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| MG Francis P Blair |
A part of
Sherman’s Carolina Campaign, the Battle of Rivers’ Bridge was fought on
February 3rd 1865. This
battle is also known as Salkehatchie River and Owen’s Crossroads.
Confederate
Major General Lafayette McLaws had about 1,200 men posted on the crossings of
the Salkehatchie River. Union soldiers
arrived at the river on February 2nd 1865 and began to build bridges
in order to bypass McLaws’ troops.
The next day
February 3rd 1865 Union Major General Francis P Blair took two
brigades, and march them through the swamp in order to flank the Confederates. McLaws stalled the Union movement for one day,
fighting from behind earthen fortifications, burning the bridges and planning
an ambush, before drawing his troops off toward Branchville.
Out of the
6,200 soldiers involved, there were about 262 men killed many of whom drowned
in the swamp before help could reach them.
3 comments:
the picture is the same for another union general featured earlier in the year
Which one, do you remember?
Thursday January 30, 2014
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