American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

January 31, 1864 Sunday
President Lincoln answers Gen Banks' query regarding loyal people in Louisiana who wish to avoid taking oath of December 8, 1863 that he was “at liberty to adopt any rule which shall admit to vote any unquestionably loyal free state men and none others. And yet I do wish they would all take the oath.” Troops fought an engagement at Smithfield, where Federals threatened Virginia from south of the James River. A Union reconnaissance probed near Madison Court House; another from Maryville, Tennessee to Quallatown, North Carolina lasted until Feb 7.

_________________
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

February 1, 1864 Monday
President Lincoln, acting under the congressional conscription act, ordered that 500,000 men be drafted on March 10 to serve for three years or for the duration of the war. Further, the President ordered Sec of War Stanton to send a transport to Ile a Vache ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele_%C3%A0_Vache ) on the coast of San Domingo to bring back Negro colonists who desired to return ( http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/20 ... blogs&_r=0 ). The decision reflected further frustration in Lincoln’s plans for colonization of Negroes. The U.S. House passed a measure reviving the rank of lieutenant general, after some debate. Congress obviously had Gen Grant in mind for the promotion.

Confederate troops under Pickett moved from Kinston toward New Berne, North Carolina in an effort to recapture the important Federal base. Fighting along Batchelder’s Creek marked the beginning of the attack. Brig Gen I. N. Palmer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innis_N._Palmer ) withdrew portions of his command to the inner defenses, which the Confederates did not assault. About midnight Pickett began to withdraw.

Throughout most of February Federals fired sporadically on Fort Sumter. In Virginia a skirmish flared at Bristoe Station, and an army gunboat sank near Smithfield during an abortive Federal expedition. Another skirmish broke out at Waldron, Arkansas. A number of Union scouts and reconnaissances got under way. These included four days of operations around Madisonville to Franklinton, Louisiana; month-long expeditions in the Indian Territory; a week of reconnoitering in New Mexico and Arizona territories; scouts from Rolla, Missouri; reconnaissance from Maryville toward Sevierville, Tennessee; a week of scouting in White and Putnam counties, Tennessee; and an expedition from Knoxville to Flat Creek, Tennessee; all were by Union forces. Until June 30 Federal troops operated against Indians in the Humboldt Military District of California.

_________________
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

February 2, 1864 Tuesday
Confederate navy men in small boats captured the U.S. gunboat Underwriter in the Neuse River near New Berne, North Carolina, but were forced to set fire to her and flee. Near Beaufort, North Carolina, fighting occurred at Gale’s Creek, Bogue Sound Blockhouse, and Newport Barracks, as Federals drew in their defenses. No further attack was made by Confederates either at New Berne or Beaufort.

Skirmishes took place in Tennessee near La Grange, scene of much small action; in Alabama at Whitesburg; in Virginia at Strasburg; and in Missouri on Halcolm Island. Brig Gen George A. Custer’s Federal cavalry remained active, primarily in Albemarle County, Virginia. Off Charleston the Federal fleet destroyed a British blockade-runner. In Chattanooga 129 Confederate deserters took the oath of allegiance to the United States.

_________________
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

February 3, 1864 Wednesday
With over 26,000 men, Maj Gen W.T. Sherman left Vicksburg, Mississippi on an expedition ( http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/articles/2/s ... to-the-sea ) to destroy Confederate-held railroads in the state and to damage the enemy in and about Meridian. Cooperating with Sherman were some 7600 cavalry from Memphis under William Sooy Smith ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sooy_Smith ), who was delayed in starting. Confederates in Mississippi, under Gen Leonidas Polk ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Polk ), were scattered and numbered roughly 20,000. In a light action at Liverpool Heights on the Yazoo River, Federal gunboats silenced enemy batteries. In Louisiana a Union expedition operated from Brashear City Feb 3-6; and on the Kanawha River of West Virginia, Confederates captured the steamer Levi.

President Davis called the attention of the Confederate Congress to the fact that “discontent, disaffection, and disloyalty” were often manifested among those who “have enjoyed quiet and safety at home.” He recommended suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus as a “sharp remedy” but one necessary to combat the evils of spying, desertion, associating with the enemy, and disloyal gatherings and activities.

