Military History Anniversaries 16 Thru 31 July
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Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 July Events in History over the next 15 day period that had U.S. military involvement or impacted in some way on U.S military operations or American interests Jul 16 1779 – American Revolution: Battle of Stony Point » In a well planned and executed nighttime attack, American Brigadier General Anthony Wayne on the orders of General George Washington launches a coup de main against British fortifications at Stony Point, New York approximately 30 miles north of New York City. He earns the moniker “Mad” Anthony Wayne for the ensuing maneuver. The British fort on the cliffs at Stony Point overlooking the Hudson River threatened West Point, which was only 12 miles upriver. Wayne, at the head of 1,200 light infantry, successfully assaulted what the British believed was an impregnable position, losing only 15 killed and 83 wounded while the British lost 94 killed and wounded and 472 captured. Remarkably, the attack took place under cover of darkness, employed only bayonets as weaponry and lasted a mere 30 minutes. Two days later, Wayne, now dubbed “mad” for his enthusiastic and successful undertaking of a mission that had seemed doomed to failure, destroyed the fortifications and evacuated the area. Congress rewarded Wayne’s efforts with a medal. Much of Wayne’s ensuing career involved divesting Native Americans of their land. Following the victory at Yorktown, Wayne traveled to Georgia, where he negotiated treaties with the Creeks and Cherokees. They paid dearly in land for their decision to side with the British, and Georgia paid Wayne in land—giving him a large plantation—for his efforts on their behalf. In 1794, President George Washington called upon Wayne to bring the ongoing violence with British-backed Indians in the Northwest Territory to a close. Wayne was victorious at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near what is now Toledo, Ohio, and gained much of what would become Ohio and Indiana for the U.S. in the Treaty of Greenville. Jul 16 1861 – Civil War: Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) » At the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25 mile march into Virginia for what will become the first major land battle of the war. The new Union volunteer army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington DC toward the Confederate army under Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard, drawn up behind Bull Run creek west of Centreville. Beauregard's men defended the strategic railroad junction at Manassas, just west of the creek. On July 17th, McDowell sent a small force across Bull Run at Blackburn's Ford to test the Confederate defenses. A brief skirmish ensured, with light casualties and little result. McDowell made plans to attack the north or left end of Beauregard's 1 | P a g e line, while making a simultaneous demonstration where the Warrenton Turnpike crossed the creek at a stone bridge. Early on the 21st, two of McDowell's divisions crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Fighting raged throughout the morning as Confederate forces were driven back to Henry Hill and more Union brigades crossed Bull Run. In the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements arrived via railroad from Gen. Joseph Johnston's army in the Shenandoah Valley, among them a brigade of Virginians under Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. Jackson organized a defense of Henry Hill bolstered by artillery. McDowell also ordered more infantry and artillery to Henry Hill, where the fiercest fighting of the new war occurred. Additional Confederate reinforcements broke the Union right flank, and Jackson held his ground on Henry Hill "like a stone wall." Under counterattack and with no reinforcements, the Federals retreated, and, when pressed hard by the Confederates, rapidly deteriorated into a complete rout. The next day, the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington and the first battle of the war was over. Estimated casualties: U.S. 2896 | Rebel 1982. The emboldened Confederates would fight on for nearly four more years. Jul 16 1862 – Civil War: U.S. Army Ram ‘Queen of the West’ Commissioned » USS Queen of the West was a sidewheel steamer built at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854. She was purchased and commissioned by the United States Department of War in 1862 and fitted out as a ram for Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr.'s Ram Fleet which operated on the Mississippi River in conjunction with the Western Flotilla. On 15 JUL, USS Queen of the West, USS Carondelet, and USS Tyler engaged the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Arkansas in the Yazoo River. The Southern ram escaped into the Mississippi and, heavily damaged, found refuge under the Southern batteries at Vicksburg. On 22 JUL, Queen of the West and USS Essex attacked CSS