was fired upon from ambush, and a sergeant and 2 horses killed.
8. A. W. Bradford was inaugurated as Governor of Maryland, and made an
eloquent address, expressing in the strongest terms devotion to the
Union and the Constitution.
8. Major W. M. G. Torrence of the 1st Iowa cavalry, assisted by
detachments of the 1st Missouri cavalry, Major Hubbard, 4th Ohio and
Merrill’s Horse, in all 500 mounted men, attacked a rebel camp at Silver
Creek, Howard Co., Mo., where six or eight hundred men were stationed,
under Col. Poindexter. The enemy were routed with a loss of 12 killed,
22 wounded, and 15 prisoners, leaving their horses, guns, and camp and
garrison equipage. The material was destroyed by Major Torrence. Federal
loss 3 killed and 10 wounded.
9. A division of the Chamber of Commerce at St. Louis, Mo., was
occasioned by disloyal sentiments. A new and loyal Chamber was formed.
10. A reconnoitering force of 5,000 men under the command of Brig. Gen.
McClernand, left Cairo, Ill., and proceeded toward Columbus and
Mayfield.
10. Waldo P. Johnson and Trusten Polk, U. S. Senators from Missouri,
were expelled from the Senate for disloyalty.
10. Skirmish at Pohick Church, Va. The 5th Michigan dispersed a body of
rebels.
10. Skirmish at Bath, Va., between a detachment of Federals under Capt.
Russell and rebels from Gen. Jackson’s division.
10. Battle near Prestonburg, Ky. Gen. Garfield, with 1,500 Federal
troops, overtook Humphrey Marshall with 3,000 rebels, compelling him to
destroy his stores and putting him to flight. Rebel loss 50 killed many
wounded and 25 prisoners. Federal loss, 2 killed, 25 wounded.
11. The 1st Kansas regiment arrived at Lexington, Mo., and arrested
several prominent rebels. They also seized a large quantity of stores
designed for the use of Gen. Price.
11. Fifty rebels belonging to Col. Alexander’s regiment were captured 6
miles from Sedalia, Mo.
12. The Burnside Expedition sailed from Fortress Monroe, under command
of Com. Goldsborough and Gen. Burnside, for Albemarle Sound, N. C.
12. Secretary Seward telegraphed the British Consul at Portland, Me.,
that British troops might pass through U. S. territory on their way to
Canada.
12. The rebels in Kentucky burned the houses, and carried off or
destroyed the property of loyal men at Horse Cave and in Cave City and
vicinity, and the people sought refuge at Munfordsville.
13. Hon. Simeon Cameron, Secretary of War, resigned his position, and
Edwin F. Stanton was appointed in his stead on the 15th inst.
13. The steamship Constitution, with the Maine 12th regiment, and the
Bay State regiment, sailed from Boston for Ship Island, Miss., via.
Fortress Monroe.
15. Gen. McClernand’s column advanced to Mayfield, Ky., and Gen. Grant
to Fort Jefferson. 20,000 rebels reported at Columbus, Ky., under Gen.
Polk.
16. Hon. Edwin B. Stanton, the new Secretary of War, assumed the duties
of his office.
17. 150 wounded Federal prisoners arrived at Fortress Monroe from
Richmond, Va. Eight rebel officers were released from the Fortress the
same day.
17. Capture of British schooner Stephen Hart, loaded with arms,
ammunition and stores for the rebels, by the U. S. storeship Supply.
17. Ex-President John Tyler died at Richmond, Va.
17. Skirmish near Ironton, Mo. Rebels under Jeff. Thompson were defeated
by Col. Miles.
17. Two companies of the 1st Kansas cavalry, under Major Halderman,
arrested Capt. Whitney, Joe Shelby and several other rebel officers, and
also recovered a number of horses, mules, wagons, etc., taken from Col.
Mulligan’s command at Lexington, Mo.
17. The Fortification Bill passed the U. S. House of Representatives,
appropriating $5,960,000 for fort and harbor defences.
18. Gen. Grant made a reconnoissance in force towards Columbus, Ky.
18. Gen. Halleck levied an assessment on the wealthy secessionists of
St. Louis, Mo., to provide for the wants of loyal refugees in the city
who had been driven from their homes in the S. W. section of the State
by rebels.
