United States Civil War (1861 – 1865) in Real Time

Day 385 of the United States Civil War, April 30th 1862

District of Columbia

Abram Sanders Piatt,is appointed Brigadier General in the United States Army.

West Virginia

United States Army, General John C. Fremont released orders detailing how the United states army and the Restored Government of Virginia in Wheeling should prosecute Confederate prisoners:

Headquarters Mountain Department, Wheeling, Va. April 30, 1862.

Circular:

The following instructions from the General commanding are transmitted for your government in the cases specified:

1. Prisoners will not be surrendered to the United States Marshal until they are indicted.

2. When the Major General Commanding is in the field, and it is not convenient to communicate with him on urgent cases, they shall be referred to the Department, Judge Advocate Major R. M. Corwide, for his opinion and direction.

3. Persons who are charged with disloyalty, and sent to prison by order of any [ commandmanding ] officer of a Division. Brigade, Regiment or Post, shall be sent to Camp Chase to await the order of the Secretary of War.

4. Persons arrested, who are charged with having served under the rebel Government, whether in the military, judicial, executive or legislative departments, will not be discharged, but will at once be committed to Camp Chase, with a statement embodying a history of their case, there to await the order of the War Department.

5. All persons taken with arms in their hands, who shall have been actually engaged as guerrillas at the time of their capture, shall be tried by military commission, at the headquarters of the nearest brigade commander, and the proceedings in each case submitted for final decision to the General Commanding the Department.

6. The arrest of all persons will be promptly reported to Major Jos. Darr, Jr., Provost Marshal General, Headquarters Wheelling, Va., and particular care will be taken, whenever practicable, to forward, with a descriptive list of the prisoners, complete and sworn evidence against them. Prisoners will in no instance be sent out of this Department without a report to the Provost Marshal General.

By order
Major-Gen. Fremont.

H. E. Twall, Asst. Adj't Gen.

Louisiana

With the Confederate evacuation of New Orleans by troops under Mansfield Lovell, Mary Chesnut believes she has identified a flaw in strategy:“War seems a game of chess—but we have an unequal number of pawns to begin with. We had knights, kings, queens, bishops, and castles enough. But our skillful generals—whenever they cannot arrange the board to suit them exactly, they burn up everything and march away. We want them to save the country. They seem to think their whole duty is to destroy [our own] ships and save the[ir] army.”

Georgia

Incident at Wilmington Island.

South Carolina

The side-wheel steamship USS SANTIAGO DE CUBA under the command of United States Navy, Commander Daniel Bowly Ridgely, captured the schooner MARIA off Port Royal.

Incident at Whitmarsh Island.

Day 387 of the United States Civil War, May 2nd 1862

District of Columbia

In a message to all foreign legations in the United States, (United States) Secretary of State William H. Seward announced that full federal postal services had been restored to New Orleans and its vicinity. Reinforcing the message with commercial information, Seward stated that a customs collector was being appointed and that the federal blockade at the mouth of the Mississippi would soon be adjusted to once again permit foreign trade.

Virginia

United States Army, Major General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks moved a scouting force forward from his line at Charlestown to occupy Martinsburg.

South Carolina

From his post in South Carolina, William P. DuBose, reflects his concerns for the safety of Charleston and other coastal cities: “It would be sad to see our beloved City in the hands of the Enemy, but so far as our course, & the policy of the war are concerned, I am fast becoming reconciled to the surrender of every place accessible to gun boats, and falling back into the country.

Tennessee

The United States gunboats USS LEXINGTON and USS TYLER engaged Confederate batteries at Pittsburg Landing.

Missouri

Skirmish near New Madrid.

Mississippi

Confederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard ordered higher priority to be given to the construction of Fort Pillow, a hundred miles downriver from New Madrid. His new design would permit a garrison of 3,000 rather than the original intended complement of 10,000 men to hold it.

