Civil War digest: This week 150 years ago Feb. 25-March 3, 1863
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 15:17
- Hits: 96
Major Highlights for the Week
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1863
The U.S. Congress completed passage of the Conscription Act. President Abraham Lincoln signed an act setting up a national banking system and national currency, plus a Currency Bureau of the Treasury was established with the position of Comptroller of the Currency.
The U.S.S. Vanderbilt seized the British merchantman vessel Peterhoff as a blockade-runner. The capture was ordered by Acting Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, who ordered the boarding of a British vessel during the Trent Affair previously. The Peterhoff was bound for Matamoros, Mexico, and the British claimed that the United States had no authority to stop trade with Mexico, despite some of the goods finding their way into the Confederacy.
Thursday, Feb. 26, 1863
The Cherokee Indian National Council repealed its ordinance of secession, abolished slavery, and vigorously proclaimed its support for the Union.
Near Woodburn, Tenn., Confederate guerrillas halted, captured, and burned a Federal freight train with merchandise, government stores and 240 mules.
Civil War digest: This week 150 years ago Jan. 28-Feb. 3 Jan. 21-27, 1863
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 31 January 2013 13:28
- Hits: 147
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1863
Skirmishing occurred at Indian Village, La.; Nashville, Yorkville and Collierville, Tenn.; and a Federal scouting expedition between La Grange, Tenn., and Ripley, Miss., commenced.
Hardy settlers' thrills and experiences (part 2)
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 24 January 2013 02:58
- Hits: 170
Civil War digest: This week 150 years ago Jan. 21-27, 1863
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 12:27
- Hits: 174
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1863
The winter rains continued to be Major General Ambrose Burnside’s worst enemy along the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg, Va. His Federal Army of the Potomac was bogged down in mud and slime, failing to make any appreciable progress.
In his diary, 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Sergeant Myron Shepard writes, “Rained all last night and nearly all day without cissation. Other troops are on the march but luckily for us, we remain in camp.”
Civil War digest: This week 150 years ago Jan. 14-20, 1863
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 January 2013 13:34
- Hits: 199
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1863
At Bayou Teche, La., three Federal gunboats and troops attacked the Confederate gunboat Cotton and land fortifications. After a sharp assault, the gunboat was burned by Confederates the following morning.
Confederate General E. Kirby Smith was assigned to command of the Army of the Southwest.