18. Capts. Murdock and Webster, with their commands, returned to Cairo
from an expedition to Bloomfield, Mo. They captured Lieut. Col. Farmer
and 11 other rebel officers and 68 privates, with a quantity of army
stores.
19. Battle of Mill Spring, Ky. The rebels completely routed, with loss
of 192 killed, and 140 prisoners. Gen. Zollicoffer, their commander, was
killed. The Federal troops were under Gen. Thomas. 1,200 horses and
mules, over 100 large wagons, and 14 cannon, 2,000 muskets, etc., were
captured. Federal loss 39 killed, 207 wounded.
19. The U. S. gunboat Itasca captured the rebel schooner Lizzie Weston,
off Florida, laden with 293 bales of cotton, 152,500 pounds, for
Jamaica.
23. The property of several wealthy secessionists at St. Louis was
seized under execution by Gen. Halleck, and sold to pay the assessment
to support Union refugees.
23. The second stone fleet was sunk in Maffit’s Channel, Charleston, S.
C., harbor.
24. The Federal light boat off Cape Henry, at the mouth of the
Chesapeake, went ashore and was captured by the rebels, with its crew of
7 men.
24. Two rebel vessels laden with cotton, while attempting to pass the
blockade at the mouth of the Mississippi, ran aground, were deserted and
burned. The fire was extinguished on board the Calhoun and that vessel
captured.
26. The Burnside Expedition reached Pamlico Sound.
26. A military Commission at Palmyra, Mo., sentenced 7 bridge-burners to
be shot.
28. Federal troops occupied Lebanon, Mo.
28. Rev. Bishop Ames and Hon. Hamilton Fish, of N. Y., were appointed by
Secretary of War Stanton to visit the U. S. prisoners in captivity at
Richmond, Va., to devise means for providing for their comfort. The
Commissioners were not allowed to visit Richmond, but they opened
negotiations for the exchange of prisoners.
28. Skirmish between 50 men of the 37th N. Y. regiment under Lieut.-Col.
Burke, and a body of Texas rangers near Colchester, on the Occoquan
river, Va., in which 9 rebels were killed. Two Federals were killed, and
2 wounded.
29. The iron-clad battery Monitor was launched at Greenpoint, N. Y.
29. Reconnoissance on either side of the Savannah river from the Federal
fleet at Port Royal, through the Wilmington Narrows and Wall’s Cut, by
which the feasibility of cutting off Fort Pulaski from communication
with Savannah was demonstrated.
30. Gen. Beauregard took command of rebel troops in Tennessee.
30. The rebel commissioners, Mason and Slidell, arrived at Southampton,
England.
30. Rebels under Capt. John Morgan, seized six Union men at a church
near Lebanon, Ky. They set fire to the church, and attempted to burn one
of the prisoners in the flames, who effected his escape.
31. An order from the Secretary of State released all civilians who were
captured on board vessels attempting to violate the blockade.
31. Five telegraph operators were captured by the rebels near
Campbellsville, Ky.
31. Queen Victoria declared her determination to observe strict
neutrality during the American contest, and to prevent the use of
English vessels and harbors to aid the belligerents.
=Feb. 1.= The 2d Cavalry, 41st Indiana, had a skirmish near Bowling
Green, Ky., in which 3 rebels were killed and 2 wounded. No loss on the
Federal side.
1. The Spanish steamer Duero arrived at Liverpool, England, from Cadiz,
bringing as passengers Captains Minott, of the Vigilant; Smith of the
Arcade, and Hoxie, of the Eben Dodge—three American vessels which had
been burned by the privateer Sumter.
1. An octavo volume of 1,100 pages was published as a report by a
Committee from the U. S. House of Representatives, appointed July, 1861,
to investigate frauds in Government contracts.
1. The President of the U. S. was empowered by act of Congress to take
possession of all the railway and telegraphic lines throughout the
country, whenever requisite for military purposes, till the close of the
rebellion.
1. An interesting conference was held by U. S. Commissioner Dole with
the loyal chiefs of the Seminole, Creek, Iowa, and Delaware Indians, in
which the warriors pledged themselves to conquer the rebel Indians who
had driven them from their homes.
