lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 13, 2024 8:39:08 GMT
Day 308 of the United States Civil War, February 13th 1862District of Columbia(United States) President Abraham Lincoln issued a Executive Order: February 13, 1862
War Department
Ordered , I. That all applications to go south across the military lines of the United States be made to Major-General John A. Dix, commanding at Baltimore, who will grant or refuse the same at his discretion.
2. That all prisoners of war and other persons imprisoned by authority of any department of the Government who shall be released on parole or exchange shall report themselves immediately on their arrival at Baltimore to Major-General Dix and be subject to his direction while remaining in that city. Any failure to observe this order will be taken as a forfeiture of the parole or exchange.
The regulation heretofore existing which required passes across the military lines of the United States to be signed by the Secretary of State and countersigned by the General Commanding is rescinded.
By order of the President:
Edwin M. Stanton.
Secterary of War.VirginiaSkirmish at Blooming Gap. The following are appointed Brigadier Generals in the Confederate States Army: - James Ronald Chalmers. - Joseph Brevard Kershaw. West VirginiaDelegates at the Constitutional Convention passed Battelle's proposal with only one vote against. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Edward Johnson, at Camp Allegheny, issued orders prohibiting liquor in items sent to officers and men: Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, Army N. West.
Special Order
No. 16.
Camp Alleghany,
Feb. 13, 1862.
In future, all boxes, bundles, packages, &c., containing articles for the officers or men of this Command, or for sale, will be subjected to a strict search at the outer pickets, and re-examined at the office of the Provost Marshal. Should liquor of any kind be found therein, unless special permission has been given the party by the General Commanding, the whole contents, liquor, clothing, eatables, &c, will be confiscated, and the persons so offending punished to the full extent of military law.
By command of
Brig. Gen. Ed. Johnson,
Commanding Line.
Edward Willis,
Asst. Adjt. Gen.GeorgiaThe UNADILLA-class gunboat USS PEMBINA discovered a battery of “torpedoes” (mines) in the Savannah River while engaged in sounding above the mouth of Wright’s River. The torpedoes, only visible at low tide, were connected by wires and moored individually to the bottom. Over the following two days, United States Navy, Lieutenant John P Bankhead returned to remove one of the ”infernal machines” for examination. He sank the remaining torpedoes by rifle fire. Harper's Weekly: USS PEMBINA when she was under construction at Thomas Stack's Williamsburg shipyard, 1861 MissouriThe United States Army of the Southwest under United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis occupied Springfield after it was evacuated by the Confederates. Missouri State Guard Major General Sterling Price retreated with about 8,000 men towards Cassville. Price’s two brigades were led by Colonel Lewis Henry Little and Missouri State Guard Brigadier General William Yarnel Slack. Price intended to join forces with Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch in Arkansas and was being pursued towards Cassville by two United States divisions under United States Army, Brigadier General Jefferson Columbus Davis and United States Army, Brigadier-General Eugene Asa Carr. Two other United States divisions (Colonel Peter Joseph Osterhaus and Brigadier General Alexander Asboth) were detached under the independent command of United States Army, Brigadier General Franz Sigel to proceed by way of Little York, Marionville, and Verona. The aim was for the two United States columns to reunite at McDowell’s, just north of Cassville. North CarolinaExpedition to Batchelder’s Creek ended. TennesseeSkirmish at Fort Heiman involving Confederate States Army, Lieutenant Colonel J H Miller (1st Battalion Mississippi Cavalry). New Mexico TerritoryDuring the evening, Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley led his Army of New Mexico with 2,500 men across the Rio Grande River and up the east side of the river to the ford at Valverde, north of Fort Craig. Sibley deployed his brigade in a line for the next three days, hoping to lure the Union troops into the open. United States Army, Colonel Edward Richard Sprigg Canby did not have full confidence in his volunteers and he refused the temptation to leave the fort to attack Sibley. (Tennessee) Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers - Battle of Fort DonelsonSeveral small probing attacks were carried out against the Confederate defenses, essentially ignoring orders from United States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant that no general engagement be provoked. On the United States left, C. F. Smith sent two of his four brigades (under Cols. Jacob Lauman and John Cook) to test the defenses along his front. The attack suffered light casualties and made no gains, but Smith was able to keep up a harassing fire throughout the night. On the right, McClernand also ordered an unauthorized attack. Two regiments of United States Army, Colonel William R. Morrison's brigade, along with one regiment, the 48th Illinois Infantry Regiment (United States), from United States Army, Colonel W.H.L. Wallace's brigade, were ordered to seize a battery ("Redan Number 2") that had been plaguing their position. Isham N. Haynie, colonel of the 48th Illinois Infantry Regiment (United States), was senior in rank to United States Army, Colonel Morrison. Although rightfully in command of two of the three regiments, Morrison volunteered to turn over command once the attack was under way; however, when the attack began, Morrison was wounded, eliminating any leadership ambiguity. For unknown reasons Haynie never fully took control and the attack was repulsed. Some wounded men caught between the lines burned to death in grass fires ignited by the artillery. Map: Positions and skirmishing on February 13, 1862 United States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant had United States Navy, Commander Henry Walke bring the USS CARONDELET up the Cumberland River to create a diversion by opening fire on the fort. The Confederates responded with shots from their long-range guns and eventually hit the gunboat. Walke retreated several miles below the fort, but soon returned and continued shelling the water batteries. United States Army, General McClernand, in the meantime, had been attempting to stretch his men toward the river but ran into difficulties with a Confederate battery of guns. McClernand ultimately decided that he did not have enough men to stretch all the way to the river, so Grant decided to call on more troops. He sent orders to United States Army, General Wallace, who had been left behind at Fort Henry, to bring his men to Fort Donelson. Drawing: CARONDELET fighting Fort Donelson With Floyd's arrival to take command of Fort Donelson, Pillow took over leading the Confederate left. Feeling overwhelmed, Floyd left most of the actual command to Pillow and Buckner. At the end of the day, there had been several skirmishes, but the positions of each side were essentially the same. The night progressed with both sides fighting the cold weather. Although the weather had been mostly rainy up to this point in the campaign, a snow storm arrived the night of February 13, with strong winds that brought temperatures down to 10–12 °F (−12 °C) and deposited 3 inches (8 cm) of snow by morning. Guns and wagons were frozen to the earth. Because of the proximity of the enemy lines and the active sharpshooters, the soldiers could not light campfires for warmth or cooking, and both sides were miserable that night, many having arrived without blankets or overcoats.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 14, 2024 3:50:38 GMT
Day 309 of the United States Civil War, February 14th 1862District of Columbia(United States) President Abraham Lincoln issued Executive Order No. 1—Relating to Political Prisoners: War Department
The breaking out of a formidable insurrection based on a conflict of political ideas, being an event without precedent in the United States, was necessarily attended by great confusion and perplexity of the public mind. Disloyalty before unsuspected suddenly became bold, and treason astonished the world by bringing at once into the field military forces superior in number to the standing Army of the United States.
Every department of the Government was paralyzed by treason. Defection appeared in the Senate, in the House of Representatives, in the Cabinet, in the Federal courts; ministers and consuls returned from foreign countries to enter the insurrectionary councils or land or naval forces; commanding and other officers of the Army and in the Navy betrayed our councils or deserted their posts for commands in the insurgent forces. Treason was flagrant in the revenue and in the post-office service, as well as in the Territorial governments and in the Indian reserves.
Not only governors, judges, legislators, and ministerial officers in the States, but even whole States rushed one after another with apparent unanimity into rebellion. The capital was besieged and its connection with all the States cut off.
Even in the portions of the country which were most loyal political combinations and secret societies were formed furthering the work of disunion, while, from motives of disloyalty or cupidity or from excited passions or perverted sympathies, individuals were found furnishing men, money, and materials of war and supplies to the insurgents' military and naval forces. Armies, ships, fortifications, navy-yards, arsenals, military posts, and garrisons one after another were betrayed or abandoned to the insurgents.
