What was the most significant event on July 3 during the U.S. Civil War?

2016-07-05T21:23:33-04:00

The bloodiest three days in the history of the USA came to an end at Gettysburg in 1863 which would be immortalized as “This Hallowed Ground.”
Vicksburg surrenders to U.S. Grant in 1863. Prior to this in the besieged city, “dogs were seen wandering about Vicksburg. They were destined for the stewpot. Shoe leather and rats were the last resort of sustenance for many adults.” Grant had earned the nickname Unconditional Surrender Grant at Fort Donelson the previous year.
Battle of Gettysburg: Day 3. “Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg at what would come to be known as the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River, thus concluding the Battle of Gettysburg. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles.”
Pickett’s Charge in 1863: “The attacking force has lost more than half of its men. Pickett has lost all three of his brigade commanders, and every one of his fifteen regimental commanders is either dead or wounded.”
Notice the picture at lower right of a “50th reunion at Gettysburg in 1913: Those are former members of Pickett’s division in the foreground, at “Bloody Angle,” and the former Army of the Potomac troops they faced are in the background up at the wall.”
Detailed account of the final day of battle at Gettysburg: “Friday, July 03, 1863 --- Battle of Gettysburg. Pennsylvania. Day 3: This morning, Ewell renews his attacks on Culp’s Hill, but by 9:00 AM it is clear that no progress can be made---Gen. Slocum having reinforced every position there---and he withdraws Johnson’s division. Gen. Lee orders Longstreet to renew his attack on the Federal left, but later changes his mind to an attack on the Federal center on Cemetery Ridge. He is given Pickett’s fresh division from his own corps, and Heth’s Division (commanded now by Pettigrew) and Pender’s Division (commanded by Trimble) in support. Longstreet again voices his well-known opposition to a frontal assault, but Lee overrules him. Longstreet orders Col. E. Porter Alexander to place all available artillery so that they can thoroughly hammer the Union center to weaken it, and to drive the Yankee artillery off the ridge. Alexander places 150 guns or more in position, ready for the bombardment that will begin at 1:00 PM. Longstreet gives orders to Pickett, who will lead the charge after Alexander’s guns soften up the Federal center. Advancing in a two-division front, Pettigrew will line up with Pickett to his right, with Trimble in support of Pettigrew. All told, there will be 13,000 men making this attack.
At about 1:30 PM, the Confederate guns open fire, concentrating on the narrow area of the Union center indicated by General Lee. The Federal artillery soon begins to answer. This is the largest artillery duel on record in the western hemisphere, and it lasts for more than 90 minutes. Brig. Gen. Henry Hunt, who commands the reserve artillery for the Union, orders the Federal guns to fire more slowly in order to cool the guns and to conserve ammunition. Badly damaged guns are replaced by fresh batteries. The Rebels take the Yankees’ slackening fire to mean that the Rebel bombardment has succeeded. Trying to save enough ammunition to support Pickett and Pettigrew, Alexander sends word to Longstreet, who reluctantly gives the order for the assault.
At about 3:00 PM, Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble step out with nine brigades amongst them, emerging from the trees along Seminary Ridge, to cross a mile of open fields. Their front stretches nearly a mile in width, as well. As they come under artillery fire, they took heavy casualties. Rifle fire from the concentrated Yankees hits them as they cross the Emmitsburg Road. As they advance, it becomes clear that they are going to strike the portion of the Union center where Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock is in command.
As Pettigrew’s brigades approached the Union lines, Brockenbrough’s brigade comes under fire on the left flank from the 8th Ohio Infantry, which has come out in front of the Union lines, faced left, and fired into the advancing ranks; Brockenbrough’s Virginians break up and lose all formation, also scattering many of Trimble’s men behind them as they retreat to the rear. The Union artillery fires about 1,600 rounds at the advancing Southerners, and the left flank of the attack does not advance much farther than the Emmitsburg Road. Trimble and what is left of Pettigrew are shattered by concentrated rifle volleys from Alexander Hays’ division, as Hays himself rides up and down his lines, encouraging his men, even though he has two horses shot out from under him. Hancock himself is also constantly exposed to enemy fire, riding in open view to encourage his men. He directs the defense and placement of reinforcements.
Two brigades from Anderson’s division are to support Pickett’s right flank, but Wilcox’s Alabamians and Lang’s Floridians veer away from the route of the Charge in the heavy smoke on the battlefield, and end up leaving a large gap on Pickett’s right. The right flank of the attack---Pickett’s division itself---is endangered by the brigade of Vermont regiments under Stannard, who also move out in front, face to the right, and pour volley after volley into Kemper’s brigade, in particular, and Gen. Kemper faces some of his troops away from the attack to deal with Stannard. Somewhere around this time, Gen. Hancock is hit by a bullet, but refuses to be removed from the field. But the weight of Pickett’s division is about to strike at Gen. John Gibbon’s division, whose brigades (Hall, Webb, and Harrow) who are all packed behind a stone wall that cuts in at an angle near a copse of trees, just south of Hays’ line.
Captain Cowan’s 1st N.Y. Independent Battery fires five cannon loaded with double charges of canister, and the Rebel line in his front simply disappears. Garnett’s brigade begins to shred as they push against Hall’s brigade---some of whom panic and retreat---and Webb’s brigade. The 71st Pennsylvania of Webb’s brigade at first retreats, without orders, leaving a gap. Gen. Armistead with his brigade takes the wall, and driving back the 69th Pennsylvania and capturing two guns. Webb rushes forward the 72nd Pennsylvania. At this moment, the Pennsylvania Reserves, from behind Cemetery Ridge, charge into the fray and stop the Confederate momentum cold. Garnett is down, and Armistead has been mortally wounded. The Southern troops begin to melt away, those who escape capture. The fragments of the massive charge begin to drift westward toward the Confederate lines.
The attacking force has lost more than half of its men. Pickett has lost all three of his brigade commanders, and every one of his fifteen regimental commanders is either dead or wounded.
In case of Pickett’s success, Gen. Jeb Stuart was to ride around the Federal right flank and endanger their retreat route. But a few miles east of the Cemetery Hill, Stuart meets Gen. David Gregg’s Union cavalry, and there is inconclusive fighting, mostly mounted, between the mounted arms of both armies. Finally, a reckless saber charge by newly-promoted Brig. Gen. George A. Custer and his brigade of Michiganders blunts Stuart’s advance, and decides the contest in the Yankee’s favor: one more cavalry defeat for Stuart in a long list of them on this campaign.
In one last tragic incident, Gen. Judson Kilpatrick orders a cavalry charge on the Rebel right flank not far from the Little Round Top: he sends forward the brigade under Brig. Gen. Elon Farnsworth, who is killed as his unsupported brigade is badly mauled in the attempt.
Gen. Meade sees that Lee will not make any more attacks this day, and he decides himself not to use his fresh VI Corps, 18,000 strong, to attack Lee. The Rebels plan to withdraw.
Union Victory.
Losses: Killed Wounded Missing / Captured Total
U.S. 3,155 14,531 5,369 23,055
C.S. 4,708 12,693 5,830 23,231*
* Other sources place Confederate losses closer to 27,000 men.”