2. A skirmish occurred in Morgan county, Penn., between a body of rebel
cavalry, under Lieut.-Col. White, and a company of Federal infantry,
under Captain Duncan, in which the Federals were defeated, with a loss
of seven men.
2. 386 rank and file and 11 officers, rebel prisoners, were sent to
Fortress Monroe, from Boston harbor, to be exchanged for an equal number
of Federal prisoners.
3. The privateersmen confined in the City Prison, N. Y., were
transferred to Fort Lafayette, and there held as political prisoners.
3. In conformity with the decision of the British Ministry, the
privateer Nashville was sent off from Southampton, England, and the U.
S. gunboat Tuscarora detained from pursuing her for the space of 24
hours.
3. A flag of truce from the rebels to Gen. McDowell, brought a document
from Jeff. Davis to President Lincoln, threatening to hang Cols.
Corcoran, Lee, and others, prisoners in their hands, in retaliation,
should the punishment of death be inflicted on the bridge-burners who
had been convicted in Missouri.
3. The Federal army under Gen. Grant were within 3 miles of Fort Henry,
on the Tennessee river.
4. Capt. Lowing, with 80 men from Cos. F and H, Third Michigan,
encountered a body of rebels near Occoquan, Va., whom they dispersed. 4
of the rebels were shot. No loss sustained by the Federals.
4. A scouting party under Capt. Harkness, of Col. Miles’ 81st Pa.
regiment, returned from the vicinity of Fairfax Court House, Va.,
bringing several rebel prisoners.
4. Steamship Constitution, with the Mass. Bay State, and the Maine 12th
regiments, and other troops, under Gen. Phelps, left Fortress Monroe for
Ship Island, Miss.
5. Attack on Fort Henry, Tenn. commenced by Federal gunboats under Com.
Foote.
5. Queen Victoria, of England, removed the prohibitions relating to the
export of material of war from the British dominions declared on the
30th Nov. and 4th Dec., 1861.
6. Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, was expelled from the U. S. Senate, for
complicity with treason.
7. A band of rebels concealed near the landing at Harper’s Ferry, Va.,
having, by means of a flag of truce, decoyed a boat from the Maryland
shore, and then fired on its occupants, by order of Col. Geary, the
block of large buildings facing the landing were burned. But seven
families, 40 persons in all, then resided in the town.
7. Unconditional surrender of Fort Henry to Com. Foote, with Gen.
Tilghman and staff, one colonel, two captains, and 80 privates. Com.
Foote transferred the fort to Gen. Grant.
7. Federal troops took possession of the Memphis and Ohio railway.
7. The rebels driven from Romney, Va., by Gen. Lander, who occupied the
town.
7. Successful skirmish with rebel cavalry near Fairfax Court House, Va.,
by Col. Friedman, with the Cameron Dragoons; 1 rebel killed, and 12
captured, with 12 horses, &c. 2 Federals wounded.
8. Portions of Gen. Butler’s expedition sailed from Boston and from
Fortress Monroe, for Ship Island, Miss.
8. Capture of rebel forts and garrisons on Roanoke Island, N. C., by the
Federal forces under Com. Goldsborough and Gen. Burnside. 2,500
prisoners, 6 forts, 40 guns, 3,000 small arms. Federal loss, 50 killed,
150 wounded.
8. Capt. Smith, of the 5th Virginia (loyal) with 21 men, surprised 32 of
Jenkins’ cavalry on Linn Creek, Logan County, Va., killing 8, wounding
7, and capturing the remainder, with 32 horses. One Federal was killed
and 1 wounded.
9. Skirmish of a body of Federal cavalry with rebels near Fort Henry,
Tenn. 5 rebels killed, and 30 taken prisoners.
9. Edenton, N. C., occupied by Federal troops.
10. Destruction of rebel gunboats in the Pasquotank river, N. C., also
of the rebel battery at Cobb’s Point, and the occupation of Elizabeth
City by Federal forces from 14 gunboats, commanded by Capt. Rowan.
10. Gen. Charles P. Stone, U. S. A., was arrested by Gov’t. order, and
imprisoned in Fort Lafayette.
10. Arrest of several male and female secessionists in Washington. Also,
of Dr. Ives, N. Y. _Herald_ correspondent.
