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

Day 522 of the United States Civil War, September 13th 1862

District of Columbia

Calvin Edward Pratt is appointed Brigadier General in the United States Army.

United States Army, Major General John Sedgwick, is assigned to command of the 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac.

(United States) President Abraham Lincoln ponders an argument for emancipation from Chicago: “The subject presented in the memorial is one upon which I have thought much for weeks past, and I may even say for months. I am approached with the most opposite opinions and advice . . . . These are not, however, the days of miracles, and I supposed it will be granted that I am not to expect a direct revelation [from the Divinity on the matter]. I must study the plain physical facts of the case, ascertain what is possible and learn what appears to be wise and right. The subject is difficult, and good men do not agree. What good would a proclamation of emancipation from me do, especially as we are now situated? I do not want to issue a document that the whole world will see must necessarily be inoperative, like a Pope’s bull against the comet! Would my word free the slaves, when I cannot even enforce the Constitution in the rebel states?”

After explaining that he has no legal, constitutional or moral objections to emancipation, (United States) President Abraham Lincoln observes: “I view the matter as a practical war measure, to be decided upon according to the advantages or disadvantages it may offer to the suppression of the rebellion”

(United States) President Abraham Lincoln receives comments, before offering responses of his own: “I admit that slavery is the root of the rebellion, or at least its sine qua non. The ambition of politicians may have instigated them to act, but they would have been impotent without slavery as their instrument. I will also concede that emancipation would help us in Europe, and convince them that we are incited by something more than ambition. I grant further that it would help somewhat in the North, though not so much, I fear, as you and those you represent imagine. Still, some additional strength would be added in that way to the war. And then unquestionably it would weaken the rebels by drawing off their laborers, which is of great importance. But I am not sure we could do much with the blacks. If we arm them, I fear that in a few weeks the arms would be in the hands of the rebels; and indeed thus far we have not had arms enough to equip our white troops.”

(United States) President Abraham Lincoln is particularly concerned about the impact on soldiers from the border slave states that have remained in the United states: “It would be a serious matter if, in consequence of a proclamation such as you desire, they should go over to the rebels. I do not think they all would—not so many indeed as a year ago, or as six months ago—not so many to-day as yesterday.”

Virginia

Incidents at Bolivar Heights.

Confederate States Army, Major General William Wing Loring forced the evacuation of Charleston by its United States garrison. United States strength was greatly depleted by the temporary transfer of United States Army, Major General Jacob Dolson Cox’s Kanawha Division to assist in the defence of Maryland and Loring was able to exploit the unexpected weakness. The United States regiments of United States Army, Colonel James Andrew Jackson Lightburn (4th West Virginia Infantry) and United States Army, Colonel Samuel A Gilbert (44th Ohio Infantry reported the setback.

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Albert Gallatin Jenkins led a small mounted force into western Virginia through Huttonsville. He captured United States supply depots at Buckhannon and Weston. The two United States brigades under the command of United States Army, Colonel Edward Siber and United States Army, Colonel Samuel Augustus Gilbert in the area withdrew to the mouth of the Kanawha.

West Virginia

The 106th Militia Regiment was ordered to assemble at the Mason County Courthouse to aid United States forces in the Kanawha Valley:

Point Pleasant Register
September 18, 1862
Proclamation!

Whereas, it is deemed proper by the Governor of Virginia and Gen. George C. Bowyer, the Commander of the Brigade of which the 106th Reg., Va. Mil. Is a part of, to order the Militia composing of said brigade, to immediatele[sic] assemble and rendezvous at Point Pleasant, to render such aid as may be in their power to Col. Lightburn the Commander of the Federal Forces in the Kanawha Valley. Now, therefore, I, J.P.R.B. Smith, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Commandant of the 106th Reg. Va. Mil., do hereby order and direct the able bodied men composing the 106th Reg., to immediately assemble at the Courthouse of Mason County, with all the arms in their possession, for the purpose of the above stated. Given under my hand this 13th day of September, 1862.

J.P.R.B. Smith,
Col. Com'dg 106th Reg. V.M.

Arkansas

Expedition to Lawrenceville, St Charles, and Clarendon ended.

Kentucky

Confederate States Army, General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate army reached Glasgow, where he hoped to either attack United States Army, Major General Don Carlos Buell’s United States army as it passed to the west or to meet an attack in a prepared position. The majority of Bragg’s force enjoyed a two-day rest as this was the first halt since the army had left Chattanooga seventeen days earlier, covering over one hundred fifty miles in the interim. The route of the army had been across Walden’s Ridge and along the Sequatchie Valley to Pikeville, eastwards across the Cumberland Plateau, bypassing the Union army at Decherd. Now on Kentucky soil, Bragg issued a proclamation to rouse Kentuckians to the Confederate cause.

