Civil War digest: This week 150 years ago Dec. 3-9, 1862
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- Published on Saturday, 15 December 2012 12:11
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Wednesday Dec. 3, 1862
An attack occurred on a Federal forage train on the Hardin Pike near Nashville, Tenn., and a skirmish was held at Moorefield, Va.
Major General Ulysses Grant continued to press the Confederates along the Yocknapatalfa River, and there was action at Prophet, Spring Dale and Free Bridges and Oakland, Miss.
Three blockade-runners were taken off the North Carolina coast.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 1862
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston assumed overall command in the West, while sporadic fighting continued to occur on the major fronts.
An engagement occurred on the Rappahannock River near Port Royal, Virginia, not far from Fredericksburg; and on the Franklin Pike and near Stewart’s Ferry on Stone’s River, Tennessee.
Angry citizens attacked Dakota Sioux Indian prisoners at Mankato, Minn., after the U.S.-Dakota War.
At Prestonburg, Ky., Confederates captured some supply boats with arms, ammunition and uniforms.
Friday, Dec. 5, 1862
Federal Major General Ulysses Grant’s cavalry received a setback in an engagement on the Mississippi Central Railroad at Coffeeville, Miss.
Saturday, Dec. 6, 1862
President Abraham Lincoln ordered the execution by hanging of 39 Dakota Sioux Indians of the 303 that were convicted of participating in the U.S.-Dakota War. The execution date was set for Dec. 19.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 1862
BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE, ARKANSAS
In a confusing battle at Prairie Grove, about twelve miles southwest of Fayetteville, Ark., on Illinois Creek, Confederates under Major General Thomas C. Hindman attacked Federal forces under Brigadiers General James G. Blunt and Francis J. Herron.
Hindman, advancing from Van Buren, Ark., attempted to defeat the two Federal units separately, but they managed to join forces after a hard march by Herron’s men from Wilson’s Creek, Mo. Confederates held their position, but bitter winter weather forced them to withdraw during the night.
There were 175 Federal troops killed, 813 wounded and 263 missing for a total of 1,251 casualties out of 10,000 engaged. Confederates lost 164 killed, 817 wounded and 336 missing for a combined loss of 1,317 of 10,000 engaged.
Monday, Dec. 8, 1862
Confederate President Jefferson Davis, concerned over the several threats to the Confederacy, wrote the following to General Robert E. Lee at Fredericksburg, Va., “In Tennessee and Mississippi the disparity between our armies and those of the enemy is so great as to fill me with apprehension.” Davis announced his intention to go west immediately. Davis also regretted that there was little he could do to help Lee receive more manpower.
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1862
A skirmish occurred at Dobbins’s Ferry, near La Vergne, Tenn., and at Mudtown, Ark., otherwise it was a quiet day.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of Dec. 3-9, 1862
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Falmouth, Va.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On guard duty at Cunningham’s Ford on the Cumberland River.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Snelling, Minn. until Jan. 16, 1863.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Duty at White’s Station and Memphis, Tenn. until Feb. 24, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies B, C and D remained in Minnesota and Dakota Territory on garrison duty. The remaining companies were on Major General Ulysses Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign until January 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Fort Snelling, Glencoe, Forest City and Kingston until February 1863.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Mankato and other points in Minnesota until June 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On frontier duty at various points in Minnesota: Anoka, Princeton, Monticello, Kingston, Manannah, Paynesville, Fort Ripley, Sauk Center, Pomme de Terre, Alexandria and Fort Abercrombie until May 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in various frontier Minnesota communities until June 1863.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Regiment on detached service for garrison duty at various outposts in frontier Minnesota until June 1863.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Organized at St. Cloud, St. Peter and Fort Snelling for frontier duty against Indians until June 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On scout duty at Eddyville, Ky.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On Major General Ulysses Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign near Vicksburg, Miss., until January 1863.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty at Nashville, Tenn., until Dec. 26, 1862.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty at Falmouth, Va.
Civil War digest: Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 1862
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Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1862
President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Belle Plain, Va., for a conference with Major General Ambrose Burnside, Army of the Potomac commander.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis wrote to the governors of the Confederate states appealing for aid in enrolling conscripts and in securing more supplies for army use. He also called for the use of slave labor on defense works.
Skirmishing occurred near Somerville, Tenn.
Thursday, Nov. 27, 1862
President Lincoln spent the morning at Aquia Creek, Va., in conference with Major General Ambrose Burnside. The general favored a direct assault on Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s forces at Fredericksburg, while the president proposed building up a force south of the Rappahannock River and another on the Pamunkey River for a three-pronged attack. Burnside turned down Lincoln’s plan.