Kentucky

Confederate forces under Confederate States Army, Major General Leonidas Polk completed the evacuation of the fortifications at Columbus. About 140 heavy guns had been extracted from their emplacements without detection and the garrison of 17,000 was divided. About 7,000 men marched towards New Madrid, Missouri, while the other 10,000 headed towards Humboldt, Tennessee. United States troops under United States Army, Brigadier General George Washington Cullum arrived to probe the defences and found the so-called “Gibraltar of the West” abandoned. The powerful Fort De Russy, which dominated the Mississippi River, was renamed Fort Halleck and the vital railroad and river terminus remained in Union hands for the duration of the war. It became the headquarters for commissary, quartermasters, and transportation operations in the western theatre and a landing point for troops arriving from all across the Midwest. The surrounding area was strongly pro-Confederate and strong garrisons were required to protect the position. As liberated and escaped slaves drifted northwards, Columbus also became a refuge and then a major post for the enlistment and training of United states Colored Troops.

Arkansas

United States Army, Brigadier-General Franz Sigel moved his two divisions of the Army of the Southwest from Bentonville to McKissick’s farm, with an outpost at Smith’s Mills (Osage Mills) about seven miles further to the east. Cavalry was also placed at Osage Springs to maintain contact with United States Army, Brigadier General Jefferson Columbus Davis’ United States division at Cross Hollows.

New Mexico Territory

Evacuation of Albuquerque and Santa Fe began. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley was leading his column northwards along the Rio Grande River and arrived at Albuquerque, The United States garrison learned of their approach and United States Army, Captain Herbert M Enos either moved or destroyed all military supplies before evacuating the town.

Day 389 of the United States Civil War, May 4th 1862

Virginia

The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under Confederate States Army, General Joseph Eggleston Johnston was reorganised into three segments. The Left Wing was assigned to Confederate States Army, Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith, the Centre Wing was disbanded and its forces were allocated to the Right Wing under Confederate States Army, Major General James Longstreet. The Reserve was allocated to Confederate States Army, Major General John Bankhead Magruder.

United States reconnaissance to Culpeper Court House began.

Skirmish at Franklin.

Skirmish at Princeton,

Skirmish at Cheese Cake Church.

Skirmish at Columbia Bridge.

The gunboat USS CORWIN (2 × 32-pounder guns and 2 × 12-pounder guns) under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Thomas S Phelps, captured the schooner DIRECTOR and a launch marked “US BRIG DOLPHIN” in the York River near Gloucester Point. The guard boat GENERAL SCOTT and the sloop CHAMPION, both loaded with Confederate military stores, were burned to prevent capture.

A boat crew from the MOHICAN-class steam sloop-of-war USS WACHUSETT under the command of United States Navy, Commander W Smith, occupied Gloucester Point after United States troops occupied Yorktown. Two Confederate schooners were captured.

United States forces at Ragged Island burned the schooner BEAUREGARD, laden with coal intended for the ironclad CSS VIRGINIA at Norfolk.

Part of Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Jonathan Jackson’s force was moving from Conrad’s Store towards Harrisonburg when he learned of the presence of a United States force from the command of United States Army, Major General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks nearby. The Confederates skirmished with them and Banks was persuaded to withdraw from Harrisonburg to Strasburg. Jackson had left his cavalry with Confederate States Army, Major General Richard Stoddert Ewell’s division, which was arriving through Swift Run Gap, while he headed south own division to join Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Edward Johnson near Staunton. He took his 5,000 infantry on a long march through Brown’s Gap to the Virginia Central Railroad ten miles from Charlottesville. They then boarded trains and arrived in Staunton. The troops were given two days’ rest before they marched to oppose the Union troops advancing from the northwest.

(Virginia) - Peninsula Campaign - Siege of Yorktown (1862)

United States Army, Major General George Brinton McClellan’s siege of Yorktown ended as Confederate troops under Confederate States Army, General Joseph Eggleston Johnston evacuated their fortifications before the Union siege artillery opened the final bombardment in preparation for an assault.

Early in the morning, United States Army, Major General Samuel Peter Heintzelman ascended in an observation balloon and saw that the Confederate earthworks were empty of troops. The United states army advanced into the undefended fortifications, where they captured 56 heavy siege guns which the Confederates had found impossible to dismount and recover.

