American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

October 13, 1863 Tuesday
The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under R. E. Lee, with A. P. Hill’s corps in the lead, closed in toward Manassas and Washington, following once more a pattern similar to that used at Second Manassas in 1862. There was skirmishing near the important road center of Warrenton and at Fox’s Ford and Auburn. Meade, no longer in severe danger of being cut off from Washington, although his skillful withdrawal continued, headed toward Manassas and Centreville.

Confederate raider Shelby suffered defeat at the hands of the Federals near Arrow Rock, and also fought at Marshall, Missouri. Joe Wheeler skirmished at Maysville, Alabama and Fayetteville, Tennessee; Chalmers at Wyatt, Mississippi. In West Virginia fighting broke out at Bulltown and Burlington; and Federals scouted from Great Bridge, Virginia to Indiantown, North Carolina.

Ohio voters decisively defeated Clement L. Vallandigham, Democratic candidate for governor, in favor of War Democrat John Brough, who ran on the Republican or Union ticket. Vallandigham, who campaigned by mail from Canada, polled a surprisingly large vote despite his exile and condemnation as a Copperhead. Gov Andrew Curtin, a stanch Union supporter, was reelected in Pennsylvania. Union candidates also won in Indiana and Iowa. President Lincoln was particularly interested in Curtin being renamed.

In northern Georgia, President Davis, after touring Chickamauga and conferring with Bragg and other officers, authorized Bragg to relieve Lt Gen D.H. Hill from command. Hill and Bragg had long been at odds.

U.S.S. Victoria, commanded by Acting Lieutenant John MacDiarmid, seized a sloop (no name reported) west of Little River, North Carolina, with cargo of salt and soap.

Guard boat from U.S.S. Braziliera, commanded by Acting Master William T. Gillespie, captured schooner Mary near St. Simon's, Georgia.

U.S.S. Queen City, commanded by Acting Lieutenant G. W. Brown, with troops embarked, departed Helena, Arkansas, for Friar's Point, Mississippi, where the soldiers landed and surrounded the town. The morning of the 14th, the warehouses were searched and more than 200 bales of cotton and several prisoners were seized.

_________________
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

October 14, 1863 Wednesday
A.P. Hill’s leading corps of the Army of Northern Virginia struck the retreating rear units of Meade’s Army of the Potomac near Bristoe Station, Virginia ( http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/br ... ation.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bristoe_Station ). But Hill’s force was not sufficient to defeat the strongly posted Federals and Confederates also failed to strike the center of the long Union column as it retreated. The rearguard action gave Meade time to prepare his lines in and around Centreville, Virginia not far from Manassas and the two previous battlegrounds. While there was skirmishing over the old fighting area there was no Third Battle of Manassas or Bull Run. Lee had no chance to disrupt the Federal army, although he succeeded in forcing them back near the Potomac River. On the other hand, Meade held a good defensive position but was unable to find an opening for attack. It was a campaign of maneuver, with several lost opportunities on both sides. Other fighting in the same area broke out at Catlett’s Station, Gainesville, McLean’s Ford on Bull Run, St Stephen’s Church, Grove Church, and near Centreville and Brentsville. Brigadier General Carnot Posey, CSA, is slightly wounded during the Battle of Bristoe Station, Virginia. Infection sets in, however, and he does not recover, dying on November 13, 1863.

Elsewhere, action included fighting near Man’s Creek, Shannon County, Missouri; a skirmish with Shelby’s cavalry at Scott’s Ford, Missouri; skirmishing at Creek Agency, Indian Territory; Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana; Blountsville and Loudoun, Tennessee; and Salt Lick Bridge, West Virginia. Maj Gen Christopher C. Augur ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Augur ) superseded Maj Gen Samuel P. Heintzelman in command of the Federal Department of Washington, D.C. Union expeditions of several days operated from Messinger’s Ferry on the Big Black River toward Canton, Mississippi; and from Natchez and Fort Adams, Mississippi to the Red River in Louisiana, seeking Confederate guerrillas.

President Davis in a message to the Army of Tennessee said, “Though you have done much, very much yet remains to be done. Behind you is a people providing for your support and depending on you for protection. Before you is a country devastated by your ruthless invader….”

_________________
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

October 15, 1863 Thursday
The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac, facing each other in the area along Bull Run, skirmished at McLean’s, Blackburn’s, and Mitchell’s fords and at Manassas and Oak Hill. Each army tried to ascertain the other’s strength and intentions. Federal troops operated toward Canton, Mississippi skirmishing at Brownsville. Shelby’s cavalry continued its scrapping at Cross Timbers, Missouri. There was also an affair near Hedgesville, West Virginia. A skirmish occurred at Creek Agency, Indian Territory. In the east Tennessee fighting, skirmishes were at Bristol and Philadelphia.

Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley, under the command of the part owner for whom she was named, sank in Charleston harbor while making practice dives under Confederate receiving ship Indian Chief. A report of the "unfortunate accident" stated: "The boat left the wharf at 9:25 a.m. and disappeared at 9:35. As soon as she sunk, air bubbles were seen to rise to the surface of the water, and from this fact it is supposed the hole in the top of the boat by which the men entered was not properly closed. It was impossible at the time to make any effort to rescue the unfortunate men, as the water was some 9 fathoms deep." Thus the imaginative and daring Horace L. Hunley and his gallant seven man crew perished. The submarine had claimed the lives of its second crew. When the submarine was raised for a second time, a third crew volunteered to man her. Her new captain was Lieutenant George Dixon, CSA. Under Dixon and Lieutenant William A. Alexander, H. L. Hunley was reconditioned, but, as a safety precaution, General Beauregard directed that she not dive again. She was fitted with a spar torpedo. Time and again in the next 4 months the submarine ventured into the harbor at night from her base on Sullivan's Island, but until mid-February 1864 her attempts to sink a blockader were to no avail. The fact that the Unions ships frequently remained on station some 6 or 7 miles away and put out picket boats at night; the condition of tide, wind, and sea; and the physical exhaustion of the submarine crew who sometimes found themselves in grave danger of being swept out to sea in the under powered craft were restricting factors with which Lieutenant Dixon and H. L. Hunley had to cope.

U.S.S. Honduras, commanded by Acting Master Abraham N. Gould, seized British steamer Mail near St. Petersburg, Florida. She had been bound from Bayport to Havana with cargo of cotton and turpentine. The capture was made after a 3-hour chase in which U.S.S. Two Sisters, Sea Bird, and Fox also participated.

U.S.S. Commodore, commanded by Acting Master John R. Hamilton, and U.S.S. Corypheus, commanded by Acting Master Francis H. Grove, destroyed a Confederate tannery at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Grove wrote that they had "completely destroyed the buildings, vats, and mill for grinding bark; also a large amount of hides stored there, said to be worth $20,000. "

_________________
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

October 16, 1863 Friday
Orders from Washington created the Military Division of the Mississippi, combining the Department of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee with Gen U.S. Grant in command. Grant had been ordered from Vicksburg to Cairo, Illinois. Sec of War Stanton himself was on his way west to see Grant.

Although things were quiet in Virginia, skirmishes erupted at Grand Coteau, Louisiana; Fort Brooke, Florida; near Island No 10 in Tennessee; at Treadwell’s near Clinton and Vernon Cross Roads, Mississippi; and at Pungo Landing, North Carolina. Shelby’s cavalry in Missouri fought at Johnstown, Deer Creek, and near and at Humansville.

President Lincoln wrote Gen Halleck, “If Gen Meade can now attack him [Lee] on a field no worse than equal for us, and will do so with all the skill and courage, which he, his officers and men possess, the honor will be his if he succeeds, and the blame may be mine if he fails.” Meade replied when shown Lincoln’s message that he intended to attack if he could find the proper opportunity. He did not find it in the Bristoe Campaign.

Commodore H. H. Bell reported that U.S.S. Tennessee, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Wiggin, had seized blockade running British schooner Friendship off Rio Brazos, Texas, with cargo of munitions from Havana, and caused schooner Jane to be destroyed by her own crew to prevent capture.

Upon learning that blockade runners Scottish Chief and Kate Dale were being loaded with cotton and nearly ready to sail from Hillsboro River, Florida, Rear Admiral Bailey sent U.S.S. Tahoma, commanded by Lieutenant Commander A. A. Semmes, and U.S.S. Adela, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Louis N. Stodder, to seize them. "It was planned between myself and Captain Semmes," Bailey reported, "that he should, with the Tahoma, assisted by the Adela, divert attention from the real object of the expedition by shelling the fort and town [Tampa], and that under cover of night men should be landed at a point on old Tampa Bay, distant from the fort to proceed overland to the point on the Hillsboro River where the blockade runners lay, there to destroy them." This plan was put into effect and some 100 men from the two ships marched 14 miles overland. At daylight, 17 October, as the landing party boarded the blockade runners, two crew members made good their escape and alerted the garrison. Nevertheless, the Union sailors destroyed Scottish Chief and Kate Dale. A running battle ensued as they attempted to get back to their ships. Bailey reported 5 members of the landing party killed, 10 wounded, and 5 taken prisoner. Lieutenant Commander Semmes noted: "I regret sincerely our loss, yet I feel a great degree of satisfaction in having impressed the rebels with the idea that blockade running vessels are not safe, even up the Hillsboro River."