Pictures: 1863-07-03 painting of battle of Gettysburg July 3,1863 Pickett’s charge; 1863-07-04 The 69th Pennsylvania Regiment defends the clump of trees; 1863-07-03 Pickett's Charge Map; 1863-07-03 Siege of Vicksburg 3 photo

A. 1862: The Battle of Locust Grove was a Civil War skirmish fought near Locust Grove in present Mayes County, Oklahoma. At sunrise on July 3, 1862, a Union force of approximately 250 men under the command of Col. William Weer overwhelmed a Confederate unit of similar strength led by Col. James J. Clarkson. Weer's troops, consisting of elements of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry and the First Regiment of the Indian Home Guard, were detachments of the Indian Expedition that Weer had led from Kansas into Indian Territory.
Surprised by the Union attack, Clarkson's men offered weak resistance. Many fled and were pursued by Union troops throughout most of the day. About one hundred Confederates died, and approximately one hundred, including Colonel Clarkson, were captured along with sixty wagons, sixty-four mule teams, and a large quantity of supplies. Union casualties totaled three killed and six wounded.
The importance of the battle of Locust Grove was its impact upon Confederate morale in the Cherokee Nation. The Confederate soldiers who escaped capture at Locust Grove retreated toward Park Hill and Tahlequah, causing panic that resulted in large-scale desertions among the pro-Confederate Cherokees.
B. 1863: Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi. White flags began to appear above the Confederate fortifications. Then CSA Gen John Pemberton rode out into no-man’s land — Maj Gen U.S. Grant went to meet him. Pemberton wanted to open negotiation for the surrender of the city and his army.
Early in the war, Grant earned the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” for the terms he bluntly offered to the Confederate garrison at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. He made the same offer at Vicksburg, but Pemberton refused. The two men parted with only an agreement to a brief cease-fire. Later that night, Grant relented. He offered parole to Pemberton and his army, which the Confederate general accepted. The surrender was finalized the next day, July 4, 1863, and the Union army took control of the city. In recognition of that day, the townsfolk of Vicksburg did not celebrate Independence Day for 81 years following the siege.
C. 1863: Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Battle CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg at what would come to be known as the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River, thus concluding the

"Gettysburg: The Third Day - July 3, 1863" Part 17 - American Civil War Anniversary Series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2kHtCBZVAE

FYI SFC William Farrell LTC Thomas Tennant LTC Private RallyPoint Member 1SG Steven Imerman CSM Charles Hayden MSgt James Parker MSgt Private RallyPoint Member CPT Kevin McComas SPC Maurice Evans SFC Ralph E Kelley SSG Bill McCoy SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SMSgt Lawrence McCarter CPT Lawrence Cable LTC Trent Klug PV2 Larry Sellnow SFC Ralph E Kelley 1LT Private RallyPoint Member

"Gettysburg: The Third Day - July 3, 1863" Part 17 - American Civil War Anniversary Series

Experience the personal impact of the events from 1800 to 1859 that led to the American Civil War - a story that transports viewers directly to the frontline...

