American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

ACWGC Forums

* ACWGC    * Dpt. of Records (DoR)    *Club Recruiting Office     ACWGC Memorial

* CSA HQ    * VMI   * Join CSA    

* Union HQ   * UMA   * Join Union    

CSA Armies:   ANV   AoT

Union Armies:   AotP    AotT

Link Express

Club Forums:     NWC    CCC     Home Pages:     NWC    CCC    ACWGC
It is currently Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:20 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 384 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:27 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 23, 1861 Monday
Lord Lyons conferred once again with Seward, presenting formally and officially the British note demanding surrender of Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell. There was also a White House conference on the subject, with Sen Charles Sumner of Massachusetts later urging the President to surrender the commissioners, now a cause of much embarrassment to the United States.

Small Federal forces advanced from Louisa, Kentucky for a foray into eastern Kentucky, lasting until late January. There were similar minor operations around Lexington, Missouri and a skirmish at Dayton, Missouri.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:59 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 24, 1861 Tuesday
Christmas Eve – the first of the war – many hearts were torn, North and South, and many a soldier on a lonely, inactive post dreamed of home and fireside. In the U.S.A. and C.S.A. Christmas would not be the same this year. The Federal Congress passed a bill increasing duties on tea, coffee, sugar, and molasses. There was a skirmish at Wadesburg, Missouri and a scout by Federals toward Fairfax Court House, Virginia. President Lincoln approves act authorizing allotment certificates for volunteers. U.S.S. Gem of the Sea, commanded by Lieutenant Irvin B. Baxter, captured and destroyed British blockade runner Prince of Wales off Georgetown, South Carolina. Confederate Sec of Navy Mallory wrote Major General Leonidas Polk, commanding troops at Columbus, Kentucky, requesting furlough of troops to assist in construction of ironclad gunboats at Memphis. Mallory commented: "One of them at Columbus could have enabled you to complete the annihilation of the enemy." Raleigh Edward Colston, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

Just a reminder that today there is still many a soldier on lonely, active/inactive posts dreaming of home and fireside on this Christmas Eve. Remember to at least lift a toast in their honor and pray for their safe return.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 10:37 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 25, 1861 Wednesday
It was a busy Christmas Day in the White House. President Lincoln and his Cabinet met for lengthy discussions (10 AM to 2 PM) about the British demands for release of Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell. Sen. Sumner (Mass.) on invitation reads letters from Richard Cobden and John Bright of England to cabinet urging release of men. French minister appears before cabinet and requests President to give up men and avert war. A decision was to be made the next day. The Lincolns at Christmas dinner entertained many guests.

The shooting did not stop for the holiday. There was skirmishing at Cherry, western Virginia near Fort Frederick, Maryland; a Union expedition operated near Danville, Missouri. U.S.S. Fernandina, commanded by Acting Lieutenant George W. Browne, captured schooner William H. Northrup off Cape Fear, North Carolina. Brig Gen Samuel Ryan Curtis, USA, is assigned command of the Southwestern District of Missouri.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:12 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 26, 1861 Thursday
After another Cabinet meeting it was finally agreed that the seizure of Mason and Slidell while en route to Britain and France was illegal and that they would be released by the United States. The message was sent to Lord Lyons, British minister in Washington, and the crisis was ended. The U.S. government had swallowed its pride and concluded that the Confederate commissioners were a greater danger in their hands than if they were abroad. With the surrender of Mason and Slidell to the British went another hope of the Confederacy that their struggling nation would be recognized by major foreign powers.

Martial law was proclaimed in St Louis and in and about all railroads operating in Missouri. There was an engagement at Chustenahlah, Indian Territory, scene of recent operations by Confederate Indians and Texans against pro-Union Creek Indians under Opothleyahola ( http://www.wbtsinindianterritory.com.is ... stom4.html and http://www.wbtsinindianterritory.com.is ... stom4.html ). Brig Gen Philip St. George Cocke, CSA, commits suicide at his home, "Belmead," in Powhatan County, Virginia, after having his health deteriorate for eight months in the field ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_St._George_Cocke ). Over 150 horses died in a fire in the government stables near the Washington Observatory. Confederate Fleet, including C.S.S. Savannah, under Commodore Tattnall, Resolute, Sampson, Ida, and Barton, attacked Union blockading ships at mouth of Savannah River. Before returning to his anchorage under the guns of Fort Pulaski, Tattnall forced the blockaders to move seaward temporarily. U.S.S. Rhode Island, commanded by Lieutenant Trenchard, captured Confederate schooner Venus southeast of Sabine Pass, off the Louisiana coast. President Lincoln directs Chief of Ordnance to order 10,000 Spencer repeating rifles.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:06 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 27, 1861 Friday
Throughout the North and South the press spread the word of the forthcoming release of Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell. The Trent Affair, to everyone’s relief, was over. U. S. Secretary of State William H. Seward announces the release of Confederate envoys James M. Mason and John Slidell, and acknowledges the Union's error in seizing them.