Congress had not anticipated, and so had not provided for, the emergency. The municipal authorities were powerless and inactive. The judicial machinery seemed as if it had been designed, not to sustain the Government, but to embarrass and betray it.
Foreign intervention, openly invited and industriously instigated by the abettors of the insurrection, became imminent, and has only been prevented by the practice of strict and impartial justice, with the most perfect moderation, in our intercourse with nations.
The public mind was alarmed and apprehensive, though fortunately not distracted or disheartened. It seemed to be doubtful whether the Federal Government, which one year before had been thought a model worthy of universal acceptance, had indeed the ability to defend and maintain itself.
Some reverses, which, perhaps, were unavoidable, suffered by newly levied and inefficient forces, discouraged the loyal and gave new hopes to the insurgents. Voluntary enlistments seemed about to cease and desertions commenced. Parties speculated upon the question whether conscription had not become necessary to fill up the armies of the United States.
In this emergency the President felt it his duty to employ with energy the extraordinary powers which the Constitution confides to him in cases of insurrection. He called into the field such military and naval forces, unauthorized by the existing laws, as seemed necessary. He directed measures to prevent the use of the post-office for treasonable correspondence. He subjected passengers to and from foreign countries to new passport regulations, and he instituted a blockade, suspended the writ of habeas corpus in various places, and caused persons who were represented to him as being or about to engage in disloyal and treasonable practices to be arrested by special civil as well as military, agencies and detained in militarry custody when necessarry to prevent them and deter others from such practices. Examinations of such cases were instituted, and some of the persons so arrested have been discharged from time to time under circumstances or upon conditions compatible, as was thought, with the public safety.
Meantime a favorable change of public opinion has occurred. The line between loyalty and disloyalty is plainly defined. The whole structure of the Government is firm and stable. Apprehension of public danger and facilities for treasonable practices have diminished with the passions which prompted heedless persons to adopt them. The insurrection is believed to have culminated and to be declining.
The President, in view of these facts, and anxious to favor a return to the normal course of the Administration as far as regard for the public welfare will allow, directs that all political prisoners or state prisoners now held in military custody be released on their subscribing to a parole engaging them to, render no aid or comfort to the enemies in hostility to the United States.
The Secretary of War will, however, in his discretion, except from the effect of this order any persons detained as spies in the service of the insurgents, or others whose release at the present moment may be deemed incompatible with the public safety.
To all persons who shall be so released and who shall keep their parole the President grants an amnesty for any past offenses of treason or disloyalty which they may have committed.
Extraordinary arrests will hereafter be made under the direction of the military authorities alone.
By order of the President:
Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.VirginiaIncident at Bloomery Gap. Joseph Lewis Hogg,is appointed Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army. West VirginiaAt the Constitutional Convention, additional laws to govern state land were presented. Illinois United States Army, Brigadier General William Tecumseh Sherman, is assigned to the command of the District of Cairo, IL. MissouriSkirmish at Crane Creek involving United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis. United States Army, Major General Henry Halleck issued General Orders No. 37 (Department of the Missouri) promoting Ulysses S. Grant to command of the newly-created District of West Tennessee: ArkansasConfederate States Army, Major General Earl Van Dorn sent instructions from Pocahontas to Pro-Confederate, Missouri State Guard Major General Sterling Price to prepare for an offensive movement from Arkansas into Missouri. ConnecticutThe experimental seagoing ironclad USS GALENA (4 × 9 in (230 mm) Smoothbore Dahlgren guns and 2 × 100-pounder Parrott rifles) was launched at Mystic. Watercolor by Oscar Parkes: the USS GALENA as she appeared in mid-1862, while serving on the James River, Virginia KentuckySkirmish at Flat Lick Ford. United States forces under United States Army, Brigadier General Ormsby McKnight Mitchel occupied Bowling Green. United States Army, Brigadier General George Washington Morgan ordered a reconnaissance in force by a detachment of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry Regiment (United States) against the Confederate garrison at Cumberland Gap. United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Mundy led an attack on Cumberland Gap but the garrison of the 11th Tennessee Infantry Regiment (United States), commanded by United States Army, Colonel James Edwards Rains, withstood the assault and Mundy was forced to withdraw. North Carolina Confederate ships sank obstructions in the Cape Fear River near Fort Caswell in an effort to block the channel. South CarolinaArmed boat from the gunboat USS RESTLESS (four 32-pounder guns) under the command of United States Navy,, Acting Lieutenant Edward Conroy, captured and destroyed the sloop EDISTO and the schooners WANDOO, ELISABETH, and THEODORE STONY off Bull’s Bay. All the ships were carrying heavy cargoes of rice for Charleston. TennesseeUnited States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant was appointed to command the District of West Tennessee: General Orders No. 37
Hdqrs. Department of the Missouri
Saint Louis, February 14, 1862.
I. Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant is assigned to the command of the District of West Tennessee and Brig. Gen. W.T. Sherman to the command of the District of Cairo.
II. Commanders of districts, divisions, brigades, and posts, in the State of Missouri, are directed to have immediate inspection of all their troops, for the discovery of stolen and contraband property and fugitive slaves. General orders, No. 3, series of 1861, will be strictly enforced, and any officer who has permitted it to be violated by his command will be arrested and tried for neglect of duty and disobedience of orders.
By command of Major-General Halleck
N.H. McClean,
Assistant Adjutant-General(Tennessee) Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers - Battle of Fort DonelsonThe United States Western Gunboat Flotilla under United States Navy, Captain Andrew Hull Foote concentrated at a bend near Fort Donelson before midnight. The flotilla consisted of four ironclad gunboats, the flagship USS ST LOUIS from Fort Henry and USS CARONDELET, which had arrived two days earlier, along with two newly arrived ships USS LOUISVILLE, and USS PITTSBURG. There were also three timber-clad gunboats (USS CONESTOGA, USS TYLER, and USS LEXINGTON). The USS ESSEX and USS CINCINNATI had been damaged at Fort Henry and were still undergoing repairs. The USS CINCINNATI had remained at Fort Henry to protect its small garrison. As soon as Foote arrived, Grant urged him to attack the fort’s river batteries immediately. Despite his reluctance to proceed before an adequate reconnaissance, Foote moved his gunboats forward, aiming to pass the fort and to block the enemy’s escape route across the river from a position near Dover and to reduce the rifle pits and batteries along the riverside. After adding chains, lumber, and sacks of sand and coal to protect the decks, the ships steamed in close to the shore and by 3 pm they opened fire. The four ironclads were in front with the more vulnerable USS TYLER and USS CONESTOGA behind them. The USS CARONDELET was in action despite the damage it sustained the day before. Waiting until the gunboats were within 400 yards the Confederate gunners returned fire and pounded the fleet. The powerful Confederate 128-pound gun on the crest of the bluff was spiked temporarily by its own priming wire. Foote was wounded when the wheel on his flagship, USS ST LOUIS was shot away and its pilot killed. The ship lost steerage and floated helplessly downriver. USS LOUISVILLE was also hit hard and when its steering gear was wrecked it also drifted downstream. USS CARONDELET became waterlogged as water poured in through holes in its hull and it was forced to retire. USS PITTSBURG was hit and began to take on water and the gunboat attack was abandoned in a cloud of gun smoke created more for concealment than from any expectation of damaging the Confederate guns behind their earthworks. From 500 shots fired by the Confederate gunners, USS ST LOUIS was hit 59 times, USS CARONDELET 54, USS LOUISVILLE 36, and USS PITTSBURG 20 times. Although the United States fleet had been damaged, it still controlled the Cumberland River. Unlike the earlier success at the much weaker Fort Henry, Grant and Foote failed to take the fort by naval power alone and Grant resolved to establish a siege. Eleven United States sailors were killed and 43 wounded while the Confederates lost no men and no guns in the naval attack. Map: Foote's naval attack, and Grant's positions on the evening of February 14, 1862
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 15, 2024 3:50:44 GMT
