u/Aaronsivilwartravels

Today in the Civil War May 23

1861-Virginia ratifies the Secessionist Convention referendum by a vote of 132,201 to 37,451.

1861-John Floyd commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army.

1861-Thomas Jackson strikes the B&O Railroad, capturing 56 locomotives.

1862-Battle of Front Royal Virginia.

1862-Skirmish, Buckton Station, Warren County Virginia.

1864-Fighting began on the North Anna River around Hanover Junction, Virginia. Union General Ulysses S. Grant moved his troops south the next day after a second unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the Rebels.

1865-Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac.

Today in the Civil War May 22

1863-Massive Union assaults on Fortress Vicksburg fail in Mississippi.

1863-Abraham Lincoln offers command of the Army of the Potomac to Darius Couch. Couch refuses, but recommends George Meade.

1863-The War Department established the Bureau of Colored Troops to recruit and assemble black regiments.

1863- Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana begins.

1864-Skirmish, Front Royal, Warren County Virginia.

1865-Jefferson Davis imprisoned at Fort Monroe Virginia.

Today in the Civil War May 21

1861-Missouri declares its neutrality in the Civil War.

1861-Sterling Price signs an agreement with William Harney, essentially handing Missouri over to federal forces.

1861-The Confederate Congress agrees to move the Confederate capital from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond, Virginia.

1862-Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah County Virginia.

1863-The Siege of Port Hudson began when Nathaniel Banks surrounded a Confederate stronghold and attacked. Franklin Gardner refused to surrender after being ordered to abandon fort by Joseph Johnston.

1863-Engagement at Plains Store, Louisiana.

1864-Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick County Virginia.

Today in the Civil War May 20

1861-Kentucky declares its neutrality in the War Between.

1861-Delegates to the North Carolina Secession Convention vote to withdraw from the Union.

1861-Throughout the north, US Marshals raided the telegraph offices and confiscated all files of telegrams sent during the past year.

1861-The Confederate Congress voted to move the capital of the Confederacy to Richmond Virginia.

1862-Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, giving citizens 21 years or older the right to buy 160 acres of land in the West.

1862-In Richmond, President Davis responded to a resolution of the Confederate Congress saying Richmond would be defended.

1862-Stonewall Jackson went 12 miles to New Market pushing his 16,000 men and 48 guns hard in the fair weather.

1862-A minor skirmish occurred between Johnston and McClellan east of Richmond Virginia.

1862-Stone River South Carolina is occupied by Federal gunboats. This causes the rebel troops to set fire to their barracks and move inland.

1863-Admiral Farragut wrote Secretary Gideon Welles advising that he along with General Banks were about to attack Port Hudson Louisiana.

1864-General Nathaniel Banks crosses a bridge near Smithport, Louisiana closing the Red River Campaign.

1864-In Georgia, General Johnston passed through Cartersville and set up defensive positions at Allatoona Pass.

1864-General Meade is ordered by Grant to move left and cross the Mattapony River. Lee in turn began to shift his army to the right.

1864-President Lincoln signs the legislation creating the Official Records.

1865-Former Confederate Secretary of the Navy Mallory was arrested at the home of Benjamin H. Hill in LaGrange Georgia.

Today in the Civil War May 19

1862-Lincoln rescinds David Hunter's emancipation of the slaves in his department and uses the opportunity to call for a gradual emancipation.

1862-Skirmish, South Fork Shenandoah, Page County Virginia.

1863-General Ulysses S. Grant [US] makes contact with Rear Admiral David Porter, sailing north from New Orleans with supplies.

1863-William Tecumseh Sherman [US] launches a full scale frontal assault against Rebel lines in Vicksburg. He is repulsed with heavy losses, especially near the Stockade Redan Mississippi.

1864-Congress passes legislation creating the Official Records.

1864-The Battle of Spotsylvania ended with 18,000 Union casualities and 12,000 for the Confederates.

Today in the Civil War May 18

1860-Abraham Lincoln won the Republican presidential nomination.

1861-Arkansas was admitted to the Confederacy.

1861-[18-21] Battle of Sewell's Point Virginia. 1st Federal offensive against the south.

1862-Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah County Virginia.

1863-Union General Ulysses S. Grant surrounded Vicksburg. The Confederates did not surrender unitl July 4.

1864-Skirmish at Woodlands (Barnsley Gardens and Resort) Georgia.

1864-Engagement at Yellow Bayou (Bayou de Glaize), Louisiana (Red River Expedition).

