June 17, 1861 Monday
After capturing the state capital at Jefferson City on June 15 with no opposition and raising the Union flags to the strains of national airs, Nathaniel Lyon and his forces pressed on deeper into Missouri, following retreating Gov. Claiborne Jackson. Moving mainly by boat up the Missouri, Lyon landed about 1700 men below Boonville, advanced on the town, and after a short fight occupied the place. Casualties were light on both sides, but it was in a sense a serious Confederate defeat. Not only were pro-Confederates in the area dispersed, but it helped the Union control the Missouri River and seriously hindered efforts to hold the pro-Southern part of Missouri north of the river. One Federal soldier wrote that in Missouri “We were both missionaries and musketeers. When we captured a man we talked him nearly to death; in other respects we treated him humanely. The Civil War was a battle of ideas interrupted by artillery.” Following the loss of Boonville, pro-Southern Gov Jackson, his small armed force, and his government “in transit” had to retire to the southern part of Missouri.
http://www.goboonville.com/1861details.pdf In Virginia there were several actions. Stone’s Federals skirmished at Conrad’s Ferry, Md, along the Potomac as part of the Rockville Expedition. There was also action near Vienna and New Creek, Va. At Vienna some Ohio troops were sent to repair and guard the Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad about fifteen miles from Alexandria when Confederates ambushed and captured the train. A brilliant little achievement by Col Maxcy Gregg and his 1st South Carolina that meant little, but brought chagrin to the Federals.
http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.c ... rview.html and
http://historicviennainc.org/?p=279 At Washington balloonist Prof Thaddeus S.C. Lowe and others ascended a short distance in the air to demonstrate the observation usefulness of balloons. Connected with the War Department by a telegraph wire, Prof Lowe communicated with the President. President Lincoln asks Sec Cameron to furnish "Navy-revolvers and Sabre" so that Mrs. Lincoln may send them to John Fry of Boyle County, Ky., "an acquaintance of hers, and a good & brave man."
At Greeneville in east Tennessee a group of pro-unionists gathered to try to take action to keep their section of the state in the United States. U.S.S. Massachusetts, under Commander M. Smith, captured schooner Achilles near Ship Island, Mississippi.
The government of Spain proclaimed its neutrality, but recognized the Confederacy as a belligerent, following the standard pattern of European powers.
The following appointments were made to Brigadier General (CSA): Barnard Elliott Bee, Richard Stoddert Ewell, William Joseph Hardee, Benjamin Huger, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, David Rumph Jones, James Longstreet, John Bankhead Magruder, John Clifford Pemberton, Henry Hopkins Sibley, and Edmund Kirby Smith.
The following appointment was made to Brigadier General (USA): Frederick West Lander.