Day 310 of the United States Civil War, February 15th 1862District of ColumbiaConfederate privateer William Smith had been found guilty of piracy in federal court at Philadelphia in October and sentenced to death. The trial caused a sensation in the South and reprisals were threatened against United States prisoners of war. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John H. Winter visited Libby Prison in Richmond on November 10th 1861 and drew lots among the senior United States prisoners there to select who would be tried as criminals in retaliation. The trials never took place and the United States reclassified the convicted privateers as prisoners of war, ending the dispute. Virginia William Wing Loring,is appointed Major General in the Confederate States Army. (Confederate States) president Jefferson Davis spends part of his day trying to offer reassurances to leading North Carolinians in light of the adverse military developments in their state, while struggling over conflicting state and national imperatives. “The defense of North Carolina occupies my anxious attention. I am sending there all the aid I can procure.” Although this aid will not include North Carolina troops assigned elsewhere. “To be successful, the common means must be employed for the common defense, as its necessities require.” West VirginiaAt the Constitutional Convention delegates debated over the election process for local and county officials. A group of citizens met in Shinnston and passed resolutions critical of their representatives in the legislature, John J. Davis and John C. Vance. MissouriSkirmish at Flat Creek. United States Army, Brigadier General John McAllister Schofield, assumes the command of the District of Saint Louis, MO. GeorgiaThe Confederate side-wheeler IDA ran up the South Channel of the Savannah River past the extinguished lighthouse on Tybee Island and returned to Savannah through Tybee Creek. The United States battery at Venus Point was uncovered and Confederate gunboats engaged in recurring gunnery duels. Four Confederate gunboats under Confederate States Navy, Commodore Josiah Tattnall assisted the passage of Ida by attacking the United States batteries at Venus Point on the Savannah River but they were forced back to Savannah. KentuckyBowling Green occupied. MississippiAn expedition began from Cairo, Illinois, to Eastport by United States gunboats under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant William Gwin (USS TYLER). TennesseeConfederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard left Nashville and headed for western Tennessee to take command of the troops west of the Tennessee River. This force had been cut off from the main army of Confederate States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston by the fall of Fort Donelson. (Tennessee) Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers - Battle of Fort DonelsonConfederate States Army, Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd had achieved part of his mission by occupying the attention of the United States army at Fort Donelson while the main Confederate army retreated to safety from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Nashville. The head of Confederate States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston’s column was already in Nashville while the remainder was approaching the city under Confederate States Army, Major General William Joseph Hardee. The second part of Floyd’s mission was to extricate his garrison from Fort Donelson in order to join forces with Johnston. At a council of war, he announced a repeat of the breakout from Fort Donelson using the same plan that had been agreed upon the day before, then following an escape route towards Clarksville and from there to Nashville. The plan was for Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Gideon Johnson Pillow’s division to push the division of United States Army, Brigadier General John Alexander McClernand out of the way. The rest of the army would follow through the breakthrough area. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Simon Bolivar Buckner would move his division across the Wynn’s Ferry Road and become the rear guard for the remainder of the army as it withdrew eastwards from Fort Donelson. The Confederates launched a dawn assault by Pillow’s division as planned against McClernand’s division on the right flank of the United States line south of Dover. Buckner’s division was pulled back in the north to cover the rear of the withdrawing troops and a lone regiment (30th Tennessee Infantry) was designated to stay in the trenches to deter pursuit. The United States troops were not caught by surprise because they had been unable to sleep in the freezing weather. United States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant had departed downriver before dawn to visit the wounded United States Navy, Captain Andrew Hull Foote on his flagship. Grant left orders that none of his generals was to initiate an engagement, but he had not designated a deputy to command in his absence. The Confederate attack started well and after two or three hours of heavy fighting, Pillow’s men had pushed McClernand out of the way and opened up a gap for the escape route. The 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment (United States) was surrounded by the attackers but cut its way out with a loss of more than half its strength, and their commander United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Greenfield Ransom was wounded. The attack was successful partly because of the poor positioning of McClernand’s troops, and partly because of a flanking attack by dismounted Confederate cavalry under United States Army, Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest. The United States brigades of United States Army, Colonel Richard James Oglesby and United States Army, Colonel John McArthur were hit hardest and they withdrew in reasonable order to regroup and resupply. Map: Confederate breakout attempt, morning February 15, 1862 McClernand sent messengers to call for assistance from United states Army, Brigadier General Lewis Wallace but Wallace was reluctant to act in contradiction to the orders he had been given by Grant not to move from his present position. McClernand’s withdrawal had not yet become a rout but his division was sliding away to the left and exposing the right flank of Wallace’s division. Ammunition was running out. However, all was not well with the Confederate advance. By 9.30 am, as the United states brigades were falling back, Forrest urged United states Army, Brigadier General Bushrod Rust Johnson to launch an all-out attack on these disorganised troops. Johnson was too cautious to approve a general assault but he did agree to keep the infantry moving slowly forward. Two hours into the battle Pillow, realised that Buckner’s wing was not attacking alongside his own. After a confrontation between the two generals, Buckner’s troops moved and combined with the right flank of Pillow’s wing to hit United states Army, Colonel William Hervey Lamm Wallace’s brigade. A second messenger arrived at Wallace’s headquarters, crying, “Our right flank is turned! The whole army is in danger!” Wallace finally released one of his brigades under United states Army, Colonel Charles Cruft to aid McClernand. Cruft’s brigade replaced Oglesby’s and McArthur’s in the line, but as they realised they were already being outflanked, they too began to fall back. Buckner’s delay had allowed just enough time for Lewis Wallace to reinforce McClernand and to prevent a rout. The Confederate offensive halted at around 12.30 pm when United states Army, Colonel John Milton Thayer’s United states brigade formed a defensive line on a ridge astride Wynn’s Ferry Road. The Confederates assaulted this position three times unsuccessfully and then they withdrew to a ridge half a mile distant. At this point, they had already pushed the United States defenders back for one to two miles and achieved their objective of opening an escape route. United States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant, who apparently could not hear the sounds of battle, was eventually notified by an aide. He galloped seven miles over icy roads to reach Wallace’s headquarters by 1 pm and was dismayed to find confusion and an absence of leadership. Grant sent word back to Foote to start a demonstration of naval gunfire, if only for encouragement. Grant was reassured by the steady bearing of United States Army, Brigadier General Charles Ferguson Smith’s division and most of Wallace’s division but McClernand’s division was disorganised, out of ammunition, and unsteady. By 1.30 pm Floyd had become confused by the timid advice of Bucker and the rash counsel of Pillow. Floyd could have continued to march through the opening to escape to Clarksville or he could reinforce the attack and achieve an even greater victory. Instead, he hesitated and disputed with his two commanders. Siding first with Buckner, who intended to hold his ground to keep the door ajar, Floyd vacillated. To the surprise of Floyd and Buckner, Pillow made Floyd’s decision for him. Fearing that Smith’s United States division was being heavily reinforced in his rear, he urged caution and recommended that the entire force should fall back to safety inside the lines of Fort Donelson. He ordered his own and Buckner’s men back to their trenches where they could regroup and re-supply before considering another attempt to escape. Grant learned that some of Buckner’s men were fighting with knapsacks filled with three days of rations, which implied a long march and an attempt to escape the siege. He decided to exploit the opening afforded by the lull in the fighting caused by Floyd’s indecision. He ordered McClernand’s men to obtain more ammunition and to return to the action and he sent orders to Smith on the northern flank to advance and take Fort Donelson, deducing that the Confederates must have thinned their lines on that front for the breakout. Smith formed his two remaining brigades for the attack. United States Army, Colonel Jacob Gartner Lauman’s brigade made the main attack, spearheaded by United States Army, Colonel James Tuttle’s 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment (United States). United States Army, Colonel John Cook’s brigade was in support to the right and rear and they made a feint to draw fire away from Lauman’s brigade. Smith’s advance quickly overran the outer line of entrenchments on the Confederate right, where the 500 men of the 30th Tennessee Infantry Regiment (United States) under United States Army, Colonel John W Head had been left as a final rearguard. Despite repeated counterattacks over two hours by troops from Buckner’s returning division, the Confederates could not repel Smith from the captured lines. On the United States right, Lewis Wallace formed an attacking column with three brigades, one from his own division, one from McClernand’s, and one from Smith’s. Wallace’s old brigade from Smith’s Division, now commanded by United States Army, Colonel Morgan Lewis Smith, was chosen to lead the attack. The brigades of Cruft (of Wallace’s Division) and Colonel Leonard Fulton Ross (of McClernand’s Division) were placed in support on the flanks. Morgan Smith’s brigade advanced a short distance uphill, repeatedly rushing and then falling to the ground in the prone position. Wallace’s troops charged more impetuously and succeeded in retaking all the ground lost that morning during Pillow’s attack. By nightfall, all of the Confederate troops had been driven back to their original positions. Two damaged gunboats arrived late in the day to aid the successful retention of the captured siege lines. Map: Union counterattack, afternoon February 15, 1862 The United States army was now poised to seize both Fort Donelson and its river batteries as soon as daylight dawned. Grant began planning to resume his assault in the morning, although he neglected to seal the escape route that Pillow had already opened once. Nearly 1,000 soldiers on both sides had been killed, with about 3,000 wounded; some froze to death in the snowstorm as many of the inexperienced United States soldiers had thrown away their blankets and coats earlier in the campaign.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 16, 2024 9:34:51 GMT
Day 311 of the United States Civil War, February 16th 1862
Arkansas
Skirmishes at Pott’s Hill and Sugar Creek.