_________________
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

October 17, 1863 Saturday
Gen Grant, at Cairo, Illinois was ordered to proceed to Louisville to receive instructions. En route, at Indianapolis, Grant accidentally arrived at the same time as Sec of War Stanton, also heading for Louisville to see the general. Proceeding together, Stanton handed Grant his orders creating the Military Division of the Mississippi under Grant’s command. There were two versions. One left department commanders much as they were; the other relieved Gen Rosecrans ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rosecrans ) from command of the Department of the Cumberland and the army at Chattanooga. Grant accepted the one relieving Rosecrans and placing Maj Gen George H. Thomas ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Henry_Thomas ) in command. Gen Sherman was to lead the Department of the Tennessee, and Burnside to continue his command of the Department of the Ohio. Rosecrans, badly beaten at Chickamauga, had been criticized for slowness, for the defeat, and now for being surrounded at Chattanooga. It was believed a more stable commander operating under Grant directly would be more effective.

In Washington President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 300,000 more volunteers for Federal armies.

Meanwhile, Lee began to pull back from Bull Run toward the Rappahannock River, skirmishing near Chantilly, at Manassas Junction, Frying Pan Church, near Pohick Church, and at Groveton, Virginia. The Confederates were not prepared to await an attack by Meade. Also in Virginia there was a skirmish at Berryville and an affair at Accotink. Skirmishes in North Carolina near Camden Court House, and in Missouri in Cedar County, courtesy of Jo Shelby. In Mississippi the Federal expedition fought near Satartia, Bogue Chitto Creek, and at Robinson’s Mills near Livingston.

Boat crews from U.S.S. T. A. Ward, commanded by Acting Master William L. Babcock, destroyed schooner Rover at Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina. The schooner was laden with cotton and ready to run the blockade. Three days later, a landing party from T. A. Ward went ashore under command of Acting Ensign Myron W. Tillson to reconnoiter the area and obtain water. They were surprised by Confederate cavalry and 10 of the men were captured.

_________________
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

October 18, 1863 Sunday
Gen Grant assumed command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, which gave him control over Federal military operations from the Mississippi River east to the mountains. This came after rumors from Chattanooga that Rosecrans might retreat. Thomas, now in command and told he must hold Chattanooga at all hazards, replied, “We will hold the town till we starve.”

In Virginia the Army of Northern Virginia under Lee neared its old line, the Rappahannock River, as it withdrew from the Bull Run-Manassas area. A skirmish at Bristoe Station occurred during the withdrawal. Other fighting broke out near Annandale and Berryville, Virginia; at Charleston, West Virginia; Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana; Carthage, Missouri; and near Clinton, Mississippi. William Price Sanders, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General. The sunken Confederate submarine, H. L. Hunley, was found in 9 fathoms of water by a diver in Charleston harbor. Efforts were begun at once to recover the little craft, deemed vital to the defenses of Charleston.

President Davis, having left north Georgia and Bragg’s army, proceeded west through Selma, Alabama.

_________________
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

October 19, 1863 Monday
Jeb Stuart and his “Southern Horse” routed Gen Kilpatrick and the Federal cavalry at Buckland Mills in Virginia, better known as the “Buckland Races.” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Buckland_Mills ) It marked the last fighting of any significance in the Bristoe Campaign, although skirmishing took place at Gainesville, New Baltimore, Catlett’s Station, and Haymarket. In east Tennessee the fighting was at Zollicoffer and Spurgeon’s Mill; in Mississippi at Smith’s Bridge; in South Carolina at Murrell’s Inlet; and in Missouri at Honey Creek. Lucius Fairchild, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

_________________
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

October 20, 1863 Tuesday
The Confederate cavalry retired across the Rappahannock River as the campaign toward Bristoe and Manassas ended, resulting in little change of territory and few losses. Confederate losses for Oct 10-21 were 205 killed, 1176 wounded, a total of 1381 casualties. Federal casualties are put at 136 killed, 733 wounded, and 1423 missing or captured for a total of 2292.

