December 16, 1863 Wednesday
The Confederates announced major command changes. Gen Joseph E. Johnston (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_E._Johnston ) was named to command the Department and Army of Tennessee, succeeding Lieut Gen Hardee, who had temporarily taken over from Bragg. Gen Polk (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Polk ) was left with the Army of Mississippi, to which he was assigned formally on Dec 22. Johnston had serious differences with President Davis, but Davis had little choice, and Confederates for the most part approved the decision. Johnston, at Brandon, Mississippi was ordered to his new post at Dalton, Georgia leaving his old forces in Polk’s charge.
Fighting included a skirmish at Salem, Virginia – part of the railroad raiding; a demonstration on Fort Gibson, Indian Territory; skirmishes near Springfield, Missouri; Free Bridge, North Carolina; fighting at Upperville, Virginia; and at Rutledge, Tennessee. For the remainder of the month Federals operated from Fayetteville with fighting at Stroud’s Store and on the Buffalo River, Arkansas. Brig Gen John Buford (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buford ) was named Federal major general a few hours before his death in Washington. Buford, who succumbed to typhoid, had had a brilliant career, particularly at Gettysburg. A million-dollar fire destroyed a regimental hospital, an arsenal, and a bakery at Yorktown, Virginia.
Thomas Savage, U.S. Consul-General at Havana, reported to Commodore H. H. Bell regarding blockade runners in that port: "A schooner under rebel colors, called Roebuck, 41 tons, with cotton arrived from Mobile yesterday. She left that port, I believe, on the 8th. She is the only vessel that has reached this port from Mobile for a very long time. . . . The famous steamer Alice, which ran the blockade at Mobile successfully so many times, is now on the dry dock here fitting out for another adventure."
U.S.S. Huron, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Stevens, captured blockade runner Chatham off Doboy Sound, Georgia, with cargo of cotton, tobacco, and rosin.
U.S.S. Ariel, commanded by Acting Master William H. Harrison, captured sloop Magnolia off the west coast of Florida. She was inbound from Havana with cargo of spirits and medicines.