America's Civil War Resource Blog

The Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:21:19 GMT

The Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, sometimes known as the Battle of Forts Hatteras and Clark, was a small but significant engagement that took place on August 28th and 29th of 1861. The ill-equipped and undermanned forts endured bombardment by seven Union warships, to which they were unable to reply. Although casualties were light, the defenders chose not to continue the one-sided contest, and on the second day they surrendered. As immediate results of the battle, Confederate interference with Northern maritime commerce was considerably reduced, while the Union blockade of Southern ports was extended. More importantly, the Federal government gained entry into the North Carolina Sounds. Several North Carolina cities (New Bern, Washington, Elizabeth City, and Edenton among them) were directly threatened. In addition, the sounds were a back door to the Confederate-held parts of Tidewater Virginia, particularly Norfolk.

The battle is significant for several reasons: It was the first notable Union victory of the war; following the embarrassment of First Bull Run (or First Manassas), 21 July 1861, it encouraged supporters of the Union in the gloomy early days. It represented the first application of the naval blockading strategy. It was the first amphibious operation, as well as the first combined operation, involving units of both the United States Army and Navy. Finally, a new tactic was exploited by the bombarding fleet; by keeping in motion, they did much to eliminate the traditional advantage of shore-based guns over those carried on ships.

The Battle was run on the Union Side by Silas Stringham of the Navy and Benjamin Butler of the Army. On the Confederate side the leaders were Samuel Barron of the Confederate Navy and William Martin of the Confederate Army

26th North Carolina

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:49:19 GMT

26th N.C. Regiment "Bravery And Determination"

The 26th North Carolina Regiment started the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg with 800 men. By sunset, 588 of them were either dead or wounded. Yelling like demons, they had courageously charged and taken the formidable federal position on Seminary Ridge. Fourteen colorbearers in the 26th were shot down in succession. One of them was 21 year-old Henry King Burgwyn, the youngest colonel in the Confederate army, who stained the flag with his blood as he fell wrapped in its folds. All 90 soldiers in the 26th's Company F had fallen.

Mustered into Confederate service on August 27, 1861, the 26th Regiment served its first 10 months in eastern North Carolina in an undistinguished effort to contest the foothold made by the Union forces. On June 21, 1862, the regiment arrived at Petersburg, VA., and became a part of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Then began an association that lasted until the regiment's flag was finally and forever furled at Appomattox. The 26th North Carolina at one time was the largest regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia. They participated in some of the hardest-fought battles of the war, including Malvern Hill, Bristoe, and Spotsylvania; but it was Gettysburg that earned them a place in the Civil War record books.

After their disastrous first day at Gettysburg, the 26th was not utilized in the actions fought on the second day. But the third day of the battle found the regiment charging under its battle flag across the fields to the federal position behind the stone wall on Cemetery Ridge. Members of the 26th North Carolina advanced as far as any other of the Confederate troops that took part in Pickett's charge, and like the rest, they paid a terrible price for their bravery and determination. Only 90 soldiers from the 26th North Carolina were able to make their way back to the Confederate lines on Seminary Ridge. The Battle of Gettysburg claimed as casualties 88 percent of the regiment, the highest percentage of casualties for any regiment, North or South, in any battle.

Fascinating Fact: Approximately 2,000 men served in the 26th North Carolina Regiment during the course of the war. Just 131 of them were left to receive their paroles at Appomattox.

August 26, 1861

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:21:37 GMT

Currently content is being added to the calendar for August 26, 1861. There are several interesting events that occurred on this date.

Brigadier General John Floyd, commanding Confederate forces in the Kanawha Valley, crossed the Gauley River to attack Col. Erastus Tyler's tth Ohio Regiment encamped at Kessler's Cross Lanes. The Union forces were surprised and routed. Floyd then withdrew to the river and took up a defensive position at Carnifex Ferry.

An amphibious expedition led by Major General Benjamin Butler and Flag-Officer Silas Stringham, embarked from Fort Monroe to capture Hatteras Inlet, an important haven for blockade-runners.

The Confederate Congress approved an expenditure of $420,000 for the construction of three gunboats to protect the coast and rivers of Florida.

President Lincoln and Secretary Seward, accompanied by Gen. McClellan's staff and escort of dragoons, review Gen. McDowell's army

President Lincoln countermands order of Gen. Fremont: "Intelligent gentlemen at Louisville say the presence of Col. Lovell H. Rousseau's regiment is needed there. Pardon us for countermanding your order to him to join your department."

Battle of Round Mountain

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:33:13 GMT

The Battle of Round Mountain took place on November 19th, 1861 in present day Oklahoma. This is one of the Civil War battles where Native American troops were engaged.

Confederate Colonel Douglas H. Cooper, commander of the Indian Department, wished to remove Chief Opothleyahola, commander of a band of Unionist Creeks and Seminoles from the department.

Cooper set out on November 15, 1861, with about 1,400 men to attack Opothleyahola. Cooper's force rode up the Deep Fork of the Canadian River where they found Chief Opothleyahola's camp deserted.

On November 19, Cooper learned from captured prisoners that part of Opothleyahola's band was erecting a fort at the Red Fork of the Arkansas River. Cooper's men discovered Opothleyahola's men that afternoon and a pitched battled ensued. After a short fight, Opothleyahola's men set fire to the prairie grass and retreated.

The next morning, Cooper advanced on Opothleyahola's new camp but found that the Federal forces had fled. This was the first of three encounters between Opothleyahola's Union bands and Confederate troops. The chief was forced to flee to Kansas at the end of the year.

The Confederate loss in the engagement was 1 captain and 5 men killed, 3 severely and 1 slightly wounded, and 1 missing. Opothleyahola lost about 110 killed and wounded.[citation

An Alaska Link to the Civil War

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:04:04 GMT

With the nomination of Sarah Palin for the Republican Vice Presidential slot there has been a lot of attention to Alaska. The Washington Times recently wrote an article about the war time service of one of Alaska's territorial governors. The article details the service of Lyman E. Knapp, the third territorial governor of Alaska. Knapp was the commander of the 17th Vermont at the end of the war. To read about his service click here.

Riding With Forrest

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:31:08 GMT

I found an interesting civil war article in the Military History section of the Washinton times. Click here to go to a copy of the article. The article is about a black man that had joined the US Colored Troops. He was captured by Forrest and was held as a servant by Forrest's surgeon. He escaped and lived near the battlefield of Stone's River for many years.

Andersonville Prison

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:53:25 GMT

Yesterday my family and I visited Andersonville National Park and The National Prisoner of War Museum. What a powerful experience! It had been some years since I had visited Andersonville. To me, this is one of the must see places of the Civil War. The Park Sevices has done an admirable job of perserving and enhancing the site.

When you first enter the site the signs direct you to the Visitor Center and the National POW museum. This is a very moving experience with information on all POWs and not just a Civil War experience. There is a very well done 30 minute movie with many stories from POWs including Senator John McCain.

We did not get to spend much time in the museum because we wanted to make sure we had enough time for the tour of the Andersonville Prison site and the tour of the Andersonville Military Cemetery. The Park Service provides and tape or CD for the tours for $2. It is a must if you want to do the tour. The tour took us a little less than an hour and we stopped and got out of our car several times.

The experience is very moving and makes you proud to be an American. It makes you think of the suffering and sacrifice that the men at Andersonville and all POWs have gone through in the history of our country. It is very sad to see all the graves of the young men that died there.

Civil War Web Site: December 10, 2007

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:02:00 GMT

The Best of History Web Site:

I recently came across an interesting history Web Site It is called the Best of History Website. It is created by Thomas Daccord (B.A. Princeton University, M.A. Universite de Montreal), Academic Technology Advocate for the Humanities and a history and technology teacher at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. Mr. Daccord is also the President of the Center for Teaching History With Technology, created to help history educators integrate technology into their curriculum. He is also the creator and webmaster of Teaching Literature & Writing With Technology.

The Website covers many different types of history including such topics as American History, Medieval History, European History, etc. Under each topic there are list numerous website with descriptions and ratings.

Along with the website listing are numerous resources for teaching history such as lesson plans and presentations. There is much good material here.

Alabama Sailor Laid to Rest: September 26, 2007

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:15:07 GMT

Here is an interesting article about a sailor's remains that was found while excacating the site of the CSS Alabama. The sailor was laid to rest in a cemetary in Mobile. This is very interesting for those that are interested in Naval History of the Civil War

Museum of the Confederacy: September 25, 2007

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:53:02 GMT

The Museum of the Confedracy has seen a drop off in its attendance in Richmond. It has also been in competition with a local university for space. It has been decided to split the mueseum to several different places in Viginia. Here is a good article about the plans for the museum.