Tag Archives: Fort Sanders

Reprise: Bird Clark’s quest for an envelope

Posted on November 9, 2012 by

Remains to be seen whether Pvt. Clark of the Thirteenth Mississippi (Chapter Two, The Mississippi Brigade) would have found writing paper with an envelope like one of these, had his unit been successful at Fort Sanders. If he’d “captured” a … Continue reading →

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TheThirteenth Regiment was seriously whittled

Posted on October 30, 2012 by

Within four months of the attack on Fort Sanders, one of the attacking regiments, whose roster had totaled more than 1,000 men at the start of the war, had been seriously whittled. Captain Hugh D. Cameron, originally of the Alamutcha … Continue reading →

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General McLaws’ court martial

Posted on August 3, 2012 by

Although convened in February, 1864, McLaws’ court martial for dereliction of duty in the assault on Fort Sanders at Knoxville, was on-again, off-again, for the next several weeks. Finally, on March 11, the trial commenced at a private home in … Continue reading →

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A neighborhood’s ghost

Posted on June 8, 2012 by

The real Fort Sanders is long gone, but it haunts the Knoxville neighborhood named for it. And the ghost still draws researchers, including retired University of Tennessee archeologist Charlie Faulkner: “The earthwork fort actually stood for decades after the war; there … Continue reading →

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Colors of the 79th New York

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

Battle banner of the 79th New York Cameron Highlanders, principal defenders of the Northwest Bastion of Fort Sanders.

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Kershaw’s Brigade

Posted on January 5, 2012 by

Kerhsaw’s Brigade of South Carolinians didn’t actually fight in the Fort Sanders attack. They were held in reserve. But they provided plenty of sharpshooting (i.e. snipers) during the weeks-long runup to the battle. And there’s a dandy bio about them … Continue reading →

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Burnside’s truce

Posted on October 1, 2011 by

After the attack on Fort Sanders finally ground to a halt, Gen. Lafayette McLaws received the following Union message: “General : Under instructions from Major-General Burnside. commanding the Army of the Ohio. I address you this communication for the purpose … Continue reading →

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Reprise: More First Rhode Island Light Artillery

Posted on September 22, 2011 by

When Gen. Burnside’s Ninth Corps troops marched into Knoxville in September, 1863, history has recorded that some young men of the town were so excited they rushed to join the Union army. Recruitment was more problematic out in the hills, … Continue reading →

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