Skirmishing occurred at Mill Creek, Tenn., and at Carthage, Mo.
Friday, Nov. 28, 1862
Federal forces won an engagement at Cane Hill, Ark., when Brigadier General James G. Blunt attacked Confederate Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke’s forces and drove them back with considerable losses, giving the Federals a momentary edge in the Trans-Mississippi fighting.
Skirmishes occurred at Holly Springs, Miss., in advance of the Federal’s build-up of supplies for their advance on Vicksburg, Miss.
Saturday, Nov. 29, 1862
Confederate Major General John B. Magruder assumed command of the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Several skirmishes occurred today at Lumpkin’s Mill and Waterford, Miss.; Stewart’s Ferry and Baird’s Mills, Tenn., near the Stone River.
Sunday, Nov. 30, 1862
It was a quiet end to a month of lesser fighting, command changes, and preparations for things to come. There were skirmishes at Chulahoma, Miss., and on the Tallahatchie River.
Monday, Dec. 1, 1862
The third session of the Thirty-seventh Congress of the United States convened and accepted the State of the Union message from President Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln reported that foreign relations were satisfactory, commerce was in good shape, Federal receipts were exceeding expenditures and recommended three constitutional amendments: that every state which abolished slavery before 1900 would receive compensation; that all slaves who had gained freedom during the war would remain free and loyal owners compensated; and that Congress would provide for colonization outside the country of free colored persons with their consent.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1862
Along the Rappahannock River at Leeds Ferry, a skirmish occurred as Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia engaged Major General Ambrose Burnside’s Federal Army of the Potomac for the first time since Burnside took command. Other fighting in Virginia was on the Blackwater River near Franklin, near Dumfries, while a skirmish occurred at Saline in Indian Territory.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of Nov. 26-
Dec. 2, 1862
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Falmouth, Va.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On guard duty at Cunningham’s Ford on the Cumberland River.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Snelling, Minn., until Jan. 16, 1863.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Duty at White’s Station and Memphis, Tenn., until Feb. 24, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies B, C and D remained in Minnesota and Dakota Territory on garrison duty. The remaining companies were on Major General Ulysses Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign until January 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Fort Snelling, Glencoe, Forest City and Kingston until February 1863.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Mankato and other points in Minnesota until June 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On frontier duty at various points in Minnesota: Anoka, Princeton, Monticello, Kingston, Manannah, Paynesville, Fort Ripley, Sauk Center, Pomme de Terre, Alexandria and Fort Abercrombie until May 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in various frontier Minnesota communities until June 1863.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Regiment on detached service for garrison duty at various outposts in frontier Minnesota until June 1863.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Organized at St. Cloud, St. Peter and Fort Snelling for frontier duty against Indians until June 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On scout duty at Eddyville, Ky.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On Major General Ulysses Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign near Vicksburg, Miss., until January 1863.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty at Nashville, Tenn., until Dec. 26, 1862.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty at Falmouth, Va.
Civil War digest: This week, 150 years ago-Nov 19-25, 1862
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- Published on Saturday, 01 December 2012 15:30
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Major Highlights for the Week
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1862
Confederate forces of Longstreet’s corps took position on the heights above Fredericksburg after marching from the main base at Culpeper, Virginia. Federal Major General Ambrose Burnside’s Army of the Potomac arrived the same day, making his headquarters near Falmouth.
There was fighting at Philomont, Va.; Tunnel Hill and Tomkinsville, Ky.; and Pineville, Mo.
Major General Ulysses Grant continued to probe the Confederate defenses at Vicksburg, Miss.
Thursday, Nov. 20, 1862
Confederate General Robert E. Lee arrived at Fredericksburg, Va., as the buildup of Union and Confederate troops continued on both sides of the Rappahannock River. Lieutenant General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederate corps was still at Winchester, about to move towards Fredericksburg.
The Confederate Army of the Tennessee was official constituted under General Braxton Bragg and consisted of corps under E. Kirby Smith, Polk and Hardee.
Friday, Nov. 21, 1862
Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed James A. Seddon, prominent Richmond attorney, former U.S. and Confederate congressman, as his Secretary of War. Seddon, who appeared to be anything but warlike, was to prove the most able of the Confederate War Secretaries, though subject to abuse and criticism.
In the West, General Braxton Bragg sent Nathan Bedford Forrest to cut the communications of Grant’s army in Western Tennessee.
On the Rappahannock River in Virginia, Major General Ambrose Burnside called upon Fredericksburg to surrender the town but was refused. The mayor was threatened with bombardment of the town and sixteen hours were allowed for the removal of the sick, wounded, women, children, the aged and infirm. The mayor requested more time.
