American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

May 1, 1863 Friday
An alert Army of Northern Virginia, under Lee, grasped the threat in Hooker’s movement of 70,000 men across the Rappahannock River, and hurriedly moved out of Fredericksburg to block the Army of the Potomac’s exits from the Wilderness. Jubal Early remained in Fredericksburg with ten thousand men to oppose Sedgwick’s forty thousand. In late morning Hooker moved his main force forward and skirmished briefly with the advancing Confederates.

In the afternoon, Hooker amazed his own officers and the Confederates by ordering his main units to withdraw from the advance and concentrate in a five-mile area near Chancellorsville. With few shots and little fighting, Hooker surrendered the initiative and returned to the defensive. Lee, surprised by the lack of opposition and concerned over his dangerously split army, cautiously moved forward. With Longstreet at Suffolk, southeast of Richmond, and Early defending Fredericksburg, Lee was reduced to about 47,000 men.

That night in the woods of the Wilderness Lee and Jackson talked. Out of that cracker-barrel conference came one of the most daring decisions of military history. Lee would split his army once more, disobeying the laws of strategy and tactics. Jackson would take about 26,000 men through the scraggly brushlands to attack the vulnerable right flank of Hooker’s immobile army. Meanwhile, Lee would demonstrate with the remainder of his army at Chancellorsville. The stage was set for full battle.

Hundreds of miles away on the Mississippi River, Grant’s army continued to move across the river at Bruinsburg, south of Vicksburg. McClernand’s corps headed rapidly inland toward Port Gibson, about thirty miles south of Vicksburg. A small Confederate force at Grand Gulf, outflanked, hurried toward Port Gibson to intercept McClernand. Throughout the day McClernand’s men fought with those under Maj Gen John S. Bowen ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_S._Bowen ) in a land of steep, sharp ridges and gullies covered with thick vines and snaring undergrowth. Pushed slowly backward by the overwhelming Union force, Bowen retired to Port Gibson and then evacuated the town ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Port_Gibson ). Brigadier General Edward Dorr Tracy ( http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... &GRid=9093 ), CSA, is killed instantly from a chest wound during the Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi. Grant’s bridgehead on the east side of the Mississippi River was now secure and his army had room to move toward Jackson and Vicksburg. At Wall’s Bridge, near the Mississippi-Louisiana state line north of Baton Rouge, Grierson’s Federal raiders fought one of their major skirmishes of the expedition which had begun in Tennessee April 17. Riding rapidly to avoid converging Confederate columns, Grierson’s men crossed the Amite River at Williams’ Bridge and headed for Baton Rouge.

Union Army and Navy expedition feigned an attack on Confederate batteries at Haynes' Bluff on the Yazoo River. The force consisted of U.S.S. Tyler, Choctaw, DeKalb, Signal, Romeo, Linden, Petrel, Black Hawk, and 3 mortar boats under Lieutenant Commander Breese and 10 large transports carrying troops under command of Major General W. T. Sherman. The feint was made to prevent Confederates from reinforcing Grand Gulf. On the 29th the expedition proceeded as far as Chickasaw Bayou. As the force departed on the morning of the 30th, Petrel, remained at Old River on station; the remaining vessels moved up the Yazoo with Choctaw and DeKalb opening fire on the main works at Drumgould's Bluff and Tyler and Black Hawk opening on the fieldworks and batteries. Though instructed not to conduct an actual assault, the feint was so vigorously prosecuted that Choctaw, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ramsay, was struck 53 times by Confederate guns. The soldiers were landed and "marched up toward Haynes' Bluff on the only roadway, the levee, making quite a display, and threatening one also." Naval gunfire supported the soldiers throughout the demonstration, which lasted through 1 May. The evening of the 1st, the expedition returned to the mouth of the Yazoo. Porter reported to Secretary Welles: "The plan succeeded admirably, though the vessels were more exposed than the occasion called for; still as they met with no casualties, with the exception of the hulls, it mattered but little."