United States Army, Major-General Don Carlos Buell’s army arrived at Bowling Green, thirty-five miles to the west of Glasgow. Buell had left United States Army, Major General George Henry Thomas to hold Nashville with three divisions while he brought five divisions north to oppose Bragg. With a division of reinforcements sent by United States Army, Major General Ulysses Simpson Grant, Buell now had 56,000 men available, twice as many as Bragg. Buell feared that a concentration of Bragg’s army with that of Confederate States Army, Major-General Edmund Kirby Smith would outnumber his own so he sent for Thomas to join him with two of the divisions from Nashville’ leaving only one division as the garrison of the Tennessee capital.

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General James Ronald Chalmers’ infantry brigade was scouting at Cave City ten miles northwest of Glasgow. He was informed by a marauding cavalry regiment from Confederate States Army, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith’s army that they had broken the Louisville & Nashville Railroad north of Munfordville, isolating a small United states garrison on the southern bank of the Green River. Without notifying Confederate States Army, General Braxton Bragg, Chalmers marched with the cavalry to capture the garrison.

Louisiana

United states expedition to Pass Manchac and Ponchatoula began.

Maryland

Skirmish at South Mountain.

Skirmish at Maryland Heights

Skirmish at Middletown.

involving the 89th New York Infantry Regiment (United States) under the command of United States Army, Colonel Colonel Harrison and the 2nd Virginia Cavalry Regiment (Confederate States) under the command of Confederate States Army, Thomas T Munford.

Skirmish at Catoctin Mountain.

United States Army, Corporal Barton W. Mitchell of the 27th Indiana Infantry Regiment (United States), part of the United States XII Corps, discovered an envelope with three cigars wrapped in a piece of paper lying in the grass at a campground that Hill had just vacated. Mitchell realized the significance of the document and turned it in to United States Army, Sergeant John M. Bloss. They went to United States Army, Captain Peter Kopp, who sent it to regimental commander United States Army, Colonel Silas Colgrove, who carried it to the corps headquarters. There, an aide to United States Army, Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams recognized the signature of R. H. Chilton, the assistant adjutant general who had signed the order. Williams's aide, United States Army, Colonel Samuel Pittman, recognized Chilton's signature because Pittman frequently paid drafts drawn under Chilton's signature before the war. Pittman worked for a Detroit bank during the period when Chilton was paymaster at a nearby army post. Williams forwarded the dispatch to United States Army, Major General George B. McClellan, the commander of the Army of the Potomac. McClellan was overcome with glee at learning planned Confederate troop movements and reportedly exclaimed, "Now I know what to do!" He confided to United States Army, Brigadier General John Gibbon, "Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home."

(Maryland) Maryland campaign - Battle of Harpers Ferry

Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Jonathan Jackson completed the encirclement of Harper’s Ferry. United states Army, Colonel Dixon S Miles, commander of the garrison at Harper’s Ferry, insisted on keeping most of the troops near the town instead of taking up commanding positions on the surrounding heights.

First of all, the most important defensive position on Maryland Heights was approached during the previous day by elements of Confederate States Army, Major-General Lafayette McLaws’ division but only brief skirmishing ensued. Major-General Richard Heron Anderson’s division arrived in reserve. Confederate States Army, Brigadier Joseph Brevard Kershaw began his serious attack on Maryland heights at about 6.30 am. He planned to push his own brigade directly against the United states breastworks while Confederate States Army, Brigadier General William Barksdale’s brigade flanked the enemy right. One battery (Pulaski Light Artillery) supported them with four guns. Kershaw’s men charged into the abattis twice and were driven back with heavy losses. The inexperienced 126th New York Infantry Regiment (United States) held their own although their commander, United States Army, Colonel Ford, felt ill that morning and stayed back two miles behind the lines, leaving the command of the fighting to United States Army, Colonel Eliakim Sherrill. Sherrill was wounded while rallying his men and had to be carried from the field, causing the green United States troops to grow panicky. As Barksdale’s brigade approached on their flank, the New Yorkers broke and fled rearward. Although United States Army, Major Sylvester Hewitt ordered the remaining units to reform farther along the ridge, orders came at 3:30 pm from United States Army, Colonel Ford to retreat. He did not send for support from the 900 men of the 115th New York Infantry Regiment (United states), who were waiting in reserve midway up the slope. Ford’s men destroyed their artillery pieces and crossed a pontoon bridge back to Harper’s Ferry. Ford later insisted he had the authority from Miles to order a withdrawal, but a court of inquiry concluded that he had “abandoned his position without sufficient cause,” and recommended his dismissal from the Army. Inside the town, the United States officers realised that they were surrounded and pleaded with Miles to attempt to recapture Maryland Heights but he refused, insisting that his forces on Bolivar Heights would defend the town from the west.

