American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

April 16, 1863 Thursday
U.S.S. Hendrick Hudson, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Cate, captured blockade running British schooner Teresa off the coast of Florida.

U.S.S. Vanderbilt, commanded by Lieutenant Baldwin, seized British blockade runner Gertrude off the Bahama Islands.

Flares and tar barrels burst into flames along the Vicksburg bluffs as gunboats under Rear Admiral Porter engaged and ran past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg shepherding Army transports to New Carthage below the Southern citadel. The force included U.S.S. Benton, Lafayette, Louisville, Pittsburg, Mound City, Carondelet, and Tuscumbia; U.S.S. General Sterling Price was lashed to the starboard side of Lafayette for the passage, as was tug Ivy to Benton. Each ship, except Benton, also towed a coal barge containing 10,000 bushels of coal. Lafayette, commanded by Captain Walke, hampered by the ship lashed to her side, received nine "effective" shots through her casemate and had her coal barge sunk. Transport Henry Clay was sunk, with no loss of life, during the passage and another, Forest Queen, was temporarily disabled but was successfully aided by Tuscumbia, commanded by Lieutenant Commander James W. Shirk. Under fire for 2 1/2 hours, beginning shortly after 11 p.m. on the 16th, the squadron suffered what Porter termed only "very light" loss. He reported that all ships were ready for service within half an hour after the passage. "Altogether," he remarked, "we were very fortunate; the vessels had some narrow escapes, but were saved in most instances by the precautions taken to protect them. They were covered with heavy logs and bales of wet hay, which were found to be an excellent defense." The successful steaming of the squadron past the heavy batteries contributed to the early seizure of Grand Gulf, the eventual fall of Vicksburg itself, and ultimately the total control of the entire Mississippi.

Other fighting included a skirmish at Newtown, Louisiana; an affair on the Pamunkey River near West Point, Virginia; and skirmishes at Eagleville, Tennessee and Paris, Kentucky. Action continued in the New Berne area of North Carolina, with affairs at Hill’s and Rodman’s Points and a Federal expedition from New Berne toward Kinston, April 16-21.

President Davis approved acts of the Confederate Congress to allow minors to hold army commissions and to prevent absence of soldiers and officers without leave. President Lincoln cancels contract with B. Kock "for immigration of persons of African extraction to a dependency of the Republic of Hayti."

_________________
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

April 17, 1863 Friday
From La Grange, Tennessee, Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson of Illinois headed south with seventeen hundred cavalry on a startling raid into Mississippi. The intent was to draw attention from Grant’s offensive against Vicksburg. To the east, Colonel Abel D. Streight’s raiders moved south from Nashville into Alabama. Dashing, handsome Brig Gen John Sappington Marmaduke led his Confederate raiders out of Arkansas into Missouri. Both Grierson and Marmaduke completed their operations on May 2. Other Union expeditions operated April 17-19 from New Berne to Washington, North Carolina assisting in raising the siege of Washington; from Winchester to Sump’s Tannery, Virginia April 17-18; and April 17-21 from St Martinsville to Breaux Bridge and Opelousas, Louisiana.

There was general skirmishing on the lines around Suffolk, Virginia; fighting on the Amite river and at Bayou Vermillion, Louisiana; at Core Creek, North Carolina; on White River, Missouri; and at Lundy’s Lane, Cherokee Station, Great Bear Creek and Barton’s Station, Alabama.

U.S.S. Wanderer, commanded by Acting Master Eleazer S. Turner, took schooner Annie B southwest of Egmont Key, Florida, bound for Havana with cargo of cotton.

C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Maffitt, captured and destroyed ship Commonwealth off the coast of Brazil, bound from New York to San Francisco.

Major General Daniel Smith Donelson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Smith_Donelson ), CSA, dies at Montevale Springs, Tennessee, from natural causes.

_________________
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

April 18, 1863 Saturday
Grierson’s raiders met their first minor opposition between Ripley and New Albany, Mississippi as skirmishing broke out on the line of march. A Confederate attack on Fayetteville, Arkansas was repulsed by the Union garrison. Other fighting included an affair at Sabine Pass, Texas; a skirmish at Hartsville, Tennessee; and an affair near Johnstown, Harrison County, West Virginia. Federals destroyed Confederate salt works near New Iberia, Louisiana. Federals scouted through Shannon County, Missouri and for four days from Salem to Sinking Creek, Current River, and Big Creek, Missouri. The Confederate Congress authorized a volunteer navy whereby qualified persons could procure and fit out vessels for cruising against the enemy, the main compensation to be prize money. The idea never went into operation, however.

