05/07, May 7th In Civil War History

Jimklag

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This date in Civil War history
Compiled by Mitchell Werksman and Jim Klag

May 7, 1861 - With the general population of Tennessee split over secession, a riot breaks out in Knoxville, which results in many injuries and one fatality.

May 7, 1861 - The routes between Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Washington, DC, via Baltimore, are re-established by Federal authorities.

May 7, 1862 - Skirmish at Croghan's Ranch, CA.

May 7, 1862 - Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg, CSA, assumes the command of the Confederate Army of the Mississippi.

May 7, 1862 - Skirmish at Horse Creek, MO.

May 7, 1862 - Federal expedition from Roanoke Island toward Gatesville, NC, by Col. Rush C. Hawkins, USA. (May 7-8)

May 7, 1862 - Skirmish at Purdy, TN.

May 7, 1862 - Federal reconnaissance to Mulberry Point, James River, VA, by Maj. Robert Morris, USA, 6th PA Cav. (May 7-8)

May 7, 1862 - Action at Somerville Heights, VA, on the south fork of the Shenandoah River, with Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson, CSA.

May 7, 1862 - Engagement at West Point, Barhamsville, or Eltham's Landing, VA. Maj. Gen. Gustavus Woodson Smith, CSA, retreating from Williamsburg, VA, and Brig. Gen. William B. Franklin, USA, attacking the Confederate supply train.

May 7, 1862 - Skirmish at and near Wardensville, WV, Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, USA, searching for guerrillas who murdered a party of officers, zouaves, and convalescent soldiers on their way from Winchester to Moorefield.

May 7, 1863 - Major General Earl van Dorn [CS] is killed by a jealous husband.

May 7, 1863 - Maj. Gen. Amiel Weeks Whipple, USA, dies from his stomach wound received at Chancellorsville, VA, on May 4, dying in a Washington, DC, hospital.

May 7, 1863 - Skirmish at Cajoude Arivaypo, in the San Andres Mountains, the New Mexico Territory, with Apache Indians.

May 3, 1863 - Maj. Gen. John Stoneman's command re-crosses Raccoon Ford, VA, ending his Cavalry raid in Virginia.

May 3, 1863 - West Point, VA, is occupied by the Union forces.

May 7, 1863 - Affair at Cairo Station, WV, with Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones, CSA.

May 7, 1863 - Affair at Harrisville (Ritchie Court-House), WV, with Brig. Gen. William E. Jones, CSA.

May 7, 1863 - President Abraham Lincoln and Maj. Gen. Henry W Halleck, USA, return to Washington, DC, after conferring with Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, USA.

May 7, 1864 - Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
Oliver Edwards, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
August Valentine Kautz, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.

May 7, 1864 - Skirmishes near Florence (May 7), and at Decatur (May 8), AL, as Brig. Gen. John D. Stevenson's, USA, were attacked by the Rebels and forced to withdraw toward Lawrenceburg.

May 7, 1864 - Skirmish near Nickajack Gap, GA.

May 7, 1864 - Skirmish at Varnell's Station, GA.

May 7, 1864 - Skirmish at Bayou Boeuf, LA, the Red River (LA) Campaign.

May 7, 1864 - The Military Division of West Mississippi is constituted, under the command of Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, USA.

May 7, 1864 - The US gun-boat, Shawsheen, is captured at Turkey Island, the James River, VA, during Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's Union operations on the south side of the James River, VA.

May 7, 1864 - Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson, CSA, is assigned the command of the 1st Confederate Army Corps, the Army of Northern Virginia, after Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet, CSA, is seriously wounded.

May 7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness - Grant disengages and moves to the southeast, intending to leave the Wilderness to interpose his army between Lee and Richmond, leading to the bloody battle of Spotsylvania.

May 7, 1864 - May 11, 1864 - Battle of Rocky Face Ridge (Dalton) Battle of Dug Gap, Georgia.

May 7, 1864 - Army of the James briefly seizes the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad before retiring.

May 7, 1865 - Col. Simon Jones, USA, 93rd US Colored Troops, assumes the command of the Carrollton District, LA.

May 7, 1865 - Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's, USA, army continues Marching northward to Washington, DC, for the final Grand Review of his army.
 
On May 7, 1864, at Todd's Tavern, Phil Sheridan's cavalry failed to close off Lee's route to Spotsylvania, allowing Lee to take up positions and dig in before Grant could attack. Then and now photos of Todd's Tavern.
Todd's_Tavern.336.jpg

todds2.jpg

toddsmarker.jpg
 
Today marks the 159th Anniversary of the Battle of Eltham's Landing/West Point Virginia. This battle is known to have an inconclusive result. The Confederate Commanders were Major General Gustavus W. Smith and Brig. General William H.C. Whiting. The Confederate Army force consisted of 11,000 and had 48 losses and casualties. The Union Army Commander was Brig. General William B. Franklin with a force of 11,300 and losses and casualties of 194.
 
Today marks the start of the 157th Anniversary of the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge Georgia. This battle will be fought May 7th - May 13th. The result will be a Union Victory. The Union Army Commander was Major General William T. Sherman Union Army Commander of the Military Division of the Mississippi. Sherman will have losses and casualties of 837. The Confederate Army Commander was General Joseph E. Johnston commanding The Confederate Army of Tennessee. The Confederacy will have losses and casualties of 600.

Rocky Face Ridge.jpg
 
Today Marks the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Gloucester Point Virginia. The battle result was inconclusive. The Confederate Command consisted of Colonel William B. Taliaferro, Lt. John Thompson Brown and Virginia Navy Captain William C. Whittle the confederate force will consist of the Battery Garrison with 60 - 70. No Casualties or losses on the Confederate side. On the Union side the commanders will be Union Navy Flag officer Garrett J. Pendergast and Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge Jr. of the USS Yankee (1 gun boat).
 
The battle is inconclusive on a tactical level, but I think it can be viewed as an operational victory for the Union in some respects. The movement to Eltham's Landing meant that the Confederates couldn't defend the lower Peninsula (as more and more Federal troops were arriving and would be able to strike inland and cut them off once sufficiently strengthened) and so JEJ gave up the lower Peninsula.
 
Battle of Rocky Face Ridge:
Today marks the start of the seven day 158th​ anniversary of the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge. The battle was fought May 7th​ thru May 13th​, 1864. Location of the battle was Whitfield County, Georgia.



Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:



Union Army Commander:
Major General William T. Sherman (Ohio) 1820 – 1891

Union Army casualties and losses: 837



Confederate Army Commander:
General Joseph E. Johnston (Virginia) 1807 – 1891

Confederate Army casualties and losses: around 600
 
Battle of Eltham's Landing:
Today marks the 160th​ anniversary of the Battle of Eltham's Landing. The battle is also called the Battle of Barhamsville and Battle of West Point. The battle was fought on May 7th​, 1862. Location of the battle was New Kent County, Virginia.


Result of Battle:
Inconclusive



Confederate Army Commanders:

Brig. General Gustavus W. Smith (Kentucky) 1821 – 1896
Brig. General William H. C. Whiting (Mississippi) 1824 – 1865


Confederate Army Strength:
- (around 11,000)

Confederate Army casualties and losses: - (48)



Union Army Commander:
Brig. General William Buel Franklin (Pennsylvania) 1823 – 1903

Union Army Strength: - (around 11,300)

Union Army casualties and losses: - (194)
 
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