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General James Ewell Brown Stuart’s cavalry covered the Confederate withdrawal while Confederate States Army, Brigadier General George Stoneman sought to pursue them with United States cavalry. The opposing cavalry scouts skirmished briefly near Williamsburg. Stoneman was supported by four batteries of horse artillery and followed by the infantry divisions of Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Joseph Hooker (1/III) and Confederate States Army, Brigadier General William Farrar Smith (2/IV) and eventually about half of the United states army under United States Army, Brigadier General Edwin Vose Sumner (II Corps). The pursuers made contact near the Halfway House. The Confederate division of Confederate States Army, Major General James Longstreet was acting as the rearguard and occupied some earthworks built previously by Confederate States Army, Major General John Bankhead Magruder, midway between Halfway House and Williamsburg.

McClellan also ordered United States Army, Brigadier-General William Buel Franklin’s division (newly arrived from Alexandria) to board transport ships on the York River in an attempt to move upstream to West Point and cut off Johnston’s retreat. However, it took two days to re-embark the men and equipment.

Map: Siege of Yorktown, April–May 1862 (Red) Confederate (Blue) United States



Louisiana

The gunboat USS CALHOUN (2 × 32-pounder guns and 1 × 30-pounder rifled gun) under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Joseph E DeHaven, captured the sloop CHARLES HENRY off St Joseph and occupied Fort Pike, which had been evacuated by the Confederates.

Drawing: USS CALHOUN in 1862



Tennessee

Skirmish at Pulaski.

United States raid on the Mobile & Ohio railroad near Bethel, and skirmish at Purdy.

Missouri

Skirmish at Licking.

New Mexico Territory

Tucson is evacuated by Confederate forces.

Cuba

The gunboat USS SOMERSET (2 × 9 in (230 mm) smoothbore guns and 4 × 32-pounder guns) under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Earl English reported the capture of the steamer CIRCASSIAN between Havana and Matanzas.

Day 391 of the United States Civil War, May 6th 1862

Virginia

A skirmish occurred near Harrisonburg as Confederate troops moved forward from Conrad’s Store and induced Union Major-General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks to retreat toward Strasburg.

Skirmishes at Arnoldsburg and Camp McDonald.

The USS Chicora, USS Sebago, and USS Wachusett sailed up the York River towards West Point, to provide naval support for the troops landing at Eltham’s Landing, near West Point.

Confederate Major-General Gustavus Woodson Smith’s division occupied Barhamsville during the afternoon to protect the flank of the army retreating from the direction of the York River towards Richmond. Smith received orders to attack the Union troops landing at Eltham in the morning, and the divisions of Major-General Daniel Harvey Hill, Major-General James Longstreet, and Major-General John Bankhead Magruder were ordered to proceed in that direction. Union Major-General William Buel Franklin’s men came ashore at Eltham’s Landing in light pontoon boats and a 400-foot long floating wharf was then built from the pontoons, canal boats and lumber, so that artillery and supplies could be unloaded. The work was continued by torchlight through the night and the only enemy resistance was a few random shots fired by Confederate pickets on the bluff above the landing. The shooting ended with nightfall at about 10 pm.

Arkansas

Skirmish on the White River.

Kentucky

Expedition to Bowling Green and the Tennessee State Line ended.

Louisiana

Occupation of Alexandria.

USS Calhoun, Lieutenant Joseph E Dehaven, captured the steamer Whiteman in Lake Pontchartrain.

South Carolina

USS Ottawa, Lieutenant J Blakeley Creighton, captured the schooner General C C Pinckney off Charleston.

Tennessee

Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan and his raiders were in Lebanon. Some of his pickets on the Murfreesboro Road were sheltering from the rain in a house when the Union 1st Kentucky Cavalry commanded by Colonel Frank Wolford rode past their outpost. These were the advance guard of a 600-man force commanded by Brigadier-General Ebenezer Dumont. A Confederate courier got ahead of the Union cavalry to warn Morgan and most of the Confederate raiders managed to escape. The Union cavalry pursued Morgan for about thirty miles as far as the Cumberland River. The Confederates scattered into the countryside to evade further pursuit.

Ohio

James M. Chenoweth had been indicted in the United States District Court in Cincinnati during its previous session for treason in aiding the Confederacy. Out on bail, Cheneoweth had appealed on the grounds that "aid to the enemy" under the Constitution did not apply to a rebellion, only to foreign enemies. New Supreme Court Justice Noah Swayne, sitting for the District Court, reluctantly agreed that despite the current popular excitement the strict interpretation of the law dictated the indictment be quashed and Chenoweth freed.

