|

Wednesday July 3 1861
MULTIPLE MARTIAL MOVEMENTS MAR MARTINSBURG
Northern Virginia was to be the most trampled and damaged part of
either North or South during the course of the war, and it was
starting already. The Union men under Gen. Robert Patterson were
marching through this area today, making it as far as Martinsburg.
They were in pursuit of the Confederate forces under the command of
Joseph E. Johnston, who were currently in Winchester, Va. That town
would have the distinction of changing hands more times than any
other.
Thursday July 3 1862
COMMANDER CLAIMS CONGRESS CUT CRITICAL CAPACITY
The Army of the Potomac was safe under the guns of the Navy vessels
on the James River, and already criticism of the Seven Days campaign
was flowing freely in the media of both capitals. In Washington,
McClellan was whining that he had not been given enough men, even
though he outnumbered Lee by at least 30,000. In Richmond the
complaint was that Lee should have defeated McClellan rather than
just running him off. Lee, at least, maintained a dignified silence
on the matter.
Friday July 3 1863
GLORY, GORE GREET GETTYSBURG GUNFIRE
The Army of Northern Virginia had attacked the Federal right on
Cemetery and Culps’ Hills yesterday and failed to dislodge them.
They had attacked the left at Little Round Top, the Wheatfield and
Devil’s Den, and failed to roll up the line. Today it was decided to
attack the center. Preceded by an immense artillery barrage (which
mostly overshot the line it was intended to hit on Cemetery Ridge)
the divisions of Pickett, Pettigrew and Trimble set forth on their
march into history. Although a few men made it across the stone
wall, they were soon killed or captured. The Union center held.
Sunday July 3 1864
NORTHERNERS NEAR NICKAJACK NASTINESS
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman had tried a frontal assault on
Kennesaw Mountain and suffered one of his rare defeats. Today he
reverted to his more accustomed style of tactic, which was to
maneuver to outflank his opponent. Said opponent today was Joseph
Eggleston Johnston, who had passed through Marietta, Ga. to
establish a new line anchored on Nickajack Creek. Johnston’s cavalry
kept up harassment behind the lines at Kingston, Ruff’s Mills and
Sweetwater Bridge.
Choose a different date
|