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 5 at 2016 9:25 PM

2016-07-05T21:25:58-04:00

LTC Stephen F. great read and share, wow, I am going to go with:
1863: Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi. White flags began to appear above the Confederate fortifications. Then CSA Gen John Pemberton rode out into no-man’s land — Maj Gen U.S. Grant went to meet him. Pemberton wanted to open negotiation for the surr
Simply of the implications and importance of the battle/campaign.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 5 at 2016 9:29 PM

2016-07-05T21:29:23-04:00

Great day for the Union - Vicksburg surrenders to US Grant and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia assault on Gettysburg breaks like waves against a rocky shore.
Below are a number of journal entries from 1862 and xx which shed light on what life was like for soldiers and civilians – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Thursday, July 03, 1862: Mary Boykin Chestnut writes in her diary with soberness of the Seven Days’ Battles, and their effect on her circle of neighbors and the Confederacy at large: “July 3d. - Mem says she feels like sitting down, as an Irishwoman does at a wake, and howling night and day. Why did Huger let McClellan slip through his fingers? Arrived at Mrs. McMahan's at the wrong moment. Mrs. Bartow was reading to the stricken mother an account of the death of her son. The letter was written by a man who was standing by him when he was shot through the head. "My God!" he said; that was all, and he fell dead. James Taylor was color-bearer. He was shot three times before he gave in. Then he said, as he handed the colors to the man next him, "You see I can't stand it any longer," and dropped stone dead. He was only seventeen years old.
If anything can reconcile me to the idea of a horrid failure after all efforts to make good our independence of Yankees, it is Lincoln's proclamation freeing the negroes. Especially yours, Messieurs, who write insults to your Governor and Council, dated from Clarendon. Three hundred of Mr. Walter Blake's negroes have gone to the Yankees. Remember, that recalcitrant patriot's property on two legs may walk off without an order from the Council to work on fortifications. . . . If it were not for this horrid war, how nice it would be here. We might lead such a pleasant life. This is the most perfectly appointed establishment - such beautiful grounds, flowers, and fruits; indeed, all that heart could wish; such delightful dinners, such pleasant drives, such jolly talks, such charming people; but this horrid war poisons everything.”

Sunday, July 03, 1864: Per General Sherman: “McPherson drew out of his lines during the night of July 2d, leaving Garrard’s cavalry, dismounted, occupying his trenches, and moved to the rear of the Army of the Cumberland, stretching down the Nickajack; but Johnston detected the movement, and promptly abandoned Marietta and Kenesaw. I expected as much, for, by the earliest dawn of the 3d of July, I was up at a large spy-glass mounted on a tripod, which Colonel Poe, United States Engineers, had at his bivouac close by our camp. I directed the glass on Kenesaw, and saw some of our pickets crawling up the hill cautiously; soon they stood upon the very top, and I could plainly see their movements as they ran along the crest just abandoned by the enemy. In a minute I roused my staff, and started them off with orders in every direction for a pursuit by every possible road, hoping to catch Johnston in the confusion of retreat, especially at the crossing of the Chattahoochee River…Johnston…chose to let go Kenesaw and Marietta, and fall back on an intrenched camp prepared by his orders in advance on the north and west bank of the Chattahoochee, covering the railroad-crossing and his several pontoon-bridges. I confess I had not learned beforehand of the existence of this strong place, in the nature of a tete-du-pont, and had counted on striking him an effectual blow in the expected confusion of his crossing the Chattahoochee, a broad and deep river then to his rear. Ordering every part of the army to pursue vigorously on the morning of the 3d of July, I rode into Marietta, just quitted by the rebel rear-guard, and was terribly angry at the cautious pursuit by Garrard’s cavalry, and even by the head of our infantry columns. But Johnston had in advance cleared and multiplied his roads, whereas ours had to cross at right angles from the direction of Powder Springs toward Marrietta, producing delay and confusion.
Sunday, July 03, 1864: Sherman also gives Federal and Confederate losses over roughly the previous month: “These losses, from June 1st to July 3d, were all substantially sustained about Kenesaw and Marietta, and it was really a continuous battle, lasting from the 10th day of June till the 3d of July, when the rebel army fell back from Marietta toward the Chattahoochee River. Our losses were: Killed and Missing: 1,790; Wounded: 5,740; Total: 7,530
Sunday, July 03, 1864: Johnston makes his statement of losses from the report of his surgeon Foard, for pretty much the same period, viz., from June 4th to July 4th (page 576): Killed: 468; Wounded: 3,480; Total: 3,948
In the tabular statement the “missing” embraces the prisoners; and, giving two thousand as a fair proportion of prisoners captured by us for the month of June (twelve thousand nine hundred and eighty-three in all the campaign), makes an aggregate loss in the rebel army of fifty-nine hundred and forty-eight, to ours of seventy-five hundred and thirty—a less proportion than in the relative strength of our two armies, viz., as six to ten, thus maintaining our relative superiority, which the desperate game of war justified.”

