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1864 Cavalry Engagement at Moorefield, West Virginia. Averell's Union cavalry smashed a Confederate force twice his size. This was the last action of Early's Raid Campaign. Early lost most of his cavalry in this battle which was to greatly hamper Confederate efforts in the coming Valley Campaign.
“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
A photo of my battlefield touring buddy and yours truly at Cedar Mountain Battlefield last May
1864 An explosion at City Point, Virginia is caused by a Confederate time bomb placed aboard a Union ammunition ship. 43 killed 126 wounded and an unknown number of freed blacks and other workers are vaporized. Through it all Grant maintained his composure. Within a week the Union has rebuilt all facilities and operations are back to normal. Military History Online
1861 Battle of Wilson's Creek/Oak Hill, MO. Based on the number of combatants it would be a bloodier fight compared to the fight at First Manassas/Bull Run fought 3 weeks earlier.
August 21, 1862 Braxton Bragg crosses the Tennessee River at Chattanooga to start his Invasion of Kentucky
August 21, 1863 The Confederate Navy attempts to attack the USS New Ironsides with a torpedo from the four-man vessel the CSS David. The attack is ineffective
August 21, 1863 Quantrill's Raiders, now numbering more 400, attack Lawrence, Kansas, killing every male they could find who was old enough to carry a gun (a total of 183 men). One they missed was U. S. Senator James H. Lane, who hid in a cornfield in his nightshirt. Quantrill's men burned the town following the raid
August 21, 1864 Forrest liberates Memphis Almost 2,000 Confederates occupied Memphis for a few hours during the day, nearly capturing Major Generals Stephen Hurlbut and C. C. Washburn. The raid forced troops operating in the area to withdraw to Memphis, giving Forrest free reign to raid William Tecumseh Sherman's supply lines
“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones
by John Beauchamp Jones
AUGUST 21ST, FRIDAY.—This is a day appointed by the President for humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Yet the Marylanders in possession of the passport office report the following in the Dispatch of this date:
“Passports.—The passport office was besieged yesterday and last night by large crowds of persons soliciting permission to leave the city, in order that some relaxation might be had from its busy scenes. Among those who obtained them were His Excellency Jefferson Davis and his Honor Joseph Mayo, both designing to pay a short visit to the neighboring County of Chesterfield.”
We fast, certainly—and feel greatly humiliated at the loss of New Orleans and Vicksburg—and we pray, daily.
Yesterday Fort Sumter suffered much from the enemy’s batteries, and much apprehension is felt for its fate.
Gen. Lee, it is said, is not permitted to follow Meade, who is retrograding, being weakened by detachments. A few weeks hence the fall campaign will open in Virginia, when the very earth may tremble again with the thunders of war, and the rivulets may again spout human blood.
There were no letters to-day, for the reason that last night the clerks in the post-office resigned, their salaries not being sufficient to support them. I hope a force will be detailed, to-morrow, to distribute the letters.
I met Prof. A. T. Bledsoe to-day as he was ambling toward the passport office. He said he was just about to start for London, where he intended publishing his book—on slavery, I believe. He has a free passage on one of the government steamers, to sail from Wilmington. He asked me if I fasted to-day; I answered yes, as usual! He then bid me good-by, and at parting I told him I hoped he would not find us all hanged when he returned. I think it probable he has a mission from the President, as well as his book to publish.
And yes civil liberties were not greatly enjoyed in the Confederacy. It was intended to prevent intelligence gathering and also to restrict movements of free blacks.
“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
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