Mississippi

Confederate States Army, General P. G. T. Beauregard issued General Orders, No. 37, placing Confederate States Army, Major General Braxton Bragg in command of the Army of the Mississippi:

General Orders, No. 37.

Headquarters of the Forces,
Corinth, Miss., May 6, 1862.

I. General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, is assigned to the immediate command of that part of the forces known as the Army of the Mississippi.

II. The following officers are announced as chiefs in their respective departments of the general staff of the forces. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Jordan, chief of staff and of adjutant-generals department.

Brig. Gen. J. E. Slaughter, inspector-generals department.

Maj. Eugene E. McLean, Quartermasters Department C. S. Army, in department of supplies and means of transportation.

Maj. A. J. Smith, chief in the pay department.

Lieut. Col. R. B. Lee, chief of subsistence department.

Surg. R. L Brodie medical director.

Col. John Pegram, C. S. Army, chief of engineers.

Col. William G. Gill, chief of ordnance and artillery.

By command of General Beauregard:

Thomas Jordan,
Assistant Adjutant- General.

Day 393 of the United States Civil War, May 8th 1862

(YouTube) Civil War Week By Week - The Battle of Williamsburg. (May 2nd - 8th, 1862)



Virginia

Confederate States Army, Major General William W. Loring, is assigned to the command of the Army of Southwest Virginia.

Reconnaissance to Mulberry Point ended.

Reconnaissance to Clay County and Roane County began.

Of the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, United States Navy units made a probing afternoon bombardment of the Confederate positions defending the harbor around Sewell's Point and Craney Island. In mid-afternoon, the Confederate ironclad MERRIMAC appeared but did not engage the United States fleet and its own ironclad, the USS MONITOR. Firing was heavy until the evening when the United States ships returned to their anchorages. (United States) President Abram Lincoln watched the afternoon's action from a small tugboat about a mile behind the United States fleet.

After blocking the Union landings at Eltham’s Landing, Confederate States Army, Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith moved his and Confederate States Army, Major General John Bankhead Magruder’s divisions through New Kent Court House, to a point near Bottom’s Bridge over the Chickahominy River, about nineteen miles from Barhamsville. The two Confederate divisions of Confederate States Army, Major General James Longstreet and Confederate States Army, Major General Daniel Harvey Hill camped five miles further downstream at Long Bridge. Their arrival at the crossings of the Chickahominy brought the 54,000 men of General Joseph Eggleston Johnston’s army within reach of safety in the Richmond defences after their water-logged retreat from Williamsburg.

United States Army, Major General George Brinton McClellan requested all available forces to be sent by sea to his new base of operations at West Point, at the confluence of the Mattapony and Pamunkey Rivers and the terminus of the Richmond & York River Railroad. This new base shorted his lines of communications and avoided reliance on supplies and equipment travelling along the long muddy roads of the Yorktown peninsula from Fort Monroe.

The wooden-hulled broadside ironclad USS GALENA and two gunboats moved up the James River to support the operations of the Army of the Potomac. They silenced two shore batteries and forced the gunboats CSS JAMESTOWN and CSS PATRICK HENRY to retreat further up the James River.

The gunboat USS CURRITUCK (four 32-pounder guns and one 20 pounder rifled gun) under the command of United States Navy, Acting Master William F Shankland, conducted a reconnaissance of the Pamunkey River and captured the American Coaster and Planter. Shankland reported that some twenty schooners had been sunk and two gunboats burned by the Confederates above West Point.

United States Army, Brigadier General Jacob Dolson Cox advanced towards Pearisburg in western Virginia by way of Princeton. However, when Confederate States Army,Brigadier General Humphrey Marshall replied by advancing towards Princeton from Tazewell, Cox had to pull back to Flat Top Mountain. United States Army, Brigadier General George Crook’s brigade continued with the onward march to Lewisburg.