Today in the Civil War May 17

1863-Battle of Black River Mississippi. Pemberton placed his men with their backs to the Black River. When the U. S. attacked, Pemberton's line broke with most of the men crossing the Black River before the bridge was set on fire. Army of the Tennessee then spanned the Big Black, closing in on Vicksburg Mississippi.

1863-President Lincoln declares Judge Leavitt's denial of motion for habeas corpus in the Vallandigham case the equivalent of 3 victories in the field.

1864-Battle of Adairsville Georgia.

Today in the Civil War May 16

1861-Tennessee was officially admitted to the Confederacy.

1863,-Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson County (West) Virginia.

1863-Skirmish, Berry’s Ferry, Clarke County Virginia.

1863-Battle of Champion Hill.
Pemberton agrees to attack the federal line with Johnston. The focal point of the attack, Champion Hill, will change hands three times, but the Confederate forces fail to meet. Pemberton withdraws to Vicksburg Mississippi.

1863-Judge H. H. Leavitt denies a motion for habeas corpus in the Vallandigham case.

Today in the Civil War May 15

1861-Robert Anderson, the hero of Sumter, promoted to Brigadier General.

1861-Nathaniel Lyons [US] occupies Jefferson City, capital of Missouri.

1862-Skirmish, Linden, Warren County Virginia.

1862-Battle of Drewry's Bluff/Battle of Proctor Creek Virginia.

1862-Benjamin Butler issues Order Number 28, directing his troops to treat any woman who insults them as they would a woman "plying her advocation (a prostitute)." It was this order that led to his title, the Beast of New Orleans.

1863-A portion of the Tredegar Iron Works and a nearby flour mill burn in Richmond Virginia.

1863-Joe Johnston orders John Pemberton to break out of Grant's tightening noose. Pemberton refuses the order.

1864-Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah County Virginia.

1864-Battle of New Market Virginia. Major General John Breckinridge [CS], using a ragtag force that included VMI cadets attacked Franz Sigel's [US] line near the north fork of the Shenandoah River. Sigel eventually withdrew to Strasburg.

Today in the Civil War May 14

1863-Battle of Jackson Mississippi. After a brief fight, McPherson and Sherman's corps take Jackson, driving Joe Johnston off.
Va.

1863-[14-18] General Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and the Confederate Cabinet meet to discuss the "Summer Strategy" for 1863.

1864-Skirmish, New Market, Shenandoah County Virginia.

1864-Skirmish, Rude’s Hill, Shenandoah County Virginia.

1865-President Johnson issues a conditional amnesty to all persons engaged in the late Rebellion.

Today in the Civil War May 13

1861-George McClellan [US] appointed Commander, Department of Ohio. The following day he is promoted major general, his rank in the Ohio militia. Only General-in-Chief Winfield Scott held a higher rank.

1861-Union troops occuppied Baltimore, Maryland.

1861-[13-15] The First Wheeling Convention, (West) Virginia.

1861-North Carolina elects delegates to the Secession Convention.

1863-Two corps, under William Tecumseh Sherman and James McPherson, advance on Jackson Mississippi.

1863-General Robert E. Lee rides from Fredricksburg to Richmond, Virginia.

1864-First soldier interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

1864-[13-15] Battle of Resaca Georgia.

1864-Twenty hours of fighting ceased, for the Bloody Angle, just before dawn at Spotsylvania. The battle continued until May 19.

1864-Skirmish, near New Market, Shenandoah County Virginia.

1867-Confederate President Jefferson Davis became a free man after spending two years in prison for his role in the American Civil War.

Today in the Civil War May 12

1861-Benjamin Butler takes control of Federal Hill Maryland and threatens to fire on downtown Baltimore if Southern sympathizers protest.

1862-Skirmish, Monterey, Highland County Virginia.

1863-Battle of Raymond Mississippi. A Confederate brigade under John Gregg attacks a Union division under Major General John Logan in the town of Raymond, between Vicksburg and Jackson.

1864-Confederate Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart died. He had been wounded the previous day at the Battle of Yellow Tavern.

1864-Troops under Union General Winfield Scott Hancock overran Rebel trenches at Spotsylvania Virginia.

1865-[12-13] The last significant fighting of the Civil War takes place at the Palmito Ranch Texas along the Rio Grande between Col. Theodore Barrett and John S. "RIP" Ford.

1865-8 conspirators in the Lincoln assasination plead not guilty to the military court holding the trial.

1865-Major General O. O. Howard is appointed by President Andrew Johnson to become head of the Freedman's Bureau.