During the fighting on Maryland Heights, the other Confederate columns arrived. Confederate States Army, Brigadier General John George Walker’s division reached Loudon Heights and completed the encirclement of Harper’s Ferry at 10 am. Jackson’s own group of three divisions appeared west of Bolivar Heights at 11 am. Jackson led his main body of Confederate States Army, Brigadier-General William Edwin Starke’s division to the north, Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Alexander Robert Lawton’s in the centre, and Confederate States Army, Major General Ambrose Powell Hill’s to the south. Jackson was astonished to find that these positions were not defended. Jackson’s and Miles’ forces to the west of town were roughly equal but Miles was dismissive of the threat from the artillery massing to his northeast and south.

Late that night, Miles sent United states Army, Captain Charles Russell of the 1st Maryland Cavalry Regiment (United States) with nine troopers to slip through the enemy lines and take a message to any general they could find, informing them that the besieged town could hold out only for 48 hours. Russell’s men escaped across South Mountain and reached the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac at Frederick. United States Army, Major General George Brinton was surprised and dismayed to receive the news and wrote a message to Miles that a relief force was on the way and to hold out. McClellan ordered United States Army, Major General William Buel Franklin and his VI Corps to march from Crampton’s Gap to relieve Miles. Although three couriers were sent with this information on different routes, none of them reached Harper’s Ferry in time to save the garrison.

Mississippi

Expedition to Coldwater and Hernando ended.

Skirmish at Newtonia.

Iuka was a small United States supply depot, established on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad about twenty limes west of the key United States garrison at Corinth. Confederate States Army, General Braxton Bragg had ordered Confederate States Army, Major General Sterling Price to lead the 15,000 men of his Army of the West from Tupelo to attack Iuka. The aim was to block the movement of two divisions from United States Army, Major-General William Starke Rosecrans’ Army of the Mississippi, which were marching from Corinth via Iuka to reinforce United States Army, Brigadier General James Negley’s lone division of the Army of the Ohio at Nashville. Negley had been left behind to guard the capital when United States Army, Major General George Thomas headed north with his other two divisions to reinforce United States Army, Major General Don Carlos Buell in Kentucky. Price’s cavalry skirmished with pickets posted by the small United States garrison of United States Army, Colonel Robert C Murphy’s 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (United States) and drove them out of Iuka.

Missouri

Skirmish at Strother Fork of Black River in Iron County involving Missouri Militia United States Army, Colonel Samuel H Melcher.

Skirmish at Bragg’s Farm near Whaley’s (or Wheley’s) Mill involving United States troops from the command of United States Army, Brigadier General John McNeil.

Tennessee

Skirmish at Tyree Springs.

Texas

Operations at Flour Bluffs began.

Azores

The screw sloop-of-war CSS ALABAMA under the command of Confederate States Navy, Captain Raphael Semmes seized and burned the whaling ship ALTAMAHA.

Day 524 of the United States Civil War, September 15th 1862

District of Columbia

Harpers Ferry is hardly a positive development, but (United States) President Abraham Lincoln retains high hopes for United States Army, Major General George B. McClellan’s success in the campaign as a whole as his reticent field commander seems to have at last found an aggressive spirit: “Your despatches of to-day received. God bless you, and all with you. Destroy the rebel army, if possible.”

Henry Jackson Hunt is appointed Brigadier General in the United States Army.

United States Army, Major General Joseph King Fenno Mansfield, assumes the command of the 12th United States Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Virginia

The following are appointed Brigadier Generals in the Confederate States Army:

- Joseph Robert Davis.
- William Henry Fitzhugh Lee.

Incident at Aquia Creek.

Missouri

Incident at Shelbourne.

United States scouting expedition in Rails County began.

South Carolina

Confederate States Army, General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard arrived in Charleston to take up the command of the Department of South Carolina and Georgia. He was given a tumultuous hero’s welcome by the people of Charleston.

Maryland

Skirmish at Boonsboro.

Skirmish at Conrad’s Ferry

Skirmish at White’s Ford.

Skirmish at Antietam Creek near Keedysville.

United States Navy, Lieutenant-Commander Samuel Magaw, commanding USS THOMAS FREEBORN, reported the seizure and burning of the schooner ARTIC in the Great Wicomico River.

