Tag: American Civil War

Confederate Civil War hero Colonel W.M. Shy!

CSA: The Body of a Confederate Colonel was Discovered in 1977! (18.11.2025)

The Civil War was now in its waning months. The North’s superior industrial strength and never ending supply of manpower had taken their toll over the downtrodden Confederacy. Everything was going downhill for the Rebels. After the fall of Vicksburg the Union had concentrated practically all its force against the “other Rebel army,” the Army of Tennessee. This army was the last hope for the South. It was led by General John Bell Hood who at this time was a physically beaten and emotionally unstable man. He had lost the use of one arm at Gettysburg and lost a leg at the Battle of Chickamauga. He had to be literally strapped to his horse to travel. Hood’s condition well depicted the general condition of the Army of Tennessee at this stage of the war.

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Confederate Infantry [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993)

CSA: Book Review – “Confederate Infantryman [1861-1865]” By Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton! (16.11.2025)

Osprey Publishing is a British Publishing Company specializing in military history originally based in Oxford. Being English myself – and having been born in Oxford – I appreciate a clear-thinking and non-bias account of historical matters. The book above – Confederate Infantry [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993) – is an extraordinary introduction to the subject of the Confederate Army in general – and the Confederate infantryman in-particular. An estimation of the Confederate causalities sustained during four-years of fighting (1861-1865) is as follows:

Confederate Casualties = 483,026

Killed in Action (KIA) = 94,000

Wounded in Action (WIA) = 194,026

Died of Diseases = 164,000

Died as Prisoners of War (POWs) = 31,000

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last csa casuality

CSA: On How President Jefferson Davis Changed His Opinion on Arming Southern Slaves! (15.11.2025)

Something of an oddity for a man who is often demonised in modern discourse as being the “defender of slavery”. Be that as it may, free Black men did exist in the South – and chose to join the Confederate Army – as free men. As the war wore-on – and the number of the White male population dwindled – it became ever apparent that the only resource the South possessed was its population of Black (male) slaves. General Pat Cleburne (the Irish-British volunteer killed at Franklin during late 1864) had suggested to Davis that the slaves be “freed” and conscripted into the Confederate Army. At the time, the conservative elements of the Confederate Congress refused to consider this idea. Following the Battle of Franklin (30.11.1864) and the huge casualties suffered by the Confederacy – Jefferson Davies decided to exercise his executive power and authorise 40,000 slaves to be co-opted into the Confederate Army to form Labour and Guarding Corps to free-up White soldiers for frontline duty. However, with the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Nashville (16.12.1864) – Davis stated that all slaves should now be freed and recruited into the Confederate Army – BEFORE the Union could get a chance to liberate them – and use these men against the South!

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Above: Early recruiting poster for United States Colored Troops.  Click photo to read about the USCT’s history during the Battle of Nashville

CSA: When Confederate General James Thadeus Holtzclaw Complimented a “Black “ Union Regiment! (10.11.2025)

General Holzclaw Stated, “Five separate colour-bearers, one after the other, seized the fallen flag and attempted to plant it over our works. Each one was shot-down. Urged on by their White Officers – these Black soldiers repeatedly surged against the breastworks. They came only to die!” Indeed, so impressed by the bravery of these Black soldiers was General Holzclaw, that he cited their bravery in his official “Battle Report”. This would be read by the likes of Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis – so such a report contained much significance. Although the Union would win this battle overall – it did not prevail on this small part of the Nashville battlefield. Of course, such stubborn Confederate action only delayed the inevitable defeat – but it did give the Black Regiments (there others that fought during this battle and even around this area) a chance to show the world what they were capable of doing. The Irish-British (Confederate) General Patrick Clayburne 9who had died at the Battle of Franklin) had suggested to Jefferson Davis that the slaves of the South should be “freed” and co-opted into the Confederate Army – but his idea fell on deaf-ears.

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Major General Patrick R. Cleburne leading his men against Federal breastworks, Battle of Franklin, 30 November 1864!

CSA: The Magnificent Confederate Army of Tennessee Attack [30.11.1864] at the Battle of Franklin! (21.10.2025)

The Confederate Army had deployed in an almost Parade Ground formation… As far as the eye could see, the ranks of butternut and grey extended across the gently undulating farm-land. The men were gaunt, many looked like they had been starved – wrote a soldier – and they stood in tattered ranks with their bayonets already fixed on their imported Enfields, Austrians, and captured Springfield rifle-muskets. Their uniforms were threadbare and worn, with many wearing captured Federal clothing. Some had no coats or shoes, and in their haversack, they carried mostly sugarcane and hickory nuts. Nearly all were ragged and dirty. They looked more like a band of robbers than soldiers thought one Federal Private – who saw some captured prisoners. Another Union soldier noted that the Rebels ‘rob our dead because they have nothing to wear – especially for our shoes and coats. They still retained their droopy-felt hats – which gives them a hasty look.’  They are all that the Confederacy could muster – what was left of the hardened spirit of the middle-South. Yet their ragged appearance belied their ultimate worth.

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Major-General Patrick Cleburne - CSA

CSA: Patrick Cleburne – the Irish Private that Rose to Major-General – and Called for the Freeing of the Slaves in the South! (17.7.2025)

As a “British” citizen, Patrick Cleburne joined the 41st Infantry Regiment of Foot of the British Army (serving between 1846-1849) rising to the rank of “Corporal” (and NCO signified by two-chevron stripes worn on the upper-shoulder – pointing-down). He served in the Garrison of Spike Island, situated in Cork Harbour. Here, the British Authorities brutally “processed” ethnic Irish prisoners – and Cleburne got to learn first-hand what anti-Irish racism was really like. Due to this experience, he eventually emigrated with his family to the United States, and was accepted with open arms by the people of Arkansas. He was not interested in preserving slavery and certainly did not own any slaves himself. As he appreciated the kindness of the Southern people – he decided to enlist as a “Private” soldier in the “Yell Rifles” – a local Militia in Arkansas. As these local grass-roots Confederate Units were entirely democratic in nature, all NCOs and Officers were elected by popular vote. This is how Cleburne was elected to the rank of “Captain”. Quite extraordinarily, when the Local Militias and Guards Unit were reformed with many being integrated into Infantry Regiments proper that constituted the Confederate States Army – Patrick Cleburne rose through the ranks to Major-General (CSA).

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