10. Capt. Phelps, of Com. Foote’s squadron, commanding the gunboats
Conestoga, Taylor, and Lexington, captured a new rebel gunboat, and
destroyed all the rebel craft between Fort Henry and Florence, Ala.
11. Bursting of the “Sawyer” gun at Newport News, Va., by which 2
Federal soldiers were killed and 2 wounded.
12. An expedition under the command of Col. Reggin returned to Fort
Henry, Tenn., from up the Tennessee river, having captured $75,000 worth
of contraband goods at Paris, Tenn., and also the tents and camp
equipage of the rebel troops that retreated from Fort Henry.
13. Evacuation of Springfield, Mo., by the rebel army under Gen. Price.
Occupation of the town by Federal troops of Gen. Curtis’ army. 600 of
the rebel sick, and many forage wagons were left behind.
14. The rebel camp at Blooming Gap, Va., was surprised by forces under
Gen. Lander. 65 prisoners were taken, including 17 officers, and 13
killed and 20 wounded. Federal loss, 7 in killed and wounded.
14. Fort Donelson was invested and attacked by the Federal army under
Gen. Grant.
14. E. M. Stanton, Sec. of War, issued an order releasing all political
prisoners upon their taking an oath of allegiance.
14. A skirmish took place near Flat Lick Ford, on the Cumberland river,
Ky., between two companies of cavalry, under Col. Munday, two companies
of the 49th Indiana, and some rebel pickets, in which the latter lost 4
killed, 4 wounded, and 3 taken prisoners. There was no Federal loss.
14. Com. Foote, with 6 gunboats, attacked Fort Donelson, but was
repulsed, the Commodore being severely wounded. Federal loss 60 in
killed and wounded.
14. The rear guard of Gen. Price’s army in S. W. Missouri was attacked
by Gen. Curtis’ command, and many prisoners taken.
14. Bowling Green, Ky., was evacuated by rebel troops, who destroyed
most of the available property in the town that could not be removed.
14. Three rebel schooners and one sloop, laden with rice, were destroyed
by the crews of armed boats from the U. S. bark Restless, Lieut. E.
Conroy, in Bull’s Bay, S.C.
15. The national batteries at Venus Point, on the Savannah river, were
attacked by 4 rebel gunboats, which were repulsed, one of them being
severely injured.
15. The railway bridge crossing the Tennessee river at Decatur, Ala.,
was destroyed by Union men.
15. Gen. Burnside administered the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants
of Roanoke Island.
15. The iron-clad steam gunboat Galena was launched at Mystic, Conn.
16. Gen. Price was driven from Missouri by Gen. Curtis, who followed him
into Arkansas, capturing many prisoners.
16. Gen. Mitchell’s troops occupied Bowling Green, Ky.
16. Fort Donelson surrendered to the Federal army, under Gen. Grant,
after three days’ desperate resistance. 15,000 prisoners were captured,
including Brig.-Gen. Buckner, and an immense quantity of war material.
Gens. Floyd and Pillow escaped, with a portion of the garrison.
16. Destruction of the “Tennessee Iron works,” owned by John Bell and
Messrs. Lewis & Wood, on the Cumberland river, six miles above Dover, by
order of Com. Foote.
17. The First Missouri cavalry fell into an ambush of rebels at Sugar
Creek, Ark., by which 13 of their number were killed and wounded.
18. Gov. Rector of Arkansas, by proclamation, called every man subject
to military duty into service within 20 days.
18. First session of the Congress of the “permanent” Government of the
Confederate States opened at Richmond, Va.
18. The wire and suspension bridges over the Cumberland river at
Nashville, Tenn., were destroyed by Gen. Floyd, despite the
remonstrances of the citizens.
18. A skirmish at Independence, Mo., between a detachment of Ohio
cavalry and a band of rebels under Quantrel and Parker. 3 rebels killed,
several wounded and taken prisoners. 1 Federal killed, 3 wounded.
19. 1,000 additional rebel prisoners were taken at Fort Donelson, they
having come down the river to reinforce Gen. Buckner.
19. Evacuation of Clarksville, Tenn., by the rebels. The Federal forces,
under Com. Foote, took possession of the town, and captured a large
quantity of army stores.
19. Bentonville, Ark., was captured by Gen. Curtis, after a short
engagement with the rebels, in which more prisoners and supplies were
taken.