Streight’s Federal raiders fought skirmishes throughout the day at Blountsville and on the east branch of the Big Warrior River, Alabama. Other fighting broke out near Washington, Louisiana; South Quay Bridge near Suffolk, Virginia; La Grange, Arkansas; and between Murfreesboro and Lizzard, Tennessee. In Arkansas Marmaduke’s Confederate raid into Missouri ended with skirmishes May 1-2 at Chalk Bluff on the St Francis River.

Before adjourning, the third session of the First Confederate Congress created a Provisional Navy in addition to the Regular Navy; authorized the President to contract for construction of vessels in Europe; provided for election of delegates to Congress from some Indian nations; created the office of Commissioner of Taxes; tightened some of the exemptions in the draft law; and adopted a new national flag known as the Stainless Banner. A resolution stated that captured white officers of Northern Negro troops should be put to death or otherwise punished at the discretion of a court-martial for inciting insurrection.

Boat expedition from U.S.S. Western World, commanded by Acting Master S. B. Gregory, and U.S.S. Crusader, commanded by Acting Master Andrews, destroyed two Confederate schooners aground at Milford Haven, Virginia.

U.S.S. Kanawha, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Mayo, captured schooner Dart, bound from Havana to Mobile.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 2, 1863 Saturday
Early in the morning Stonewall Jackson’s Confederate flanking force moved past Catherine Furnace deeper into the Wilderness ( http://members.tripod.com/~Andrew_Dehart/index-5.html ). He did not move completely undisturbed or even unseen, but Federals failed to recognize his motives and thought the Southern army was withdrawing. By late afternoon Jackson’s main columns were on the Orange Turnpike within striking distance of the quietly encamped Eleventh Corps of the Army of the Potomac under O.O. Howard. Jackson’s watch showed 6PM when he gave the orders to go in. Scurrying wildlife alerted the Federals, but Union outposts fled back upon the main position and Jackson’s attack rolled forward. A few Federal units fought well, but the mass rushed back toward Chancellorsville in various stages of disorder. On the Union left flank Lee opened fire, striking Meade’s corps strongly to draw attention from Jackson. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chancellorsville and http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/ch ... k-map.html )

In the gloomy scrub timber Confederates often fired upon their own men. Jackson, trying to cut Hooker off from U.S. Ford on the Rappahannock River, rode forward with a small party. In the darkness he was mistaken for Federal; a Confederate soldier fired, wounding the beloved chieftain in the arm. A.P. Hill, wounded a short time later, was unable to take over, and the command of Jackson’s force fell to cavalryman Jeb Stuart. Jackson’s condition was critical and his arm had to be removed during the night. One of the greatest battles of the war had been fought here in the darkening woods. Lee had triumphed over numbers and inept Federal reconnaissance and had made Chancellorsville a battle that would be studied the world over.

During the day, on the fringes of the major battle, fighting also broke out at Ely’s Ford and near Louisa Court House. Lee’s other brilliant corps leader, Longstreet, at Suffolk, skirmished for two days near Hill’s Point and Reed’s Ferry on the Nansemond River and at Chuckatuck, Virginia.

Grant’s force near Vicksburg moved speedily inland from Bruinsburg and Port Gibson, fanning out into Mississippi with a skirmish on the south fork of Bayou Pierre. Fearing to halt or rest, Grierson’s remaining nine hundred Union riders pushed on from Williams’ Bridge to Baton Rouge, his pursuers steadily gaining. A quick skirmish at Roberts’ Ford on the Comite River and then a parade of tattered, saddle-weary horsemen rode into Baton Rouge in midafternoon, the orad lined with cheering spectators and waving banners. Col Grierson reported that in 16 days about 100 Confederates had been killed, 500 prisoners taken, 50 or 60 miles of railroad and telegraph destroyed, 3000 arms captured or destroyed, and other stores, including 1000 horses and mules, taken. Losses were 3 killed, 7 wounded, 5 left behind sick, and 9 missing. Grierson’s men had traveled 600 miles in 16 days, 76 miles in the last 28 hours, and fought 4 engagements. It was a dramatic ride which confused the Confederates during a critical period of the defense of Vicksburg. Meanwhile, Streight’s Federal cavalry raid ran into trouble, with fighting at Black Creek near Gadsden, Blount’s Plantation, and near Centre, Alabama. Forgotten on this day of headline events was a skirmish near Thompson’s Station, Tennessee; and another near Lewisburg, West Virginia. For a week Union gunboats fought Confederates in and around Greenville, Mississippi. Douglas Hancock Cooper, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

During past week gentleman called on President Lincoln and asked for a pass to Richmond. "Well," said the President, "I would be very happy to oblige you, if my passes were respected; but the fact is, sir, I have, within the past two years given passes to 250,000 men to go to Richmond, and not one has got there yet."

