Warriors/Leaders, Merry Christmas from 2nd Infantry Division Museum Staff - William M. Alexander (Director), Yi, Yong Kwon (Deputy Director), PFC Park (Museum Admin.), Mr.Toth (Museum Staff) History for 24-28 December History for 24 December 2ID On 24 DEC 1950, the 2nd Infantry Division’s sector of responsibility for the defense of Wonju, and subsequently Seoul, posed new supply problems for the 2 ID. It was far beyond the established supply points and this caused a strain on the already taxed logistics train. The Division had lost most of its trucks during the winter fighting to the north and now the primitive Korean road network was made all the more taxing and treacherous due to the winter weather which iced the roads and closed many alternative supply routes. US Army On 24 DEC 1864, Union MG Benjamin Butler, commander of the Army of the James, had been detached from the Virginia Theater for an amphibious mission to capture Fort Fisher. Fort Fisher, under the command of Confederate MG Robert Hoke, guarded the port of Wilmington, NC and was known as the Gibraltar of the South. This was the last port of entry the South still controlled and still open for foreign logistical support of the CSA. MG Butler launched his first of unsuccessful attacks against the fort on this day in 1864. History for 25 December. 2ID On 25 DEC 1950, the 2nd Reconnaissance Company moved not of the Division assembly area to Hoengsong where it established a patrol base and commences screening the Division’s west flank. Hoengsong was located north the road junction at Wonju, key terrain is preventing the Communist Forces from being able to continue their offensive south. US Army On 25 DEC 1837, Christmas Day, 1837, COL Zachary Taylors column caught up with the main body of the Seminoles on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee. The Seminoles, led by Alligator, Sam Jones, and the recently escaped Coacoochee, were well positioned in a hammock surrounded by sawgrass. The ground was thick mud, and sawgrass easily cuts and burns the skin. Taylor had about 800 men, while the Seminoles numbered fewer than 400. Taylor sent in the Missouri volunteers first, moving his troops squarely into the center of the swamp. His plan was to make a direct attack rather than encircle the Indians. All his men were on foot. Missouri volunteers formed the first line. As soon as they came within range, the Indians opened with heavy fire. The volunteers broke, and their commander, COL Gentry, fatally wounded, was unable to rally them. They fled back across the swamp. The fighting in the sawgrass was deadliest for five companies of the Sixth Infantry; every officer but one, and most of their non-commissioned officers, were either killed or wounded. When that part of the regiment retired a short distance to re-form, they found only four men of these companies unharmed. Only about a dozen Seminoles had been killed in the battle. Nevertheless, the Battle of Lake Okeechobee was hailed as a great victory for Taylor and the army. Twenty-six U.S. soldiers, including the majority of Taylors officers and NCOs, were killed, with 112 wounded, compared to only 11 Seminoles killed and 14 wounded. No Seminoles were captured, although Taylor did capture 100 ponies and 600 head of cattle. History for 26 December 2ID On 26 DEC 1950, the 2nd Infantry continued its preparations of their defenses in the vital road junction town of Wonju. The town was in the center of the 8th Army line and was critical in preventing the splitting of the 8th Army front. US Army On 26 DEC 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after GEN George Washingtons crossed the Delaware River north of Trenton, NJ, the hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans. The battle significantly boosted the Continental Armys flagging morale, and inspired reenlistments. History for 27 December 2ID On 27 DEC 1944, the high ground of Elsenborn Ridge and two of the three roads to Antwerp remained solidly in American fortified defense zones. The 12th SS Panzer Division, 3rd Panzergrenadier Division, and its supporting Volksgrenadier divisions had beaten themselves into a state of uselessness against the heavily fortified Elsenborn Ridge position. It was the only sector of the American front line on the Battle of the Bulge where the Germans failed to advance. Historian John S.D. Eisenhower noted, ...the action of the 2nd and 99th divisions on the northern shoulder could be considered the most decisive of the Ardennes campaign. The organized retreat of the U.S. 2nd and 99th Divisions to the Elsenborn Ridge line and their subsequent stubborn defensive action blocked the 6th Panzer Armys access to key roads in northern Belgium that they were counting on to reach Antwerp US Army On 27 DEC 1862, Sherman disembarked with three divisions at Johnsons Plantation on the Yazoo River to approach the Vicksburg defenses from the northeast. On December 27, the Federals pushed their lines forward through the swamps toward the Walnut Hills, which were strongly defended. On December 28, several futile attempts were made to get around these defenses. On December 29, Sherman ordered a frontal assault, which was repulsed with heavy casualties, and then withdrew. History for 28 December 2ID On 28 DEC 1950, Ridgway ordered the US 2nd Infantry Division to defend Wonju while placing the division under US X Corps control. US Army On 28 DEC 1835, two companies, totaling 110 men, left Fort Brooke under the command of Major Francis L. Dade. Seminoles shadowed the marching soldiers for five days. On December 28, the Seminoles ambushed the Soldiers, and destroyed the command. Only three men survived, and one, Edwin De Courcey, was hunted down and killed by a Seminole the next day. Two survivors, Ransome Clarke and Joseph Sprague, returned to Fort Brooke. Only Clarke, who died of his wounds later, left any account of the battle from the armys perspective. STN, William M. Alexander COL (R) Director, 2ID Museum
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:26:35 +0000
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