_________________
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

February 4, 1864 Thursday
Skirmishing became heavier as Sherman’s men advanced form Vicksburg through the old battlefields of 1863. As Polk’s Confederates fell back before the invaders fighting broke out at Liverpool Heights, Champion’s Hill, Edwards’ Ferry, and near Bolton Depot in what became the Meridian Campaign. Elsewhere, action occurred at Moorefield, West Virginia; Columbia, Louisiana; and Hot Springs, Mountain Fork, and Rolling Prairies, Arkansas. A five-day Federal expedition moved from Helena up the White River in Arkansas.

_________________
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

February 5, 1864 Friday
After what was described as a continued skirmish for eighteen miles, Sherman’s Federals marched into Jackson, Mississippi en route to Meridian. Opposed mainly by cavalry, they fought on Baker’s Creek, at Clinton, and at Jackson. In Virginia there was a skirmish near Aldie and another affair at Winchester. In Missouri action included a skirmish near Cape Girardeau and a thirteen-day Federal scout from Houston into Arkansas. Also in Arkansas a skirmish occurred on Crooked Creek. Federal Brig Gen Truman Seymour ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_Seymour ), ordered to move from Hilton Head, South Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida and proceed inland, immediately got the expedition under way.

_________________
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

February 6, 1864 Saturday
Federal troops under Sherman left Jackson, Mississippi and headed for Meridian; the cooperating column under William Sooy Smith departed Memphis. Union foragers fought a skirmish at Bolivar, Tennessee; and a skirmish also broke out at Hillsborough, Mississippi. On the Rapidan River in Virginia Federal forces crossed the river at Morton’s Ford and ran into trouble. Pinned down by Confederate fire, they withdrew north of the river at night. In North Carolina a skirmish took place near Newport Barracks, not far from New Berne. On the Virginia Peninsula a three-day Federal expedition from Yorktown toward Richmond involved skirmishes at Bottom’s Bridge and near Baltimore Store. The raid, ordered by Gen Butler, was intended to release prisoners in Richmond. In Missouri Federals scouted for five days in the Sni Hills. In the Charleston Harbor area Federals sent an expedition to John’s and James Islands.

Acts which the Confederate Congress approved included a ban on the importation of luxuries and the circulation of U.S. paper money. No cotton, tobacco, naval stores, sugar, molasses, or rice could leave ports unless the government received half the total tonnage.

President Lincoln makes one of many sick calls on Cong Lovejoy (Ill.) and remarks: "This war is eating my life out. I have a strong impression that I shall not live to see the end."

U.S.S. Cambridge, Commander William F. Spicer, found blockade running steamer Dee aground and in flames near Masonboro, North Carolina. She had grounded the preceding night and was set afire to prevent capture. Spicer completed the destruction of the blockade runner with her cargo of lead, bacon, spirits.

_________________
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

February 7, 1864 Sunday
Two Federal expeditions were making progress. Troops under Brig Gen Truman Seymour, and under the over-all command of Maj Gen Q.A. Gillmore, occupied Jacksonville, Florida. Meeting little opposition, the Union troops prepared to advance inland. Confederate steamer St. Mary's, trapped in McGirt's Creek, above Jacksonville, Florida, by U.S.S. Norwich, commanded by Acting Master Frank B. Meriam, was sunk and her cargo of cotton destroyed to prevent its falling into Union hands. In Mississippi Sherman’s men moved toward Meridian, with skirmishing at Brandon, Morton, and Satartia. Polk’s Confederates fell back slowly, offering only moderate opposition. Other action included an affair at Waccomo Neck, North Carolina; at the mouth of Caney Bayou, Texas; and a skirmish at Vidalia, Louisiana.

President Davis told Lee that Federals were “in force” at Bottom’s Bridge on the Chickahominy River, that Gen Pickett had just returned from an unsuccessful foray to New Berne, North Carolina, and that two of Pickett’s brigades would come to Richmond. The city’s home guards were called out in response to considerable apprehension over the reported approach of Federals. It soon proved an unnecessary alarm.