New Mexico Territory
Having left Fort Bliss in January, Confederate Brigadier-General Henry Hopkins Sibley led his force of 2,500 men up the Rio Grande and made contact with the Union garrison of Fort Craig.
Tennessee
Confederate States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston’s forces were spread along 200 miles of road between Nashville and Columbus with United States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant’s army between them and controlling the main rivers and railroads. United States Army, Major General Don Carlos Buell’s army was threatening Nashville from Kentucky while United States Army, Brigadier General John Pope was threatening Columbus from the Mississippi. Johnston was vulnerable until he could reach Nashville and combine with the garrison of Fort Donelson, which he was expecting to break out of the Union siege.
Gunboats of United States Navy, Captain Andrew Hull Foote’s force destroyed the Tennessee Iron Works above Dover on the Cumberland River.
(Tennessee) Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers - Battle of Fort Donelson
After the failure of their attempted breakout through United States Army, Brigadier General Ulysses Simpson Grant’s investment lines, the 12,000 men in the Confederate garrison of Fort Donelson were now outnumbered two-to-one and in a near-hopeless situation. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd and Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Gideon Johnson Pillow telegraphed Confederate States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston at Nashville that they had won a great victory on the previous day. Four hundred Confederate reinforcements arrived undetected by steamboat during the night. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Simon Bolivar Buckner argued, however, that the fort was actually in a desperate position that was getting worse because more Union reinforcements were also arriving. At their final council of war in the Dover Hotel at 1.30 am he stated that if the fort was attacked again the garrison could only hold out for 30 minutes. He estimated that the cost of defending the fort would be immense. Pillow insisted that his withdrawal of the previous day from the breakthrough sector had been only a temporary one to resupply and reorganise and that the attempt should be repeated. Confederate States Army, Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest reported that the cavalry had found a manageable narrow escape route, passing waist-deep across a creek near the banks of the river. Floyd, the senior commander feared for the survival of his men in the cold weather if they took such an arduous route. Buckner’s defeatism and Floyd’s belief that he was now outnumbered carried the meeting. Some Confederate troops might escape over the river by boat but most of the transports were currently transporting wounded men to Nashville and could not return in time for a substantial evacuation.
Floyd feared his execution for treason, having been a former (United States) Secretary of War, and he decided to relinquish command and escape before capture. Pillow was the next senior officer in line but he declined the command, also preferring to seek escape, so Buckner was left in command. He agreed to negotiate a surrender. Pillow escaped across the river in a small boat with his chief of staff but none of his men accompanied him. Floyd boarded the steamboat that arrived overnight with his staff and four Virginia regiments but the surrender was enacted before the rest of his brigade (a Mississippi regiment) could escape. These were the last regiments of Floyd’s Army of the Kanawha to arrive in the sector. Forrest escaped undetected across the icy Lick Creek with 700 of his cavalrymen and some accompanying infantry, including Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Bushrod Rust Johnson. Buckner was captured and Pillow was suspended from command after the authorities learned of his abandonment of Fort Donelson. Buckner requested terms and conceded to Grant’s demand for unconditional surrender. This took place without formality. His brusque and uncompressing terms immediately earned Ulysses Simpson Grant the nom de guerre based on his initials of “Unconditional Surrender” Grant.
United States losses were 2,691 (507 killed, 1,976 wounded, 208 captured or missing),. The Confederates lost 13,846 (327 killed, 1,127 wounded, 12,392 captured or missing). Other estimates place Confederate prisoners as between 7,000 and 15,000 men.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 17, 2024 7:02:00 GMT
Day 312 of the United States Civil War, February 17th 1862
District of Columbia
David Bell Birney,, is appointed Brigadier General in the United States Army.
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for an amendment to establish a Department of Agriculture seperate from farming's former home in the Patent Office. Only seven representatives voted against it, including two Democrats from Indiana and the Republican Frederick Conkling from New York City's Sixth District.
Virginia
Thomas H Watts was appointed Attorney General of the Confederate States.
The new ironclad warship CSS VIRGINIA (built on the salvaged hull of USS MERRIMACK ) was commissioned at Norfolk, under Confederate States Navy, Captain Franklin Buchanan.
West Virginia
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention enacted resolutions designed to fund their travel expenses.
United States Army, Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans issued orders regarding property captured from rebels.
Arkansas
United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis’ Army of the Southwest passed through the defile of Cross Timber Hollows from Marionsville and McDowell’s, and crossed the state line into Arkansas. This was the first United States incursion onto the territory of the Confederate state and skirmishes occurred at Sugar Creek and Pea Ridge.
Missouri
Incident at Keytesville (Keetsville).
Tennessee
News of the surrender of Fort Donelson and its garrison persuaded Confederate States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston to evacuate Nashville as it had not been prepared for defence. About 14,000 men under Confederate States Army, Major General William Joseph Hardee filed out of the city. Rumours that United States gunboats were on their way to bombard the city caused panic and Governor of Tennessee, Isham G. Harris fled on a train with the state archives. The city mayor sought to avoid bloodshed and planned to ride out to meet the United States army and surrender the town but his offer to distribute all the army supplies in the city to the population only caused more mayhem, known as the “Great Panic”. Two gunboats being built on the river were burned and the flames in the night caused further consternation. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd arrived from Fort Donelson by steamboat with his four regiments and was placed in command of the city while Johnston accompanied Hardee and the main force in the retreat.
Confederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard reached Jackson and held a military conference with Confederate States Army, Major General Leonidas Polk who was commanding the main body of his new command, which numbered about 17,000 men at the fortified base of Columbus, Kentucky. Beauregard ordered Polk to abandon Columbus and to move to New Madrid, Missouri, forty miles downriver on the Mississippi, arguing that the fall of Fort Donelson had left the so-called “Gibraltar of the West” in severe danger of being cut off. Polk protested, asking to keep a 5,000-man garrison at Columbus where he had built extensive fortifications protected by heavy guns.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 18, 2024 8:17:16 GMT
Day 313 of the United States Civil War, February 18th 1862
Virginia
The First Congress of the Confederate States of America takes it seat, replacing the Provisional Congress that has been in place since the formation of the new nation.
John Henninger Reagan was confirmed as the Postmaster-General of the Confederate States.
West Virginia
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention unanimously approved a constitution for the new state of West Virginia.
A New State meeting was held in the Convention Hall of the Custom House in Wheeling.
