Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON: Scattered Condition of the Rebel Forces Under Lee; AN IMPORTANT EXPEDITION (9/2/1863)
New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 9/2/1863

Posted on 09/07/2023 11:59:12 PM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The best attainable information locales Gen. LEE n Richmond, and his army scattered from the line of the Blue Ridge on the west to Port Royal, Rappahannock: River on the east, and south as far as the line of the Virginia Central Railroad. His troops are so widely scattered, probably, to facilitate subsisting. Gen. EWELL has the left; A.P. HILL the centre, lying on the railroad from Culpepper to Orange Court-house; while LONGSTREET holds the extreme right, occupying the line of the Richmond and Fredericksburgh Railroad. COOK's brigade of North Carolina troops occupies Fredericksburgh. JONES' brigade of cavalry is said to have gone back to the Shenandoah Valley, and ROBINSON to Richmond. STUART is still in command, but growing more and more unpopular. It is expected he will be relieved by WADE HAMPTON.

The captured gunboats Reliance and Satellite are at Port Royal, where the rebels have two boats capable of transporting 260 men each per trip. Measures have been taken to recapture the gunboats and drive the rebels from Port Conway. Success is almost certain.

GUERRILLAS.

The rebel guerrillas continue in our rear. One of KILPATRICK's body guard having been killed, permission was given the guard to hunt guerrillas. They have been at it three days with great success.

PROMOTION.

Capt. TIDBALL, of Battery A, Second United States artillery, is promoted to the Colonelcy of the Fourth New-York heavy artillery, in this department.

REBEL DESERTERS.

Rebel deserters continue to come in squads, and are ready to take the oath of allegiance; but of those who have done so, and have been sent as substitutes to our army, nine, after stealing horses and committing other depredations, managed to rejoin their old rebel comrades the other day.

(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/4179367/posts

1 posted on 09/07/2023 11:59:12 PM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson
1

0902-nytimesa

2

0902-nytimesb

3

0902-nytimesc

4

0902-nytimesd

2 posted on 09/08/2023 12:00:31 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chajin; henkster; CougarGA7; BroJoeK; central_va; Larry Lucido; wagglebee; Colonel_Flagg; Amagi; ...

News from Washington: Scattered Condition of the Rebel Forces Under Lee – 2
Operations on the Peninsula: The Expedition to Bottom’s Bridge – 2
Army of the Potomac: Execution of Deserters – 2-3
The Rebels in Arkansas: Kirby Smith and Price Reported at Little Rock, with 40,000 Men – 3
Editorial: Maximilian’s Acceptance of the Mexican Crown – 3-4
Editorial: Puzzles for the Times – 4
A New Element for West Point – 4
Location of the Main Rebel Army – 4
The President and Gen. Grant: To Whom Belongs the Credit of the Vicksburgh Campaign – 4


3 posted on 09/08/2023 12:01:29 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson
Posting unusually early? Maybe from a different location than usual?
Maybe somewhere much further east?
4 posted on 09/08/2023 12:10:32 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BroJoeK

Athens.


5 posted on 09/08/2023 12:27:26 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson

The wrong side ‘won’in 1865


6 posted on 09/08/2023 1:59:46 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson
"Athens"

Wow! I love Athens, some of my most cherished memories from there. I sure hope you're well enough to enjoy it.

7 posted on 09/08/2023 2:10:35 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson
After a long relatively quiet period, we now have five battles to report -- two long running in Charleston, SC, plus one each in Texas, western Arkansas and eastern Tennessee.
Only the battle in Arkansas was a clear Union victory and Texas & Tennessee saw Union surrenders.

In Charleston Harbor, Confederates defeated Union assaults on Fort Sumter and fought to inconclusive results elsewhere.

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
July 16Gimball's Landing, SCUnion X Corps, Dept of the South, Stone River Flotilla (Terry, Balch ~3,800), Confederate 1st Mil Dist, SC (Hagood ~3.000)Union 45-total (including 14-killed), Confederates 18-total (including 3-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered)
July 182nd Fort Wagner, SCUnion X Corps, Dept of the South (Gillmore ~5,000), Confederate Dept of SC, GA & FL (Beauregard ~1,800)Union 1,515-total (including 246-killed), Confederates 174-total (including 36-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered -- Union assaulted fortified positions)
August 17-Sept 82nd Fort Sumter, SCUnion Dept of the South (Gillmore 413), Confederate garrison (Beauregard 320)none or unknown CSA
Sept 5-82nd Charleston Harbor, SCUnion Dept of the South, South Atlantic Blocking Squadron (Gillmore, Dalhgren ~40,000?), Confederate garrison (Beauregard ~20,000?)Union 368-total (including ~54-killed), Confederates 655-total (including ~110-killed)Inconclusive

In Texas, hugely outnumbered Confederates defeated and forced surrender of the invading Union forces at Sabine Pass.

