Mine Run Campaign

[Sid J.]

I wonder if you are familiar with the writings of Randolph H. McKim, who served as adjutant to Gen. Steuart in the Gettysburg campaign?

His book "A Soldiers Recollections" has been criticized by some as Lost Cause tripe, but I confess I have not read it.

I did read his short narrative of Steuart's Brigade, including the 1st North Carolina, at the Battle of Gettysburg and found it fascinating. Thanks to the miracle of the internet, you can find it here:

http://www.gdg.org/research/SHSP/shmckims.html

I read the kindle version of McKim's book. I recommend it. He does run with a lot of the lost cause stuff, especially about Gettysburg. The parts of the book where he describes his personal experiences are quite interesting. When he opines about events he didn't personally witness, well that's grain of salt time.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Which is too bad, because there was a fair bit of interesting stuff that occurred that fall.

My next project will be to tackle the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station, November 7, 1863, whereby an advance of the entire Army of the Potomac drive the ANV out of Culpeper County (and its chosen winter encampment side) and into Orange County, where it suffered a winter of privation. Two full Confederate brigades were captured largely intact during the battle. There were three MOH's awarded as a result of this battle, including Capt. Walter Morrill, commander of Co. B of the 20th Maine. Emory Upton, a newly-minted brigade commander, used Second Rappahannock Station as a laboratory for the tactics that he used with so much effect at Spotsylvania Court House, with the same degree of success. There was nearly a cataclysmic battle in Culpeper County on November 8. Nobody knows about it at all. Being the great admirer of all things obscure, that's why I'm tackling it. The research is nearly done.

 

[Jeff Baucom]

Battle flag of the 1st North Carolina. The tag at upper left indicates it was captured by the Yankees.

Now I did not know that, thanks for sharing, Bruce !!!

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I

My next project will be to tackle the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station, November 7, 1863,

I was just going to ask if there was anything out there about Rappahannock Station. Glad to hear you are tackling it!

 

[Bruce Vail]

Captured by Union troops, May 12, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I

I was just going to ask if there was anything out there about Rappahannock Station. Glad to hear you are tackling it!

I had an article on it in Civil War Monitor last June if you're interested, Andy. It will have to tide you over until I get my book written. I'm still researching, so it may be a while.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I had an article on it in Civil War Monitor last June if you're interested, Andy. It will have to tide you over until I get my book written. I'm still researching, so it may be a while.

I will look for the article, thank you. I let my subscription lapse so I missed it. Good luck with the project. I am sure it will be very informative and enjoyable like your others once it is done.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I will look for the article, thank you. I let my subscription lapse so I missed it. Good luck with the project. I am sure it will be very informative and enjoyable like your others once it is done.

Thanks for the kind words, Andy. I appreciate it very much.

 

[Jeff Baucom]

Captured by Union troops, May 12, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.

Could there have been a moment during Grandpa James service that he may have held or carried the flag that he and his fellow soldiers fought under ? The Lord only knows !!!

 

[Bruce Vail]

Could there have been a moment during Grandpa James service that he may have held or carried the flag that he and his fellow soldiers fought under ? The Lord only knows !!!

You needn't look to God on this very limited point. There are some Civil War flag experts out there -- and I have seen them chime in here on CW Talk more than once-- who can determine pretty closely when the flag was produced and delivered. We already know the flag was produced sometime after July 3, 1863, so it looks like a pretty limited window when your Grandpa James may have fought under it....

 

[Jeff Baucom]

Good point Bruce I would not have know that and you just tought me something there !

 

[Ole Miss]

Unfortunately, Mine Run is undercovered. Savas-Beatie is in the process of developing a multi-volume set on the fall campaigns of 1863 that will go into more detail than what's presently available, but the definitive work remains yet to be done. I keep nagging Ted Savas to write it--it was relic hunting by Ted and a friend in the 1980's that pinned down the precise site of the Payne's Farm fighting. Ted is definitely the right one to tackle such a project as a result, and I hope that I will eventually prevail upon him to do so.

The book linked below is the best out there on it. The entire book is only 100 or so pages, and it covers a good bit more than just Mine Run, so there's not a great deal of tactical detail to be found as a result. The maps are okay, but not great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0930919483/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

If you want a purely map study, there's this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1611211522/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

My Meade manuscript has a lengthy chapter on it, but it doesn't go into deep tactical detail--that's not the purpose of the Meade manuscript.

I join in lamenting the lack of a definitive work.

Mr. Wittenburg
I have just reserved my copy of the The Great Battle Never Fought by Chris Mackowski to be released this April that deals with the Mine Run from their web site http://www.savasbeatie.com/index.htm.
I wanted to express my appreciation for your informing us of this company and their products as know them to be excellent as I have a copy of your One Continuous Fight which I have enjoyed many times.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Bruce Veil I recently discovered that I had a GGGrandfather who served in the 3rd North Carolina Infantry and was captured at Mine Run.
I have found this organization to be perhaps the most informative one I have ever read with certainly the most helpful folks. Y'all are outstanding!
Regards
David

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Mr. Wittenburg
I have just reserved my copy of the The Great Battle Never Fought by Chris Mackowski to be released this April that deals with the Mine Run from their web site http://www.savasbeatie.com/index.htm.
I wanted to express my appreciation for your informing us of this company and their products as know them to be excellent as I have a copy of your One Continuous Fight which I have enjoyed many times.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Bruce Veil I recently discovered that I had a GGGrandfather who served in the 3rd North Carolina Infantry and was captured at Mine Run.
I have found this organization to be perhaps the most informative one I have ever read with certainly the most helpful folks. Y'all are outstanding!
Regards
David

My pleasure, David. Good luck with your research.