Cannons were fired in Wheeling to celebrate the capture of Fort Donelson:
Wheeling Intelligencer
February 18, 1862
Thirty-three guns for Donelson . - Yesterday morning about 2 o'clock, by order of Gen. Rosecrans. The brass Parrott guns for the Virginia batteries were brought out at the foot of Third Street. Centre Wheeling, and thirty-three guns and a squib were fired for taking of Ft. Donelson. There was an interval of ten seconds between shots. We have yet to see a single person in or about the city who did not hear the roaring guns, although the firing commenced at an hour when most people sleep soundly. The echoes were awakened away beyond the Ohio hills and had we not known of the good news, from Donelson, we should have supposed that the city was being, bombarded.
The night was generally a wild one. In consequence of the glorious news quite a number of excitable young people were drunk, and went bowling around town in a warlike manner, and giving vent to their patriotism and insane screams.
Arkansas
United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis’ Army of the Southwest arrived at Sugar Creek. The army was now 320 miles from its main base at St Louis and 210 miles from its nearest railroad depot at Rolla in Missouri.
Skirmish at Bentonville.
Missouri
Expedition to Mount Vernon began by United States Army, Captain Mudgett (3rd Iowa Cavalry). Doniphan occupied.
Missouri
Skirmish at Independence.
New Mexico Territory
Since they were down to only a few days’ supply of rations, the Confederates could not wait indefinitely near Valverde. At a council of war, Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley ordered the army to cross the Rio Grande and move up the eastern side of the river to the ford near Valverde, north of Fort Craig. He hoped to cut United States communications between the fort and their headquarters in Santa Fe north of the border and collect or capture supplies along the way.
North Carolina
United States expedition to Winton began.
Tennessee
Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd attempted to evacuate military stores from Nashville and destroyed two bridges over the Cumberland River before the arrival of the approaching United States army halted efforts.
Texas
Operation at Aransas Pass ended.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 19, 2024 3:49:52 GMT
Day 314 of the United States Civil War, February 19th 1862
Missouri
Expedition to Mount Vernon ended.
Skirmishes at Bentonville and West Plains.
New York
A trial run of the new ironclad USS MONITOR was conducted in New York harbour. United States Navy, Chief Engineer Alban C Stimers reported various difficulties and concluded that her effective speed would be approximately 6 knots.
North Carolina
United States expedition into Currituck Sound began.
The gunboats USS DELAWARE (4 × 32-pounder guns, 1 × 12-pounder rifled gun and 2 guns of unknown caliber) and USS COMMODORE PERRY (2 × 9 in (230 mm) guns, 2 × 32-pounder smoothbore guns and 1 × 12-pounder howitzer) undertook a reconnaissance of the Chowan River and engaged Confederate troops at Winston. The following day the vessels covered the landing of United States troops who entered the town and destroyed military stores and troop quarters before re-embarking.
Tennessee
Confederates under Confederate States Army, Colonel W H Allen evacuated Clarksville before the arrival of two United States ironclad gunboats, a timber-clad vessel, and eight mortar boats. United States Navy, Captain Andrew Hull Foote occupied Fort Defiance and took possession of the town. Foote urged an immediate move onward to Nashville. United States troops under United States Army, Brigadier General Charles Ferguson Smith were hurried forward to hold the town.
Confederate States Army, Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest arrived at Nashville with hundreds of die-hard fugitives who had evaded capture at Fort Donelson.
New Mexico Territory
After some probing operations, Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley’s men camped on an open plain on the western bank across the river from Fort Craig. The United States garrison was commanded by United States Army, Colonel Edward Richard Sprigg Canby. Beginning the war with about 1,000 poorly-armed and untrained territorial militia to supplement his thin garrisons of regular soldiers, Canby attempted to strengthen his forces while Sibley and United States Army, Colonel John R Baylor captured Fort Fillmore and Fort Bliss for the Confederacy further south. Canby managed to organise five regiments at Fort Craig as his main base of operations in the New Mexico Territory. The fort was prepared for a siege when Sibley arrived.
Gulf of Mexico
USS BROOKLYN under the command of United States Navy, Captain Thomas Tingey Craven, and USS SOUTH CAROLINA under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Hopkins, captured the steamer MAGNOLIA with a large cargo of cotton.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 20, 2024 3:49:29 GMT
Day 315 of the United States Civil War, February 20th 1862District of ColumbiaWilliam Wallace Lincoln, called "Willie" by all, was the admired and precocious third son of (United States) President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. He had fallen ill with symptoms of typhoid around two weeks before and died in the White House, after a long struggle, at around five o'clock in the afternoon of a cold, dull day. He was eleven years old. The loss of their favorite son was a powerful blow for the family, especially Mary Todd Lincoln. VirginiaConfederate States Army, General Joseph Eggleston Johnston attended a military conference with (Confederate States) President Jefferson Finis Davis in Richmond. Johnston reported a weakening of training and discipline after he had been deprived of the services of several competent subordinates. Confederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard had been sent to Mississippi, Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Jonathan Jackson was operating independently in the Shenandoah Valley, Confederate States Army, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith was earmarked to command in eastern Tennessee, and Confederate States Army, Major General Earl Van Dorn was now commanding west of the Mississippi. Johnston caused alarm by suggesting that the army was short of experienced officers, was dangerously exposed at Manassas, and that it ought to withdraw further south into Virginia. Rumours of the impending retreat immediately circulated and put the manoeuvre at risk. Johnston was annoyed that the conclusions of a secret conference had quickly reached the newspapers and dangerously exposed his intentions. Preparations began the following day but they were delayed by heavy rain and reliance on the inadequate single-tracked Orange & Alexandria Railroad. The process took several weeks to remove the accumulation of stores and equipment to Culpeper. North CarolinaThe day before, United States Naval gunboats on the Chowan River had been lured towards shore by ruse near Winton, in Hertford County, North Carolina and subjected to heavy fire. Returning the next day to find the town abandoned, men from the 9th New York Infantry Regiment (United States) burned it in reprisal. This was the first such instance in the state and news of the destruction was not well received universally, even in New York. MississippiUnited States Navy, Captain David Glasgow Farragut arrived at Ship Island aboard the sloop-of-war steamer USS HARTFORD (20 × 9 in (230 mm) smoothbore Dahlgren guns, 2 × 20-pounder Parrott rifles and 2 × 12-pounder guns) to prepare for the attack on New Orleans. United States naval and army forces had been gathering strength at Ship Island for several weeks in anticipation of Farragut’s arrival. Painting: USS HARTFORD by E. Arnold An armed boat expedition from the gunboat USS NEW LONDON (one 20-pounder Parrott rifle and four 32-pounder guns) under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant A Read, to Cat Island captured twelve sloops and schooners which were suspected of acting as pilot vessels to blockade runners. MissouriUnited States Army, Major General Henry Wager Halleck ordered United States Army, Brigadier General John Pope to send part of his force to operate in central Missouri and to organise the remainder of the force to capture the Confederate stronghold of New Madrid on the Mississippi River. Pope’s troops formed the nucleus of the future Army of the Mississippi. North Carolina Expedition to Currituck Sound ended. USS DELAWARE under the command of United States Navy, Commander Stephen Clegg Rowan, and USS COMMODORE PERRY under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Flusser, covered the landing of United States troops at Winton to destroy military stores and quarters before re-embarking. TennesseePro-Confederate Governor of Tennessee, Isham Harris moved the state capital from Nashville to Memphis, away from the advance of United States forces. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd abandoned Nashville with his rearguard brigade, leaving Confederate States Army, Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest to continue the removal of supplies for one more day. Forrest stayed for four days, sending rare rifling machinery and other machine tools vital for making weapons and ordnance to Atlanta. He also saved huge quantities of food and other supplies despite the resistance of local mobs who wanted to acquire them for themselves. The main Confederate army under United States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston and United States Army, Major General William Joseph Hardee marched to Murfreesboro. TexasUSS PORTSMOUTH under the command of United States Navy, Commander Swartwout, captured the sloop PIONEER off Boca Chica with a cargo of tobacco. (New Mexico Territory) Sibley's New Mexico Campaign - Battle of ValverdeConfederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley’s expedition avoided attacking the strong defences of Fort Craig and headed north towards Valverde, looking instead to cut off the fort’s lines of communications. United States Army, Colonel Edward Richard Sprigg Canby detached one regiment from his garrison at Fort Craig to shadow the Confederate column on the west side of the Rio Grande. The United States pursuers came close to the Confederates, who turned to face them, pinned them down, and forced them to retreat to the fort after nightfall. Meanwhile at Valverde United States Army, Captain James Graydon packed six 24-pound howitzer shells onto two mules and led them close to the picket lines of the approaching Confederates and tried to turn them into a surprise explosive device. The mules refused to cooperate with the raid and ran uncontrolled into the Confederate camp, exploding their loads without harm to the enemy. BermudaFrom his post at Bermuda, United States Consul to Bermuda, Charles Allen reports the arrival of the “Rebel Steamer NASHVILLE,” purported to be short of fuel. “I shall do all I can to prevent her getting coal,” he adds in his communication with his superiors in Washington.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 21, 2024 3:50:17 GMT
Day 316 of the United States Civil War, February 21st 1862
Virginia
The permanent Confederate States’ government was announced, ending the Provisional status of the preceding government, and confirming all of its officers in post.
West Virginia
United States Army, Brigadier General William Rosecrans issued special orders for observance of Washington's birthday:
Headquarters, Dept. West'n Va.,
Wheeling, Feb. 21, 1862.
Special Orders No. 42.]
4. When the life of this great nation is threatened by fratricidal hands on the very soil where the immortal Washington was born, it doubly becomes all true patriots to cherish the memory of that great man, whose heroism, self-denial and practical wisdom, laid the foundations of this mighty republic.
It is, therefore, ordered that the approaching anniversary of his birthday shall be observed as a holiday throughout this Department. Troops shall be paraded, and this order read at 11 A. M., at all points where it is received, and where practicable the Farewell Address shall be read to them.
5. A salute of thirteen guns will be fired at sunrise and one gun every half hour afterwards until 12 M., when the National salute of thirty-four guns will be fired under the direction of Capt. E. C. Bainbridge, Chief of Artillery.
6. The Department Staff and all other officers on duty here, will assemble at the General Headquarters at 9:30 A. M., in full uniform and mounted. Under direction of Capt. Geo. L. Hartsuff, Assistant Adjutant General, they will then proceed, escorted by the cavalry, up Fourth street, down Monroe to the McLure House, when they will escort the Governor of the State, the Mayor of Wheeling, and other civil functionaries, to the Atheneum, to hear the reading of Washington's Farewell Address. After the proceedings there are over the staff and escort will return, under the direction of Capt. Hartsuff, to the General Headquarters, where they will be dismissed. By command of
Gen. Rosecrans,
Geo. L. Hartsuff, Ass't Adj't Gen.
Arkansas
Expedition to Fayetteville began. United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis’ Army of the Southwest moved from Sugar Creek towards Fayetteville. Two divisions marched twelve miles south to Cross Hollows and two more divisions reached Bentonville twelve miles to the southwest. Cavalry was moved to Osage Springs.
(New Mexico Territory) Sibley's New Mexico Campaign - Battle of Valverde
Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley and the Army of New Mexico had crossed to the east side of the Rio Grande to the ford at Valverde, north of Fort Craig.
After leaving detachments and garrisons along his line of march, his original force of 2,800 men was reduced to about 2,600 men. He aimed to cut United States communications between the fort and military headquarters in Santa Fe. During the night Sibley’s Confederate army camped several miles from Valverde ford, During the night many of their mules and horses stampeded but were later recaptured. In the morning, Sibley sent an advance party consisting of four companies of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles (Confederate States) under the command of Confederate States Army, Major Charles Pyron to scout ahead to the ford, with the 4th Texas Mounted Rifles (Confederate States) under Confederate States Army, Lieutenant Colonel William Read Scurry following close behind. The rest of Sibley’s brigade remained in theircamp, intending to follow later.
United States scouts informed United States Army, Colonel Edward Richard Sprigg Canby of the Confederate movements towards the north. After establishing the Confederate strength and position after his repulse of the previous evening, Canby left Fort Craig with more than 3,800 men in Regular and volunteer units to prevent the Confederates from crossing the river. Canby sent a mixed force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery under the command of United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Stone Roberts of the 5th New Mexico Infantry Regiment (United States) to hold the ford. The infantry and artillery slowed the column down so Roberts sent United States Army, Major Thomas Duncan ahead with the cavalry to secure the ford. Following Roberts’ departure, Canby sent forward additional reinforcements from the fort’s garrison and assigned several companies of New Mexico militia to observe the enemy, harass his flanks and rear, and impede his movements.
The Confederates were unaware that United States forces had arrived to guard the ford until they arrived at the riverside. Pyron sent for reinforcements from the 4th Texas Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) while his men took cover in an old river bed, which served as an excellent defensive position. Despite their numerical advantage, the United States cavalry deployed a skirmish line instead of trying to drive the Confederates out of their position. This forced the United States artillery to remain on the western bank of the Rio Grande. When Scurry arrived, he deployed his regiment to Pyron’s right, with the regimental artillery on the Confederate left.
Skirmishing started in earnest at 8 am and by 11.30 am each side had brought up reinforcements. Despite their numerical superiority, the Confederates were mostly armed with short-range shotguns, smoothbore weapons, and pistols, which could not reach the United States positions three hundred yards away. Nor could the small-calibre Confederate howitzers reach the United States artillery on the far bank of the river. Meanwhile, Canby ordered most of the remaining garrison at Fort Craig to march to Valverde, leaving militia to guard the fort.
When he arrived, Canby moved most of his command, including the artillery, across to the eastern bank, leaving the 1st New Mexico Infantry Regiment (United States) and 2nd New Mexico Infantry Regiment (United States) on the western bank as a reserve. By early afternoon, the remainder of the Confederate force (the 5th Texas Mounted Rifles under Confederate States Army, Colonel Thomas Green and a battalion of the 7th Texas Mounted Rifles under Confederate States Army, Lieutenant Colonel John Sutton) arrived at the ford. Sibley, who had remained with the wagons during the morning, because he was either ill or intoxicated, relinquished command of the brigade and Green took over. Green then handed command of the 5th Texas Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) to Confederate States Army, Major Samuel Lockridge.
Around 2 pm, Green authorised a company of lancers to attempt a charge on what they thought was an inexperienced New Mexico company on the United States extreme right. That company turned out to comprise a well-disciplined Colorado company who repelled the charge. Twenty of the lancers were killed and wounded during the charge, with almost all of their horses disabled or killed as well. When they had returned to the Confederate line, the lancers quickly rearmed with pistols and shotguns and continued fighting in the battle.
By late afternoon, Canby decided that a frontal assault would fail and planned to attack the Confederate left. He ordered one of his batteries to redeploy closer to the Confederate line and moved several companies to his right, including the 1st New Mexico Infantry Regiment (United States). However, this repositioning of the troops left the centre of the United states line around the battery weak, with only untested New Mexico volunteers supporting the battery. Hoping to stall the anticipated Union attack, Green ordered Raguet to attack the United States right with his battalion; this attack was repulsed by frontal fire and a flank attack from the 1st New Mexico Infantry Regiment (United States). The United States right advanced to follow the retreating Confederates. At this point, Green ordered the Confederate right wing under the command of Scurry to charge the United States centre. The attack force of 750 men was arranged into three successive waves. The shock of the charge routed over half of the troops supporting the battery and Lockridge was mortally wounded. The United States countered with a cavalry charge but the main Confederate force continued to press their assault on Canby’s left flank, capturing a battery of six artillery pieces and breaking the United States battle line. This soon turned into a more general rout across the river.