Saturday, Nov. 22, 1862
Federal Sec. of War Edwin M. Stanton discharged nearly all political prisoners held by the military. At Winchester, Va., the Federals skirmished with Confederates while the Southerners attacked Halltown, western Virginia, but were driven back.
Twelve Southern salt works were destroyed, along with a number of vessels, in Matthews County, Va., on Chesapeake Bay. In Louisiana there was an affair at Petite Anse Island.
Federal Maj. General Edwin V. Sumner agreed to not bombard Fredericksburg, Va., despite the previous day’s ultimatum, “so long as no hostile demonstration is made from the town.”
Sunday, Nov. 23, 1862
Federal Naval Lieutenant William Cushing with the steamer Ellis went up New River, N.C., and at Jacksonville captured two schooners. However, while returning, he ran into a shoal and lost his own vessel but escaped in one of the captured schooners.
Monday, Nov. 24, 1862
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston was assigned to the major command in the West, embracing western North Carolina, Tennessee, northern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. Johnston’s main task would be to supervise Braxton Bragg in Tennessee and John C. Pemberton at Vicksburg, Miss.
Skirmishing occurred at Newtown, Va., and Beaver Creek, Mo.
Tuesday, Nov. 25, 1862
Confederate cavalry crossed the Potomac at Poolesville, Md. and seized the government telegraph office briefly.
Other fighting was at Pitman’s Ferry and Cane Hill, Ark.; Henderson’s Station and Clarksville, Tenn.; and Calhoun, Ky.
Confederate Major General Samuel Jones was assigned to command the Trans-Allegheny or Western Department of Virginia.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of Nov. 19-25, 1862.
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Falmouth, Va.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Moved to Cunningham’s Ford on the Cumberland River for guard duty.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Fort Snelling, Minn.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Duty at White’s Station and Memphis, Tenn., until Feb. 24, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies B, C and D remained in Minnesota and Dakota Territory on garrison duty. The remaining companies were on Major General Ulysses Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Fort Snelling, Glencoe, Forest City and Kingston until February 1863.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Mankato and other points in Minnesota until June 1863.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On frontier duty at various points in Minnesota: Anoka, Princeton, Monticello, Kingston, Manannah, Paynesville, Fort Ripley, Sauk Center, Pomme de Terre, Alexandria and Fort Abercrombie until May 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in various frontier Minnesota communities until June 1863.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Regiment on detached service for garrison duty at various outposts in frontier Minnesota until June 1863.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – Organized at St. Cloud, St. Peter and Fort Snelling for frontier duty against Indians until June 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On scout duty at Eddyville, Ky.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On Major General Ulysses Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign near Vicksburg, Miss.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty at Nashville, Tenn.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty at Falmouth, Va.
‘For you, the war is over:’ words that ring true nearly 70 years later
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- Published on Saturday, 01 December 2012 14:45
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These words from nearly 70 years ago ring again in Lawrence Huschle’s ears. Not because of haunting wartime memories. But, rather, because he finally was awarded the Purple Heart he earned when he was injured June 13, 1943, when his plane was shot down and he broke his back parachuting out of it.Troy Huschle spent two years fighting for the long-overdue award for his grandfather. He took over where Lawrence’s brother Ray left off. They were told it was impossible, but they didn’t stop. Only one member of Huschle’s crew was still alive, Ed Dostie. He wrote a letter that served as testimony to the plane being shot down. That was the key evidence that turned things around.
Lawrence’s Purple Heart injury could not have been proved at the time, as he was a prisoner of war for just short of two years. The fracture in his spine was not discovered until medical examination in Texas many weeks after his liberation from the Germans. It was caused by his parachute as he was twisted and jerked after baling out of his plane. A chip of bone still floats somewhere in Huschle’s spine.
By May 24 this year, it seemed that all the requirements for a Purple Heart had been satisfied. Thursday, Nov. 8, Huschle received a package by mail that contained a folder with two Purple Heart certificates (one a duplicate), and a case with the Purple Heart medal. No fuss, no fanfare.
Memories in Miniature
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- Published on Saturday, 01 December 2012 13:46
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Memories in Miniature opening is Sunday, Dec. 2, at the annual KringleFest Event held at the Stearns History Museum. The exhibit will run through Dec. 31, 2014. Stearns History Museum members are free admittance, non-members are $5.
People make and collect miniatures for many reasons. Some preserved memories of family and community by carving wood. Some made models to honor a time, a place, of people in the past. Some used them to imagine what might have been.