Two boat crews from U.S.S. Roebuck, commanded by Acting Master John Sherrill, seized blockade running British schooner Emma Amelia off St. Joseph's Bay, Florida, with cargo including flour and wine.

U.S.S. Perry, commanded by Acting Master William D. Urann, captured blockade running schooner Alma, bound from Bermuda to Beaufort, South Carolina, with cargo of salt and liquor.

U.S.S. Sacramento, commanded by Captain Charles S. Boggs, seized blockade running British schooner Wanderer off Murrell's Inlet, North Carolina, with cargo of salt and herring.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 3, 1863 Sunday
President Lincoln asked the Army of the Potomac: “Where is Gen. Hooker? Where is Sedgwick? Where is Stoneman?” Both Hooker and Sedgwick were busy indeed. At daybreak Stuart, with Jackson’s corps, seized a low hill known as Hazel Grove, from which artillery fired on Chancellorsville itself. The rest of the Confederate line attacked the ever constricting Federal semicircle. A shell struck a column of the Chancellor House and falling brick or column temporarily disabled Hooker. Gen Darius Couch ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_N._Couch ), though not in full command, withdrew the beaten army toward U.S. Ford, reluctantly following Hooker’s orders. A firm, short position with the right on the Rapidan River and the left on the Rappahannock River prevented further disaster. Major General Hiram Gregory Berry ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_George_Berry ), USA, is killed instantly while attempting to regroup his command after "Stonewall" Jackson's surprise flank attack during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. Brigadier General Elisha Franklin Paxton ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_F._Paxton ), CSA, is killed instantly by a rifle shot while leading his command in attacking the Federal lines during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. Brigadier General Edmund Kirby ( http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... id=5892309 ), USA, is mortally wounded near the Chancellor House, while commanding a Federal artillery battery, receiving a serious leg wound from cannon fire during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. He dies May 28, 1863.

Lee’s army occupied Chancellorsville about 10AM and was preparing a new assault which never came. On the night of May 2, Hooker had ordered Sedgwick to drive Early’s defenders from Fredericksburg and to attack Lee from the rear. Sedgwick assaulted Marye’s Heights and failed twice. Other moves were equally unsuccessful in this battle, often referred to as Second Fredericksburg. Eventually, however, the weakened Confederate line gave way and Sedgwick’s men surged forward. The way to Chancellorsville lay open as Early retired south. Lee turned a portion of his line around to confront Sedgwick at Salem Church. A sharp battle broke out in the late afternoon, and lasted until dark. Lee successfully halted Sedgwick’s advance. Stoneman and his Federal cavalry skirmished at South Anna Bridge, north of Richmond.

Confederates evacuated Grand Gulf on the Mississippi River. Though it had staunch batteries, Grant’s inland movement made it a useless position. Skirmishing occurred along the edges of Grant’s advance on the north fork of Bayou Pierre, at Willow Springs, Ingraham’s Heights, Jones’ Cross Roads, Forty Hills, and Hankinson’s Ferry on the Big Black River. Grant marched steadily toward Jackson, Mississippi.

At Cedar Bluff, Alabama a tired, discouraged band under Col A.D. Streight surrendered to Nathan Bedford Forrest after a skirmish. Forrest thereby partly avenged Grierson’s success and thwarted Streight’s main purpose, which was to destroy Southern railroads.

Longstreet abandoned his siege of Suffolk, Virginia on being recalled to Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. There was skirmishing at Warrenton Junction, Virginia; a Federal scout in Cass and Bates counties, and a Union expedition on the Sante Fe Road, Missouri. A Yankee scout moved from Triune too Eagleville, Tennessee. Gouverneur Kemble Warren, USA, was appointed to Major General.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Iowa warned Church members that they had two weeks to leave the pro-Southern Knights of the Golden Circle or face excommunication.