Gen Grant, after conferring with Sec of War Stanton, left Louisville for Chattanooga. From Nashville he wired instructions to Burnside in east Tennessee and to other officers. Near beleaguered Chattanooga a Federal reconnaissance operated from Bridgeport toward Trenton, Alabama. Other action included skirmishing at Barton’s and Dickson stations and Cane Creek, Alabama; Treadwell’s Plantation, Mississippi; Warm Springs, North Carolina; and Philadelphia, Tennessee. Major General Cadwallader C. Washburn ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadwallader_Washburn ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 13th Army Corps, Federal Army of the Tennessee.

Commander Bulloch advised Secretary Mallory from Liverpool that the ironclads known as 294 and 295, being built in England, had been seized by the British Government. Bulloch felt the action stemmed from the fact that "a large number of Confederate naval officers have during the past three months arrived in England. The Florida came off the Irish coast some six weeks since, and proceeding to Brest, there discharged the greater portion of her crew, who were sent to Liverpool. These circumstances were eagerly seized upon by the United States representative here, and they have so worked upon Lord Russell as to make him believe that the presence of these officers and men has direct reference to the destination of the rams. . . ."

U.S.S. Annie, commanded by Acting Ensign Williams, seized blockade running British schooner Martha Jane off Bayport, Florida, bound to Havana with cargo of some 26,600 pounds of sea island 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

October 21, 1863 Wednesday
Gen Grant conferred with displaced commander Rosecrans at Stevenson, Alabama and then went on to Bridgeport. From Bridgeport to Chattanooga he faced almost impassable, muddy, washed-out mountain roads and was further handicapped by being on crutches since his fall from a horse in New Orleans.

In the Bayou Teche operations, Federal forces under Gen Franklin occupied Opelousas, Louisiana after fighting there and at Barre’s Landing. Other action took place at Cherokee Station, Alabama; Sulphur Springs, Tennessee; and Greenton Valley near Hopewell, Missouri. Federals scouted from Charleston to Boone County Court House, West Virginia.

U.S.S. Nansemond, commanded by Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, chased blockade running steamer Venus ashore near Cape Fear River, North Carolina. Four shots from the blockader caused the steamer to take on water. Lamson attempted to get Venus off in the morning but found it "impossible to move her, [and] I ordered her to be set on fire." A notebook found on board Venus recorded that 75 ships had been engaged in blockade running thus far in 1863, of which 32 had been captured or destroyed.

U.S.S. Currituck, Acting Lieutenant Hooker, and U.S.S. Fuchsia, commanded by Acting Master Street, captured steamer Three Brothers in the Rappahannock River, Virginia.

U.S.S. J. P. Jackson, commanded by Lieutenant Lewis W. Pennington, captured schooner Syrena near Deer Island, Mississippi.

_________________
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

October 22, 1863 Thursday
Gen Grant toiled over the atrocious roads en route to Chattanooga, where Gen George H. Thomas doggedly resisted the Confederate siege. Fighting broke out near Volney, Kentucky; New Madrid Bend, Tennessee; Brownsville, Mississippi; Bloomfield, Missouri; Annandale, Virginia; and the Rappahannock River at Rappahannock Bridge and near Bealeton, Virginia.

Union steamer Mist was boarded and burned at Ship Island, Mississippi, by Confederate guerrillas when she attempted to take on a cargo of cotton without the protection of a Union gunboat. A week later Rear Admiral Porter wisely wrote Major General W. T. Sherman: "Steamers should not be allowed to land anywhere but at a military port, or a place guarded by a gunboat. . . ."

_________________
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

October 23, 1863 Friday
In a major command changed President Davis relieved Gen Leonidas Polk ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Polk ) from command of a corps in the Army of Tennessee. Polk was assigned to organizational work in Mississippi, replacing Gen Hardee ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Hardee ). Davis issued his orders from Meredith, Mississippi another stop in his Western tour.

About dark Gen Grant and his party arrived at Chattanooga and stopped at Gen Thomas’ headquarters. Soon Grant learned the details of the threatened situation of the besieged Army of the Cumberland.

Yet another skirmish broke out near Rappahannock Station, Virginia as the armies in Virginia again probed each other. A skirmish was also fought at Warm Springs, North Carolina.

U.S.S. Norfolk Packet, commanded by Acting Ensign George W. Wood, captured schooner Ocean Bird off St. Augustine 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

October 24, 1863 Saturday
At Chattanooga Gen Grant made a personal inspection and ordered a supply line, known as the “cracker line,” to be opened as Brown’s Ferry on the Tennessee River. This would enable the bases in Alabama to supply the city more directly than by the extremely long, rugged, and difficult mountain trail north of the Tennessee River ( http://www.civilwarhome.com/crackerline.htm ). Farther west, Maj Gen William T. Sherman ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman ) formally assumed command of the Army of the Tennessee, replacing Grant.