Pictures: 1863-07-03 Hancock at G-burg, Thure de Thulstrup - Adam Cuerden copyright; 1863-07-04 Confederate Assault; 1863-07-03 Gettysburg Day 3 simple map; 1863-07-03 Generals Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet Gettysburg, July 3, 1863
A. Thursday, July 03, 1862: The Battle of Locust Grove was a Civil War skirmish fought near Locust Grove in present Mayes County, Oklahoma. At sunrise on July 3, 1862, a Union force of approximately 250 men under the command of Col. William Weer overwhelmed a Confederate unit of similar strength led by Col. James J. Clarkson. Weer's troops, consisting of elements of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry and the First Regiment of the Indian Home Guard, were detachments of the Indian Expedition that Weer had led from Kansas into Indian Territory.
Surprised by the Union attack, Clarkson's men offered weak resistance. Many fled and were pursued by Union troops throughout most of the day. About one hundred Confederates died, and approximately one hundred, including Colonel Clarkson, were captured along with sixty wagons, sixty-four mule teams, and a large quantity of supplies. Union casualties totaled three killed and six wounded.
The importance of the battle of Locust Grove was its impact upon Confederate morale in the Cherokee Nation. The Confederate soldiers who escaped capture at Locust Grove retreated toward Park Hill and Tahlequah, causing panic that resulted in large-scale desertions among the pro-Confederate Cherokees.
B. Friday, July 03, 1863: Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi. White flags began to appear above the Confederate fortifications. Then CSA Gen John Pemberton rode out into no-man’s land — Maj Gen U.S. Grant went to meet him. Pemberton wanted to open negotiation for the surrender of the city and his army.
Early in the war, Grant earned the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” for the terms he bluntly offered to the Confederate garrison at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. He made the same offer at Vicksburg, but Pemberton refused. The two men parted with only an agreement to a brief cease-fire. Later that night, Grant relented. He offered parole to Pemberton and his army, which the Confederate general accepted. The surrender was finalized the next day, July 4, 1863, and the Union army took control of the city. In recognition of that day, the townsfolk of Vicksburg did not celebrate Independence Day for 81 years following the siege.
C. Friday, July 03, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Battle CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg at what would come to be known as the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River, thus concluding the Battle of Gettysburg. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles.