Confederate troops under Captain Edward E. Hobby, CSA, captured a launch and drove off two other boats from U.S.S. William G. Anderson, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Hill, at St. Joseph's Island, Texas. The Union boats were salvaging cotton from a sloop which had been run ashore on 30 April.

C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and burned bark Union Jack and ship Sea Lark off Brazil.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 4, 1863 Monday
Hooker’s battered Army of the Potomac failed to take the initiative near Chancellorsville and Lee was able to reinforce troops opposing Sedgwick’s advance near Salem Church. Early, defeated the day before and driven off Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, moved against Sedgwick’s rear. Sedgwick, threatened on three sides, was forced to go on the defensive. In late afternoon the Confederates attacked, but failed to cut Sedgwick off from Banks’ Ford over the Rappahannock River. Sedgwick fell back to the ford and crossed the river by pontoons during the night. This ended the major action of the Chancellorsville campaign, and for a second time Federals failed in the Fredericksburg area. The Federals had at least 133,868 men at Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg; 1606 were killed, 9762 wounded, and 5919 missing for a total of 17,287 casualties between April 27 and May 11. Confederate effectives are estimated at 60,000, with 1665 killed, 9081 wounded, and 2018 missing for a total of 12,764, a higher casualty percentage by far than the Federals suffered. One of those wounded and soon to die was T.J. “Stonewall” Jackson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson ). Major General Amiel Weeks Whipple ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiel_W._Whipple ), USA, is mortally wounded in the stomach by a Confederate sharpshooter during fighting in the latter stages of the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. He dies on May 7, 1863.

At a late-night conference, Hooker decided to withdraw the Army of the Potomac back across the Rappahannock River. From Richmond President Davis wired Lee his thanks in the name of the people “reverently united with you in giving praise to God for the success with which He has crowned your arms.” He added his regrets for “the good and the brave who are numbered among the killed and wounded.” President Lincoln, in suspense in Washington, asked Hooker if it was true that the enemy had reoccupied heights above Fredericksburg.

Meanwhile, Grant’s army, some of it still crossing the Mississippi River, spread out south of Vicksburg, with another skirmish at Hankinson’s Ferry on the Big Black River. Farther south three gunboats attacked Fort De Russy on the Red River in Louisiana, but after severed damage to the gunboat Albatross, the Federals were forced to retire.

Stoneman’s Federal cavalry initiated skirmishes at Flemmings’ or Shannon’s Crossroads, Tunstall’s Station, and Ashland Church, Virginia. A brief skirmish flared at Leesville, Virginia as the Suffolk campaign concluded. Other action included fighting at Hungary Station, Hanovertown Ferry, Ayletts, Virginia; a six-day Union scout from Winchester, Virginia into Hampshire County, West Virginia; an affair at Murray’s Inlet, South Carolina; another affair near Nashville, Tennessee; and operations about Lexington, Missouri. Also an expedition began against Indians to the Snake Indian Country of Idaho Territory, and lasted until Oct 26.

U.S.S. Albatross, commanded by Lieutenant Commander John E. Hart, on a reconnaissance up the Red River, engaged armed iron steamers Grand Duke and Mary T and Confederate cavalry near Fort De Russy. The Union gunboat sustained considerable damage and was compelled to withdraw.

U.S.S. Chocura, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Truxtun, with U.S.S. Maratanza in company, seized sloop Express off Charleston with cargo of salt.

U.S.S. Kennebec, commanded by Lieutenant Commander John H. Russell, captured schooner Juniper, bound from Havana to Mobile.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 5, 1863 Tuesday
Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia spent the day preparing to attack Hooker’s failing forces near Chancellorsville. But during the day and night the Army of the Potomac began to recross the Rappahannock River in defeat. In Washington the Administration began to realize it faced another failure. Stoneman’s cavalry skirmished at Thompson’s Crossroads, Virginia.

