued to rearguard for RE Lee's retreating Army of NVA.

Maryland 1861-'63 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
April 19, 1861Baltimore Riots, MDMA 6th, PA 26th vs secessionist crowd4 Union soldiers killed, 12 civilians killed, hundreds woundedUSA
Jan 5-6, 1862Hancock, MDUnion PA infantry (Lander ~2,000) & Confederate Stonewall Brigade (Jackson ~2,800)~25 totalInconclusive
Sep 14South Mountain, MDUnion Army of the Potomac (McClellan, Burnside ~28,000), Confederate Army of N VA (RE Lee, AP Hill ~18,000)Union 2,325-total (443-killed), Confederates 2,685-total (325-killed) USA (fort held)
Sep 17Antietam/Sharpsburg, MDUnion Army of the Potomac (McClellan, ~87,000), Confederate Army of N VA (RE Lee, ~38,000)Union 12,140-total (2,108-killed), Confederates 7,752-total (1,018-killed) USA
July 6, 1863Williamsport, MDUnion Army of the Potomac (Mead ~10,000?), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee ~10,000?)Union 865-total (including 135?-killed), Confederates 860-total (including 130?-killed)Inconclusive
July 8Boonsboro, MDUnion Army of the Potomac Cavalry (Pleasanton ~5,000?), Confederate Army of N VA (JEB Stuart ~5,000?)Union 50?-total (including 8?-killed), Confederates 50-total (including 8?-killed)Inconclusive
July 10Funkstown, MDUnion Army of the Potomac Cavalry (Buford ~4,000), Confederate Army of N. VA Cavalry (JEB Stuart ~4,000)Union 314?-total (including 48?-killed), Confederates 157?-total (including 23?-killed)CSA

In South Carolina, the Union assault on Confederate Fort Wagner failed:

South Carolina 1861 - '63 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
April 12-14, 1861Fort Sumter, SCConfederate artillery (Beauregard), Union garrison (Anderson)NoneCSA
April 15Evacuation of Fort Sumter, SCUnion garrisonTwo Union soldiers killed, four wounded by accidental explosionN.A.
Nov 3-7Port Royal, SCUnion: Blockading Squadron (DuPont, TW Sherman -12,653 77 vessels) & Confederate SC Dept (RE Lee, Frazier -3,077 4 gunboats)Union 31-total (8-killed), Confederates 63-total (11-killed) USA
June 16, 1862Secessionville, Charleston, SCUnion Dept of the South (Benham ~6,000), Confederate SC 2nd District (Evans ~2,000)Union 685-total (100?-killed), Confederates 204-total (30?-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
June 21Simon's Bluff, SCUnion 2-river boats, 55th PA Inf (Rhind ~500), Confederate SC 16th Inf (McCullough ~500)no casualties reportedUSA
Apr 7, 18631st Charleston Harbor, SCUnion S Atlantic Blockaid Squadron (DuPont 7-ships), Confederate 1st Mil District of SC (Beauregard 2-ships 385 land arty)Union 22-total (1-killed, 1 ship sunk), Confederates 13-total (unkwn-killed)CSA
July 10-111st Fort Wagner, SCUnion X Corps, 2nd Div (Gillmore ~4,000), Confederate Fort Wagner garisson (PGT Beauregard 1,770)Union 339-total (including 12-killed), Confederates 12-total (including 2-killed)CSA

In Mississippi, Union Gen. WT Sherman's assault of JE Johnson's "Army of Relief" at Jackson reached its peak on July 12.

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
July 12 (peak)Jackson, MSUnion Army of the Tennessee (WT Sherman 40,000), Confederate Army of Mississippi Relief (JE Johnson 30,000)Union 1,122-total (including 129-killed), Confederates 600-total (including 71-killed)USA

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of July 12, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
South Carolina2117
Virginia11331458
North Carolina81110
Florida2002
Louisiana101112
Tennessee117119
Arkansas91212
Georgia1102
Mississippi105015
Texas0101
Alabama1001
Total Engagements in CSA655421140

Engagements in Union states/territories:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
Maryland3137
West Virginia93214
Missouri1413128
New Mexico58013
Kentucky56213
Oklahoma2305
Pennsylvania2136
Total Engagements in Union41361188
Total Engagements to date1069032228

Total casualties for the three battles were about 2,600, including around 285 killed in action.

These bring the war's totals to date (by my count) to over 464,000 casualties, including over 52,000 killed in action.

5 posted on 07/12/2023 8:37:05 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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