Category: Artillery

Fourth of July

July 5, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

On this day, on July 1863, the town of Gettysburg rejoiced that the Union won the battle against the Confederates. However, the victory came with a price. Jennie “Virginia” Wade had been shot and killed the day before, and was laid to rest behind the house. Elizabeth Thorn was in the process of receiving word that she would have to start lying grave sites for fallen soldiers the battle within Evergreen Cemetery.

Here below is a rare flag from West Virginia of the United States flag with only 35 stars on it representing 35 states. This flag was from 1863.

Courtesy of http://rareflags.com/RareFlags_Showcase_IAS_00090.htm

In the end, many months later, all the burials were completed.

Evergreen Cemetery — Graves of 2 Confederate and 90 Union soldiers

Let’s remember the sacrifice this Fourth of July, and the soldiers that fought 163 years ago.

Artillery, Evergreen Cemetery, Field Hospitals, Gettysburg, Jennie Wade, Union, Wade Family

June 27, 1863

June 28, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

The battle of Gettysburg is less than a week away. However, it’s only been less than 24 hours since Major General George Gordon Meade received orders that he is now the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Meade then directs and informs Major General Joseph Hooker of his relief from command.

George Gordon Meade is now the 5th man to command the Army of the Potomac in less than a year. General Meade learns that the Confederates are in southern Pennsylvania ransacking communities and terrifying citizens on the frontier. He commands the Union army to slowly drift north to see if they can draw the Rebels to fight them in Mary-land.

Courtesy of the novel – *Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: III: Retreat from Gettysburg,* page 266

His orders are to keep the Union army protecting Washington D.C. from the Confederates to the North.

Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, President, Railroad Maps, Union

June 21, 1863 – Upperville

June 21, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

On the frontier of Virginia, Confederate and Union soldiers clashed near Upperville. In the midst of the Gettysburg Campaign, the Union were trying to figure out what the Confederates next move was. Over the following six weeks, there has been a drought across the Mid-Atlantic. On June 19th, a heavy rainstorm soaked the valley. During the downpour, Confederate cavalry was deployed near the Ashby Gap Turnpike.

Courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust

However, Union cavalry commander Alfred Pleasonton had asked for reinforcements to support him and the battle that would ensue. He was granted some infantry support from General George Meade’s 5th Corps. Colonel Strong Vincent’s brigade along with another cavalry division was in reserve. On this morning, Union cavalry was held back from Confederate forces under J.E.B. Stuart that were hidden behind stone walls and steep slopes near the creek. However, as Union soldiers within the reserve pushed forward, the Confederates started to falter. Here at Goose Creek, the Confederates held for approximately two hours before the 16th Michigan arrived.

Overall, there was no real advantage here at Upperville on who won the small skirmish. However, around 200 soldiers of the Union and 175 of the Confederacy was wounded in this attack.

Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, Union

Battle of Chancellorsville

May 2, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

This battle that occurred in Virginia was considered one of General Robert E. Lee’s greatest battles. According to the historians, this was the fifth deadliest battle of the Civil War. However, even though this battle was a complete success against the Union, it came with a cost. General Stonewall Jackson, Lee’s right hand man, was mortally wounded by friendly fire on the evening of May 2nd.

Overall at Chancellorsville, the Union army had around 97,000 soldiers with 1700 being killed, 9700 wounded, and 6000 soldiers were missing. On the other hand, the Confederates had around 57,000 soldiers, approximately 1725 killed, 9200 wounded, and 2500 missing. Across this battlefield, there is more signage and wayside markers than monuments.

The grand plan that Lee and Jackson developed was to attack the Union’s right flank. Lee had approximately 13,000 soldiers and a huge artillery battalion, while Jackson had nearly 28,000 soldiers and had to march twelve miles out of view behind the Union lines.

Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson portrait taken at Nathaniel Routzahn’s photography gallery in Winchester in November 1862.

The attack began around 5 p.m. on the afternoon of May 2nd and attacked the 11th Corps, which was commanded by Union General Oliver O. Howard. As I have mentioned within the first day battle in Gettysburg, the 11th Corps were called the “Flying Dutchmen”. This is where they obtained that nickname. The 11th Corps were surprised attacked by the Confederates and fled more than 2 miles before General Hooker dug in and awaited the Confederates near the Chancellor’s House.

His amputated arm is buried at Ellwood Manor, Virginia

Darkness fell and around 8 p.m. General Stonewall Jackson and his commanders on horseback were possibly near enemy lines. They were unsure about their location of their troops and the enemy. The 33rd North Carolina skirmish line fires into the group. Jackson is hit three times: one in the right hand, the second in the left shoulder blade, and the other in the left elbow. Jackson’s horse runs off and Jackson is put into a stretcher and taken to a field hospital. During the shooting and the field hospital, Jackson would fall off the stretcher three times, and have bandages on his shoulder and elbow. His own physician, Hunter McGuire, would see Jackson in the field hospital. On the morning of May 3rd, his left arm was amputated. From the bullet that was taken out of his amputated arm, it was a smooth-bore bullet, which came from the 33rd North Carolina regiment. Around the same time, General Robert E. Lee learns that Stonewall Jackson was shot.

Robert E. Lee was quoted as saying, “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.”

Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, McClellan, President, Union