Other action included skirmishing at Big Sandy Creek, and action at King’s Creek, near Tupelo, Mississippi. Skirmishes also occurred at Peletier’s Mill, North Carolina; Rover, Tennessee and Obion Plank Road Crossing, Tennessee. In the West Federals scouted from Fort Scott, Kansas to Sherwood, Missouri with skirmishes, until May 9; and Federals launched an expedition against Indians from Camp Douglas, Utah Territory to Soda Springs on the Bear River, Idaho Territory which lasted until May 30.

A reinforced Federal flotilla under Porter moved up to Fort De Russy on the Red River to cooperate with Gen Banks’ advance on Louisiana from New Orleans. Porter found that the Confederates had abandoned the works and removed all but one gun.

The leader of the Peace Democrats or Copperheads of the Northwest, former congressman Clement L. Vallandigham ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_L._Vallandigham ), was arrested in Dayton, Ohio. Tried by military commission in Cincinnati the following day, he was convicted by a military commission of expressing treasonable sympathies. In speeches at Columbus and Mount Vernon, Vallandigham had called the war “wicked and cruel” and declared that it was an attempt to destroy slavery in order to establish a Republican dictatorship. He had long been a thorn to the Administration, but now his arrest presented real problems to Washington.

U.S.S. Tahoma, commanded by Lieutenant Commander A. A. Semmes, captured schooner Crazy Jane in the Gulf of Mexico northwest of Charlotte Harbor, Florida, with cargo of cotton and turpentine.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 6, 1863 Wednesday
Lee’s victorious Confederates cautiously advanced in the Wilderness, only to find Hooker had withdrawn during the night before and in the morning. Hooker informed Washington of his movements and President Lincoln gained further knowledge by reading Richmond newspapers. In the morning he wired Hooker, “God bless you, and all with you. I know you will do your best.” Late in the afternoon President Lincoln and Halleck left to meet Hooker. On the Confederate side, A.P. Hill ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._P._Hill ) was assigned to command the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, replacing the critically wounded Jackson, who now lay in a small house at Guiney’s Station.

On the Red River in Louisiana Porter’s Federal flotilla occupied Alexandria, Louisiana which the Confederates had just evacuated. There were skirmishes at Warrenton, Virginia and West Union, West Virginia. A Federal expedition operated from Bowling Green, Kentucky to the Tennessee state line. Federals scouted between the White and St Francis rivers in Arkansas until the fifteenth; and until the nineteenth from Creek Agency, Indian Territory to Jasper County, Missouri. During the latter scout skirmishes broke out at Martin’s House, Centre Creek, and near Sherwood, which was destroyed.

From Nashville a group of allegedly disloyal citizens were sent into Confederate lines.

C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Maffitt, captured brig Clarence off the coast of Brazil. Clarence was converted into a Confederate cruiser under Lieutenant Charles Read who wrote: "I propose to take the brig which we have just captured, and with a crew of twenty men to proceed to Hampton Roads and cut out a gunboat or steamer of the enemy." Maffitt concurred with the daring plan and ordered Clarence to raid Union shipping at either Hampton Roads or Baltimore.

U.S.S. R. R. Cuyler, commanded by Lieutenant Commander James E. Jouett, captured steamer Eugenie bound from Havana to Mobile.

U.S.S. Dragon, commanded by Acting Master G. E. Hill, seized schooner Samuel First attempting to run the blockade above Potomac Creek, Virginia.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 7, 1863 Thursday
Two worried Presidents spent the day trying to strengthen their military positions. President Lincoln and Gen Halleck, after meeting with Hooker at his Army of the Potomac Headquarters, returned to Washington in the evening. The President wrote Hooker, saying, “If possible I would be very glad of another movement early enough to give us some benefit from the fact of the enemies communications being broken, but neither for this reason or any other, do I wish anything done in desperation or rashness.” But President Lincoln was concerned over the effect on morale of the Chancellorsville defeat. Stoneman’s cavalry expedition against communication lines between Fredericksburg and Richmond still operated, but with negligible results.

Confederate President Davis wired Pemberton, commanding in Mississippi: “Am anxiously expecting further information of your active operations….To hold both Vicksburg and Port Hudson is necessary to our connection with Trans-Mississippi. You may expect whatever it is in my power to do for your aid.”