Today in the Civil War May 11

1862-Confederate soldiers scuttle the C.S.S. Virginia near Norfolk Virginia.

1864-Battle of Yellow Tavern.
J. E. B. Stuart [CS] is mortally wounded in losing to Phillip Sheridan.

1865-Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens is arrested at Liberty Hall, his estate in Crawfordville, Georgia by members of the 4th Iowa Cavalry.

Today in the Civil War May 10

1861-Nathaniel Lyons [US] takes control of St. Louis Missouri to end rioting, seizing Camp Jackson (Confederate militia) and 1200 1855 Springfield Rifles.

1862-Federal mortar boats, shelling Fort Pillow, are attacked by a makeshift Confederate fleet. The U. S. responds in force, with ironclads. Although the 8 Confederate boats manage to sink 2 ironclads (the Cincinnati and Mound City) the battle of Plum Run Bend or Plum Point ended when the Rebels withdrew to Fort Pillow Tennessee.

1862-Confederates destroy Naval Base at Pensacola Florida.

1862-Union forces capture Norfolk, Virginia.

1863-Stonewall Jackson dies at a field hospital near Guiney Station, Virginia.

1864-Union General Ulysses S. Grant began to attack Confederate Robert E. Lee's positions at Spotsylvania.

1865-President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville Georgia.

1865-President Johnson declares armed resistance at an end.

1865-The CSS Imogene becomes the last known ship to sucessfully run the naval blockade.

Today in the Civil War May 9

1862-General David Hunter [US] frees the slaves in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

1862-Confederates withdraw from Norfolk, destroying the base as they leave.

1862-Bombardment of Pensacola, Florida.

1862-Skirmish, McDowell, Highland County Virginia.

1864-[9-24] Sheridan's Raid on Richmond Virginia.

1864-General John Sedgwick [US] is killed by a Confederate sharpshooter during the battle of Spotsylvania. He is replaced by Horatio Wright.

1864-Coming out of Snake Creek Gap, General James McPherson runs into a Rebel force at Resaca Georgia that was stronger than expected. He returns to the gap rather than attack.

1864-Union troops William T. Sherman secured Snake Creek Gap, Georgia.

1864-Stephen D. Lee [CS] is ordered to take command of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, but there is little to command.

1864-Battle of Cloyd's Mountain Virginia.

1864- Engagement at Dug Gap, Georgia.

1864-Engagement at Swift Creek, Virginia.

Today in the Civil War May 8

1862-Battle of McDowell. Stonewall Jackson defeats Robert Milroy in the Shenandoah Valley.

1863-Clement Vallandigham was arrested for violating General Ambrose Burnside's Order No. 38. The order stated that public criticism of the war would not be tolerated.

1864-[8-19] Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. In an inconclusive battle, General Ulysses S. Grant [US] and Robert E. Lee [CS] battle for days southwest of Fredericksburg.
Union 18,399
Confederate 9,000.

Today in the Civil War May 7

1862-Battle of West Point/
Battle of Eltham's Landing General William B. Franklin [US] skirmishes with General John Bell Hood [CS].

1862-Skirmish, McDowell, Highland County Virginia.

1862-Skirmish, Somerville Heights, Page County Virginia.

1863-Major General Earl van Dorn [CS] is killed by a jealous husband.

1864-[7-11] Battle of Rocky Face Ridge (Dalton)/Battle of Dug Gap Georgia.

1864-Army of the James briefly siezes the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad before retiring.

1864-Union General Ulysses S. Grant pulled his men out of the Wilderness forest. He moved south toward Spotsylvania Court House. Confederate General Robert E. Lee sent James Longstreet's corps to the same location.

Today in the Civil War May 6

1861-Arkansas secedes from the Union.

1861-Tennessee votes to put the question of secession before the people in a popular referendum.

1862-Union forces occupied Williamsburg, Virginia.

1862-Skirmish near, Harrisonburg, Rockingham County Virginia.

1863-Battle of Chancellorsville ends with Confederate victory.

1864-A half-hearted attack by the Army of the James on the Southside Railroad is repulsed by George Pickett [CS].

1864-In the first engagement of the Atlanta Campaign, a division from the Army of the Cumberland strikes a Confederate regiment at Tunnel Hill and easily overpowers the outnumbered rebels.

1864-Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee continued fighting in the Wilderness forest. In the battle, Confederate General James Longstreet was shot by his own troops while scouting the lines.

1865-Shouting "Hurrah for Jeff Davis..." Philip Henry Mulkey was arrested in Eugene. A pro-Union mob broke down the jail door but Mulkey escaped harm.