Skirmishing in Virginia was at Liberty and Bealeton; in Louisiana at Washington; and in Alabama at Tuscumbia. Shelby’s raiders skirmished near Harrisonville, Missouri and Buffalo Mountains, Arkansas. At last Shelby was apparently leaving Missouri.

President Lincoln instructed Gen Halleck that “with all possible expedition the Army of the Potomac get ready to attack Lee….” Meade replied that he would “make every preparation with the utmost expedition to advance….”

U.S.S. Calypso commanded by Acting Master Frederick D. Stuart, captured blockade running British schooner Herald off Frying Pan Shoals, North Carolina, with cargo of salt and soda.

U.S.S. Conestoga, commanded by Acting Master Gilbert Morton, seized steamer Lillie Martin and tug Sweden, suspected of trading with the Confederates, near Napoleon, Mississippi.

_________________
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

October 25, 1863 Sunday
Confederate John S. Marmaduke attacked Pine Bluff, Arkansas after his demand for its surrender was refused. Eventually he withdrew after partial occupation ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pine_Bluff ). In Virginia there were skirmishes at and near Bealeton; and in Tennessee fighting broke out at Philadelphia. U.S.S. Kittatinny, commanded by Acting Master Isaac D. Seyburn, captured schooner Reserve, off Pass Cavallo, Texas.

_________________
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

October 26, 1863 Monday
Grant’s operations to reopen the Tennessee River route into Chattanooga got under way. Joseph Hooker’s force from Virginia crossed the Tennessee River at Bridgeport and moved eastward toward Chattanooga ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Campaign ). The guns roared again at Charleston as the second great bombardment opened from land and sea. Guns and mortar fired on into the night.

Shelby fought in Johnson County, Arkansas after his lengthy Missouri raid, and a fight broke out at King’s House near Waynesville, Missouri. Confederates attacked a wagon train near New Baltimore, Virginia. Other action flared at Ravenswood, West Virginia; Warm Springs, North Carolina; Jones’ Hill and Sweet Water, Tennessee; Vincent’s Cross Roads near Bay Springs, Mississippi; and near Cane Creek and Barton’s Station, Alabama. Until Nov 15 Federal troops operated from Cape Girardeau to Doniphan, Missouri and Pocahontas, Arkansas. Stephen Miller, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General. Major General Napoleon Jackson Tecumseh Dana ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Dana ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 13th Army Corps, in Louisiana.

President Lincoln gives original draft of Emancipation Proclamation to ladies having charge of Northwestern Fair for Sanitary Commission in Chicago ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... ln6%3A1117 ).

_________________
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

October 27, 1863 Tuesday
The second major bombardment of Fort Sumter got into high gear with 625 Federal shot fired. A pontoon bridge was thrown across the Tennessee River below Chattanooga at Brown’s Ferry in a daring operation. In addition, Hooker advanced from the west to the Wauhatchie Valley at the western foot of Lookout Mountain. This opening of the cracker line from Lookout Valley to Bridgeport relieved Chattanooga and within a few days full supplies were getting through; Bragg’s siege was being loosened.

The usual fighting occurred elsewhere: Tulip, Arkansas; near Bealeton and Rappahannock stations, Virginia; Cherokee County, North Carolina; on Sandy Riveer near Elizabeth, West Virginia; Clinch Mountain, Tennessee; and Little Bear Creek, Alabama. Federals scouted from Columbia toward Pulaski, Tennessee. Isaac Fitzgerald Shepard, USA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

Colonel L. Smith, CSA, commanding the Marine Department of Texas, reported the status of the small gunboats in the area. C.S.S. Clifton, Sachem, and Jacob A. Bell were at Sabine Pass; C.S.S. Bayou City, Diana, and Harriet Lane were at Galveston Bay; C.S.S. Mary Hill was at Velasco, and C.S.S. John F. Carr was at Saluria. Bayou City and Harriet Lane were without guns and the remainder mounted a total of 15 cannon.

Union expedition to capture Brazos Santiago, and the mouth of the Rio Grande River departed New Orleans convoyed by U.S.S. Monongahela, Command Strong; U.S.S. Owasco, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edmund W. Henry; and U.S.S. Virginia, commanded by Acting Lieutenant C. H. Brown. This was the beginning of another Union move not only to wrest Texas from Confederate control but to preclude the possibility of a movement into the State by French troops in Mexico.

U.S.S. Granite City, commanded by Acting Master C. W. Lamson, captured schooner Anita off Pass Cavallo, Texas, 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