Meanwhile, Federal troops occupied West Point, Virginia on the Peninsula; there were affairs at Cairo Station and Harrisville, West Virginia.

On the Mississippi River, Grant, joined by Sherman’s corps from Milliken’s Bend, began to move from the Grand Gulf area toward Jackson and the railroad between Vicksburg and Jackson. Grant began to depend less on his supply lines and live off the country, although he did carry some necessities with him. At the village of Spring Hill, Tennessee, Confederate Maj Gen Earl Van Dorn ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Van_Dorn ) was assassinated by Dr Peters. It was alleged that the general and Mrs Peters had a “liaison,” although some denied it. Major General Amiel Weeks Whipple, USA, dies from his stomach wounds by a Confederate sharpshooter during fighting in the latter stages of the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, on May 4, 1863.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 8, 1863 Friday
Only a skirmish near Grove Church, Virginia marked the day militarily. President Lincoln issued a proclamation that being an alien would not exempt anyone from military service if he had declared his intention to become a citizen. Records are replete with names of those who claimed to be aliens to escape the draft.

President Davis wrote leading citizens of Columbus, Mississippi, “It would be needless to explain to you how far my ability falls short of my earnest desire, or to recount the causes which so often prevent me from affording the full protection to various portions of our common country which is called for by every consideration that can animate manly and patriotic breasts or excite a public officer to greatest exertion.”

Union Mortar Flotilla under Commander Charles H. B. Caldwell, supported by U.S.S. Richmond, commanded by Captain Alden, opened the bombardment of the Confederate works at Port Hudson, Louisiana.

U.S.S. Canandaigua, commanded by Captain Joseph F. Green, seized blockade running steamer Cherokee off Charleston with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Flag, Commander James H. Strong, captured schooner Amelia attempting to run the blockade out of Charleston late at night with cargo of cotton. While under tow, Amelia developed a serious leak in a storm on the 15th and had to be abandoned.

U.S.S. Primrose, Master William T. Street, captured schooner Sarah Lavinia at Corrotoman Creek, Virginia.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 9, 1863 Saturday
Confederate Gen Joseph E. Johnston ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_E._Johnston ) was ordered to take command of all Southern troops in imperiled Mississippi. Grant’s advancing army fought skirmishes on this day and the tenth near Utica, Mississippi. Other skirmishes occurred near Big Sandy Creek, Mississippi and at Bayou Tensas near Lake Providence, Louisiana. Operations May 9-18 along the Amite River and Jackson Railroad involved several skirmishes in Louisiana. Fighting also broke out in Stone County, Missouri; and near Caney Fort, Tennessee. Federal oil works at Oiltown, West Virginia were destroyed. John Wilkins Whitfield, CSA, is appointed to Brigadier General.

Captain Case, commanding U.S.S. Iroquois, reported that the Confederates were mounting guns on the northern faces of Fort Fisher at Wilmington. "They appear," he wrote Rear Admiral S. P. Lee, "to be large caliber." This defensive strengthening of the Southern position was in keeping with the view voiced by Lieutenant John Taylor Wood, CSN, in a 14 February 1863, letter to President Davis concerning the defenses of Wilmington: "The batteries covering the water approaches, as far as I am able to judge, are well placed and admirably constructed. But the great want, the absolute necessity of the place if it is to be held against naval attack, is heavy guns, larger caliber." So well did the Confederates do their job that Fort Fisher successfully dominated Cape Fear until the massive amphibious operation in January 1865.

U.S.S. Aroostook, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Franklin, seized schooner Sea Lion bound from Mobile to Havana with cargo of cotton.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 10, 1863 Sunday
In a small house near Guiney’s Station, south of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Stonewall Jackson died ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson ). Pneumonia had set in after the amputation of his arm. Lee, sorely grieved, knew not how to replace him. Flags dipped in mourning throughout the South and solemn honor guards escorted his body back to Lexington, Virginia. “The Gallant Stonewall was no more,” went the words of a song. Indeed, the South had lost one of its greatest captains and had gained a timeless legend.