Boat expedition to reconnoiter Sabine City under command of Lieutenant Commander Read, U.S.S. New London, and Lieutenant Commander McDermut, U.S.S. Cayuga, was surprised at the lighthouse and driven off by Confederate troops.

U.S.S. Susquehanna, under Commodore Hitchcock, captured schooner Alabama off the Florida Gulf coast with cargo including wine, coffee, nails, and dry goods.

U.S.S. Stettin, commanded by Acting Master James R. Beers, seized steamer St. Johns off Cape Romain, South Carolina.

U.S.S. Gem of the Sea, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Baxter, captured and destroyed blockade running British schooner Inez off Indian River Inlet, Florida.

_________________
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

April 19, 1863 Sunday
President Lincoln, Gen Halleck, and Sec of War Stanton took a quick one-day trip to Aquia Creek on army matters; the venture was carried out almost secretly.

As Grierson’s men moved deeper into Mississippi, skirmishing continued, this time at Pontotoc. Other skirmishing occurred at Big Swift Creek, North Carolina; at Battery Huger, Hill’s Point, near Suffolk, Virginia; Celina and Creelsborough, Kentucky; Dickson’s Station, Alabama; and Trenton, Tennessee. April 19-20 there was a Federal scout near Neosho, Missouri.

U.S.S. Housatonic, commanded by Captain William Taylor, took sloop Neptune, attempting to run the blockade out of Charleston with cargo of cotton and turpentine.

U.S.S. Powhatan, commanded by Captain Steedman, captured schooner Major E. Willis near Charleston 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

April 20, 1863 Monday
A proclamation by President Lincoln declared that the state of West Virginia, having the approval of Congress, would officially join the union on June 20.

Marmaduke’s Confederate raiders fought a skirmish at Patterson, Missouri and an affair occurred at Bloomfield, Missouri. In North Carolina, skirmishing was at Sandy Ridge; and in Virginia a Federal reconnaissance operated from Winchester toward Wardensville and Strasburg. In West Virginia Confederate cavalry under John D. Imboden ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Imboden ) operated until May 14, with several skirmishes. A strong Federal expedition patrolled from Murfreesboro to McMinnville, Tennessee April 20-30. In the Suffolk, Virginia area Federal troops and the Navy captured a strong position at Hill’s Point on the Nansemond River.

A joint Army-Navy attack succeeded in capturing a strong Confederate position at Hill's Point on the Nansemond River, Virginia, taking 5 howitzers and some 160 prisoners, as well as denying the South the use of an effective position from which to shell the flotilla guarding the Union Army position near Suffolk. Brigadier General George W. Getty wrote Rear Admiral S. P. Lee: "I beg to express my most sincere thanks to Captain Lamson, USN, his officers and crews for the gallantry, energy and ability displayed by them in the operations . . . resulting in the capture of one of the enemy's batteries on the west side of the Nansemond, and a number of prisoners." Later that night, 20 April, the Confederates evacuated their battery at Reed's Ferry, and Lieutenant Cushing reported: "All is now clear at this point [the western branch of the Nansemond], and if the army fortify, we can hold the position against any force, the gunboats protecting both flanks." Though there were intermittent skirmishes for almost 2 weeks following this action, the back of the planned Confederate offensive was broken. As Cushing wrote on 21 April: "I think that active work is nearly over in this quarter." Both Cushing and Lamson were cited by Secretary Welles for their gallantry and meritorious services.

U.S.S. General Sterling Price, Commander Selim E. Woodworth, and U.S.S. Tuscumbia, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shirk, reconnoitered down the Mississippi River from New Carthage to the Confederate stronghold at Grand Gulf in preparation for the Union assault. Rear Admiral Porter reported to Major General Grant: "The rebels are at work fortifying. Three guns mounted on a bluff 100 feet high, pointing upriver. Two deep excavations are made in the side of the hill (fresh earth); it can not be seen whether guns are mounted on them or not." Porter urged Grant to move as quickly as possible: "My opinion is that they will move heaven and earth to stop us if we don't go ahead. I could go down and settle the batteries, but if disabled would not be in condition to cover the landing when it takes place, and I think it should be done together. If the troops just leave all their tents behind and take only provisions, we can be in Grand Gulf in four days. I don't want to make a failure, and am sure that a combined attack will succeed beautifully."

