05/10, May 10th In Civil War History

Jimklag

Lt. Colonel
Joined
Mar 3, 2017
Location
Chicagoland
This date in Civil War history
Compiled by Mitchell Werksman and Jim Klag

May 10, 1837 - New York City banks suspend hard currency payments because of depleted reserves. The "Panic of 1837" that occurred today results in a 6-year depression.

May 10, 1861 - Nathaniel Lyons [US] takes control of St. Louis to end rioting, seizing Camp Jackson (Confederate militia) and 1200 1855 Springfield Rifles.

May 10, 1861 - The first blockade patrol of Charleston Harbor, SC, is begun with the USS Niagara.

May 10, 1861 - Col. Earn Van Dorn, CSA, reports to his Confederate Govt. of the capture of the last columns of US troops in Texas.

May 10, 1862 - Skirmish at Lamb's Ferry, AL.

May 10, 1862 - Federal reconnaissance on the Alabama Road toward Sharp's Mill, MS.

May 10, 1862 - Skirmish near Farmington, MS.

May 10, 1862 - Skirmish near Bloomfield, MO, with the Union capture of Confederate supplies.

May 10, 1862 - Naval engagement at Plum Point, near Fort Pillow, TN, with the Confederate sinking of the Union ironclads, USS Cincinnati, and the USS Mound City.

May 10, 1862 - Norfolk and Portsmouth, VA, are occupied by the Union forces under Maj. Gen. John E. Wool, USA, as President Abraham Lincoln is on hand to personally observe the undertaking.

May 10, 1862 - Skirmishes near Franklin, WV, as Brig. Gen. Robert C. Schenck, USA, sends a party to kill bushwhackers who beat one of his men to death. (May 10-12)

May 10, 1862 - Action at Giles Court-House, WV, with Brig. Gen. Henry Heth, CSA.

May 10, 1862 - Confederates destroy Naval Base at Pensacola, Florida.

May 10, 1863 - Stonewall Jackson dies at a field hospital near Guiney Station, VA,

May 10, 1863 - Action at Horseshoe Bottom, (or Bend), Cumberland River, KY.

May 10, 1863 -Skirmish at Phillips Fork, Red Bird Creek, KY.

May 10, 1863 - Skirmishes at Caledonia and Pin Hook, or Bayou Macon, LA.

May 10, 1863 - Union naval attack on Fort Beauregard, Ouachita River, LA, by 4 Union gunboats, with little damage.

May 10, 1864 - Thomas Moore Scott, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen. Francis Fessenden, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.

May 10, 1864 - Battle of Spotsylvania - Brig. Gen. James Clay Rice, USA, is mortally wounded, having his thigh mangled by a Confederate minie ball, and failing to rally from the operation which amputated that leg, dies that evening in a Union field hospital. Brig. Gen. Thomas Greely Stevenson, USA, is mortally wounded at Spotsylvania, VA, being instantly killed by a Confederate sharpshooter while at the head of his command.

May 10, 1864 - Skirmish at Dardanelle, AR.

May 10, 1864 - Federal scout from Pilot Knob, MO, to Gainesville, AR, that runs into an abundance of bushwhackers, and destroys Rebel property everywhere. (May 10-25)

May 10, 1864 - Skirmish on Pine Island, Charleston Harbor, SC, and vicinity.

May 10, 1864 - Affair with Confederate guerrillas at Winchester, TN, as the Federals drive them off.

May 10, 1864 - Action at Chester Station, VA, with Maj. Gen Benjamin F. Butler, USA, and the Army of the James.

May 10, 1864 - The Union destruction of the Confederate torpedo station, on the James River, VA, by the Federal Army of the James.

May 10, 1864 - Engagement at Cove Mountain, or Grassy Lick, near Wytheville, WV, during the Federal operations on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.

May 10, 1864 - Skirmish at Lost River Gap, WV, between Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelley, USA, and Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden, CSA.

May 10, 1864 - Skirmish at New River Bridge, WV, during the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad operations.

May 10, 1865 - Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones. CSA. surrenders his Confederate command at Tallahassee. FL.

May 10, 1865 - Federal irregulars mortally wound William Clarke Quantrill. the notorious guerrilla leader, near Taylorsville, Spencer County, KY.

May 10, 1865 - Federal scout from Fort Sumner, the New Mexico Territory, in the direction of Fort Bascom to Rioi de las Conchas and Chaperita, to the Pecos and back. (May 10-19)

May 10, 1865 - President Johnson declares armed resistance at an end

May 10, 1865 - The CSS Imogene becomes the last known ship to successfully run the naval blockade.

May 10, 1876 - Centennial exhibit opens with remarks by President Ulysses S. Grant in Philadelphia.
 
Photos from Spotsylvania. Painting by Thulstrup.
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So many significant events on my daughter's birthday, but these are the standouts for me:
May 10, 1863 - Stonewall Jackson dies at a field hospital near Guiney Station, VA,
May 10, 1865 - Federal irregulars mortally wound William Clarke Quantrill. the notorious guerrilla leader, near Taylorsville, Spencer County, KY.
May 10, 1865 - President Johnson declares armed resistance at an end
1865-Jefferson Davis is captured in S.W. Ga.,near Irwinville.
1838-John Wilkes Booth is born.
Thanks, Jim and Nitro.
 
Today marks the 157th Anniversary of the Battle of Chester Station Virginia this battle was part of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign the result of this battle was Inconclusive. The Confederate Commander for this battle was General P.G.T. Beauregard with a command of 2,000 casualties and losses of 249. The Union Commander was Major General Benjamin Butler with a command of 3,400 and losses and casualties of 280.
 