Texas 1863 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
Jan 1, 1863Galveston, TXUnion W. Blockade Squadron (Burrell, Renshaw 6-gunboats), Confederate Dept of TX, NM & Az (Magruder, Smith 2-gunboats)Union 420-total (6?-killed), Confederates 143-total (26-killed)CSA
Sept 82nd Sabine Pass, TXUnion West Gulf Blocking Squadron (Franklin, Crocker 5,000 Infantry, 22-tramsports & gunboats), Confederate garrison (Dowling, Smith 50 Infantry, 6 artillery pieces)Union 376-total (including ~20-killed), Confederates noneCSA (Union surrendered, war's most lopsided Confederate victory)

In western Arkansas, Union cavalry outnumbered and defeated Confederate cavalry at Devil's Backbone.

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
Sept 1Devil's Backbone, ARUnion Cavalry from Kansas, Missouri & Indiana (Cloud 1,500), Confederate Arkansas cavlary (Cabell 1,250)Union 16 total (including 3-killed), Confederates 65 total (including 10-killed) USA

In eastern Tennessee, outnumbered Union forces ran out of ammunition and surrendered to Confederates at Telford Station.

Tennessee 1862- '63 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
Feb 6Fort Henry, TNUnion Army of TN + West Flotilla (Grant, Foote ~15,000) & Confederate Army of Cent KY (Tilghman ~3,200)Union 40-total, Confederates 79-total (15 killed)USA
Feb 14-16Fort Donelson, TNUnion Army of the Tennessee + Mississippi River Squadron (Grant, Foote 24,531) & Confederate Army of Central KY + garrison (Floyd, Pillow, Buchner 16,171)Union 2,691-total (507-killed), Confederates 13,846-total (327-killed)USA
April 6-7Shiloh, TNUnion Army of West Tennessee (Grant, Buell ~63,000) & Confederate Army of Mississippi (AS Johnson, Beauregard ~40,335)Union 13,047-total (1,754-killed), Confederate 10,699-total (1,728-killed)USA
April 14Fort Pillowi, TNUnion mortor boats bombard Fort PillownoneCSA
May 10Plum Run Bend, TNUnion MS River Squadron (7-river ironclads), Confederate River Defense Fleet (9-wooden steamboats)none recordedCSA
June 6Memphis, TNUnion MS Flotilla (Davis, Ellet+), Confederate River Defense Fleet (Montgomery, Thompson)Union 1- total, Confederates 250-total (~35-killed)USA
June 7-8Chattanooga, TNUnion Army of OH (Negley 1 division), Confederate Army of KY (EK Smith)Union 23-total, Confederates 65-totalUSA
July 13Murfreesboro, TNUnion hospital & PA cavalry (Crittended ~900, Confederate Cavalry (Forrest ~1,400)Union 890-total (0-killed), Confederates ~150-total (0-killed)CSA
Aug 30Bolivar, TNUnion Army of the MS, (Leggett ~1,000), Confederate Army of the West (Armstrong -1,000)Union unknown, Confederates unknownInconclusive
Oct 5Hatchie's Bridge, TNUnion Army of MS (Ord, Hurlbut, 12,000), Confederate Army of West TN (Van Dorn, Price ~20,000)Union 500-total (75?-killed), Confederates 400-total (60?-killed)USA
Dec 7Hartville, TNUnion XIV Corps (Moore ~2,400), Confederate Cavalry (John Hunt Morgan ~1,300)Union 2,096-total (unknwn-killed), Confederates 139-total (unkwn-killed)CSA (CSA outnumbered, Union surrender)
Dec 30Parker's Cross Roads, TNUnion Army of TN (Sullivan ~3,000), Confederate Army of TN (Nathan Bedford Forrest~1,600)Union 237-total (31-killed?), Confederates 500-total (75?-killed)CSA? (CSA outnumbered)
Dec 31-Jan 2, 1863Murfreesboro / Stones River, TNUnion Army of the Cumberland (Rosecrans ~43,400), Confederate Army of TN (Bragg ~35,000)Union 13,906-total (1,677-killed?), Confederates 11,739-total (1,294-killed)USA
Feb 3Dover, TNUnion garrison (Connor ~800), Confederate Army of TN (Wheeler ~2,500)Union 126-total (19?-killed), Confederates 670-total (100?-killed)USA(Union outnumbered)
Mar 4-5Thompson's Station, TNUnion Dept of Cuimberland (Coburn ~2,000), Confederate Cavalry Corps (Van Dorn ~4,000)Union 1,906-total (33-killed), Confederates ~300-total (25?-killed)CSA (Union surrendered)
Mar 20Vaught's Hill, TNUnion XIV Corps Brigade (Hall ~1,300), Confederate JH Morgan Cavalry (Morgan ~3,500)Union 62-total (9-killed?), Confederates 373-total (55-killed?)USA (USA outnumbered)
Mar 25Brentwood, TNUnion WI, IN, MI Inf (Bloodgood ~400), Confederate NB Forrest Cavalry (Forrest ~3,000?)Union 300-total (unkn-killed), Confederates 6-total (0-killed?)CSA
Apr 10Franklin, TNUnion Army of KY 3-divisions (Granger 10,000?), Confederate 1st Cavalry of TN, 2 Brigades (VAn Dorn 5,000?)Union 100-total (15?-killed), Confederates 137-total (21?-killed)USA
June 24-6Hoover's Gap, TNUnion XIV Corps Cavalry "Lightning Brigade" (Wilder ~2,000?), Confederate Cavalry Brigade ( Bate ~2,000?)Union 61-total (10?-killed), Confederates 146-total (19-killed)USA
August 212nd Chattanooga, TNUnion Army of the Cumberland XIV Corps (Rosencrans, Wilder's "Lightening" Brigade ~2,600), Confederate Army of Tennessee (Bragg , DH Hill's Corps ~30,000?)none or unknown USA (Bragg fixed in place)
Sept 8Telford Station, East TNUnion 100th Ohio (Hayes ~400), Confederate Jackson's Brigade (A.E. Jackson ~4,000)Union 300-total (including ~100-killed or died later), Confederates 30-total (including ~5 killed)CSA (Union surrendered)