Arkansas. Despite the Southern guns Essex steamed through a hail of shells past the shore batteries and joined Admiral David Farragut's ships below Vicksburg. Queen of the West rammed CSS Arkansas before rejoining the Western Flotilla ships above the river fortress. In ensuing months, Queen of the West continued to support operations against Vicksburg. On 19 SEP, while escorting two troop transports, she had a short engagement with Confederate infantry and artillery above Bolivar, Mississippi. As the year closed, she was busy clearing the Yazoo of torpedoes and engaging Confederate batteries at Drumgold's Bluff. On February 2, 1863, after ramming and firing incendiary projectiles into the Confederate steamer CSS City of Vicksburg under the fortress's guns, Queen of the West was caught in the conflagration and forced to withdraw downstream, fighting fires in the bow and near her starboard wheel. The next day she forced ashore and captured Confederate steamers O. W. Baker, Moro, and Berwick Bay. On 12 FEB she ascended the Red River and entered the Atchafalaya River where a landing party destroyed Confederate Army wagons. That evening, Southern planters fired into the ship, severely 2 | P a g e wounding the senior naval officer aboard. The next day, in reprisal, she destroyed all nearby buildings. On 14 FEB, Queen of the West captured steamer Era No. 5 some 15 miles above the mouth of the Black River and continued on upstream seeking three vessels reported at Barbin's Landing. Taken under heavy fire by the shore batteries of Fort DeRussy, she ran aground directly under Confederate guns, which pounded her until the captain ordered "abandon ship," and the formidable vessel fell into Confederate hands. The Queen was not burned out of concern for the Captain of the ship, who was wounded and could not be moved. In his official report, he alleged the grounding was done purposely by the replacement pilot, whom he accused in his report of being a rebel sympathizer. During their escape downstream, the pilot also grounded the captured Era No. 5, running the paddles long after contact, whereupon the pilot was placed under arrest. CSS Queen of the West operated thereafter under the Confederate Army. In conjunction with another Confederate ram, CSS Webb, she forced the surrender of USS Indianola in the Mississippi River below Vicksburg on 24 FEB. On April 11, 1863, she was attacked on the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana by Union ships USS Estrella, Calhoun, and Arizona. A shell from Calhoun set fire to Queen of the West's cotton, and her burning wreck drifted down the river for several hours before she grounded and exploded. Jul 16 1862 – U.S. Navy: David Farragut Awarded Admiral » On this day an admiral’s rank was awarded for the first time in the history of the United States. It was created for famous David Farragut, a hero of the U.S. Note that, until then, the rank of an admiral was never used in the U.S., in order to avoid the traditions of the European navies. The term “flag officer” was used for the rank above captain. David Farragut thus became the first admiral in the history of the U.S. Navy. Farragut was born in the American South, in Tennessee. It is interesting that he was born in a place hundreds of kilometers away from the sea, which is actually quite common with admirals. In fact, a considerable number of famous world admirals were born in regions far away from the sea. As a young sailor, Farragut even served on U.S. ships in the Mediterranean Sea. Eventually, he became a captain in the U.S. Navy. When the Civil War broke out in the U.S., Farragut was invited to join the Union (North). This he did, and he faithfully served, although some were suspicious of him because of his southern origin. After one decisive event in the war, he gained such merit in the North that Congress appointed him admiral. A little later, because of his brave performance in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Admiral Farragut became an American legend. When warned by his comrades in the naval battle that enemy torpedoes are on their path, he said roughly: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” This statement of his was later used in American propaganda for patriotic purposes. Jul 16 1863 – Civil War: Draft Riots Continue to Rock New York City » The draft riots enter their fourth day in New York City in response to the Enrollment Act, which was enacted on March 3, 1863. Although avoiding military service became much more difficult, wealthier citizens could still pay a commutation fee of $300 to stay at home. Irritation with the draft dovetailed with opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation of September 1862, which made abolition of slavery the central goal of the war for the Union. Particularly vocal in their opposition were the Democratic Irish, who felt the war was being forced upon them by Protestant Republicans and feared that emancipation of slaves 3 | P a g e would jeopardize their jobs.