Stryker65
Captain
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2023
- Location
- William & Mary
I always love reading about units, large and small, that escaped capture while the majority of their group did not, because these units often get their own fame later, as units that escaped a doomed position. Some of these include:
1. Fort Fisher: The Red Infantry (escapees and detailed men from the four artillery units of the Fort Fisher garrison), serving under Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 36th NC (2nd Artillery), they were famed for their gallant charges during the Battle of Bentonville.
2. Harpers Ferry: Famously, the cavalry brigade, under Colonel Benjamin F. "Grimes" Davis, escaped the city and outsmarted a Confederate wagon train and its escort using his Mississippi upbringing and accent, which was later determined to be Longstreet's ordnance train -- only a week before Antietam.
3. Charleston: When Charleston was evacuated in February, 1865, the gigantic Confederate naval presence in the city was rapidly diminished as their ships were burned. The crewmen of the ships were given rifles and converted to infantry, and rose to fame two months later for their heroic stand at Sayler's Creek under Commodore John R. Tucker.
4. Port Hudson: The Cavalry Brigade of the Confederate garrison, under Colonel John L. Logan, escaped the surrender and became the sole Confederate presence in east Louisiana. They harassed Union troops for many months before their ranks were expanded to become Wirt Adams' famed cavalrymen.
5. Morgan's Raid: Over half of the famed Morgan Division were captured in John H. Morgan's abortive Ohio Raid, but the survivors later accompanied Jefferson Davis on his flight through Georgia; convalescing lieutenant Leland Hathaway of the 14th Ky. Cav. was captured with him.
Can you think of any others?
1. Fort Fisher: The Red Infantry (escapees and detailed men from the four artillery units of the Fort Fisher garrison), serving under Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 36th NC (2nd Artillery), they were famed for their gallant charges during the Battle of Bentonville.
2. Harpers Ferry: Famously, the cavalry brigade, under Colonel Benjamin F. "Grimes" Davis, escaped the city and outsmarted a Confederate wagon train and its escort using his Mississippi upbringing and accent, which was later determined to be Longstreet's ordnance train -- only a week before Antietam.
3. Charleston: When Charleston was evacuated in February, 1865, the gigantic Confederate naval presence in the city was rapidly diminished as their ships were burned. The crewmen of the ships were given rifles and converted to infantry, and rose to fame two months later for their heroic stand at Sayler's Creek under Commodore John R. Tucker.
4. Port Hudson: The Cavalry Brigade of the Confederate garrison, under Colonel John L. Logan, escaped the surrender and became the sole Confederate presence in east Louisiana. They harassed Union troops for many months before their ranks were expanded to become Wirt Adams' famed cavalrymen.
5. Morgan's Raid: Over half of the famed Morgan Division were captured in John H. Morgan's abortive Ohio Raid, but the survivors later accompanied Jefferson Davis on his flight through Georgia; convalescing lieutenant Leland Hathaway of the 14th Ky. Cav. was captured with him.
Can you think of any others?
Bringing the