These bring the war's total engagements to 242 with Union victories outnumbering Confederate victories by only 15% and battles in the Confederacy outnumbering those in the Union by about 2/3.

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of September 8, 1863:
Engagements in Confederate states:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
South Carolina27211
Virginia11331559
North Carolina81110
Florida2002
Louisiana102113
Tennessee128121
Arkansas101213
Georgia1102
Mississippi115016
Texas0202
Alabama1001
Total Engagements in CSA686023151

Engagements in Union states/territories:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
Maryland3137
West Virginia93214
Missouri1413128
New Mexico58013
Kentucky56213
Oklahoma3306
Pennsylvania2136
Indiana0101
Ohio2002
Total Engagements in Union44361191
Total Engagements to date1129534242

Casualties for August & September to date totaled over 1,700 including over 200 killed in action.
These bring the war's totals to over 481,000 total casualties, including over 54,000 killed in action.

8 posted on 09/08/2023 3:02:21 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LeoWindhorse

Don’t worry.
Its just half-time.


9 posted on 09/08/2023 4:25:31 AM PDT by GranTorino (Bloody Lips Save Ships.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson

Glad you are back. Started worrying about you.
Hope your wife is better.


10 posted on 09/08/2023 4:27:41 AM PDT by GranTorino (Bloody Lips Save Ships.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BroJoeK
I sure hope you're well enough to enjoy it.

After a fashion. We feel much better (except I can't smell or taste anything) but we need to lay low until we can test negative a time or two. If the apartment our kind hostess provided for us had wifi it would be almost ideal. As it is I have to go down to the White Bear cafe on [Indecipherable] Street for a presumably delicious omelet and a few cappecinos to do my posting. We saw a few things in Athens before we got sick but the cruise to the islands was pretty much a bust. The highlight of the trip was supposed to be a week on Corfu, but that failed to launch.

11 posted on 09/09/2023 1:47:54 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GranTorino

Thank you. We are getting there.


12 posted on 09/09/2023 1:48:50 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson