Fri Apr 15, 2016 10:43 am
The Philippi Races were exciting for all involved, but did not lead to a full battle. Floyd's 1st brigade was met on July 2 by the two light brigades from Ohio which had met with General Blenker. The skirmish cost about 100 casualties on both sides and Blenker moved his forces west to secure Charleston.
In June, General Joe Johnston consolidated his forces in Winchester for a move on Harpers Ferry. In order to limit the ability of this force to flank Union forces at Harpers Ferry to the West, Patterson directed a part of his force to secure the rail lines, gaining complete military control over the area. In early July, rail lines secured, Patterson's force consolidated under General Milroy in Harpers Ferry, totaling 19,700. Patterson himself moved West to follow up Floyd's forces retreating through West Virginia. On the 9th day of the month, about 13,600 men under General Joe Johnston arrived and battle ensued. In the first phase of battle, the Stonewall Brigade and Smith's Brigade took the lead, smashing themselves against a broad front of Pennsylvania reserves, a group of 4 light infantry brigades from Pennsylvania, as well as light brigades from Maryland, New Jersey, and light brigades from Patterson's Army of Norther Virginia. The 4th Pennsylvania and the 1st US Infantry Regiment played key roles in the first phase of the battle for the Union. In the second phase, the 4th Pennsylvania was nearly destroyed, but impressively showed no signs of cowardice.
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Another great victory for the Union came the next day at Hattaras Inlet and the Battle of Fort Clark, where 4,500 men under General Butler and C. P. Stone stormed the fort capturing the fort and coastal batteries - particularly due to the efforts of the 1st Maryland Brigade.
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Nathaniel Lyon became famous with his securing of central Missouri. Asboth having secured Jefferson City and loyal militia securing Rolla (where the confederates had burned the depot in a militia-led raid), Lyon began gathering forces in Camden County between Springfield and Jefferson City [incorrectly called Erie in the game, I don't know of any Erie Missouri between Springfield and Jefferson City]. Those forces were waiting the arrival of supply wagons as well as the establishment of depots, which were being built along the Missouri in Jefferson City and Leavenworth, Kansas as well as in Parkersburg, WV. Encamped with about 6,000 men, Lyon was personally accompanied by a brigade of Kansas Mounted Volunteers with General Morrell heading the 2nd Missouri Brigade and General Wood heading a brigade of Western Volunteers. General Shelby led a force of nearly 10,000 including his own accompaniment by a brigade of Missouri Cavalry, and Weightman's Brigade (now under General Thomas) and Bowen's Brigade (now under General Whiting). Morrell's Missouri Brigade performed especially well against an attack by Bowen's (Whiting's) Brigade and one regiment of confederate Missouri militia charged into Lyon's Cavalry but was entirely wiped out through casualty and desertion (no prisoners were captured on either side) when they met a regiment of regular infantry. This battle occurred on July 10.
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Under intense pressure in Virginia, General McDowell led his army across Bull Run Creek on July 13, but were defeated after a short battle against Beauregard. The fighting was relatively bloodless given the sizes of the armies involved, McDowell losing a little over 3,000 of his 30,700 men committed and Beauregard losing just under 2,000 of his 34,400 men involved. Longstreet's brigade (now under Holmes) performed very well for the Confederates, and all men in a regiment of US Cavalry was captured or killed in the engagement.
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Also of note, on that same July 13, a small skirmish took place in Tuscon, Arizona, where a regiment of cavalry routed a New Mexico confederate ranger unit, although there were few if any casualties.
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Across the South, we have a deep appreciation of history -- we haven’t always had a deep appreciation of each other’s history. - Reverend Clementa Pinckney