(Virginia) Jackson's Valley campaign - Battle of McDowell

In March 1862, United States forces commanded by United States Army, Major General Nathaniel P. Banks moved into the Shenandoah Valley with the goal of supporting United States Army, Major General George B. McClellan's advance up the Virginia Peninsula. Confederate resistance to Banks' advance consisted of a small army commanded by Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. On March 21, the United States high command ordered the majority of Banks' command out of the Shenandoah Valley, leaving only a division commanded by United States Army, Brigadier General James Shields to deal with Jackson. Shields left his camp at Strasburg and began moving north towards Winchester. On March 23, Jackson caught up with Shields' division near Kernstown. Faulty intelligence led Jackson to believe that only a small portion of Shields' force was at Kernstown, so he ordered an assault. Instead, Shields was in the area with his entire force, and a sharp battle was opened. The Confederates took a position behind a stone wall, but after Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett's brigade retreated after running low on ammunition, the flank of the Confederate position was exposed, forcing Jackson to withdraw from the field. Despite having defeated Jackson at Kernstown, United States high command was concerned by the aggressive behavior the Confederate army had shown, and began to send more troops to the Shenandoah Valley area, including the two divisions of Banks' army that had been moved out earlier.

After the retreat from Kernstown, Jackson's force remained in the southern Shenandoah Valley awaiting orders and preparing for battle. In April, Jackson received orders to keep the United States forces in the Valley occupied with the goal of preventing them from joining McClellan's army near Richmond. Also coming to Jackson's camp were reinforcements commanded by Major General Richard Ewell. Meanwhile, another United States force was moving against Jackson's army. United States Army, Major General John C. Frémont's Mountain Department was moving towards Jackson from the west, across the Allegheny Mountains. Frémont's advance force consisted of 3,500 men commanded by United States Army, Brigadier General Robert Milroy. Milroy reached the town of McDowell in early May, and was reinforced by another 2,500 men under United States Army, Brigadier General Robert C. Schenck on 8 May.

Jackson's columns departed their camps in the area of West View and Staunton, on the morning of 7 May. Jackson had been further reinforced by elements of Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's brigade. The area around McDowell contained several points of high ground; a peak known as Jackson's Mountain was located west of the town, and Bull Pasture Mountain was east of McDowell. A road known as the Parkersburg and Staunton Turnpike ran roughly east to west through the area. A hill known as Sitlington's Hill was located south of the road, and Hull's Hill was north of the road. The Bull Pasture River ran between the town of McDowell and Sitlington's Hill and Hull's Hill. Expecting an attack, the United States commanders sent out small forces to serve as skirmishers. A portion of an artillery battery was also sent to the southern portion of Hull's Hill, where it kept up a regular fire despite not having a clear view of any Confederates. United states skirmishers from the 32nd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United states), 73rd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United states), and 3rd West Virginia Infantry Regiment (United States) made contact with the Confederate forces.

Confederate States Army, General l Thomas Jonathan Jackson then sent troops to take the lightly-defended crest of Sitlington's Hill. Scott's brigade led the way. The 52nd Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) aligned in skirmishing formation on the Confederate left, and the 44th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) and 58th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) aligned between the 52nd Virginia Regiment (Confederate States) and the road at the other end of Sitlington's Hill. The 12th Georgia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) of Conner's brigade supported the Virginians. Jackson and Johnson moved to the top of the hill to have a point from which they could observe the United States position with the hopes of finding a path suitable for a flanking attack. However, Milroy ordered his United States troops to attack the Confederate position on Sitlington's Hill, disrupting the Confederate plans. Jackson did not bring his artillery as he thought the steep slopes of Sitlington's Hill would be too difficult to move it there.

Milroy and Schenck decided to send five regiments against the Confederate line. The 25th Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States)and 75th Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States), both from Milroy's brigade aimed for where the United States commanders thought the center of the Confederate line was located. The 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States) of Schenck's brigade and 32nd Ohio Infantry Infantry Regiment (United States) of Milroy's brigade aligned to the left of the 25th and 75th Ohio, and the 3rd West Virginia Infantry Regiment (United States) advanced along the road on the United States left. The fact that the Confederates held the high ground would prove to be a disadvantage for them: the sun was setting behind the Confederate line, silhouetting the soldiers against the sky. The hill also cast shadows that helped conceal the Union troops. The 12th Georgia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) had been posted in an exposed position in front of the main Confederate line, and made first contact with the United States assault. The Georgians were in an exposed position and at a disadvantage carrying outdated smoothbore muskets while Milroy's troops had Enfield rifles. Further down the line, the 32nd and 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States) hit the main Confederate line, which had been reinforced by the 25th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) and the 31st Virginia InInfantry Regiment (Confederate States) fantry of Conner's brigade. The fighting became very heavy, with reports describing the battle as "fierce and sanguinary" and "very terrific". At one point, Confederates fighting against the 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States) attempted to use the bodies of dead soldiers as breastworks.

The fifth United States regiment in the charge, the 3rd West Virginia Infantry Regiment (United States), encountered skirmishers from the 52nd and 31st Virginia who were guarding the Confederate right flank. The Confederates then received further reinforcements from Campbell's and Taliaferro's brigades. The 10th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) of Taliaferro's brigade moved to the Confederate left, and Taliaferro's 23rd Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) and 37th Virginia Regiment (Confederate States) relieved the 25th Virginia Regiment (Confederate States)in the main Confederate line. Towards the center of the Confederate line, the 12th Georgia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States), bloodied and out of ammunition, was forced to withdraw and was replaced by Campbell's 48th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States). Milroy shifted some of his regiments around, moving the 32nd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States) to support the 75th Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States) near where the Georgians had been driven off, and bringing the 3rd West Virginia Infantry Regiment (United States) from the flank to the position formerly occupied by the 32nd Ohio. While the added weight of the 32nd Ohio Infantry Regiment (United States) forced the 48th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) to vacate its advanced position quickly, the outnumbered United States assailants broke off the assault. The fighting ended around 9:00 pm.

Alabama

Skirmish at Elkton Station, near Athens.

Louisiana

Capture of Bayou Grand Caillou.

A landing party from the MOHICAN-class sloop of war USS IROQUOIS under the command of United States Navy, Commander James Shedden Palmer, seized the Arsenal and occupied Baton Rouge.

Mississippi

Union reconnaissance to Farmington and Corinth.

Skirmishes at Corinth and Glendale.

North Carolina

Expedition to Gatesville ended.

Day 395 of the United States Civil War, May 10th 1862

Virginia

Skirmish near Franklin when United States Army, Brigadier General Robert Cumming Schenck attacked bushwhackers who had killed one of his men in an ambush.

Incident at Pearlsburg.

United States troops embarked in transports at Fortress Monroe and landed east of Sewell’s Point near Willoughby Point. USS MONITOR continued to reconnoitre Sewell’s Point to discover whether the Confederate batteries were still manned. Finding the works now abandoned, United States Army, Brigadier General John Ellis Wool’s troops marched on into Norfolk, where the advanced guard arrived late in the afternoon

United States capture and occupation of Portsmouth by United States forces under United States Army, Brigadier General John Ellis Wool.

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Heth was commanding the grandiosely titled “Army of the New River” in western Virginia, comprising the 22nd Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States) and 45th Virginia Infantry Regiment (Confederate States), with attached cavalry and artillery. Heth’s small brigade held off the forces of United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford Birchard Hayes (under the overall direction of United States Army, Brigadier General General Jacob Dolson Cox) in an action at Giles Courthouse. Heth then pursued the enemy to Lewisburg. This operation helped to divert United States forces from the Shenandoah Valley 120 miles to the north, where Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Jonathan Jackson was conducting a diversionary campaign.

West Virginia

Governor of the Restored Government of Virginia In office, Francis Pierpont asks the legislature to repeal the law concerning slaves who commit capital offenses.

Alabama

Skirmish at Lamb’s Ferry.

Arkansas

Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Carmichael Hindman sent Texan cavalry scouts to determine the United States army’s positions near Searcy. The scouts encountered friendly refugees fleeing the United States Army, who reported that the United States forces numbered about 30,000, most of them German immigrants. Hindman had approximately 1,200 Texas cavalrymen to confront this force. He ordered the cotton stores near Searcy to be destroyed while Governor of Arkansas, Henry Massey Rector prepared the government offices at Little Rock for evacuation. Meanwhile, small advanced parties from the United States Army clashed with the Texas scouts between Searcy and Little Rock, and a few United States casualties resulted.

Florida

United States troops from Fort Pickens completed their occupation of the abandoned port of Pensacola and established it as the headquarters of the United States Navy’s West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Confederate military installations in the area, including the Navy Yard, Fort Barrancas and Fort McRae, CSS FULTON, and an ironclad under construction on the Escambia River, were all destroyed by the Confederates under Confederate States Army, Colonel Thomas Marshall Jones before they abandoned the indefensible port. The Navy Yard was assessed to be in ruins.