(Maryland) Maryland campaign - Battle of Harpers Ferry

(YouTube) Battle of Harper's Ferry (September 12 to September 15th 1862)

By morning, Confederate States Army, Major General Thomas Jonathan Jackson had placed nearly 50 guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights, in position to enfilade the rear of the United States line on Bolivar Heights. Jackson began a fierce artillery barrage from all sides and ordered an infantry assault for 8 am. United States Army, Colonel Dixon S Miles realized that the situation was hopeless and had no expectation that relief would arrive. His artillery ammunition was in short supply. At a council of war with his brigade commanders, he agreed to offer to surrender. Miles was mortally wounded by a shell soon afterward and died the next day.

Map: Battle of Harpers Ferry - September 12 to September 15th 1862



In the early afternoon, Jackson received an urgent message from Confederate States Army, General Robert Edward Lee to move to Sharpsburg as quickly as possible. Jackson left Confederate States Army, Major General Ambrose Powell Hill at Harper’s Ferry to manage the parole of prisoners and began the march to rejoin the army with his other five divisions.

The Confederate Army sustained 286 casualties (39 killed, 247 wounded), mostly from the fighting on Maryland Heights, while the United States Army sustained 12,636 (44 killed, 173 wounded, 12,419 captured). It was the largest surrender of Federal forces during the Civil War, and the largest number of United States troops to surrender until the fall of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II. The United States garrison also surrendered 13,000 small arms, 200 wagons, and 73 artillery pieces. The list of captured artillery pieces included one 50-pounder Parrott rifle (spiked), six M1841 24-pounder howitzers, four 20-pounder Parrott rifles, eight M1841 12-pounder field guns (2 spiked), four 12-pounder Napoleons (2 spiked), six M1841 6-pounder field guns, two 10-pounder Dahlgren guns (spiked), 10 3-inch Ordnance rifles, and six 3-inch James rifles.

Kentucky

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General James Ronald Chalmers reported to Confederate States Army, General Braxton Bragg about his unauthorised attack and failure to capture Munfordville. Angered by the undesirable confrontation, Bragg resolved to march with his entire four divisions to begin siege operations against Munfordville. Confederate States Army, Major General William Joseph Hardee’s corps marched during the evening on a direct route via Cave City while Confederate States Army, Major General Leonidas Polk’s corps crossed the river a few miles above the town to occupy bluffs overlooking the town on the opposite bank.

Louisiana

Expedition to Pass Manchac and Ponchatoula ended.

Skirmish at Ponchatoula involving Confederates from the command of Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles.

Day 526 of the United States Civil War, September 17th 1862

(YouTube) Civil War Week By Week - Burning the bridges (September 17th 1862)



District of Columbia

The following are appointed Major Generals in the United States Army:

- Gordon Granger.
- Schuyler Hamilton.
- Stephen Augustus Hurlbut.

United States Army, Major General George G. Meade assumes the command of the 1st United States Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.

United States Army, Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams assumes the command of the 12th United States Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Virginia

Skirmish near Leesburg involving the 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment (United States) under the command of United States Army, Colonel J Mansfield Davies.

(Maryland) Maryland campaign - Battle of Antietam

YouTube (Antietam: Animated Battle Map)



After pursuing Confederate States Army, General Robert E. Lee into Maryland, United States Army, Major General George B. McClellan of the United States Army launched attacks against Lee's army who were in defensive positions behind Antietam Creek.

Map: Assaults by Hooker's I Corps, 5:30 to 7:30 a.m



At dawn United States Army, Major General Joseph Hooker's corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee's left flank. Attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller's Cornfield, and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church. United States assaults against the Sunken Road eventually pierced the Confederate center, but the Federal advantage was not followed up.

Map: Assaults by Mansfield's XII Corps, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m



In the afternoon, United States Army, Major General Ambrose Burnside's corps entered the action, capturing a stone bridge over Antietam Creek and advancing against the Confederate right.

Map: Assaults by Mansfield/William's XII Corps and Sumner's II Corps, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m



At a crucial moment, Confederate States Army, Major General A. P. Hill's division arrived from Harpers Ferry and launched a surprise counterattack, driving back Burnside and ending the battle.

Map: Assaults by Burnside's IX Corps, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m



Although outnumbered two-to-one, Lee committed his entire force, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of his army, enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. During the night, both armies consolidated their lines. In spite of crippling casualties, Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan throughout September 18, while removing his battered army south of the Potomac River.

Map: Overview of the Battle of Antietam



The battle was over by 5:30 p.m. On the morning of September 18th, Lee's army prepared to defend against a Federal assault that never came. After an improvised truce for both sides to recover and exchange their wounded, Lee's forces began withdrawing across the Potomac that evening to return to Virginia. Losses from the battle were heavy on both sides. The United States had 12,410 casualties with 2,108 dead. Confederate casualties were 10,316 with 1,547 dead. This represented 25% of the Federal force and 31% of the Confederates. Overall, both sides lost a combined total of 22,727 casualties in a single day, almost the same amount as the number of losses that had shocked the nation at the 2-day Battle of Shiloh five months earlier.

Several generals died as a result of the battle, including major generals Joseph K. Mansfield and Israel B. Richardson and Brigadier General Isaac P. Rodman on the United States side, and brigadier generals Lawrence O. Branch and William E. Starke on the Confederate side. Confederate Brigadier General George B. Anderson was shot in the ankle during the defense of the Bloody Lane. He survived the battle but died later in October after an amputation. Six generals on each side were wounded. All were brigadiers except United States Army, Major General Hooker and Confederate States army, Major General Richard H. Anderson.

Missouri

Incident at Burnsville.

North Carolina

Skirmish at Shiloh involving a United States detachment under the command of United States Army, Captain Enos C Sanders from the 1st North Carolina Infantry Regiment.

Tennessee

United States Forces evacuated the Cumberland Gap.

Skirmish near Durhamville.

Kentucky

Skirmish near Falmouth involving Union Home Guards.

Skirmish at Merry Oaks.

Skirmish on the Bowling Green Road.

The United States retreat from Cumberland Gap began. United States Army, Brigadier-General George Washington Morgan evacuated the fortifications at Cumberland Gap after being cut off by Confederate States Army, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith’s invasion of Kentucky. Confederate artillery had been placed on the heights by the observing Confederate division and the position became untenable. Morgan conducted a masterful retreat in the face of superior enemy forces, despite being harassed by constant attacks from Confederate States Army, Colonel John Hunt Morgan’s cavalry raiders. Morgan’s 8,000 men marched over 200 miles from Cumberland Gap in sixteen days via Manchester and Booneville to Greenup (or Greenupsburg), arriving on 3 October on their way to Camp Dennison in Ohio, losing just 80 men along the way.

The siege of Munfordville and siege of Woodsonville ended. With its railroad line and bridge, Munfordville was an important transportation centre in Kentucky, and Confederate control severely limited the movement of United States supplies and men. The Confederate siege of Munfordville was completed by mid-morning. Realising that United States Army, Major General Don Carlos Buell’s army was near and wishing to avoid civilian casualties, the Confederates repeated the demand for surrender first communicated two days earlier. United States Army, Colonel John Thomas Wilder requested confirmation of his hopeless position under a flag of truce, and Confederate States Army, Major General Simon Bolivar Buckner escorted him to view the Confederate army to convince him of the futility of resisting. Duly impressed, Wilder agreed to surrender the following day. United States prisoners amounted to 4,267 with 10 guns and all the supplies of the fort. The United States garrison had lost an additional 74 men in the siege (15 killed and 57 wounded) and the Confederates 35 killed and 253 wounded.

Florida

A United States flotilla of five gunboats arrived offshore at Saint John’s Bluff. They opened fire on the Confederate shore batteries and then withdrew.

Department of the South (United States)

United States Army, Major General Ormsby M. Mitchel, assumes the command of the Department of the South, SC.

Gulf of Mexico

The gunboat USS W G ANDERSON under the command of United States Navy, Acting Master D’Oyley, seized the schooner REINDEER with a cargo of cotton.

Bermuda

The ever-vigilant United States consul to Bermuda, Charles Maxwell Allen passes along the latest intelligence on blockade-running activities. He documents the exchange of cotton for arms, ammunition and powder that appears to be taking place, noting of one vessel efforts to camouflage her profile for the endeavor of returning to Confederacy successfully: “I am informed she will leave here this week for Charleston. They have this morning commenced painting her a lead color.” Only a week before he had overheard one skipper calculating when the trip could be made so as to appear before the Southern port city “between the 20th and 25th inst[.] and go in the night as there will be no moon.”

Azores

The screw sloop-of-war CSS ALABAMA under the command of Confederate States Navy, Captain Raphael Semmes captured and burned the VIRGINIA.

Day 528 of the United States Civil War, September 19th 1862

District of Columbia

Charles Smith Hamilton John Buford is appointed Major General in the United States Army.

The following are appointed Brigadier Generals in the United States Army:

- Francis Channing Barlow.
- Gustavus Adolphus Smith.
- Francis Laurens Vinton.

Virginia

Reconnaissance to Leesburg and Upton’s Hill ended.

