Robert E. Lee Timeline or Lifeline

Recently, I've wanted to create a Robert E. Lee timeline for fun. Yes I am such a history nerd but that is what makes me so cool.

Robert E. Lee Timeline

1807 January 9 Robert Edward Lee is born at 'Stratford', Westmoreland County, Virginia
1829 _______ Lee graduates from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
1831 May 7 Arrives at Fortress Monroe for duty.
1831 June 30 Robert Edward Lee and Mary Anne Custis marry.
1832 September 16 George Washington Custis Lee is born.
1835 July 22 Mary Lee is born.
1837 May 30 William Henry Fitzhugh Lee is born.
1839 June 18 Annie Carter Lee is born.
1841 February 27 Elanore Agnes Lee is born.
1843 October 27 Robert Edward Lee, Jr., is born.
1846 February 10 Mildred Childe Lee is born.
1852 September 1 Lee assumes his duties as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
1853 July 17 Lee is Confirmed into the Episcopal Church.
1859 October 17 Lee is ordered to the War Department in regards to John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. 1859
1859 October 18 Lee leads a command of United States Marines to capture John Brown and his cohorts at Harpers Ferry.
1860 February 9 Lee is ordered to San Antonio, Texas, to take command of the Department of Texas.
1861 April 20 Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army.
1861 May 14 Lee is appointed Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army.
1861 June 14 Lee attains the rank of General in the Confederate States Army.
1862 May 31 Joseph E. Johnston is wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines.
1863 July 1-3 Battle of Gettysburg. MORE
1865 April 2 Lee orders the Abandonment of Petersburg, Virginia.
1865 January 23 Lee is named General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States.
1866 February 17 Lee appeares before the Joint Committee on Reconstruction on Capitol Hill.
1870 October 12 Robert E. Lee dies in Lexington, Virginia
1975 July 22 Congress Passed a law restoring Lee's Citizenship.
1975 August 5 President Gerald Ford signs in to law the bill Congress passed restoring Lee's Citizenship to the United States.

July 4th thoughts

Everybody celebrates the Declaration of Independence, shoots off fireworks and cooks hotdogs on Independence Day but I cannot help but think of other things. Yes I am biased but the twin victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg are rarely thought of as we bite into our ketchup covered hotdogs. Those victories were key to Union victory and set the stage for the end of the most destructive war on North American soil. It saddens me that this day is so focused on July 4, 1776 and we rarely recall the importance of July 4, 1863 when two towns, one in the north and one in the south had the war brought to their doorsteps and the country was saved on their farms. Yes I agree that we need to remember John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin but we also have to remember the heroes that saved the country that they founded and the men of blue and gray who fought over the ideals that they were unable to resolve. Colonel William C. Oates, Colonel Josh Chamberlian, Sam Watkins, Joseph E. Johnston, "Sam" Hood, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, U.S. Grant, William T. Sherman, George H. Thomas, Robert E. Lee, and the countless thousands met in mortal combat for four long years. To think that this day is only about 1776. July 4, 1863 is equally important and deserves its place in our collective memory.

I also added a new link. Check out http://www.echoesofgettysburg.com/index.html for some really cool insight, artifacts and photos of Gettysburg.

ALSO CHECK OUT http://www.cspan.org/lincoln200years/

Booth

143 years ago John Wilkes Booth was gunned down in a Virginia tabocco barn. Meanwhile, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered what was left of his army to William T. Sherman. Everyone remembers Robert E. Lee's final orders to his army but few recall Johnston's final orders. His final commands were just as heart felt as Lee.

"COMRADES: . . . I earnestly exhort you to observe faithfully the terms of pacification agreed upon; and to discharge the obligations of good and peaceful citizens, as well as you have performed the duties of thorough soldiers in the field. By such a course, you will best secure the comfort of your families and kindred, and restore tranquillity to our country."

General Joseph E. Johnston
General Order No. 22

More offical information on the surrender of the Confederate Army of Tennessee can be found at:

http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/ncsites/durham/bennett.htm

Forgotten Battles of the Civil War The Battle of Dranesville: December 20, 1861

After the battle of First Bull Run both armies sat idle along the Potomac. Union General George McCellan and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston drilled their men and provided them with the training needed to serve out four years of hardship. Twenty-five miles lay between the two armies. Johnstons men were encamped at Centerville and the Army of Potomac sat at Virginia Hills near Washington D.C. As the ranks of both sides swelled their respective quartermasters complained that more food was needed to feed these huge armies. The armies that “Little Mac” and Joe Johnston led were the largest ever assembled by the Americans, neither knew of the oppositions struggles and both generals sent out forgers to find supplies.

Five days before Christmas both men (without knowing that the other had done so) decided on a lush area of farmland just west of Dransville, Virginia. At daylight on December 20, 1861 the entire wagon train of the Confederate army was on the move to Dransville. With them were four infantry regiments, an artillery battalion, 150 cavalry men and their commander Brigadier General JEB Stuart. At almost the same time, Union Brig. Gen. E.O.C. Ord left the Federal camps with 5 Pennsylvania regiments, four cannon and a squad of cavalry.