Mississippi

United States reconnaissance along the Alabama Road to Sharp’s Mill.

Skirmish at Farmington.

Missouri

A skirmish at Bloomfield resultrf in the capture of a Confederate supply cache.

New York

Governor of Indiana, Oliver P. Morton and other state officials loaded a special train with medical and other supplies for Indiana troops and left Indianapolis to visit their state troops engaged near Pittsburgh Landing. In the dark, near the town of Sullivan, the train struck a stationary rail car and Professor Miles J. Fletcher, the Indiana Superintendent of State Instruction, looking out the window, was killed instantly. He was the only casualty. Sullivan County was seen as disloyal and foul play was suspected but a grand jury found the incident to be an accident.

Pennsylvania

On a warm, sunny day in Philadelphia, the USS NEW IRONSIDES (14 × 11-inch (279 mm) smoothbore Dahlgren guns, 2 × 150-pounder Parrott rifles and 2 × 50-pounder Dahlgren rifles) was launched at the Kensington Yard just north of the central city with thousands of city residents in attendance. The 83 year-old Charles Stewart, famous captain of the USS CONSTITUTION, the "OLD IRONSIDES" from the War of 1812, did the honors.

Lithograph: USS NEW IRONSIDES under steam and sail



(Tennessee) Joint Operations Against New Madrid, Island No. 10, and Memphis - Battle of Plum Point Bend

The Confederate Mississippi River Defence Fleet, commanded by Confederate States Navy, Captain James E Montgomery and Missouri State Guard, Brigadier General Meriwether Jefferson Thompson, made an attack against the United States gunboats and the mortar flotilla at Plum Point Bend.

Seven United States ironclad gunboats were anchored five miles above the fort at Plum Run Bend and for several weeks they had sent one ship at a time to approach three miles closer to carry out a desultory bombardment of Fort Pillow, each taking a turn one day in seven.

Montgomery had brought his eight gunboats north from New Orleans to defend the Mississippi. They were the CSS GENERAL BRAGG, CSS GENERAL SUMTER, CSS GENERAL STERLING PRICE, CSS GENERAL EARL VAN DORN, CSS GENERAL MERIWETHER JEFFERSON THOMPSON, CSS COLONEL LOVELL, CSS GENERAL BEAUREGARD, and the flagship CSS LITTLE REBEL. The Confederates attacked Mortar Boat No 10, which was stationed just above Fort Pillow, and engaged in bombarding the works. USS CINCINNATI was on the daily protective duty but it was tied up to the shore and the crew was not at action stations. At about 7 am the eight Confederate gunboats turned the bend and surprised the United States ships. The United States ironclad attempted to get underway. USS CINCINNATI fired one broadside at 50 yards and managed to move just far enough so that when it was rammed by the CSS GENERAL BRAGG, the impact was only a glancing one. The blow nevertheless stove a hole amidships and water flooded the magazine. The CSS SUMTER waited for the CSS GENERAL BRAGG to pull away and then rammed the fantail of the USS CINCINNATI. CSS COLONEL LOVELL followed in turn and smashed into its port quarter. The United States flagship sank on a shallow sandbar, leaving its survivors clinging above water to the pilot house.

Three miles upstream, the rest of the United States fleet began to move to the rescue of their isolated comrades but they were slow in getting up steam. The USS MOUND CITY was the first of the main fleet to come to the rescue but CSS GENERAL EARL VAN DORN rammed it head on. USS MOUND CITY was run aground to avoid sinking. The deeper draft of the Confederate vessels did not permit them to press the attack into the shoal water in which the United States squadron now steamed. As the other five United States ironclads approached, firing their 9-inch Dahlgren guns, the Confederates decided to end the fight, leaving two enemy ironclads under the water.

Lithograph: Ironclad battle on the Mississippi River near Fort Wright, May 10, 1862



The Confederate ships sustained some damage and Montgomery withdrew them to safety under the guns of Fort Pillow. USS CINCINNATI and USS MOUND CITY were quickly re-floated and repaired but the ironclads’ aura of invincibility had been punctured.