The following are appointed Brigadier Generals in the Confederate States Army:

William Edwin Baldwin.
William Edmondson Jones.

Maryland

Skirmish near Williamsport.

(Maryland) Maryland campaign - Battle of Shepherdstown

Confederate States Army, General Robert Edward Lee had withdrawn the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia across to the south bank of the Potomac River. Lee left a rearguard of two infantry brigades and 44 guns under his chief of artillery Confederate States Army, Brigadier General William Nelson Pendleton to hold Boteler’s Ford over the Potomac. Pendleton positioned 33 guns but their infantry supports were very weak.

At about 8 am, elements of United States Army, Major-General Fitz-John Porter’s V Corps appeared across the Potomac at Boteler’s Ford. Seventy United States guns went into action and these were joined by sharpshooters who advanced to the banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The most advanced of the Confederate guns became increasingly difficult to serve as the fire intensified and Pendleton committed his infantry to successfully repel the sharpshooters.

During the afternoon, the United States force resumed its attack. By sunset, the Confederates were hard-pressed and Pendleton gave permission for any guns that could withdraw unseen to do so. Shortly before dusk, United States Army, Brigadier General Charles Griffin (2/1/V) sent 2,000 infantrymen and sharpshooters across the ford and broke through the 200 or so infantrymen opposing them. United States Army, Colonel James Barnes’ brigade (1/1/V) crossed next to support Griffin’s advance. They overrun Pendleton’s rearguard and captured four artillery pieces before being recalled because of the darkness. Pendleton reported in a panic to Lee that strong United States forces were now on the Virginia side of the river, and that he had lost most of the reserve artillery.

Kentucky

Skirmish at Owensburg.

Skirmish at Horse Cave.

Skirmish at Bear Wallow.

Skirmish at Southerland’s Farm.

United States Army, Major General Don Carlos Buell had moved his army to Cave City. Confederate States Army, General Braxton Bragg left Confederate States Army, Major General Leonidas Polk’s Corps north of the Green River at Munfordville and attempted to lure Buell to attack his entrenchments by marching Confederate States Army, Major General Simon Bolivar Buckner’s division brazenly across the enemy’s front. The ruse did not succeed so Bragg crossed Confederate States Army, Major General William Joseph Hardee’s Corps over the river and the army’s northward march was resumed.

Arkansas

A skirmish occurred near Helena between United States pickets and a detachment of the Texas Rangers.

Minnesota

Under instructions from Governor of Minnesota, Alexander Ramsey, United States Army, Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley set out with 1,500 volunteers from Fort Ridgely to put down the Santee Sioux uprising.

Mississippi

Skirmish at Bolivar.

Skirmish at Prentiss.

Cavalry skirmish at Peyton’s Mill involving the 2nd Iowa cavalry Regiment (United States) under the command of United States Army, Colonel Edward Hatch and the 1st Mississippi Partisan Rangers (Confederate States) under the command of Confederate States Army, Colonel W C Walker.

The ram USS QUEEN OF THE WEST under the command of United States Army, Medical Cadet Charles R Ellet, was engaged with Confederate infantry and artillery above Bolivar while escorting two transport ships.

Skirmish at Barnett’s Corners.

(Mississippi) Iuka and Corinth Operations - Battle of Iuka

YouTube (Battle of Shepherdstown September 19-20, 1862)



United States Army, Major General William Starke Rosecrans had set out early for the attack on Iuka but instead of using two roads as directed, he used only the Jacinto (Bay Springs) Road. The advance suffered from delays caused by muddy roads and congestion. After estimating the amount of time that Rosecrans would require to reach Iuka, Union Major-General Ulysses Simpson Grant determined that Rosecrans probably would now arrive on September 19th. He ordered United States Army, Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord to await the sound of fighting between Rosecrans and Confederate States Army, Major General Sterling Price before advancing to engage the Confederates himself. Ord pushed forward tentatively but heard no sounds of battle from the south and halted until darkness fell, having lost only one man wounded all day. Ord sent Price a message stating that the Confederate army had met with disaster in Maryland and demanded Price’s surrender at Iuka to avoid useless bloodshed. Price refused and. in the interim. received dispatches from Confederate States Army, Major General Earl Van Dorn suggesting that their two armies might rendezvous at Rienzi for a counter-attack on the United States forces concentrating in that area rather than at Iuka. Price informed Van Dorn that the situation had changed and that he could not evacuate Iuka immediately. He nevertheless issued orders for his men to prepare for a march the next day to join Van Dorn.