20. The rebel steamer Magnolia, with 1,050 bales of cotton, was captured
in the Gulf of Mexico, by the U. S. steamers Brooklyn and South
Carolina. An attempt to fire the vessel was frustrated by the Federal
seamen.
20. The town of Winton, N. C., was partially burned by the national
forces.
20. The track of the Memphis and Ohio railway was torn up, and the
bridges burned in many places, by order of rebel Gen. Polk.
21. Battle of Valvende, N. M. 1,500 Federals, under Col. Canby, were
defeated by an equal force of rebels, under Col. Steele. Federal loss,
55 killed, 140 wounded. Rebel loss, about the same.
22. Inauguration of Jefferson Davis, of Miss., as President of the
“Confederate States,” at Richmond, Va., and Alex. H. Stevens, of Ga., as
Vice President, they having received the unanimous vote of 109 delegates
representing 11 States, viz.: Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N. C.,
S. C., Tenn., Texas, Va., for the permanent organization of the
Confederate States.
22. The U. S. sloop-of-war Adironac was launched at Brooklyn, N. Y.
23. 347 released Federal prisoners arrived at Fortress Monroe, among
them Cols. Lee, Wood and Coggswell.
23. Lieut. Guin, of Com. Foote’s command, made a reconnoissance up the
Tenn. river as high as Eastport, Miss., being well received by the
inhabitants. At Clifton, Tenn., he took possession of 1500 sacks and
barrels of flour and 6,000 bush. of wheat.
23. Gallatin, Tenn., occupied by Gen. Buell’s forces.
23. A skirmish at Mason’s Neck, near Occoquan, Va., between Texas
rangers, and part of the N. Y. 37th, in which 2 of the latter were
killed and 1 wounded.
24. Harpers’ Ferry, Va., occupied by the 28th Pa. regiment.
25. Nashville, Tenn., was occupied by Federal forces of Gen. Buell’s
command.
25. The 9th Ohio and 2d Minnesota regiments received handsome flags from
ladies of Louisville, Ky., in compliment of their valor at Mill Spring,
Jan. 19.
25. The remainder of Gen. Bank’s division crossed the Potomac and
occupied Bolivar and Charlestown, Va.
25. All the telegraphic lines that could be used by government were
taken under military control, and the transmission of reports of
military operations forbidden, without permission of the military
censor.
26. Cotton and tobacco planters of Va., at a meeting held at Richmond,
refused to consent to the destruction of their crops.
26. The command of Capt. Montgomery, was surprised by a large force of
rebels at Keittsville, Barry Co., Mo. 2 Federals were killed, 1 wounded,
and 40 of their horses captured.
26. The U. S. gunboat R. B. Forbes ran ashore near Nag’s Head, N. C.,
was set on fire and destroyed.
27. Fayetteville, Ark., was occupied by Gen. Curtis, who captured a
number of prisoners, stores, &c. The rebels retreated across the Boston
Mountains.
27. 42 Federal soldiers were poisoned at Mud Town, Ark., by eating food
which had been left for them by rebels.
27. Col. Wood’s cavalry drove rebels out of Dent, Texas and Howell Cos.,
Mo., capturing 60 prisoners.
27. U. S. iron-clad battery Monitor, Lieut. Worden, sailed from N. York
for Fortress Monroe.
28. The British ship Labuan, with a valuable cargo, arrived at N. York,
captured by the U. S. sloop-of-war Portsmouth off Rio Grande river.
28. The rebel steamer Nashville ran the blockade of Beaufort, N. C., and
reached the town.
28. Capt. Nolen with 64 of the 7th Ill. cavalry attacked 90 of Jeff.
Thompson’s cavalry and a battery, west of Charlestown, Mo., and captured
4 guns, losing 1 man.
=March 1.= The U. S. gunboats Tyler, Lieut. Gwin, commanding, and
Lexington, Lieut. Shirk, on an expedition up the Tenn. river, engaged
and silenced a rebel battery at Pittsburg, Tenn., 7 miles above
Savannah.
1. Evacuation of Columbus Ky., by rebel troops, leaving their heavy
guns, and a large quantity of war material. 400 of the 2d Illinois
cavalry occupied the town next day, and troops from Com. Foote’s
flotilla the day after.