The Philadelphia Inquirer: map of the engagement

Day 397 of the United States Civil War, May 12th 1862

District of Columbia

(United States) President Abraham issues Proclamation 89—Termination of Blockade of Beaufort, North Carolina, Port Royal, South Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana:

May 12, 1862

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Whereas by my proclamation of the 19th of April, 1861, it was declared that the ports of certain States, including those of Beaufort, in the State of North Carolina; Port Royal, in the State of South Carolina; and New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, were, for reasons therein set forth, intended to be placed under blockade; and

Whereas the said ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New Orleans have since been blockaded; but as the blockade of the same ports may now be safely relaxed with advantage to the interests of commerce:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, pursuant to the authority in me vested by the fifth section of the act of Congress approved on the 13th of July last, entitled "An act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports, and for other purposes," do hereby declare that the blockade of the said ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New Orleans shall so far cease and determine, from and after the 1st day of June next, that commercial intercourse with those ports, except as to persons, things, and information contraband of war, may from that time be carried on subject to the laws of the United States and to the limitations and in pursuance of the regulations which are prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in his order of this date, which is appended to this proclamation.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 12th day of May, A. D. 1862, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-sixth.

Abraham Lincoln.

By the President:

William H. Seward,

Secretary of State.

Regulations relating to trade with ports opened by proclamation .

Treasury Department, May 12, 1862

1. To vessels clearing from foreign ports and destined to ports opened by the proclamation of the President of the United States of this date, namely, Beaufort, in North Carolina; Port Royal, in South Carolina, and New Orleans, in Louisiana, licenses will be granted by consuls of the United States upon satisfactory evidence that the vessels so licensed will convey no persons, property, or information contraband of war either to or from the said ports, which licenses shall be exhibited to the collector of the port to which said vessels may be respectively bound immediately on arrival, and, if required, to any officer in charge of the blockade; and on leaving either of said ports every vessel will be required to have a clearance from the collector of the customs, according to law, showing no violation of the conditions of the license. Any violation of said conditions will involve the forfeiture and condemnation of the vessel and cargo and the exclusion of all parties concerned from any further privilege of entering the United States during the war for any purpose whatever.

2. To vessels of the United States clearing coastwise for the ports aforesaid licenses can only be obtained from the Treasury Department.

3. In all other respects the existing blockade remains in full force and effect as hitherto established and maintained, nor is it relaxed by the proclamation except in regard to the ports to which the rlaxation is by that instrument expressly applied.

S. P. Chase,

Secretary of the Treasury.

Virginia

Skirmishes at Franklin, Lewisburg, and Monterey.

Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Jonathan Jackson reached Franklin in pursuit of United States Army, Brigadier General Robert Huston Milroy, who was retreating from the Shenandoah Valley into western Virginia. Jackson halted and left Confederate States Army, Colonel Turner Ashby’s cavalry to screen his rear after sending much of Milroy’s captured wagon train on ahead. As the United States troops continued to withdraw further into western Virginia, Jackson’s army turned around to march back to face the other United States columns threatening the Shenandoah Valley.

United States Army, Major General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks arrived at and began to fortify Strasburg, which he garrisoned with the division of United States Army, Brigadier General Alpheus Starkey Williams. Following new orders to send troops to Fredericksburg, Banks sent United States Army, Brigadier General James Shields’ division eastwards out of the Valley, leaving him with just Williams’ 8,000 men at Strasburg.

The gunboat USS MARATANZA under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant Stevens, and other gunboats made a reconnaissance of the Pamunkey River in support of the army’s advance to its new supply base at White House.

The officers and crew of the scuttled CSS VIRGINIA were ordered to report to Confederate States Navy, Commander Ebenezer Farrand to establish a heavy gun battery below Drewry’s Bluff on the left bank of the river to prevent the ascent of United States gunboats to Richmond. The battery was to be organized and commanded by Confederate States Navy, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones, formerly of the CSS VIRGINIA.

West Virginia

At a meeting of Lewis County citizens continued from May 9, resolutions were passed opposed to the return of secession leaders but accepting others who will support the constitution.

Florida

Operation at Fort Pickens ended.

The Confederate evacuation of the port of Pensacola was completed.

Mississippi

MOHICAN-class sloop of war USS IROQUOIS and MOHICAN-class sloop of war USS ONEIDA demanded and received the surrender of Natchez.

Skirmish at Farmington.