1. Wednesday, July 03, 1861: The threat of having to confront 18,000 Union soldiers was sufficient for the Confederacy to withdraw their men from their position near Washington DC and the capital was once again deemed to be safe.
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2. Thursday, July 03, 1862: Sterling Price [CS] assumes command of the Army of the West.
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3. Thursday, July 03, 1862 --- Mary Boykin Chestnut writes in her diary with soberness of the Seven Days’ Battles, and their effect on her circle of neighbors and the Confederacy at large: “July 3d. - Mem says she feels like sitting down, as an Irishwoman does at a wake, and howling night and day. Why did Huger let McClellan slip through his fingers? Arrived at Mrs. McMahan's at the wrong moment. Mrs. Bartow was reading to the stricken mother an account of the death of her son. The letter was written by a man who was standing by him when he was shot through the head. "My God!" he said; that was all, and he fell dead. James Taylor was color-bearer. He was shot three times before he gave in. Then he said, as he handed the colors to the man next him, "You see I can't stand it any longer," and dropped stone dead. He was only seventeen years old.
If anything can reconcile me to the idea of a horrid failure after all efforts to make good our independence of Yankees, it is Lincoln's proclamation freeing the negroes. Especially yours, Messieurs, who write insults to your Governor and Council, dated from Clarendon. Three hundred of Mr. Walter Blake's negroes have gone to the Yankees. Remember, that recalcitrant patriot's property on two legs may walk off without an order from the Council to work on fortifications. . . . If it were not for this horrid war, how nice it would be here. We might lead such a pleasant life. This is the most perfectly appointed establishment - such beautiful grounds, flowers, and fruits; indeed, all that heart could wish; such delightful dinners, such pleasant drives, such jolly talks, such charming people; but this horrid war poisons everything.”
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4. Thursday, July 03, 1862 --- McClellan further asks for reinforcements, doubling the number he needs to 100,000. He tells Washington that he has currently no more than 50,000 men under arms, whereas the real number is more like 90,000. His dispatch to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton reflects the tone of insubordination that marks his career, in addition to his defensive attitude: “A simple summary is, that this army has fought every day for a week against superior numbers, holding its own at least, often repulsing the enemy by day, then retiring at night. Our light and heavy guns are saved, with the exception of one. All the wagons are now within the line of pickets, and I hope will all be saved. The army is thoroughly worn-out, and requires rest and very heavy re-enforcements.
Our losses have been very great, for the fighting has been desperate, and officers and men have behaved heroically.
I am in hopes that the enemy is as completely worn-out as we are. He was certainly very severely punished in the last battle. The roads are now very bad. For these reasons I hope that we shall have enough breathing space to reorganize and rest the men and get them into position before the enemy can attack again. I have ordered Burnside to bring up all his available force, and leave to your judgment the question of evacuating New Berne and its dependencies, so as to bring any available men to re-enforce this army. It is of course impossible to estimate as yet our losses, but I doubt whether there are to-day more than 50,000 men with their colors.
To accomplish the great task of capturing Richmond and putting an end to this rebellion re-enforcements should be sent to me rather much over than much less than 100,000 men.
I beg that you will be fully impressed by the magnitude of the crisis in which we are placed. . . .
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5. Friday, July 03, 1863 --- Siege of Vicksburg, Day 42
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6. Friday, July 03, 1863 --- Siege of Port Hudson, Day 37
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7. Friday, July 03, 1863: Lee was suffering from dysentery and this may have affected his decision-making. He believed that the Union force had shored up its flanks fearing that Lee would try to outflank them – not an unusual tactic used by Lee in the past. Lee decided to attack the heart of the Union’s forces believing that he could drive a wedge through the Unionists and that once separated they would withdraw in disarray. However, Lee got his calculations wrong. By now, Meade’s Army of the Potomac numbered 85,000 to Lee’s 75,000. At 13.00 the South started an artillery bombardment on Union positions. However, by 15.00, the South’s supply of artillery shells had run low and they could not sustain the bombardment. Lee resorted to a full-scale infantry charge. 13,000 men armed with rifles and bayonets from Major-General Pickett’s division charged Union positions. 7,000 were killed or wounded and the division retreated in disorder. Acknowledging that he had made the wrong decision, Lee, riding among the survivors said, “This was all my fault. It is I that has lost this fight, and you must help me out of it the best you can.”
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8. Friday, July 03, 1863: Siege of Port Hudson: A countermine is set off near one of the Federal mines, which collapses but causes no casualties. (25)
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9. Friday, July 03, 1863: Tennessee operations/Tullahoma campaign: Forrest divides his men, some of whom continue to hold the pass. There are numerous skirmishes throughout this time period, but Hardee’s corps does get through the pass.
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10. Friday, July 03, 1863: Morgan’s Great Raid: The Confederate raiders reach the newly constructed Federal defensive works at Tebb’s Bend on the Green River, manned by a detachment of Michigan infantry. Morgan decides to attack it.
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11. Sunday, July 03, 1864: Washington DC was awash with rumours that the South was about to launch an attack on it; the numbers talked about were grossly inflated but this would have fitted in with Lee’s desire to destroy the Ohio-Baltimore railway.
{[historylearningsite.co.uk/the-american-civil-war/american-civil-war-july-1864/
12. Sunday, July 03, 1864: Sherman continued his advance on Atlanta.
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13. Sunday, July 03, 1864: Georgia operations, Atlanta campaign: Federal troops push past Kenesaw Mountain and pass through Marietta. General Johnston’s Army of Tennessee slows them down with skirmishes at Big Shanty, Sweetwater Bridge, Kingston and Ruff’s Mills. There are minor actions at Vining’s Station and along Nickajack Creek.
{[bjdeming.com/2014/06/29/the-american-civil-war-150th-anniversary-june-30-july-6-1864/
14. Sunday, July 03, 1864: Per General Sherman: “McPherson drew out of his lines during the night of July 2d, leaving Garrard’s cavalry, dismounted, occupying his trenches, and moved to the rear of the Army of the Cumberland, stretching down the Nickajack; but Johnston detected the movement, and promptly abandoned Marietta and Kenesaw. I expected as much, for, by the earliest dawn of the 3d of July, I was up at a large spy-glass mounted on a tripod, which Colonel Poe, United States Engineers, had at his bivouac close by our camp. I directed the glass on Kenesaw, and saw some of our pickets crawling up the hill cautiously; soon they stood upon the very top, and I could plainly see their movements as they ran along the crest just abandoned by the enemy. In a minute I roused my staff, and started them off with orders in every direction for a pursuit by every possible road, hoping to catch Johnston in the confusion of retreat, especially at the crossing of the Chattahoochee River…Johnston…chose to let go Kenesaw and Marietta, and fall back on an intrenched camp prepared by his orders in advance on the north and west bank of the Chattahoochee, covering the railroad-crossing and his several pontoon-bridges. I confess I had not learned beforehand of the existence of this strong place, in the nature of a tete-du-pont, and had counted on striking him an effectual blow in the expected confusion of his crossing the Chattahoochee, a broad and deep river then to his rear. Ordering every part of the army to pursue vigorously on the morning of the 3d of July, I rode into Marietta, just quitted by the rebel rear-guard, and was terribly angry at the cautious pursuit by Garrard’s cavalry, and even by the head of our infantry columns. But Johnston had in advance cleared and multiplied his roads, whereas ours had to cross at right angles from the direction of Powder Springs toward Marrietta, producing delay and confusion.
[[bjdeming.com/2014/06/29/the-american-civil-war-150th-anniversary-june-30-july-6-1864/
15. Sunday, July 03, 1864: Sherman also gives Federal and Confederate losses over roughly the previous month: “These losses, from June 1st to July 3d, were all substantially sustained about Kenesaw and Marietta, and it was really a continuous battle, lasting from the 10th day of June till the 3d of July, when the rebel army fell back from Marietta toward the Chattahoochee River. Our losses were: Killed and Missing: 1,790; Wounded: 5,740; Total: 7,530
[[bjdeming.com/2014/06/29/the-american-civil-war-150th-anniversary-june-30-july-6-1864/
Sunday, July 03, 1864: Johnston makes his statement of losses from the report of his surgeon Foard, for pretty much the same period, viz., from June 4th to July 4th (page 576): Killed: 468; Wounded: 3,480; Total: 3,948
In the tabular statement the “missing” embraces the prisoners; and, giving two thousand as a fair proportion of prisoners captured by us for the month of June (twelve thousand nine hundred and eighty-three in all the campaign), makes an aggregate loss in the rebel army of fifty-nine hundred and forty-eight, to ours of seventy-five hundred and thirty—a less proportion than in the relative strength of our two armies, viz., as six to ten, thus maintaining our relative superiority, which the desperate game of war justified.
{[bjdeming.com/2014/06/29/the-american-civil-war-150th-anniversary-june-30-july-6-1864/
16. Wednesday, July 03, 1867: House Select Committee on Reconstruction is appointed.
{[blueandgraytrail.com/year/1867