Today marks the 157th Anniversary of the Battle of Cove Mountain Virginia this battle took place in Wythe County Virginia. The result of this battle is inconclusive. the Confederate Commander for this battle was Brig. General William E. Jones with a force of 4,000. the Union Army Commander was Brig. General William W. Averell with a force of 2,500. combined losses and casualties was 300.
 
Today marks the 159th Anniversary of the Fort Pillow Naval Battle/Battle of Plum Point Road the result of this battle was a Confederate Victory. Confederate Units involved consisted of CSS General Earl Van Dorn, CSS Sterling Price, CSS General Bragg, CSS General Sumter, CSS Little Rebel, CSS General M. Jeff Thompson, CSS Colonel Lovell and CSS General Beauregard. On the Union Side was USS Mound City, USS Carondelet, USS Cincinnati, USS Benton, USS Pittsburgh, USS Cairo and USS Saint Louis.
 
And the CS River Defense Fleet was commanded by Commodore JOSEPH Ed Montgomery, not James Ed Montgomery, as so many authors pen, even the ORA and ORN.
 
If you could provide it, please. The information I have access to suggests that "Joseph" was applied to Montgomery by Sam Clemens (AKA Mark Twain) and by no one else; but I think in ORN, it only ever says "J. E. Montgomery," which leaves the question open.
 
Here's the article. Sorry, but it is rather long. I've also included his obit. Also check the 1870 Desha County, AR Census and his 2 page statement in the M357 Misc file and I've included other obits at the end plus a lawsuit. This constant mistake is just as bad as all the authors claiming the US Hospital Boat "Red Rover" was built in 1859 at Cape Girardeau, MO. She was built at Louisville, KY in 1857. One author claims something and everyone seems to follow and repeat the mistake without research.
Commodore Montgomery

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, Sunday, 5 April 1896, p. 37, col. 1
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Joseph Edward Montgomery Obituary
Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, Saturday, 2 August 1902, p. 3, col. 5
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Other obits
Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, IL, Monday, 4 August 1902, p. 1, col. 4
The Champaign Daily Gazette, Champaign, IL, Monday 4 August 1902, p. 1, col. 3
Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, Tuesday, 5 August 1902, p. 2, col. 5

The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL, Tuesday, 5 August 1902, p. 3, col. 2
Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, IL, Tuesday, 5 August 1902, p. 4, col. 3
The Tuskaloosa Gazette, Tuscaloosa, AL, Tuesday, 5 August 1902, p. 1, col. 1
The St Louis Republic, St. Louis, MO, Tuesday, 5 August 1902, p. 2, col. 4
Champaign County Gazette, Champaign, IL, Wednesday, 6 August 1902, p. 9, col.
Republican, Salem, IL, Thursday, 7 August 1902, p. 6, col. 3
Alton Telegraph, Alton, IL, Thursday, 7 August 1902, p. 12, col. 2
Nashville Journal, Nashville, IL, Thursday, 7 August 1902, p. 1, col. 8
Republican, Salem, IL, Thursday, 7 August 1902, p. 6, col.3
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, KY, Friday, 8 August 1902, p. 6, col. 4
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Sunday, 10 August 1902, p. 1, col. 4
Parsons Palladium, Parsons, KS, Wednesday, 13 August 1902, p. 2, col. 1
The St Louis Republic, St. Louis, MO, Thursday, 28 December 1905, p. 2, col. 1

This last one is not an obit but where his heirs were carrying on his suit against the US Government for all 25 steamboats sunk by the US.






 
Thanks!

Now I wonder how "James" came into the picture. Maybe a mis-hearing of "J. E." as he seemed to sign himself in the ORNs? Confusion with his son's name? (though that would seem a stretch)

Sort of reminds me of my running battle against the use of Henry "A." Walke. While technically correct, he never used his middle initial. (His widow said she didn't know why he didn't.) (If it was because he hated his middle name, Augustus, then why did he saddle his firstborn son with it...?)
 
My hometown. Most of the battlefield is gone under neighborhoods, strip malls and a cemetery. Beauregard and Butler were not on the field and not actively involved in the battle plan or the battle itself. Terry did most of the command work on the Union side, and Ransom for the Confederates
 
This had always interested me in this class of Federal warships had a great weakness exposed at Plum Point: they could be easily rammed and sunk if reached by the deep draft and heavier rebel rams. I assume the Confederates did not realized it at the time (or not). The Federal vessels were slow, but they had a swallow draft depth. One of their advantages is that they had more heavy artillery. The Federals may not have known themselves about this disadvantage in draft depth (or its strategic value), but they did immediately flee to the river shallows, whereupon the Confederates could not enter. While the rebel rams danced about in the deeper waters unable to reach the other Federal gunboats, they would be slowly disabled by the Federal more artillery fire, with steam pipes shot away and waterlines shot through. The Confederates had armor protection only at their bows as I understood it. Trying to obtain ramming positions caused the rebels to expose all portion of their vessels. After having several vessels disabled the Confederates were forced to flee or drift downriver disabled. It is likely the Confederates felted cheated as in theory if the Federal Fleet had stayed in deep waters the entire fleet faced being quickly rammed and sunk beneath the waves. I am wondering out loud to anyone who may know: did both sides, or one side, or no side know of the strategic difference and advantage of draft depths during the battle? Or did they all stumble through the battle ignorant?
 
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