U.S.S. Estrella, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Cooke, with U.S.S. Clifton, Arizona, and Calhoun, engaged and received the surrender of Fort Burton, Butte à la Rose, Louisiana. Third Assistant Engineer George W. Baird noted in his diary: "The fight was short, sharp and decisive. It was done after the style of Daddy Farragut: we rush in. . . . We rushed right up to it and the four black vessels all firing made a savage appearance."

U.S.S. Octorara, Commander Collins, captured British blockade runner W. Y. Leitch east of Florida with cargo of salt.

U.S.S. Lodona, Commander Edmund R. Colhoun, seized British schooner Minnie attempting to run the blockade at Bull's Bay, South Carolina, with cargo of salt.

A landing party under Lieutenant Commander George U. Morris, U.S.S. Port Royal, captured cotton awaiting transportation at Apalachicola, Florida. Three prisoners and a quantity of canister, shot, and chain were also taken.

C.S.S. Oreto, Lieutenant Samuel W. Averett, captured at sea and bonded ship Kate Dyer bound for Antwerp, Belgium.

_________________
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

April 21, 1863 Tuesday
Confederates under Brig Gen William E. Jones ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Jones ) began a raid on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in West Virginia, which lasted until May 21, resulting in considerable minor fighting. A Federal expedition operated April 21 – May 2 from Lake Spring, Missouri to Chalk Bluff, Arkansas. A skirmish occurred at Palo Alto, Mississippi and a Federal expedition moved from Opelousas to Barre’s Landing, Louisiana.

Secretary Mallory wrote Commander Bullock: "The recent repulse of the enemy before Charleston will show the world that we have not been idle with regard to ordnance and that the enemy's ironclads suffered severely. At a recent experimental trial of the triple-banded Brooke navy gun, a wrought iron bolt was driven through 8 inches of iron and 18 inches of wood. The distance was 260 yards, 16 pounds of powder, with a bolt of 140 pounds."

Rear Admiral Dahlgren noted in his private journal: "I had a conversation with the Secretary about Charleston. He is not satisfied and thinks Du Pont gave up too soon. I reminded him that Du Pont was a judicious and brave officer, and that the Captains of the iron-clads who were chosen officers concurred with Du Pont."

Rear Admiral Porter, in U.S.S. Lafayette, personally reconnoitered the Confederate works at Grand Gulf. He found a "strong fort" under construction and shelled the workers out. Confederate steamer Charm attempted to land supplies for the fort but was driven back up the Big Black River. By the 24th, Porter had stationed his gunboats so that they commanded the upper battery at Grand Gulf and closed off the mouth of the Big Black, "through which ammunition and supplies are brought down, and by which the rebels have hitherto obtained supplies from Red River." Porter continued to call for quick action. "Dispatch," he urged Major General McClernand, "is all important at this moment."

U.S.S. Octorara, Commander Collins, seized blockade running British schooner Handy east of Florida with cargo of salt.

U.S.S. Rachel Seaman, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Quincy A. Hooper, captured schooner Nymph attempting to run the blockade off Pass Cavallo, Texas, with cargo including coffee, rice, shoes, and medicine.

_________________
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

April 22, 1863 Wednesday
In front of Vicksburg a Federal flotilla of six transports and twelve barges attempted to pass the batteries. One transport and six barges were sunk, but the remainder carried their precious supplies to Grant’s men below the city.

Marmaduke and his Confederates fought a skirmish at Fredericktown, Missouri. Other fighting included skirmishing at the Bayou Boeuf Road near Washington, Louisiana; Hartsville, Tennessee; Rock Cut near Tuscumbia, Alabama; Point Pleasant, West Virginia; and Fisher’s Hill, Virginia. A three-day Federal expedition operated from Belle Plain to Port Conway and Port Royal in Virginia. William Henry Chase Whiting, CSA, was appointed to Major General and Henry DeLamar Clayton, CSA, to Brigadier General.

President Davis, concerned about Vicksburg, advised Pemberton to float fire rafts down the Mississippi River when the Federals tried to pass, or to anchor them in the river on dark nights.