Map: Opening of Iuka-Corinth Campaign



Price had deployed his line against Ord’s threat but, at about 2 pm, he learned that more United States troops (Rosecrans) were advancing from the south. He sent one brigade, then a second, to block Rosecrans’ approach. Finally, as Ord’s passivity became apparent, a third brigade was sent to oppose Rosecrans. Rosecrans continued to advance and fought actions with increasing numbers of Confederate troops at various points along the way. At about 4 pm, just after ascending a hill, the United States column halted because the Confederates were seen to be well-placed in a ravine blocked with timber and underbrush. At about 4.30 pm, two Confederate brigades under Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Henry Little launched attacks up the hill, hitting the leading United States brigade (Colonel John Benjamin Sanborn’s 1/3/Mississippi). They attacked along the Mill Road near the forks of the Jacinto Road and the crossroads leading to Fulton. In response, United States Army, Brigadier General Charles Smith Hamilton deployed his division to the best advantage, with artillery posted on the only ground available for the purpose. Colonel Mizner with a battalion of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry Regiment (United States) was sent out on the right and the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment (United States) and a section of the 11th Ohio Artillery Regiment (United States) formed the left flank.

Confederate States Army, Brigadier General Louis Hébert’s brigade (five infantry regiments, supported by cavalry) moved forward on the Ohio battery at around 5:15 pm. Although met by a volley from the entire United States line at 100 yards, they succeeded in reaching the battery before being repulsed twice. On the third attempt, the Confederates drove off the gunners and compelled the 48th Indiana Infantry Regiment (United States) to fall back upon the 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment (United States). Although the Confederates had captured all six guns of the battery, they were unable to take advantage of them because all the battery horses had been killed in the fighting.

On the United States right, the 11th Missouri Infantry Regiment (United States) was placed to the right and rear of the 5th Iowa Infantry Regiment (United States), and they repulsed a last desperate attack by two Mississippi brigades. Fighting continued until after dark. Three United States brigades halted Little’s advance and camped for the night behind the ridge. While Price had redeployed troops from Ord’s front in order to attack Rosecrans, Ord did nothing to participate in the battle, claiming that he never heard the sound of fighting and therefore never engaged the enemy. Grant was with Ord and remarked that he also had heard no sounds of battle, an example of the phenomenon of an “acoustic shadow”.

Map: Battle of Iuka



The United States casualties at Iuka were 790 (144 killed, 598 wounded, 40 captured or missing); the Confederates lost 1,516 (263 killed, 692 wounded, 561 captured or missing).[2] The most senior casualty was Confederate States Army, General Little, who was struck in the eye by a bullet while accompanying Price. Among the ordnance stores abandoned by the Confederates were 1,629 stand of arms, a large stock of quartermaster and commissary stores, and 13,000 rounds of ammunition. Grant had partially accomplished his objective—Price was not able to link up with Bragg in Kentucky, but Rosecrans had not been able to destroy the Confederate army or prevent it from linking up with Van Dorn and threatening the critical railroad junction at Corinth.

Missouri

Skirmish at Hickory Grove.

Skirmish at Mount Vernon.

Tennessee

Skirmish at Brentwood.

The District of West Tennessee continued to direct active operations under the command of United States Army, Major General Ulysses Simpson Grant around Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, and southwards between the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers to Corinth, Mississippi. The territorial commands of Jackson and Corinth provided the field forces for the 3rd Division of the Army of West Tennessee, Memphis provided the 2nd Division, and the District of the Mississippi provided the 4th Division.

Department of Missouri (United States)

The Department of Missouri is re-established and also embraces the Department of Kansas, which is discontinued.

Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia (Confederate States)

The Confederate Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. (Department of Virginia and of North Carolina) is constituted, under the command of Confederate States Army, Major General Gustavus W. Smith,.

Indian Territory

Operations began in the Indian Territory.

Day 530 of the United States Civil War, September 21st 1862

Virginia

Operation on Upper Potomac began.

Skirmish at Orange Court House.

California

Skirmishes on the Yreka Road near Fort Crook, involving the 2nd California Cavalry Regiment (United States).

Kentucky

Incident at Shepherdsville.

Skirmish near Munfordville,

Louisiana

United States expedition from Carrollton to Donaldsonville.