Canby managed to reorganise his men and ordered a retreat back to the fort. Sibley was about to order another attack when Canby sent a white flag asking for a truce to remove the bodies of the dead and wounded, to which Sibley agreed. This was in part a ruse, for Canby to buy time to escape pursuit.
The Confederates claimed a victory but suffered heavy casualties. Some reports stated that the Confederates lost 230 men killed and wounded out of 2,590 men engaged. Other accounts say 150 Confederates were wounded and killed while the United States sustained about 80 dead and 150 wounded. Alternatively, 46 Confederates were reported killed and just over 150 wounded while the Union suffered 475 to 500 men out of 2,800 men engaged). Probable losses were around 187 to 200 Confederates and 263 United States.
North Carolina
Expedition to Winston ended.
Tennessee
Expedition to Clarksville ended.
New York
Nathaniel Gordon of Portsmouth, Maine was executed under the 1820 federal law that designated slave trading as piracy. He had been captured with his ship the ERIE on August 8, 1860 off the coast of West Africa by the USS MOHICAN with a cargo of 897 men, women, and children. The slaves were freed and landed in Liberia and Gordon returned to New York City for trial. He was convicted and hanged there, in the Tombs Prison.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 22, 2024 3:52:20 GMT
Day 317 of the United States Civil War, February 22nd 1862
Virginia
Expedition to Flint Hill and Vienna by United States Army, Colonel Max Friedman (5th Pennsylvania Cavalry).
In an inauguration as the President of the Confederate States of America in its “permanent” form that is steeped in history and evokes the memory of George Washington, Jefferson Davis offers a brief address to a rain-drenched crowd assembled on the Capitol square in Richmond: “On this birthday of the man most identified with the establishment of American independence, and beneath the monument erected to commemorate his heroic virtues, and those of his compatriots, we have assembled to usher into existence the Permanent Government of the Confederate States,” Davis notes the general conditions that prevail in the country, emphasizing the blockade of Southern ports and the military setbacks recently experienced, and draws lessons from the past to apply to the present: “The tyranny of an unbridled majority, the most odious and least responsible form of despotism, has denied us both the right and the remedy. Therefore we are in arms to renew such sacrifices as our fathers made to the holy cause of constitutional liberty.To show ourselves worthy of the inheritance bequeathed to us by the patriots of the Revolution, we must emulate that heroic devotion which made reverse to them but the crucible in which their patriotism was refined.”
Tennessee
The pro-Confederate Isham G Harris was suspended from office as Governor of Tennessee.
United States Navy,Lieutenant William Gwin seized 1,100 sacks and barrels of flour and some 6,000 bushels of wheat at Clifton.
Georgia
Twenty-two United States naval vessels entered the Savannah River through Wall’s Cut, isolating Fort Pulaski.
Kentucky
United States Navy, Captain Andrew Hull Foote and United States Army, Brigadier General George Washington Cullum reconnoitred the Mississippi River down to Columbus, the anchor point of the Confederate river defences. Four ironclad boats and two mortar boats escorted three transport ships carrying 1,000 soldiers.
Louisiana
United States Navy, Captain David Glasgow Farragut ordered a Coastal Survey team to sound the passes into the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico and to mark out the safest channel for access towards New Orleans.
Missouri
Confederate William Quantrill and a band of 15 bushwhackers entered the town of Independence. They believed the town to be free of Union soldiers but were surprised by a column of United States cavalry. A brief skirmish resulted and the Confederates fled, leaving two men killed.
Texas
Skirmish at Aransas Bay involving Confederate States Army, Captain benjamin F Neal.
Mississippi
Expedition to Eastport ended as USS TYLER completed a reconnaissance of the Tennessee River as far as Eastport.
Florida
United States Army, Brigadier General Lewis Golding Arnold, supersedes United States Army, Colonel Harvey Brown, US Artillery, in the command of the Department of Florida.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 23, 2024 8:55:38 GMT
Day 318 of the United States Civil War, February 23rd 1862
District of Columbia
United States Army, Major General George B. McClellan issued General Orders No. 20 (Department of the Army) creating the Department of the Gulf and naming United States Army, Major General Benjamin F. Butler to command:
General Orders No. 20
Headq’rs of the Army, Adj’t General’s Office
Washington, February, 23, 1862
A new military department, to be called the Department of the Gulf, is hereby constituted. I twill comprise all of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico west of Pensacola harbor, and so much of the Gulf States as may be occupied by the forces under Major General B. F. Butler, United States Volunteers. The headquarters for the present will be movable, wherever the General Commanding may be.
By Command of Major General McClellan:
L. Thomas, Adjutant General
Virginia
Although many prisoners of war had already been released on parole, the first discussion of formal exchanges of prisoners of war was held between United States Army, Brigadier General John Ellis Wool and Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Thomas Howell Cobb. No agreement on prisoner exchanges was reached at this stage.
Arkansas
United States reconnaissance to Pea Ridge Prairie began.
Expedition to Fayetteville ended. The vanguard of United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis’ Army of the Southwest under United States Army, Brigadier-General Alexander Asboth occupied Fayetteville. Confederate raiders harassed the United States supply lines to Huntsville and Keetsville, Missouri.
Missouri
United States Army, Brigadier General John Pope, assumes the command of the Army of Mississippi, assembling at Commerce, MO.
United States reconnaissance from Greenville and skirmish near Greeenville.
Kentucky
Confederate States Army, Major General Leonidas deterred a gunboat reconnaissance of his positions at Columbus while he hastened his preparations to evacuate the fortifications.
Tennessee
Confederate States Army, Albert Sidney Johnston, assumes the immediate command of the Central Army, TN.
Expedition to Nashville began.
Confederate States army, Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest’s rearguard left Nashville as United States scouts reached the outskirts of the town. He headed for Murfreesboro forty miles to the southeast, where Confederate States army, General Albert Sidney Johnston had withdrawn with the Army of Central Kentucky. The loss of Nashville and other sites on the river cost the Confederates many badly-needed manufacturing facilities. The mayor of Nashville rowed across the river to offer the city’s surrender but he found he was confronted by a lone United States Army captain and a squad of cavalrymen from the advanced guard of United States Army, Brigadier General Don Carlos Buell’s Army of the Ohio.
Most of United States Army, Major General Ulysses Simpson Grant’s Army of West Tennessee remained at Fort Donelson, awaiting more reinforcements that would bring his force up to 30,000 men. Grant had been reinforced already and his army had grown from three to four divisions. One of these divisions was pushed forward to Clarksville but did not approach Nashville.
South Carolina
United States reconnaissance to Bull River and Schooner Channel began.
New Mexico Territory
After the victory at Valverde, Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley decided to abandon his attempt to capture Fort Craig. After a day of rest, he resumed his march northwards towards Albuquerque and Santa Fe, where he hoped to capture much-needed supplies. However, he was severely hampered by the loss of horses and mules during the battle, forcing him to dismount the 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Confederate States) as infantry and destroy some supplies and wagons.
United States Army, Colonel Edward Richard Sprigg Canby blamed his unreliable militia regiments for the setback at Valverde. Considering himself to be outnumbered, he chose not to pursue Sibley. Instead, he sent mounted detachments of New Mexico volunteers to harass the Confederates’ rear and lines of communications. He remained with the main body at Fort Craig where he was close to the Confederates’ supply line and could intercept any reinforcements being sent to join Sibley. Canby hoped eventually to pin the main Confederate main body between his own position and the United States reinforcements advancing from Fort Union. He sent orders for all the outposts on the Confederate line of march to be removed or destroyed in a “scorched earth” policy, knowing that plentiful supplies were essential for even a small force to survive in the arid and deserted region.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 24, 2024 7:08:37 GMT
Day 319 of the United States Civil War, February 24th 1862
Virginia
Confederate States Navy, Captain Franklin Buchanan was ordered to assume command of the naval defences in the James River, comprising the ironclad CSS VIRGINIA and the small gunboats CSS PATRICK HENRY, CSS JAMESTOWN, CSS TEASER, CSS RALEIGH, and CSS BEAUFORT.