U.S.S. Mount Vernon, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Trathen, captured schooner St. George off New Inlet, North Carolina; with cargo including salt and rum.

_________________
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

April 23, 1863 Thursday
Minor skirmishes occurred at Independence, Missouri; Chuckatuck near Suffolk, Virginia; on the Shelbyville Pike, Tennessee; and at Dickson Station, Tuscumbia, Florence, and Leighton, Alabama.

Reportedly, a medium conducted a séance at the White House. After President Lincoln left, the “spirits” are said to have pinched Sec of War Stanton’s nose and tweaked the beard of Sec of the Navy Welles.

President Lincoln informed a sensitive Gen Rosecrans at Murfreesboro that he had not heard any complaints about the general.

Steamers Merrimac, Charleston, and Margaret and Jessie successfully ran the blockade into Wilmington. Brigadier General William H. C. Whiting, CSA, reported: "The Merrimac brings me three splendid Blakely guns, 8-inch rifled 13-pounders."

C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Maffitt, captured and burned at sea bark Henrietta bound for Rio de Janeiro with cargo including flour.

U.S.S. Tioga, Commander Clary, seized blockade running British sloop Justina bound from Indian River, Florida, to Nassau with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Pembina, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Young, captured sloop Elias Beckwith near 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

April 24, 1863 Friday
The Congress of the Confederate States levied a comprehensive “tax in kind” of one tenth of all produce of the land for the year 1863.

Federal raiders under Gen Grenville Dodge captured Tuscumbia, Alabama; Grierson, deep in Mississippi, skirmished at Garlandville and Birmingham; and Marmaduke’s Confederates fought at Mill or Middle Creek Bridges, Missouri. There was a skirmish on Edenton Road near Suffolk, Virginia; a Federal expedition to Lake Saint Joseph, Louisiana; and a skirmish in Gilmer County, West Virginia. April 24-May 27 Union forces carried out operations against the Indians in Owen’s River and adjacent valleys of California. Edward Augustus Wild, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

The extent to which the South was forced to dispersion of troops and weapons was graphically illustrated in an exchange of messages between General Beauregard at Charleston and Secretary of War J. A. Seddon. This date, Beauregard wrote requesting Whitworth guns, "one to place on Morris Island, to cover at long range the bar and enable us to get guns I off the Keokuk, also to keep the enemy from replacing buoys and surveying [the] bar; the other to place on Sullivan's Island to cover vessels running the blockade [which] frequently run ashore." Next day, Seddon replied: "I regret to be unable to spare the guns even for the object mentioned. The claims of Wilmington and the Mississippi are now paramount."

U.S.S. De Soto, commanded by Captain William M. Walker, captured blockade running schooners General Prim and Rapid, bound from Mobile to Havana, and sloops Jane Adelie and Bright with cargoes of cotton in the Gulf of Mexico.

C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and burned whaler Nye off the coast of Brazil with cargo of sperm and whale oil. Semmes later wrote: "The fates seemed to have a grudge against these New England fishermen, and would persist in throwing them in my way, although I was not on a whaling-ground. This was the sixteenth I had captured--a greater number than had been captured from the English by Commodore David Porter, in his famous cruise in the Pacific, in the frigate Essex, during the war of 1812."

C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Maffitt, captured and destroyed ship Oneida, bound from Shanghai to New York with cargo of tea.

U.S.S. Western World, commanded by Acting Master Samuel B. Gregory, and U.S.S. Samuel Rotan took schooners Martha Ann and A. Carson off Horn Harbor, Virginia,

U.S.S. Pembina, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Young, captured schooner Joe Flanner, 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

April 25, 1863 Saturday
Skirmishing occurred near Hard Times Landing on the west side of the Mississippi River as Grant’s forces continued to push south after bypassing Vicksburg.

Skirmishes broke out near Fort Bowie, Arizona Territory; Greenland Gap, West Virginia; and at Webber’s Falls, Indian Territory. Maj Gen Dabney H. Maury assumed command of the Confederate Department of East Tennessee, a difficult assignment in view of the prevailing pro-Union sentiment.

The British Parliament loudly debated the seizure of British vessels by American cruisers on blockade duty. C.S.S. Georgia, commanded by Lieutenant W. L. Maury, captured ship Dictator with cargo of coal off the Cape Verde Islands. Maury burned the prize the next day.