A Thursday, July 03, 1862: The Battle of Locust Grove was a Civil War skirmish fought near Locust Grove in present Mayes County, Oklahoma. At sunrise on July 3, 1862, a Union force of approximately 250 men under the command of Col. William Weer overwhelmed a Confederate unit of similar strength led by Col. James J. Clarkson. Weer's troops, consisting of elements of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry and the First Regiment of the Indian Home Guard, were detachments of the Indian Expedition that Weer had led from Kansas into Indian Territory.
Surprised by the Union attack, Clarkson's men offered weak resistance. Many fled and were pursued by Union troops throughout most of the day. About one hundred Confederates died, and approximately one hundred, including Colonel Clarkson, were captured along with sixty wagons, sixty-four mule teams, and a large quantity of supplies. Union casualties totaled three killed and six wounded.
The importance of the battle of Locust Grove was its impact upon Confederate morale in the Cherokee Nation. The Confederate soldiers who escaped capture at Locust Grove retreated toward Park Hill and Tahlequah, causing panic that resulted in large-scale desertions among the pro-Confederate Cherokees.
{[okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=LO003]}
Friday, July 03, 1863: Evelington Heights, Virginia - On July 3, Brig. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart and his Confederate force entered Evelington Heights. There was a Union cavalry squadron there and they quickly withdrew from the area. From the heights, Stuart could see the Union camps of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan.
At 9:00 A.M., Stuart ordered his artillery to open fire on the Union camp. He also had a special weapon that he unleashed on the Union camp. It was a Congreive rocket battery. The rocket would launch and when it struck a target, it would leap and turn in different directions. This caused considerable damage. Unfortunately, a few of the rockets hit the ground, bounced in the direction of the Confederates, and headed back there. This caused the Confederacy to abandon this weapon for the rest of the war. Stuart advised Gen. Robert E. Lee of the situation. lee informed him that reinforcements were on the way.
At 2:00 P.M., the Federals moved some artillery within range of the Confederate position and opened fire. Stuart received a message that informed him that the reinforcements would be late in arriving. This left Stuart with no choice but to withdraw from his position. After the Confederates left Evelington Heights, the Federals took over the position and began to fortify it.
{[.mycivilwar.com/battles/1862s.html]]
B Friday, July 03, 1863: Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi.: Fact #8: Grant demanded an unconditional surrender at Vicksburg—and was rebuffed. On July 3, 1863, white flags began to appear above the Confederate fortifications. Then John Pemberton rode out into no-man’s land—Grant went to meet him. Pemberton wanted to open negotiation for the surrender of the city and his army.
Early in the war, Grant earned the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” for the terms he bluntly offered to the Confederate garrison at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. He made the same offer at Vicksburg, but Pemberton refused. The two men parted with only an agreement to a brief cease-fire. Later that night, Grant relented. He offered parole to Pemberton and his army, which the Confederate general accepted. The surrender was finalized the next day, July 4, 1863, and the Union army took control of the city. In recognition of that day, the townsfolk of Vicksburg did not celebrate Independence Day for 81 years following the siege.
Fact #9: The capture of Vicksburg split the Confederacy in half and was a major turning point of the Civil War. In the few days it took for Grant’s message announcing the capture of Vicksburg to reach Abraham Lincoln, the President had also received word that Port Hudson, the only other Confederate stronghold left on the Mississippi, had also fallen. “The Father of Waters once again goes unvexed to the sea,” he proclaimed.
With no length of the Mississippi River now safe from Union power, the Confederacy was unable to send supplies or communications across its breadth. Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas were cut off from the rest of the rebellious nation. This was doubly damaging, as the Texas-Mexico border was a favorite route of secessionist suppliers and the possibility of French intervention across the border was precluded by the nigh-impassable boundary of a Union-held Mississippi River. The fall of Vicksburg came just one day after the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg, prompting many to point to early July, 1863 as the turning point of the Civil War.
{[.civilwar.org/battlefields/vicksburg/vicksburg-history-articles/10-facts-about-vicksburg.html
B+ Friday, July 03, 1863: The siege of Vicksburg: CS General John Bowen, a friend of Ulysses Grant before the war, now so sick with dysentery that it’s all he can do to mount his horse, rides out of the city with an aide, holding a flag of truce. For the first time in 47 days, the firing completely ceases.
General Bowen reaches General Grant’s tent, but Grant refuses to discuss terms of surrender. It’s unconditional surrender or nothing. Grant does send a note back to Pemberton indicating a willingness to meet with the Confederate commander at 3 p.m. The commander of the Vicksburg garrison agrees, and the two men meet at a spot about halfway between the two camps, as all the men in blue and gray look on.
Grant sticks to his demand for unconditional surrender, and Pemberton, angered, starts to leave, but General Bowen (who will die of his dysentery in ten days) manages to settle things down. Grant finally agrees to let his staff discuss terms with Pemberton’s staff, and when that’s done, tells Pemberton that he will offer his final terms that evening.
Back at their own camps, each commander calls a meeting of generals. It turns out that Pemberton was correct: Grant’s generals are overjoyed that the city will surrender on the Fourth of July and are also sympathetic to Pemberton’s request that his men not be sent to prison. That evening, Grant sends Pemberton his final terms, which include the offer of parole.
The meeting is over and Grant and his now 13-year-old son Fred are left alone in the tent. Fred said later: “I remained in the tent, sitting on my little cot and feeling restless, but scarcely knowing why. Father sat at his table writing. Presently a messenger handed father a note. He opened it, gave a sigh of relief, and said calmly : “Vicksburg has surrendered.” I was thus the first to hear the news officially announced of the fall of the Gibraltar of America … .”
{[bjdeming.com/2013/07/01/the-american-civil-war-150th-anniversary-july-1-7-1863/
Friday, July 03, 1863: On what was a disastrous day for the Confederacy, on July 3rd Pemberton offered the surrender of Vicksburg. Grant insisted on and got an unconditional surrender of the Confederate forces based in the besieged town.
{[historylearningsite.co.uk/the-american-civil-war/american-civil-war-july-1863/
B+ Friday, July 03, 1863: John Pemberton, commander of Confederate forces at Vicksburg asks Ulysses S. Grant for terms. Grant demands an unconditional surrender. Pemberton refuses. Late in the evening, Grant offers excellent terms and Pemberton accepts.
{[blueandgraytrail.com/year/186307
Friday, July 03, 1863 --- Gen. John C. Pemberton, commander of the Rebel army in Vicksburg, sends a request for terms of surrender for Vicksburg. Grant agrees to parole the Confederate prisoners, but will not allow them to keep their “body servants” as personal property.
{[civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=July+3%2C+1863
Friday, July 03, 1863: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Pickett's Charge (Cemetery Hill)
• Culp's Hill
• East Cavalry Field
• South Cavalry Field
• Skirmish at Fairfield, Pennsylvania
{[emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/civil_war/engagements_in_the_emmitsburg_area.htm