Mississippi

After the escape of Confederate States Army, Major General Sterling Price’s Army of the West from Iuka, it headed westwards by a roundabout route through Baldwyn towards Ripley, just west of the Hatchie River. Price expected to meet up with Confederate States Army, Major General Earl Van Dorn at Ripley to launch a new joint counter-offensive against Corinth, the lynchpin of northern Mississippi. Van Dorn proposed a plan to march northwards towards Bolivar, making a feint to draw away the United States reserves under United States Army, Major General Stephen Augustus Hurlbut defending that town. After reaching Pocahontas on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, the Confederates would turn east and march hard for Corinth about twenty miles away. They aimed to strike the vital junction before United States reinforcements could arrive from the northwest. The Confederates would have a force of 22,000 men while United States Army, Major General William Starke Rosecrans was estimated to have only 15,000 men at Corinth, with his remaining 8,000 troops defending against attacks near Burnsville and Jacinto. Van Dorn and Price agreed to converge at Ripley for the operation to begin on 28 September.

Missouri

Skirmish at Cassville.

Tennessee

Skirmish near Grand Junction involving United States troops under United States Army, Brigadier General Jacob Gartner Lauman.

Skirmish at Bolivar.

Skirmish on the Van Buren Road.

Skirmish at Middleburg.

Texas

USS ALBATROSS under the command of United States Navy, Commander Henry French, captured the schooner TWO SISTERS Sisters off the Rio Grande River.

New Mexico Territory

Skirmish at the San Pedro Crossing involving the 1st California Cavalry Regiment (United States) under the command of United States Army, Major David Fergusson.

Day 532 of the United States Civil War, September 23rd 1862

District of Columbia

A military commission was appointed to investigate the circumstances of the United States abandonment of Maryland Heights and surrender of Harpers Ferry.

Virginia

Expedition to Warrenton Junction began.

Skirmish at Standing Stone.

Skirmish at Sutton.

A Bill was presented to the Confederate Congress authorising the grade of Brigadier General for all heads of staff departments and bureaux. The final proposal admitted by Congress was for the Quartermaster-General alone to hold the grade of Brigadier-General. Even this limited Bill was vetoed by the President on October 6th 1862 and the Senate failed to override the veto. Whereas the United States Regular Army gradually acknowledged the need for staff departments to be headed by officers of General officer grade, the same practice was adopted only partially in the Confederacy.

Arkansas

Skirmish at McGuire’s Ferry.

Georgia

The gunboat USS ALABAMA under the command of United States Navy, Lieutenant-Commander William T Truxtun, captured the blockade-running British schooner NELLY off Ossabaw Sound, with its cargo including medicinal drugs and salt.

Kentucky

Confederate States Army, General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Mississippi was at Bardstown and the Army of Kentucky under Confederate States Army, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith was fifty miles further to the north at Lexington. Meanwhile, United States Army, Major-General Don Carlos Buell’s Army of the Ohio was passing west of Bardstown towards Louisville. Smith proposed to Bragg the necessity of striking a joint blow against Buell to ignite more enthusiastic pro-Confederate sentiment among the Kentuckians. Bragg was unwilling to attack without Smith’s assistance and he was reluctant to interrupt the important work that Smith was doing to gather supplies, food, and recruits by ordering him to abandon that work to head for Louisville. The Confederate invasion was thus immobilised while their commanders prevaricated about whether the two armies should retreat or combine for an attack.

Louisiana

Skirmish at Donaldsonville involving the 21st Indiana Infantry Regiment (United States) under the command of United States Army, Colonel James W McMillan.

Minnesota

Incident at Yellow Medicine.

(Minnesota) Dakota War of 1862 - Battle of Wood Lake

YouTube (Battle of Wood Lake Sept 23 1862)



United States Army, Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley and 1,500 volunteers (mainly from the 7th Minnesota Infantry) neared Wood Lake near Yellow Medicine. Sibley’s men escaped an ambush by 700 warriors under Chief Little Crow and engaged them. Sibley’s force won the day inflicting heavy casualties on the Sioux for a loss of 37 United States casualties. Some reports claimed 1,000 prisoners including civilians. Wood Lake was the first decisive defeat of the Sioux since the uprising which had begun on August 17th 1862.

Drawing: Battle of Wood Lake 1862



Missouri

Expedition to Cass County, Jackson County, and Lafayette County ended.

Operation at Johnson County ended.

United States expedition to Eureka and Boone County began.

Tennessee

The Department of the Tennessee is constituted, under the command of United states Army, Major General George H. Thomas, (but, it is inoperative).

Operation at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson ended.

Skirmish at Wolf Creek Bridge near Memphis.

The USS EUGENE neared the town of Randolph on the Mississippi River and was fired on by Confederates onshore. It escaped after suffering minor damage.

Texas

The United States steamer KENSINGTON, schooner RACHEL SEAMAN, and mortar schooner HENRY JAMES James appeared off the bar at Sabine Pass.

Dakota Territory

Skirmish with the Sioux at Fort Abercrombie.