Besides numbers the Union forces had the distinct advantage of a shorter distance between their camp and the farm area of Dransville. Therefore, Ord’s men reached the area before Stuart and by 1 p.m the Union general had received word that a sizeable Confederate force had been spotted in the region. Lt. Col. Thomas Kane, the commander of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Rifles quickly moved his regiment to a hill that commanded the area. (Known as Drane Hill) Kane men protected the vital intersection between the Leesburg Pike and the Georgetown road. Within moments of moving his men the soldiers under Kane exchanged fire with the Confederates.

In a situation similar to the one faced by Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg (ironically Stuart was involved in that situation too) Stuart hurried his men forward without knowing the total tactical situation surrounding him. Meanwhile, General Ord ordered one regiment and his cavalry to protect the right flank of Kane’s men and deployed his remaining three regiments to the left of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Rifles. Both Stuart and Ord set up their artillery and both sides exchanged shells.

Stuart quickly assessed the situation and his trained eye (he also knew the area well) surmised that Drane Hill was the key to the battlefield. Stuarts attacked Kane’s men with the 10th Alabama and the 11th Virginia but the attack failed. Federal artillery kept the rebels in check and soon the field was littered with gray clad Confederates. Moreover, the Federal gunners were able to disable a portion of Stuarts lone artillery battalion and the future Confederate hero knew that if he was going to attack again then it had to be now or never. Stuart ordered another attack and they consisted of the 6th South Carolina and the 10th Alabama. Both regiments were bloodied already but they made the charge gracefully before falling back from the sheets of Northern fire. Their opposition was the 9th Pennsylvania which was a regiment that would go on to be known as the “Bucktails” regiment.

Union reinforcements under Brig. Gen. John F. Reynolds arrived with his first brigade and word reached Stuart that his forces were completely outnumbered. Faced with two failed assaults, Stuart who had already ordered his trains to return to the Confederate army, ordered a withdrawal. The Federals did not contest Stuarts retreat. That night both Ord and Reynolds gathered up the wounded and returned to the Army of the Potomac. The Southerners returned to the battlefield the following morning and buried their dead comrades.

During the two hour firefight, Ord reported his losses as 7 killed, 61 wounded, and none missing; total, 68. Stuart reported 43 killed, 143 wounded, 8 missing; total, 194. The Federal forces must have numbered at least 5,000; the Confederates between 2,000 and 2,500. Although the Federals had less causalities they paid a higher price in officers. One Lt. Colonel and three captains were wounded during the battle.

One of the more interesting stories of this battle was the plight of Confederate Colonel Thomas Taylor who found himself behind enemy lines as this men engaged the Federals. He remained hidden in the brush as he was surrounded by unknowing men in blue. He doggedly found his way back to his regiment during the evening of December 20th and escaped capture. Moreover, despite his defeat General Stuart labeled the Battle of Dransville as “a glorious success” because he was able to save the entire wagon train placed under his charge by Johnston. General Ord easily and correctly asserted that his men had given the Confederates a payback for the loss at Bull Run and won a victory.

Several Federal regiments had "Dranesville, December 20, 1861," painted on their battle flags in gold colors. It would not be the last time that any of the regiments who fought at Dransville would see the smoke of battle.

Union Order of Battle

Brig. General E.O.C. Ord commanding

1st Pennsylvania Reserve Artillery

6th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry

9th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry

10th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry

12th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry

Confederate Order of Battle

Brig. General James Ewell Brown Stuart commanding

1st Kentucky Volunteers

11th Virginia Volunteers

6th South Carolina Volunteers

10th Alabama Volunteers

Sumter Flying Artillery (four pieces)

1st North Carolina Infantry (100 men)

2nd Virginia Cavalry (50 men)

The Invasion that never was

Everybody remembers the Confederate invasions that resulted in the Battles of Gettysburg and Antietam. A handful of others can recall rebel forces under Jubal Early battling at Monocracy and Fort Stevens. However, I doubt that you can find many people who can recall the invasion that never was. This campaign that never occurred will be the focus of todays blog.

As the Army of the Potomac was being trained by Union General George B. McClellan his adversary saw an opportunity to strike. In late September 1861 after the Union defeats at Wilson’s Creek and Bull Run, Confederate General Pierre G.T. Beauregard was planning an offensive. Beauregard wanted to make a sudden trust across the Potomac and divide the Union, east and west, by seizing the trop of territory lying between Pittsburgh and Lake Erie. This would force the Union army to come out from behind its Washington entrenchments and give battle to the men in gray. It was in this location, Beauregard believed, that the decisive battle of the war would take place and total victory for the Confederacy would result. Even the over-confident Beauregard admitted that the odds were long but they were shorter than they would be any time hereafter. It was time to strike while the iron was hot and Beauregard felt that it had to happen as soon as possible. Beauregard believed that if the Confederates remained passive and allowed the North to recover its morale than the war was lost.