1. U. S. steamer Mount Vernon, captured the schooner British Queen, at
the blockade of Wilmington, N. C.
1. John Minor Botts, Valentine Hecker, Franklin Stearns, and others were
arrested at Richmond Va., on a charge of “treason.”
2. Death of Brig.-Gen. Lander, at Camp Chase, on the Upper Potomac, from
a wound received at Edwards’ Ferry Va., Oct. 22, 1861.
3. Brig.-Gens. S. B. Buckner and Lloyd Tilghman, rebel prisoners,
arrived at Fort Warren, Boston, Mass.
3. U.S. Senate confirmed Gens. McDowell, Buell Burnside, McClernand, C.
F. Smith, Lew. Wallace and Sigel as Maj.-Gens.; and Cols. Speed, of
Tenn., Logan of Ill., McArthur of Iowa, Lauman of Iowa, Wallace of Ind.,
McCook of Ohio, Berry of Maine, and Terry of Conn., as Brigadiers.
4. Occupation of Fort Clinch and Fernandina, Fla., and St. Mary’s and
Brunswick, Ga., by Federal forces under Com. Dupont and Gen. Wright.
4. A squadron of 1st Michigan cavalry surprised and defeated a party of
rebel cavalry at Berryville, Va., killing 3 and capturing 9 horses
without loss.
4. Two bridges on the Nashville and Decatur railway, Tenn., destroyed by
rebels.
5. Bunker Hill, Va., was occupied by rebel forces.
6. Two rebel officers were captured at Vienna, Va., by a detachment of
Col. Averill’s cavalry.
6 A rebel picket of 5 was captured by Van Alen’s cavalry near Bunker
Hill, Va.
7. Capt. Cole’s Maryland cavalry encountered a few of Ashby’s rebel
cavalry, near Winchester, Va., 6 rebels were killed and 5 wounded. Capt.
Cole had 3 men wounded.
6, 7, 8. Battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. The combined rebel forces under Gens.
Van Dorn, Price, McCulloch and Pike, were defeated by the Federal army
under Gens. Curtis, Sigel, Asboth and Davis. Federal loss in killed,
wounded and missing, 1351. The rebel loss about 2000. Gens. McCulloch,
McIntosh and Slack, were killed.
8. Destruction of the U. S. sloop-of-war Cumberland, and the frigate
Congress, in action with the rebel iron battery Merrimac, in Hampton
Roads, Va. 100 men were killed or drowned on the Cumberland.
8. By order of the President, Maj.-Gen. McClellan was directed to
organize and command the army of the Potomac, divided into 5 army corps,
under Maj. Gens. McDowell, Brig.-Gens. E. V. Sumner, S. P. Heintzelman,
E. L. Keyes and N. P. Banks.
8. Col. Geary entered Leesburg, Va., capturing many prisoners, stores,
&c.
8. Manassas, Va., was evacuated by the rebels.
9. Combat of the U. S. iron battery Monitor, and the rebel iron battery
Merrimac, in Hampton Roads, Va. After a desperate combat of 3 hours, the
Merrimac was compelled to retire, having received severe injuries.
9. The rebel battery at Cockpit Point, on the Potomac captured by
Federal troops.
9. Brilliant charge of 14 of the Lincoln cavalry at Burk’s station, near
Fairfax Court House, Va., against 100 infantry, 3 of whom were killed, 5
wounded and 11 captured. Lieut. Hidden was killed.
10. Lieut. O. Houston and 8 men of 2d Ohio battery was captured in S. W.
Mo. by Texas rangers.
10. Centreville, Va., was occupied by national forces, the bridges,
railway track, depot, &c. having been destroyed by rebels.
11. Gen. Pope’s troops occupied Point Pleasant, Mo., 8 miles below New
Madrid.
11. Berryville, Va., was occupied by Gen. Gorman, of Gen. Bank’s
division.
11. The country intervening between the Department of the Potomac and
that of the Mississippi, was organized as the “Mountain Department,” and
assigned to Gen. Fremont.
11. The “Department of the Miss.,” was organized and assigned to Gen.
Halleck, which included his previous department, and that of Gen.
Hunter’s in Kansas; also all of Gen. Buell’s west of Knoxville, Tenn.
11. Occupation of St. Augustine, Fla., by Federal naval forces under
Com. Rogers.