Why Suffolk?

gary · #1 08-22-2003, 11:56 AM

Why did the 9th Corp occupy Suffolk, VA back in '63?

gary · #2 09-03-2003, 06:11 PM

Checked it out in the O.R. Turns out Suffolk was occupied to create a "buffer" for the captured Norfolk Navy Yard and to give access into the interior. Suffolk was also a railroad junction and controlled the mouth of a river.

creed · #3 09-07-2003, 05:42 PM

I live in Virginia Beach and am interested in this campaign. It is talked about, briefly, in the two books I have - Gen. James Longstreet: the Confederacy's most controversial general and "From Mannassas to Appomattox" by Longstreet himself. Are there any other books that deal with this campaign that I may be able to get my hands on?

gary · #4 09-07-2003, 10:30 PM

Lee mentions Suffolk in two letters. If you have the Wartime Letters of Robert E. Lee, check out his letter to Longstreet on March 21, 1863 (p415-416) and March 27, 1863 (p 417-418). To Lee, the Federals weren't going to make any major incursions and Longstreet was there just to watch them.

Longstreet's book seems very apologetic in that he says it was merely to get supplies. While supplies were important to Lee, I personally believe Longstreet was creating an excuse for his half-hearted and failed siege.

gary · #5 09-18-2003, 10:04 PM

Just to be fair to Old Pete, Alexander in his book Fighting for the Confederacy asserts that it was both to keep an eye on the Federals down there and to gather supplies.

tamaroa · #6 09-22-2003, 11:45 AM

If memory serves, please read Personal Reminiscences of the War of 1861-5 by Capt. William H. Morgan 11th Virginia Infantry, Company C. I believe there is a detailed account of Suffolk in that book. I love that book. Morgan was later captured and became one of the immortal 600.

Bill

(Message edited by Tamaroa on September 22, 2003)