But the fighting continued: skirmishes at Caledonia and Pin Hook or Bayou Macon, Louisiana; action at Horseshoe Bottom on the Cumberland River; skirmishes at Phillips Ford on Red Bird Creek, Kentucky. On the Ouachita River, four Federal gunboats shelled the Confederates at Fort Beauregard, Louisiana.

U.S.S. Mound City, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Bryon Wilson, reconnoitering near Warrenton, Mississippi took a recently constructed battery under fire and "in a short time it was all in a blaze." Rear Admiral Porter observed: "Thus ended a fort in the space of an hour which had taken the rebels five months to build, working mostly day and night." This form of constant hammering by the gunboats at every point along the western waters sapped Confederate strength and resources.

Boat crews from U.S.S. Owasco, commanded by Lieutenant Commander John Madigan, Jr., and U.S.S. Katahdin, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Philip C. Johnson, burned blockade runner Hanover off Galveston.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 11, 1863 Monday
President Lincoln’s Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, again created a problem for the President. In an argument over an appointment, Chase tendered his resignation. President Lincoln turned it down, but, coming as it did after the Cabinet crisis of the preceding December, it foretold more trouble in the official family.

Federal cavalry raided the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad near Crystal Springs, Mississippi. There was skirmishing at Warrenton, Virginia; La Fayette, Tennessee; and Mount Vernon and Taylor’s Creek or Crowley’s Ridge, Arkansas. Other Federal cavalry operated until May 15 from La Grange, Tennessee to Panola, Mississippi as a part of the campaign against Vicksburg. President Lincoln concludes that Gen Curtis ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Ryan_Curtis ) in command at St Louis should be replaced ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... oln6%3A456 ).

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 12, 1863 Tuesday
Grant, who had been moving steadily northeastward toward a position between Jackson and Vicksburg, Mississippi had a division at the village of Raymond, about fifteen miles from the state capital. Here this division under Maj Gen John A. Logan ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Logan ) of McPherson’s corps was struck by a Confederate brigade commanded by Brig Gen John Gregg ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gregg_(CSA) ). An engagement lasted for several hours, until the outnumbered Confederates were driven back toward Jackson. Each side suffered about 500 casualties ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Raymond and http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/raymond.html ). Meanwhile, McClernand and Sherman found Confederate skirmishers along Fourteen-Mile Creek. All this caused Grant to decided to deal with Jackson before striking directly at Vicksburg. Besides, intelligence had correctly placed Pemberton’s main forces at Edward’s Station and along the Big Black River between Jackson and Vicksburg. Gen Joseph E. Johnston endeavored to aid Pemberton at Jackson. President Davis wired Pemberton of his confidence in him, adding that reinforcements should now be arriving, and urged cordial relations with the people. But there was an undertone of uneasiness in the message.

Skirmishing occurred at Greenville, Mississippi; Linden, Tennessee; and Bloomfield, Missouri. Confederate Maj Gen S. B. Buckner ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Buckner ) assumed command of the Department of East Tennessee. Other operations included, May 12-14, those about Buck’s and Front Royal fords, and from Snicker’s Ferry to Upperville, Virginia. May 12-26 there were operations on the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad with several skirmishes near Carrsville, Virginia. In Tennessee Federals carried out a reconnaissance from Murfreesboro toward Liberty and Lebanon.

U.S.S. Conemaugh, Commander Reed Werden, and U.S.S. Monticello, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Braine, stood in close to shore at Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina, and bombarded five schooners aground there. Werden reported: "It affords me pleasure to state that so accurate was our firing that in less than an hour we had fired about 100 bales of cotton on the beach near the schooners, set one schooner on fire, and more or less injured all the others in spars and hull."

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 13, 1863 Wednesday
Two corps of Grant’s army moved toward Jackson under McPherson and Sherman, while McClernand headed north to Clinton. At Jackson, Johnston could muster only about 12,000 men and knew full well that Grant’s army stood between him and Pemberton. There were skirmishes at Mississippi Springs and at Baldwin’s and Hall’s ferries, Mississippi. Other fighting broke out near Woodburn and South Union, Tennessee; and May 13-18 a Federal scout operated from Newtonia to French Point and Centre Creek, Missouri.