Friday, July 03, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. General Robert E. Lee [CS] advances into Pennsylvania where he meets George Meade [US]. First battling north of the city, by the second day Union forces had retreated south, forming a strong line as men arrived almost continuously. On the third day, the infamous Pickett's Charge marked the end of the Confederates hope for a victory
The bloodiest three days in American history
{{blueandgraytrail.com/year/186307
C Friday, July 03, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg. Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg at what would come to be known as the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River, thus concluding the Battle of Gettysburg. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles.
{[civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/maps/pickettscharge.html
C+ Friday, July 03, 1863 --- Battle of Gettysburg. Pennsylvania. Day 3: This morning, Ewell renews his attacks on Culp’s Hill, but by 9:00 AM it is clear that no progress can be made---Gen. Slocum having reinforced every position there---and he withdraws Johnson’s division. Gen. Lee orders Longstreet to renew his attack on the Federal left, but later changes his mind to an attack on the Federal center on Cemetery Ridge. He is given Pickett’s fresh division from his own corps, and Heth’s Division (commanded now by Pettigrew) and Pender’s Division (commanded by Trimble) in support. Longstreet again voices his well-known opposition to a frontal assault, but Lee overrules him. Longstreet orders Col. E. Porter Alexander to place all available artillery so that they can thoroughly hammer the Union center to weaken it, and to drive the Yankee artillery off the ridge. Alexander places 150 guns or more in position, ready for the bombardment that will begin at 1:00 PM. Longstreet gives orders to Pickett, who will lead the charge after Alexander’s guns soften up the Federal center. Advancing in a two-division front, Pettigrew will line up with Pickett to his right, with Trimble in support of Pettigrew. All told, there will be 13,000 men making this attack.
At about 1:30 PM, the Confederate guns open fire, concentrating on the narrow area of the Union center indicated by General Lee. The Federal artillery soon begins to answer. This is the largest artillery duel on record in the western hemisphere, and it lasts for more than 90 minutes. Brig. Gen. Henry Hunt, who commands the reserve artillery for the Union, orders the Federal guns to fire more slowly in order to cool the guns and to conserve ammunition. Badly damaged guns are replaced by fresh batteries. The Rebels take the Yankees’ slackening fire to mean that the Rebel bombardment has succeeded. Trying to save enough ammunition to support Pickett and Pettigrew, Alexander sends word to Longstreet, who reluctantly gives the order for the assault.
At about 3:00 PM, Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble step out with nine brigades amongst them, emerging from the trees along Seminary Ridge, to cross a mile of open fields. Their front stretches nearly a mile in width, as well. As they come under artillery fire, they took heavy casualties. Rifle fire from the concentrated Yankees hits them as they cross the Emmitsburg Road. As they advance, it becomes clear that they are going to strike the portion of the Union center where Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock is in command.
As Pettigrew’s brigades approached the Union lines, Brockenbrough’s brigade comes under fire on the left flank from the 8th Ohio Infantry, which has come out in front of the Union lines, faced left, and fired into the advancing ranks; Brockenbrough’s Virginians break up and lose all formation, also scattering many of Trimble’s men behind them as they retreat to the rear. The Union artillery fires about 1,600 rounds at the advancing Southerners, and the left flank of the attack does not advance much farther than the Emmitsburg Road. Trimble and what is left of Pettigrew are shattered by concentrated rifle volleys from Alexander Hays’ division, as Hays himself rides up and down his lines, encouraging his men, even though he has two horses shot out from under him. Hancock himself is also constantly exposed to enemy fire, riding in open view to encourage his men. He directs the defense and placement of reinforcements.
Two brigades from Anderson’s division are to support Pickett’s right flank, but Wilcox’s Alabamians and Lang’s Floridians veer away from the route of the Charge in the heavy smoke on the battlefield, and end up leaving a large gap on Pickett’s right. The right flank of the attack---Pickett’s division itself---is endangered by the brigade of Vermont regiments under Stannard, who also move out in front, face to the right, and pour volley after volley into Kemper’s brigade, in particular, and Gen. Kemper faces some of his troops away from the attack to deal with Stannard. Somewhere around this time, Gen. Hancock is hit by a bullet, but refuses to be removed from the field. But the weight of Pickett’s division is about to strike at Gen. John Gibbon’s division, whose brigades (Hall, Webb, and Harrow) who are all packed behind a stone wall that cuts in at an angle near a copse of trees, just south of Hays’ line.
Captain Cowan’s 1st N.Y. Independent Battery fires five cannon loaded with double charges of canister, and the Rebel line in his front simply disappears. Garnett’s brigade begins to shred as they push against Hall’s brigade---some of whom panic and retreat---and Webb’s brigade. The 71st Pennsylvania of Webb’s brigade at first retreats, without orders, leaving a gap. Gen. Armistead with his brigade takes the wall, and driving back the 69th Pennsylvania and capturing two guns. Webb rushes forward the 72nd Pennsylvania. At this moment, the Pennsylvania Reserves, from behind Cemetery Ridge, charge into the fray and stop the Confederate momentum cold. Garnett is down, and Armistead has been mortally wounded. The Southern troops begin to melt away, those who escape capture. The fragments of the massive charge begin to drift westward toward the Confederate lines.
The attacking force has lost more than half of its men. Pickett has lost all three of his brigade commanders, and every one of his fifteen regimental commanders is either dead or wounded.
In case of Pickett’s success, Gen. Jeb Stuart was to ride around the Federal right flank and endanger their retreat route. But a few miles east of the Cemetery Hill, Stuart meets Gen. David Gregg’s Union cavalry, and there is inconclusive fighting, mostly mounted, between the mounted arms of both armies. Finally, a reckless saber charge by newly-promoted Brig. Gen. George A. Custer and his brigade of Michiganders blunts Stuart’s advance, and decides the contest in the Yankee’s favor: one more cavalry defeat for Stuart in a long list of them on this campaign.
In one last tragic incident, Gen. Judson Kilpatrick orders a cavalry charge on the Rebel right flank not far from the Little Round Top: he sends forward the brigade under Brig. Gen. Elon Farnsworth, who is killed as his unsupported brigade is badly mauled in the attempt.
Gen. Meade sees that Lee will not make any more attacks this day, and he decides himself not to use his fresh VI Corps, 18,000 strong, to attack Lee. The Rebels plan to withdraw.
Union Victory.
Losses: Killed Wounded Missing / Captured Total
U.S. 3,155 14,531 5,369 23,055
C.S. 4,708 12,693 5,830 23,231*
* Other sources place Confederate losses closer to 27,000 men.
{[civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=July+3%2C+1863
The birth of the Custer legend on July 3rd, 1863
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZsJm3SHBJY
FYI SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D MAJ Roland McDonald SSG Bill McCoy SSG Franklin Briant CPO William Glen (W.G.) PowellMSG Greg KellyLTC Thomas Tennant GySgt Jack Wallace LTC Private RallyPoint Member SSG William Jones SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT Tiffanie G. CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D LTC Private RallyPoint Member LTC Trent Klug SFC Ralph E Kelley SFC William Farrell SrA Ronald Moore