Skirmish at Mason’s Creek near Occoquan.
A United States force commanded by United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Peter Heintzelman engaged a small Confederate force at Lewis’ Chapel near Pohick Church, about twelve miles south of Alexandria. The Confederates were forced to retreat after a short skirmish with troops from United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Peter Heintzelman’s division.
United States Army, Major General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks moved a small force forward to occupy Harper’s Ferry. Rumours that more United States forces were concentrating around Harper’s Ferry suggested to the Confederates that the United States army was beginning to move into position for its spring offensive in northern Virginia.
Arkansas
Confederate States Army, Major General Earl Van Dorn moved his headquarters from Jacksonport to Van Buren in order to direct operations to eject the Union forces from Arkansas.
Missouri
Reconnaissance to Pea Ridge Prairie ended.
Skirmishes at St Francisville and Mingo Creek.
Skirmish at New Madrid.
Florida
USS HARRIET LANE under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Jonathan M Wainwright, captured the schooner JOANNA WARD off the coast.
USS MOHICAN under the command of United States Navy, Commander Sylvanus William Godon, and the gunboat USS BIENVILLE (1 × 30-pounder rifle and 8 × 32-pounder smoothbore guns) under the command of United States Navy, Commander Steedman, captured the blockade-running British schooner ARROW Arrow off Fernandina.
Gulf of Mexico
The bark USS KINGFISHER (4 × 8 in (200 mm) smoothbore Dahlgren guns) under the command of United States Navy, Acting Lieutenant Couthouy, captured the blockade-runner LION after a three-day chase.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 25, 2024 7:31:07 GMT
Day 320 of the United States Civil War, February 25th 1862District of ColumbiaThe War Department, acting under a congressional mandate passed the month before, took control of all telegraph lines in the United States. From then on, all information passed over the telegraph would require Army approval and all news organizations that broke the rules governing the dissemination of military news and information would be punished by witholding their use of the telegraph and, further, having the transport of their newspapers by railroad restricted. VirginiaOperations in Loudoun County began. West Virginia In order to aid the United States cause in western Virginia, the Restored Government of Virginia passed an act that improved the roads which transported military wagons between Warm Springs, Bath County and Marlin?s Bottom, Pocahontas County. Confederate States Army, Major General Henry Heth and his staff arrived at Lewisburgh, Va where he will takes command of the forces of Kanawha. Kentucky Columbus, Kentucky was the northernmost Confederate position on the Mississippi River and was known as the "Gibralter of the West" for its extensive fortification and a massive steel chain stretched across the river to Belmont, Missouri. Fearing that the United States advance on New Madrid, Missouri around thirty miles downstream would cut him off, Confederate States Army, General Leonidas Polk ordered an evacuation and over the next week moved all his men and 140 cannon to the New Madrid area. TennesseeConfederate States Army, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith, is assigned to the command in East Tennessee. Expedition to Nashville ended. The gunboat USS CAIRO under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Nathaniel Bryant. arrived at Nashville, convoying seven steam transports carrying troops under Union Brigadier-General William Nelson. The troops landed without opposition and occupied the state capital. This enabled the United States army to establish an important supply depot on the Cumberland River. Nashville was the first Confederate state capital to be captured by United States forces. MissouriSkirmish at Keetsville between Confederate Texas Rangers and United States Army, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis’ forces. United States Army, Brigadier General John Pope arrived at Commerce with an escort of 140 men and awaited the arrival of reinforcements necessary for him to commence operations against New Madrid and Island No 10. New YorkThe ironclad warship USS MONITOR was commissioned in the United States Navy. North Carolina The gunboat USS R B FORBES (2x 32 pounders (15 kilograms) guns and 1x 30 pdr (14 kg) rifled gun) under the command of United States Navy, Acting Lieutenant William Flye, grounded in a gale near Nag’s Head and was destroyed to prevent her from falling into Confederate hands. The ship was on its way to join the mortar flotilla being collected below New Orleans. Sketch: USS R. B. FORBES by Alfred Waud South CarolinaExpedition to Hilton Head began. BermudaWhile Tennessee, Nashville becomes the first Confederate capital to fall to the United States, CSS NASHVILLE that bears the city name has better fortune. The United States consul in Bermuda Charles Maxwell Allen reports that the Confederate commerce raider has obtained 150 tons of coal to continue her voyage and left Bermudan waters.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 26, 2024 3:47:43 GMT
Day 321 of the United States Civil War, February 26th 1862
District of Columbia
(United States) President Abraham Lincoln signed the Loan and Treasury Bill recently passed in Congress. Besides authorizing borrowing to fight the war, it regularized the issue of United States government banknotes, up to the value of $150 million, in the denominations of five dollars and up. These were to become the national banknote currency and legal tender for all debts, except customs duties, including interest payments on the national debt.
Virginia
The following are appointed Brigadier Generals in the Confederate States Army:
- Ambrose Powell Hill.
- James Johnston Pettigrew.
United States Army, Major General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks marched from Frederick, Maryland, and crossed to the south bank of the Potomac River at Harper’s Ferry. His command numbered 38,000 men, of whom 2,000 were cavalry, supported by 80 guns.
Kentucky
Confederate troops at Columbus were at risk of capture by United States troops advancing overland from the Tennessee River to the Mississippi. To avoid losing the garrison and its equipment, Confederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard ordered the position to be evacuated as quietly as possible. The first members of the Columbus garrison soon arrived further downriver at Island No 10. When Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John Porter McCown arrived, he immediately set to work to strengthen the defensive positions from Battery No 1 as far as Point Pleasant. Despite inadequate resources, he was able to transform the island and the nearby mainland into a formidable obstacle for any fleet attempting to pass southwards.
South Carolina
Reconnaissance to Bull River ended.
Missouri
Skirmish at Keytesville.
Tennessee
United States Army, Major General Don Carlos Buell arrived in the captured capital city of Nashville with the bulk of his Army of the Ohio.
Florida
The gunboat USS BEINVILLE under the command of United States Navy, Commander Steedman, captured the schooner ALERT off St John’s.
Gulf of Mexico
CSS NASHVILLE under the command of Confederate States Navy, Lieutenant Pegram, captured and burned the schooner ROBERT GIFILLAN, bound from Philadelphia to Haiti with a cargo of provisions.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 27, 2024 3:48:11 GMT
Day 322 of the United States Civil War, February 27th 1862
Virginia
The Confederate Congress had voted (Confederate States) President Jefferson Davis the authority to declare martial law and suspend habeas corpus in "cities threatened with invasion." He made use of this power, declaring these restrictions in place in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, including the surrounding countryside up to the distance of ten miles. Davis followed this with a similar declarion including Richmond, the capital, two days later.
The following are appointed Brigadier Generals in the Confederate States Army:
- Danville Leadbetter.
- William Whann Mackall.
- Carter Littlepage Stevenson.
A debate in a secret session of the Confederate Congress concluded with the forwarding of a Bill to (Confederate States) President Jefferson Davis to create the post of Commanding General of the Army. Davis resisted all such efforts to create a post of General-in-Chief until January 1865, serving his right as President to be the Commander-in-Chief of all the nation’s military forces.
Confederate States Navy, Captain French Forrest, commanding the Navy Yard at Norfolk, reported that a shortage of gunpowder was delaying the readiness of CSS VIRGINIA to begin operations against the United States blockading fleet.
Tennessee
Confederate States Army, General Albert Sidney Johnston took active command of the Army of Central Kentucky at Jackson. The army had withdrawn from Nashville to Murfreesboro and then on to Decatur, Alabama, before stopping along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad south of the Tennessee River. Johnston aimed to cooperate with the forces of Confederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard who was directing the defence of the Mississippi River.
New York
Already delayed for one day by a shortage of ammunition, USS MONITOR departed from the New York Navy Yard but the unseaworthy ship was compelled to turn back because of a steering failure.
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