President Lincoln asked General Hooker to come to Washington if he were not too busy (and he came that evening). President Davis, concerned over Vicksburg, learned of further trouble from Gov Z.B. Vance of North Carolina. The governor expressed his anxiety over desertion in the Confederate Army and reported the steps he had taken to reduce it. He put the cause to homesickness, fatigue, hard fare, lack of furloughs, and inability to enter regiments of their choice.

Boat expedition from U.S. S. Kingfisher, commanded by Acting Master John C. Dutch, departed St. Helena Sound for Edisto, South Carolina, where previous reconnaissance missions had reveal a large quantity of corn was stored. The expedition returned five days later with 800 bushels. "My object," Dutch reported, "in doing this was, first, to prevent its falling into rebel hands, and, second, to supply the people in this vicinity."

U.S.S. Huntsville, commanded by Acting Lieutenant W. C. Rogers, captured schooner A. J. Hodge at sea off the east Florida coast.

U.S.S. Daffodil, commanded by Acting Master E. M. Baldwin, seized blockade running British schooner Wonder off Port Royal.

C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Maffitt, captured ship Crown Point off the coast of Brazil. After removing stores, Maffitt burned the prize.

U.S.S. De Soto, commanded by Captain Walker, seized schooner Sea Bird from Havana, off Pensacola Bay.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 14, 1863 Thursday
By midmorning McPherson’s and Sherman’s corps of Grant’s army neared Jackson, Mississippi in a driving rainstorm. Johnston, knowing it was futile to oppose Grant with 12,000 men, began to evacuate vital supplies and withdrew to the north. He left two brigades to delay the Federals. The Yankees easily overcame the two Confederate brigades and by midafternoon occupied the capital ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jackson_(MS) and http://www.civilwaralbum.com/vicksburg/jackson.htm ). McClernand, meanwhile, was in part solidly on the rail line from Jackson to Vicksburg, between Johnston and Pemberton. Grant’s task was now to turn west from Jackson and move against Pemberton near Edward’s Station.

South of Vicksburg, Gen Nathaniel Banks left Alexandria, Louisiana for operations against Port Hudson, above Baton Rouge. Port Hudson was the only other major Confederate bastion on the Mississippi River. In the area of Boyce’s Bridge on Cotile Bayou and near Merritt’s Plantation on the Clinton Road there was brief fighting. Skirmishes occurred at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory and in Virginia near Warrenton Junction.

Hooker had written President Lincoln of his problems with the Army of the Potomac, which had delayed further operations since the Battle of Chancellorsville. President Lincoln, in turn, wrote the general that he would not complain if he kept the enemy at bay but would not restrain him from renewing the attack. He warned Hooker that he had intimations that “some of your corps and Division Commanders are not giving you their entire confidence.”

Boat crew from U.S.S. Currituck, commanded by Acting Master Linnekin, captured schooner Ladies' Delight near Urbanna, Virginia.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

May 15, 1863 Friday
Using several roads, Grant’s forces converged on Edwards’ Station, east of Vicksburg. Sherman and two divisions remained in Jackson to destroy Confederate supplies and installations. Pemberton’s main force was near Edwards’ Station and a strong garrison was at Vicksburg. Portions of the two armies were only four miles apart at nightfall. Pemberton had decided it was impossible to join Johnston and so planned to seek out Grant’s nearly non-existent communications.

Skirmishes occurred at Fort Smith, Arkansas and at Big Creek, near Pleasant Hill, Missouri. A Federal expedition operated from West Point to King and Queen County, Virginia. There was a scout May 15-22 from Parkersburg into Calhoun County, West Virginia. From this day to the twenty-eighth operations on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad southeast of Richmond included several skirmishes. John Marshall Jones, CSA, and James Alexander Walker, CSA, were appointed to Brigadier General.

U.S.S. Canandaigua, commanded by Captain J. F. Green, captured blockade running sloop Secesh off Charleston with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Kanawha, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Mayo, seized blockade running British brig Comet 20 miles cast of Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay.

Some 35 Confederates seized mail steamers Arrow and Emily at Currituck bridge and forced the crews to pilot them to Franklin, Virginia.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00