The birth of the Custer legend on July 3rd, 1863

Custer leads the Michigan Brigade against JEB Stuart. In conjunction with General Gregg, Custer plays a vital role in protecting the Union Army's right flank...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 5 at 2016 9:31 PM

2016-07-05T21:31:45-04:00

50 years after the battle of Gettysburg ended on July 3, 1913 a “50th reunion at Gettysburg in 1913: Those are former members of Pickett’s division in the foreground, at “Bloody Angle,” and the former Army of the Potomac troops they faced are in the background up at the wall.”

In 1913, [prior to the Great War -WWI] reconciliation was a personal primarily
GETTYSBURG REUNION 1913 - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7hA0XKhcJ0

FYI SPC Deb Root-White Lt Col Charlie Brown CWO2 John HeinzlGySgt Jack Wallace SPC Diana D. CWO4 Terrence Clark SPC Michael Oles SR [SPC Michael Terrell TSgt David L. CPL Ronald Keyes Jr PO1 John Johnson SPC Private RallyPoint Member SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley SFC Randy Purham MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca Maj Kim Patterson SSG Ed Mikus PFC Eric Minchey TSgt George Rodriguez

GETTYSBURG REUNION 1913

This is a high resolution visual of the 1913 50th anniversary reunion at Gettysburg. 53,407 veterans showed up, 8,750 of them were confederates and was the ...

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jul 5 at 2016 10:46 PM

2016-07-05T22:46:51-04:00

Great picture and the video was something LTC Stephen F.. Im leaving for Irleand shortly so I hope I can watch it later. Thanks.

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 6 at 2016 7:10 AM

2016-07-06T07:10:33-04:00

Very bloody! Thanks for sharing this day in Civil War history LTC Stephen F..

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Jul 6 at 2016 8:24 AM

2016-07-06T08:24:07-04:00

Thanks for the great history post LTC Stephen F. - looks like it's going to be a three cup day for coffee.

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Jul 6 at 2016 9:31 AM

2016-07-06T09:31:27-04:00

Thanks for sharing LTC Stephen F. Bloody day's during this engagement.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 3 at 2022 9:35 AM

2022-07-03T09:35:45-04:00

Excellent history lesson sir LTC Stephen F.