_________________
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

April 26, 1863 Sunday
The increased springtime fighting continued. Marmaduke’s busy Confederates unsuccessfully attacked Cape Girardeau, Missouri and also skirmished near Jackson, Missouri. Grierson’s men rode on in central Mississippi. Streight launched the main part of his Federal raid from Tuscumbia, Alabama and headed toward Rome, Georgia. Confederate raiders under W.E. “Grumble” Jones fought at Altamont, Oakland, Cranberry Summit, Maryland and Rowlesburg, West Virginia. Fighting also broke out at Burlington and Portland, West Virginia; Oak Grove, Virginia; College Grove, Tennessee; and near Independence, Missouri. April 23-29 saw a Federal expedition from Opelousas toward Niblett’s Bluff, Louisiana and an expedition to Celina, Kentucky. April 26-May 12 there were operations in southeastern Kentucky and around Monticello. Arthur Middleton Manigault, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

U. S. S. Lexington, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Fitch, joined the ram fleet under Brigadier General Alfred W. Ellet to engage and disperse Confederate cavalry concentrated at the mouth of Duck River, Tennessee.

C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, captured and burned ship Dorcas Prince at sea, east of Natal, Brazil, with cargo of coal.

U.S.S. De Soto, commanded by Captain W. M. Walker, seized British schooner Clarita in the Gulf of Mexico, bound from Havana to Matamoras.

U.S.S. Sagamore, commanded by Lieutenant Commander English, captured schooner New Year of Tortugas, Florida, with cargo of turpentine and 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

April 27, 1863 Monday
In Virginia the Northern Army of the Potomac began to move. Hooker’s forces marched from Falmouth up the Rappahannock River toward the fords over the river. Preparations were over. President Lincoln, anxious as always, particularly about Hooker, wrote, “How does it look now?” But it was too early to tell.

Marmaduke and his Southerners continued their fighting at Jackson and near White Water Bridge, Missouri. In Tennessee fighting flared on Carter Creek Pike; and in Kentucky at Barboursville and at Negro Head Cut near Woodburn. In Virginia a Union expedition continued from Yorktown beyond Hickory Forks; other action occurred in Alabama at Town Creek; in West Virginia at Morgantown and Independence; and in South Carolina at Murray’s Inlet. In North Carolina April 27-May 1 a Federal expedition operated from New Berne toward Kinston with a skirmish at Wise’s Crossroads.

In the Confederate Department of East Tennessee Maj Gen Dabney H. Maury was relieved by Maj Gen Simon Bolivar Buckner. Maury took command of the District of the Gulf. The Confederate Congress provided for the issue of 8 per cent bonds or stock to discharge certain agreements prior to Dec 1, 1862.

Under Acting Master Louis A. Brown, boat crews from U.S.S. Monticello and Matthew Vassar boarded and destroyed British blockade runner Golden Liner in Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina. The ship contained a cargo of flour, brandy, sugar, and coffee.

U.S.S. Preble, commanded by Acting Master William F. Shankland, was accidentally destroyed by fire while at anchor off Pensacola.

Rear Admiral Porter issued a general order concerning the attack on Grand Gulf: "It is reported that there are four positions where guns are placed, in which case it is desirable that all four places should be engaged at the same time. The Louisville, Carondelet, Mound City, and Pittsburg will proceed in advance, going down slowly, firing their bow guns at the guns in the first battery on the bluff, passing 100 yards from it, and 150 yards apart from each. As they pass the battery on the bluff they will fire grape, canister, and shrapnel, cut at one-half second, and percussion shell from rifled guns." Porter gave specific orders for the subsequent actions of the gunboats, and instructed: "The Lafayette will drop down . . . stern foremost, until within 600 yards, firing her rifled guns with percussion shells at the upper battery. The Tuscumbia will round to outside the Benton, not firing over her while so doing; after rounding to, she will keep astern and inside of the Benton, using her bow guns while the Benton fires her broadside guns. The Tuscumbia and Benton will also fire their stern guns at the forts below them whenever they will bear, using shell together."

_________________
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

April 28, 1863 Tuesday
Hooker’s Army of the Potomac began crossing the Rappahannock River in the Wilderness area, upstream from Fredericksburg. Meanwhile, a large force commanded by Major General John Sedgwick, USA, still confronted the Confederates across from the city. A flank attack by the Federals was obviously planned. At Fredericksburg early in the morning the bell in the Episcopal church rang out the alarm.

