Category Archives: Gen. William Barksdale

A new, romantic view of General Barksdale

This is, by far, the most romantic idealization of Gen. William Barksdale that I’ve ever seen. Especially because of his hair, which here looks quite full on top. He was well-known, however, to be a bald man who wore a toupee when … Continue reading

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Gettysburg, Gen. William Barksdale | Tagged | 4 Comments

First order from Gen. Humphreys

Monday, Aug. 24, 1863, was again clear and warm, according to Spartan Band diarist William H. Hill, who added that there were “no indications of moves by either of the opposing armies.” Instead, there was a first order message from … Continue reading

Posted in Gen. William Barksdale, Humpreys Mississippi Brigade, The Spartan Band, William H. Hill Diary | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Correspondence

Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade’s division commander Gen. Lafayette McLaws wrote his wife, Emily, from his Hagerstown, Maryland headquarters on Tuesday, July 7. “Since I wrote you last we have had a series of terrible engagements out of which God has permitted … Continue reading

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Gettysburg, Gen. James Longstreet, Gen. Lafayette McLaws, Gen. William Barksdale | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Barksdale’s death

No one might ever have known what happened to the Mississippi Brigade’s commander, General William Barksdale, but for the kindness of two Union soldiers: Private David Parker of the 14th Vermont and Musician Robert A. Cassidy of the 148th Pennsylvania. … Continue reading

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Gettysburg, Correspondence, Gen. William Barksdale, The Commanders | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Barksdale’s brigade in the assualt

Civil War artist Mort Kunstler’s sentimental conception of Gen. William Barksdale leading his Mississippi Brigade on Juy 2, 1863, into the line of the Zouaves of the 114th Pennsylvania in the Sherfy farmyard.

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Gettysburg, Gen. William Barksdale | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Mississippi Brigade attacks

By some accounts, Gen. William Barksdale, of Columbus, Mississippi, the 13th Regiment’s colonel at muster in 1861, spent the late afternoon of July 2, 1863, in frustration. He was trying to get his division and corps commanders to allow his … Continue reading

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Gettysburg, Confederate Veteran Magazine, Gen. William Barksdale, Mississippi, The Commanders, The Winston Guards | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Preparing to attack

Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade formed in the Pitzer Woods on Seminary Ridge, behind a low stone wall in the late afternoon of July 2, 1863. It was a clear and warm Thursday. “…the order was given to ‘strip for the fight,’ … Continue reading

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Gettysburg, Gen. James Longstreet, Gen. Lafayette McLaws, Gen. William Barksdale, The Commanders, The Spartan Band | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Gen. Barksdale’s new horse

Fredericksburg, Saturday, May 16, 1863. Spartan Band diarist William H. Hill recorded: “A horse, belonging to the Yankee army, swam the river this morning to our lines.” Independent historian Jess N. McLean noted that Gen. Barksdale took the horse for … Continue reading

Posted in Fredericksburg, Gen. William Barksdale, The Commanders, The Spartan Band, William H. Hill Diary | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

General Barksdale’s report

FREDERICKSBURG, VA., May 15, 1863. MAJOR: When General McLaws moved up the river on the night of April 30, I was temporarily detached from my command, and ordered to report to General Early. My brigade was then at Marye’s Hill, … Continue reading

Posted in Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade, Battles: Fredericksburg, Gen. William Barksdale | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Overrun

Sunday, May 3, it dawned clear and warm, and the Second Battle of Fredericksburg began. “The battle commenced at daylight,” Gen. Barksdale later reported. “A furious cannonading was opened from the enemy’s batteries in town, and along both banks of … Continue reading

Posted in Battles: Fredericksburg, Gen. William Barksdale, Jess N. McLean, William H. Hill Diary | Tagged , | Leave a comment