His conference to discuss this plan with Confederate President Jefferson Davis occurred on October 1, 1861 in Fairfax, Virginia. His co-general, Joseph E. Johnston nodded with approval as Beauregard hammered out his plan to Davis. Their only disagreement came when Johnston felt that 60,000 men would be needed to accomplish Beauregard’s plan. The Cerole felt differently and told Davis that only 50,000 men would be needed for his invasion plans. Davis was faced with the problem of finding 10- to 20,000 reinforcements for the invasion.

Manpower wasn’t the only thing that was worrying the Mississippian President. The Federal navy had scored victories at various points on the Confederacy’s coast and it was difficult for Davis to pull men from those areas to satisfy Beauregard’s thirst for invasion. The governor of almost every Confederate state was calling of Davis for reinforcements already and Davis foresaw a backlash to any request that would fatten the Virginian armies. The South was threatened in just about every coastal area and wherever Davis looked, the situation was such that to strip one area to aid another in success could lead to a disaster on the weakened front.

Beauregard, continued to urge his plan on the new President and even went so far to state that desperate men must take desperate chances. Whatever territory was lost could be regained with a decisive victory on northern soil. In the end, Jefferson Davis vetoed Beauregard’s plans and the Creole could only shrug in disappointment. This ended the talk of a fall 1861 offensive and put he Confederates into a dispersed defensive posture.

When I read about this fascinating situation in Shelby Foote’s book I was astounded. I never knew of a planned invasion such as this other than reading once that some rebel generals wanted to attack after Bull Run. If one examines Beauregard’s plans they can see that he was right but they were farfetched. I don’t think that the newly formed Confederate army could have supported such an invasion but I do believe that if they could have the war would have ended differently. Moreover, the Creole was correct in some of his assumptions.

If they didn’t strike soon then the war would be lost. In the end is what exactly occurred. The full weight and restored morale of the Federals clamped down on the Confederacy during the campaigns of Donelson, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta and so forth. In the end we will never know if Beauregard was correct in his belief that an 1861 invasion was the best chance for the Southern cause. I guess it is easy to examine this thru the lens of the wars final result that we are all aware of.

Foote, Shelby. The Civil War, a Narrative. Volume 1., New York: Random House, 1958.

Eight Full Confederate Generals

During the short history of the Confederate States Army there were only seven full generals. Here is a list of them.

Samuel Cooper
Albert Sidney Johnston
P.G.T. Beauregard
Joseph E. Johnston
Robert E. Lee
John Bell Hood
Braxton Bragg
Kirby Smith

Thomas J. Jackson and James Longstreet were not full generals even though the average Civil War buff will tell you that. The Confederate Congress and Jefferson Davis only appoved eight full general commissions during the course of the war. Cooper never took the field, Johnston was killed in 1862, Beauregard/Johnston had checkered histories as field officers, Hood was a failure, Smith bitched a lot but did nothing. Only Lee was successful. Braxton Bragg, like Johnston and Beauregard struggled as a field commander.

History has always interested me because of the connection that historical people have before, during and after the events that made them important. Such is the case of General William T. Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston. Both served on opposite sides during the conflict, fought against one another for the prized city of Atlanta and Johnston surrendered his rebel army to Sherman in April 1865. I am not going to waste time with this blog speaking about the biographies of both men but I would rather engage you the reader on an interesting story between these former enemies.

Our Civil War was unlike any other in history. The high cost of life, the destruction and devastation ranks it among the toughest wars in history. But the unique thing about our Civil War is not about battles, weapons or supplies. Our war was about healing and despite this horrendous conflict many men who were former enemies went home and our nation didn't plunge itself into something worse. Over the long term scheme of things, peace was maintained and people began to rebuild their lives without further bloodshed. Joseph E. Johnston and William T. Sherman were such men.General Sherman died in New York City on February 19, 1891. His body was transferred to St. Louis where the official funeral was held on February 21. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston who had opposed Sherman in Georgia and the Carolinias was there serving as a pallbearer. The day was very cold and Johnston, out of respect for Sherman, carried the casket outside without wearing a hat to shield his head. Old Joe had just turned 82 years old on February 3 and many friends asked him to wear a hat to keep warm. Johnston refused to disrespect Sherman stating "If I were in Shermans place and he were standing here in mine, he would not put on his hat."

This quote shows the respect that the two men had for one another and his final reunion is representative of the reunion that was occurring between the north and south. After Sherman was laid to rest Johnston caught a cold that turned into pneumonia and he died the following month. Johnston, a native Virginian was buried in Baltimore, Maryland. Sherman received several monuments in his honor including one in Washington D.C. Joe Johnston didn't received such acclaim and was vilified by Confederate leaders for not attacking Sherman. In 1912, Johnston received his first and only monument in Dalton, Georgia.