In Mississippi Grierson’s troops skirmished at Union Church. In Kentucky a series of skirmishes near Monticello lasted several days. Town Creek, Alabama was another site of action.

President Lincoln commuted the death sentence of Sergeant John A. Chase, convicted of striking and threatening an officer, but ordered him imprisoned at hard labor “with ball and chain attached to his leg” for the remainder of the war. President Lincoln reassures Gov Curtin (Pa): "I do not think the people of Pennsylvania should be uneasy about an invasion."

U.S. tug Lily, commanded by Acting Master R. H. Timmonds, attempting to cross the bow of U.S.S. Choctaw, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Francis M. Ramsay, at anchor in the Yazoo River,. was swept by the current into Choctaw's ram and sunk.

_________________
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

April 29, 1863 Wednesday
The Northern push was on in earnest – east and west. In Virginia the major part of Hooker’s army crossed the Rappahannock River at Kelly’s and U.S. fords, plunging into the Wilderness, clear of the left flank of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Stoneman, with the Federal cavalry, operated against Lee’s communications. Other actions in the area broke out at Franklin’s Crossing or Deep Run just below Fredericksburg, and at Pollock’s Mill Creek, known also as White Oak Run or Fitzhugh’s Crossing. Federals from Falmouth tried to divert the Confederates from the major effort above the city. Other skirmishing in Virginia was at Crook’s Run and Germanna Ford, near Kellysville, Brandy Station, and Stevensburg. In West Virginia Confederate Grumble Jones fought a skirmish at Fairmont.

In the West Federal gunboats pounded enemy gun emplacements at Grand Gulf on the Mississippi River and attempted to clear the way for Grant’s army to cross. But six hours of firing failed, so during the night Grant’s leading force marched southward from Grand Gulf along the Louisiana shore to a new landing opposite Bruinsburg. Under darkness the fleet followed the army down and prepared to take it across. North of Vicksburg Sherman’s men demonstrated against Haynes’ and Drumgould’s bluffs near Snyder’s Mill to draw attention from the main attack. A Federal scouting party moved out from La Grange, Tennessee into northern Mississippi for two or three days.

Farther south, Grierson’s tiring troops skirmished at Brookhaven, Mississippi. In Tennessee there were reconnaissances from Murfreesboro on the Manchester Pike and on the Chapel Hill Pike; while in Missouri Marmaduke fought Federals at Castor River. A two-day Federal expedition operated from Opelousas to Chicotville and Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana.

U.S.S. Juniata, Commander John M. B. Clitz, captured schooner Harvest at sea north of the Bahamas 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

April 30, 1863 Thursday
In Virginia’s Wilderness Joseph Hooker and his Army of the Potomac set up camp around the Chancellor family house, known as Chancellorsville. Brief skirmishing erupted in the area and near Spotsylvania Court House. Stoneman’s cavalry fought at Raccoon Ford. A confident Hooker told his army that “the operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy must ingloriously fly, or come out from behind their defences and give us battle on our ground, where certain destruction awaits him.” “Splendid success,” he added. In Fredericksburg Lee probed and planned.

By noon Grant’s first forces were across the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg and preparing to move inland. Grant felt relief: “All the campaigns, labors, hardships, and exposures, from the month of December previous to this time, that had been made and endured, were for the accomplishment of this one object.” Aided by Sherman’s demonstration north of Vicksburg and Grierson’s sensational ride, Grant was ready to move against the fortress itself. President Davis told Gen J.E. Johnston, who was trying to aid the defender, Pemberton, “General Pemberton telegraphs that unless he has more cavalry, the approaches to North Mississippi are almost unprotected and that he can not prevent cavalry raids.”

Still another Federal raider was active, this time in Alabama. Streight’s men fought actions at Day’s Gap or Sand Mountain, Crooked Creek, and Hog Mountain. Confederate raiders were active as well. W.E. “Grumble” Jones in West Virginia fought at Bridgeport and Marmaduke skirmished at Bloomfield, Missouri. Skirmishing broke out at Fort Gibson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Gibson ), Indian Territory, where Union forces were holding on tenuously.

U.S.S. Juniata, Commander John M. B. Clitz, captured schooner Harvest at sea north of the Bahamas 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