Thursday, 6 April 1865
The last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and Union Army of the Potomac occurred at Sayler’s Creek, near the Farmville and High Bridge crossings of the Appomattox River. Crossing the stream was imperative for safety and the army attempted to keep together, which was impossible. In the bottom land of Sayler’s Creek, the retreating column split and the Federals moved in forcing a gap in the Confederate line. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant General James Longstreet and Major General William Mahone continued on while Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell and Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson followed behind the gap. The wagons were ordered on a detour to cross the river. Anderson and Ewell were quickly pressed back, but mounted a counter-charge which failed in the face of strong artillery fire. Federal flanks closed in towards the middle and Ewell was forced to surrender. Some 8,000 Confederates surrendered while Federals suffered approximately 1,180 sustained casualties. It is estimated that the Confederates lost about a third of the men that departed Amelia Court House that morning. As Lee witnessed the engagement, he exclaimed, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?” It was clear that the numbers of the once proud Army of Northern Virginia were diminishing rapidly.
Acting Lieutenant John Rogers, commanding both the USS Carondelet and Eastport, Mississippi, station, wrote Brigadier General Edward Hatcher about joint operations in the area and expressed a desire to cooperate to the extent of his ability: "...if you are in danger of being attacked by the Enemy...send timely notice to us, that everything connected with the Army and Navy may work harmoniously together." From the early moments of the War, such as the Battle of Belmont, 7 November 1861, to the last days of conflict, the usual close coordination of the Army and Navy enabled the Union to strike quickly and effectively in the West--first against Confederate positions and later against Confederate threats.
Lieutenant Commander Francis M. Ramsay indicated the extent of the Confederate underwater defenses of the James River as he reported to Rear Admiral David D. Porter on an expedition aimed at clearing out the torpedoes: "All galvanic batteries were carried off or destroyed. At Chaffin's Bluff there was a torpedo containing 1,700 pounds of powder. At Battery Semmes there were two, containing 850 pounds each, and at Howlett's one containing 1,400 pounds. I cut the wires of them all close down, so that they are now perfectly harmless."
Confederate Major General John Austin Wharton is mortally wounded, shot by Colonel George W. Baylor, of the Second Confederate Texas Cavalry, after arguing over general military affairs in General Wharton's Houston, Texas, hotel room.
More skirmishing erupts at King's Store, and near Lanier's Mill, on Sipsey Creek, Alabama, with Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Actions take place at Natural Bridge, Florida.
Skirmishes commence at Flat Creek, near Amelia Springs, and near High Bridge, Virginia, in the Appomattox Campaign.
Confederate Brigadier General James Dearing is mortally wounded during the action at High Bridge from a pistol duel with Union Brevetted Brigadier General Theodore Read who died.
Skirmishing breaks out at Rice's Station, Virginia, as the other Confederate column under Lieutenant General James Longstreet encounters the Federals under Major General Edward O.C. Ord in the Appomattox Campaign.
Actions continue at Wytheville, Virginia, with Major General George Stoneman's Union forces.
An engagement occurs near Charlestown, West Virginia, where Confederate Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his Virginia Partisan Rangers surprise the camp of the Union Loudoun County Rangers, capturing a number of men and nearly all of their horses. This is to be Mosby's final escapade against the Federal military forces.
Yesterday, President Abraham Lincoln conferred with John A. Campbell again and issued a statement about restoring Virginia to the Union. At 6 p.m., Lincoln received news that Secretary of State William H. Seward had been critically injured in a carriage accident in Washington that afternoon.
This post was edited on 4/6 6:03 AM by BadLeroyDawg
The last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and Union Army of the Potomac occurred at Sayler’s Creek, near the Farmville and High Bridge crossings of the Appomattox River. Crossing the stream was imperative for safety and the army attempted to keep together, which was impossible. In the bottom land of Sayler’s Creek, the retreating column split and the Federals moved in forcing a gap in the Confederate line. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant General James Longstreet and Major General William Mahone continued on while Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell and Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson followed behind the gap. The wagons were ordered on a detour to cross the river. Anderson and Ewell were quickly pressed back, but mounted a counter-charge which failed in the face of strong artillery fire. Federal flanks closed in towards the middle and Ewell was forced to surrender. Some 8,000 Confederates surrendered while Federals suffered approximately 1,180 sustained casualties. It is estimated that the Confederates lost about a third of the men that departed Amelia Court House that morning. As Lee witnessed the engagement, he exclaimed, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?” It was clear that the numbers of the once proud Army of Northern Virginia were diminishing rapidly.
Acting Lieutenant John Rogers, commanding both the USS Carondelet and Eastport, Mississippi, station, wrote Brigadier General Edward Hatcher about joint operations in the area and expressed a desire to cooperate to the extent of his ability: "...if you are in danger of being attacked by the Enemy...send timely notice to us, that everything connected with the Army and Navy may work harmoniously together." From the early moments of the War, such as the Battle of Belmont, 7 November 1861, to the last days of conflict, the usual close coordination of the Army and Navy enabled the Union to strike quickly and effectively in the West--first against Confederate positions and later against Confederate threats.
Lieutenant Commander Francis M. Ramsay indicated the extent of the Confederate underwater defenses of the James River as he reported to Rear Admiral David D. Porter on an expedition aimed at clearing out the torpedoes: "All galvanic batteries were carried off or destroyed. At Chaffin's Bluff there was a torpedo containing 1,700 pounds of powder. At Battery Semmes there were two, containing 850 pounds each, and at Howlett's one containing 1,400 pounds. I cut the wires of them all close down, so that they are now perfectly harmless."
Confederate Major General John Austin Wharton is mortally wounded, shot by Colonel George W. Baylor, of the Second Confederate Texas Cavalry, after arguing over general military affairs in General Wharton's Houston, Texas, hotel room.
More skirmishing erupts at King's Store, and near Lanier's Mill, on Sipsey Creek, Alabama, with Brigadier General James H. Wilson and Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Actions take place at Natural Bridge, Florida.
Skirmishes commence at Flat Creek, near Amelia Springs, and near High Bridge, Virginia, in the Appomattox Campaign.
Confederate Brigadier General James Dearing is mortally wounded during the action at High Bridge from a pistol duel with Union Brevetted Brigadier General Theodore Read who died.
Skirmishing breaks out at Rice's Station, Virginia, as the other Confederate column under Lieutenant General James Longstreet encounters the Federals under Major General Edward O.C. Ord in the Appomattox Campaign.
Actions continue at Wytheville, Virginia, with Major General George Stoneman's Union forces.
An engagement occurs near Charlestown, West Virginia, where Confederate Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his Virginia Partisan Rangers surprise the camp of the Union Loudoun County Rangers, capturing a number of men and nearly all of their horses. This is to be Mosby's final escapade against the Federal military forces.
Yesterday, President Abraham Lincoln conferred with John A. Campbell again and issued a statement about restoring Virginia to the Union. At 6 p.m., Lincoln received news that Secretary of State William H. Seward had been critically injured in a carriage accident in Washington that afternoon.
This post was edited on 4/6 6:03 AM by BadLeroyDawg
