Information courtesy of the
Minnesota Civil War Commemoration Task Force
(www.mncivilwar150.com and “Minnesota Civil War 150” on Facebook)
Major Highlights for the Week
Wednesday November 4, 1863
Confederate General Braxton Bragg sent Lieutenant General James Longstreet’s corps from the Chattanooga area to face Federal Major General Ambrose Burnside’s forces in east Tennessee in an effort to retrieve the Knoxville area into Confederate hands and re-establish communication with Virginia. Because Federal Major General William T. Sherman’s forces were still en route from Vicksburg, Mississippi and had not arrived in Chattanooga yet, Major General Ulysses Grant knew that he could not act upon Chattanooga and had no reinforcements to offer to Burnside. Burnside would have to hold on as best as he could.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis visited James Island along with the forts and batteries around Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
Thursday November 5, 1863
Federal Major General Ulysses Grant, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, hoped that Major General William T. Sherman would arrive in time to allow the Federals to strike Confederate General Braxton Bragg before Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet could attack Major General Ambrose Burnside near Knoxville.
Fighting broke out at Hartwood Church, Virginia; Neosho, Missouri; Vermillionville, Louisiana; Mill Point, West Virginia; Loudon County, Moscow and LaFayette, Tennessee; and at Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Two Federal vessels seized three blockade-runners off of the mouth of the Rio Grande, showing the increasing effectiveness of the blockade. Three other runners were taken off Florida and South Carolina.
Friday November 6, 1863
ENGAGEMENT AT DROOP MOUNTAIN, WEST VIRGINIA
Moving over the mountains of West Virginia from Beverly to Lewisburg, Federal forces under Brigadier General William W. Averell encountered Confederates blocking the road at Droop Mountain. Averell divided his force, sending a major portion of his men on a lengthy detour to the rear of the Confederates under Brigadier General John Echols. By mid-afternoon, the two Federal forces attacked forcing the Confederates to pull away down the pike or scatter into the woods. The engagement enabled the Federals to proceed towards Lewisburg, West Virginia, keeping in effect Averell’s plan to clean out the remnants of Southern opposition and destroy important railroad links between Virginia and the Southwest.
Other fighting broke out at Little Sewell Mountain, West Virginia; Point Isabel and Brownsville, Texas; Rogersville, Tennessee; and at Falmouth, Virginia.
Saturday November 7, 1863
The Army of the Potomac, under Federal Major General George G. Meade, pushed across the Rappahannock River at Rappahannock Station and Kelly’s Ford, with severe engagements at both places. Confederate General Robert E. Lee began withdrawing to the line of the Rapidan River. It was not a major Federal offensive, but the result was the restoration of the positions that existed before the Bristow Campaign.
Sunday November 8, 1863
The Union advance across the Rappahannock River in Virginia continued with fighting at Warrenton, Jeffersonton, Rixeyville, Brandy Station, Stevensburg and Muddy Creek near Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia. None of the fighting was heavy but it indicated that Meade and Lee were not entirely idle. They were both maneuvering and probing for proper opportunities to attack.
In an important change of command, Confederate Major General John C. Breckinridge superseded Lieutenant General Daniel H. Hill in command of the Second Corps of General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee, in another attempt for Bragg to alleviate the ill-feeling between he and his generals.
Monday November 9, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln attended the theater and saw John Wilkes Booth perform in The Marble Heart.
Skirmishing occurred in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory; near Bayou Sara and Indian Bayou, Louisiana; near Weldon, North Carolina; and at Covington, Virginia.
A heavy early snowstorm fell in Virginia as President Jefferson Davis returned to Richmond from his southern tour.
Tuesday November 10, 1863
Since November 7, Fort Sumter had received 1,753 rounds in the Federal bombardment in Charleston Harbor. Confederate casualties were limited to just a few wounded.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of November 4-10, 1863
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Advanced to the Rappahannock Line and was on duty at Kelly’s Ford, Virginia until November 26, 1863.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty in the Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee until November 23, 1863.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in the capture of Little Rock, Arkansas, where they remained for garrison duty until April 28, 1864.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in operations against the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in Alabama until November 23, 1863.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On duty at Canton, Mississippi until November 14, 1863.
6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry - On garrison duty in Minnesota until June 9, 1864.
7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry –On duty in St. Louis, Missouri until April 20, 1864.
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty in Minnesota until May 24, 1864.
9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Moved to Jefferson City, Missouri for duty guarding railroad from Kansas Line to near St. Louis. Stationed at Rolla, Jefferson City, LaMine Bridge, Warrensburg, Independence, Knob Noster, Kansas City, Waynesville and Franklin with headquarters in Jefferson City until April 14, 1864, and at Rolla from April 14 – May 1864.
10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty and provost duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri until April 21, 1864.
1st Regiment Minnesota Cavalry “Mounted Rangers” – On duty at Fort Ripley and Fort Snelling until December 7, 1863.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – On duty along the Tennessee River until November 14, 1863.
Hatch’s Independent Battalion of Cavalry - Organized at Fort Snelling and St. Paul. Companies A, B, C and D marched to Pembina for duty until November 13, 1863.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – On duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until April 4, 1864.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty in the Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee until November 23, 1863.
3rd Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery - Four sections on duty at Pembina, Fort Ripley, Fort Ridgely and Fort Snelling until June 5, 1864.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – Advanced to the Rappahannock Line and Kelly’s Ford, before retiring to Brandy Station, Virginia for duty until November 26, 1863.