At Hallsville, Missouri a small skirmish broke out. Representative Alfred Ely of New York arrived in Washington from Richmond, Virginia where he had been a prisoner of war since his capture in July while a civilian watcher at the Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. The Confederate and Union armies were settling in for winter building cabins and quarters.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:05 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 28, 1861 Saturday
Federal forces occupied Beckley or Raleigh Court House, western Virginia; there was fighting at Sacramento, Kentucky ( http://www.factasy.com/civil_war/2011/02/02_4 ) and Mount Zion Church, Missouri ( http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/mo/mo010.html ). There was a skirmish at Grider’s Ferry on the Cumberland River in Kentucky. U.S.S. New London, commanded by Lieutenant A. Read, captured Confederate schooner Gipsey with cargo of cotton in Mississippi Sound.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:24 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 29, 1861 Sunday
There were two days of skirmishing in Clay, Braxton, and Webster counties of western Virginia to include the burning of Sutton by Confederate raiders ( http://www.wvculture.org/history/thisda ... /1229.html ). Jeff Thompson’s Confederates operated against Commerce, Missouri and unsuccessfully attacked the steamer City of Alton. Skirmishing continued in the Indian Territory in the wake of the exodus of the pro-Union Creeks, who were opposed by Choctaws, Chickasaws, and portions of the Seminoles and Cherokees. C.S.S. Sea Bird, commanded by Flag Officer Lynch, evaded Union gunfire and captured large schooner near Hampton Roads carrying fresh water to Fort Monroe http://dlxs.richmond.edu/cgi/t/text/tex ... 2%3A5.2.11 .

Gen Ambrose E. Burnside arrives in Washington and spends most of day in consultation with President Lincoln and Gen McClellan. President Lincoln spends early part of evening with Cong Alfred Ely (N.Y.) who was captured at Manassas and spent six months in Richmond prison.

This story occurred on December 9th but I just found it and it's worth reading even if late – the story of the first military executions performed on the Confederate side. http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/2011 ... ring-scene

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:05 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 30, 1861 Monday
The U.S. government and banks in some leading cities suspended specie payment. This suspension of redeeming paper money for metallic continued until 1879.

U.S.S. Santee, commanded by Captain Eagle, captured schooner Garonne off Galveston. Flag Officer Foote wrote Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox of the pay scale he was using: "In the case of Masters, and Pilots, I have been obliged, in order to secure the services of efficient Men, to pay 1st Masters $150.00 per month, 2nd Masters .$125.00. 3rd Masters $100.00, and 4th Masters $80.00 per month, while Pilots are paid $175.00 per month. These prices are much less than the incumbents received in ordinary times, while they have before been provided with table furniture and stores, bedding &c., which I have not allowed them."

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:40 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 8:03 pm
Posts: 2410
Location: USA
December 31, 1861 Tuesday
The last night of a climactic year; no one grieved its passing, but all wondered what 1862 would bring. A troubled President Lincoln, concerned over the lack of action by his Army, found that Maj Gen McClellan, General-in-Chief, was ill. In effect taking over, he sends similar dispatches to Gen Halleck and Gen Don C. Buell: "General McClellan is sick. Are General Buell and yourself in concert? When he moves on Bowling Green, what hinders it being re-enforced from Columbus? A simultaneous movement by you on Columbus might prevent it.” The President sought to goad someone into doing something. President Lincoln confers for one hour and a half with the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. In Richmond the still young Confederate government had survived the year, but the new nation was in peril and not yet free of Federal bondage.

Biloxi, Mississippi, surrendered to a landing party of seamen and Marines from Ship Island covered by U.S.S. Water Witch, New London, and Henry Lewis; a small Confederate battery was destroyed, two guns and schooner Captain Spedden captured. The landing party did not attempt to hold the town.

Flag Officer Foote wrote Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox about the delay in fitting out mortar boats: "I did say and still consider the mortar boats very defective. They are built of solid timber and when armed and manned will be awash with the deck all will leak more or less. Still I would have them fitted out, with all their defects." Foote made excellent use of the mortar boats later at Island No. 10.

U.S.S. Augusta, under Commander Parrott, captured Confederate schooner Island Belle attempting to run the blockade near Bull's Bay, South Carolina.

Two boats, under Acting Masters A. Allen and H. L. Sturges, from U.S.S. Mount Vernon, destroyed lightship off Wilmington which had been fitted out as a gunboat by Confederates.

Eighteen sixty-one ended in sorrow, consternation, and doubt.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 384 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group