_________________
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

February 8, 1864 Monday
Federals and Confederates skirmished at Ten-Mile Run, near Camp Finegan, as the Florida expedition advanced from Jacksonville. Sherman’s men skirmished at Coldwater Ferry, near Morton, and near Senatobia in Mississippi as part of the Meridian campaigning. Fighting also occurred at Barboursville, Kentucky; Ringgold, Georgia; near Maryville, Tennessee; and at Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

_________________
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

February 9, 1864 Tuesday
Laboriously tunneling their way out of Libby Prison in Richmond, 109 Federal officers, including raider A.D. Streight ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Streight ), made their escape. Eventually 59 reached the Federal lines, 48 were recaptured, and two drowned. The largest and most sensational escape of the war, it was engineered and led by Col Thomas E. Rose of Pennsylvania ( http://libbyprison.historystreasure.com/ ).

Union troops moving westward from Jacksonville skirmished near Point Washington. Another Federal expedition proceeded from Fernandina up the Nassau River, Florida. In the Meridian Campaign, Federals occupied Yazoo City, Mississippi.

Union troops carried out a reconnaissance in force on John’s Island near Charleston, but were forced to withdraw hastily on Feb 11. Elsewhere, action included a Union reconnaissance toward Swansborough, North Carolina; skirmishing in Hardin County, Tennessee; at New River, Louisiana; and at Morgan’s Mill on Spring River, at Tomahawk Gap, and in White County, Arkansas. Commander T. H. Stevens, U.S.S. Patapsco, reported that one of his cutters commanded by Acting Ensign Walter C. Odiorne captured blockade running schooner Swift off Cabbage Island, Georgia, with cargo of fish.

Maj Gen John M. Schofield, former commander in Missouri, superseded Maj Gen John G. Foster in command of the Federal Department of the Ohio.

Before attending one of the largest White House levees of the season, President Lincoln had several photographs taken, including the one eventually used on the $5 bill.

_________________
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

February 10, 1864 Wednesday
Six horses and ponies died in a fire in the White House stables in Washington, a brick building between the Executive Mansion and the Treasury Dept, at 8:30 PM. The President tried to get the animals out, but to no avail. A newspaper reports, "[Mr.] Cooper, the President's private coachman, left the stable to get his supper about 8 o'clock, and he was first notified of the fire by the President himself, who discovered the smoke . . . The building . . . contained . . . six horses, all of which were burned to death . . . One of these ponies was all the more highly prized, in consequence of having once been the property of Willie, the deceased son of Mr. and Mrs. President Lincoln."

The Florida expedition captured Confederate war materiel as it advanced from Jacksonville toward Lake City. On the south fork of the St Mary’s River a skirmish was fought at Barber’s Ford, and Federals captured Camp Cooper. Sherman’s Meridian campaigners skirmished at Hillsborough and Morton, Mississippi. Other fighting occurred at Pocahontas and Lake Village, Arkansas. Confederate raider Florida came out of Brest, France, after being laid up since August, and evaded the watching U.S.S. Kearsarge. Two blockade-runners were destroyed by U.S.S. Florida off Masonborough Inlet, North Carolina.

Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox, USA, is relieved of command of the 23rd Army Corps, Federal Army of the Cumberland and Major General George Stoneman ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stoneman ), USA, assumes command.

_________________
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

February 11, 1864 Thursday
President Davis told Gen Joseph E. Johnston that the Federal advance in Mississippi “should be met before he reaches the Gulf and establishes a base to which supplies and reinforcements may be sent by sea.” Though the plans called for nothing so ambitious, Sherman was moving upon Meridian, Mississippi and Gen W. Sooy Smith’s column from Memphis was moving beyond Collierville, Tennessee. An affair occurred at Raiford’s Plantation, near Byhalia, Mississippi. The other Federal expedition, in Florida, fought a skirmish at Lake City. Fighting also broke out near Madisonville, Louisiana and there was a Union descent on Lamar, Texas. Confederate raiders under Maj H.W. Gilmor attacked the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad near Kearneysville, West Virginia throwing a train off the tracks and robbing the crew and passengers. U.S.S. Queen, commanded by Acting Master Robert Tarr, captured schooner Louisa off the mouth of the Brazos River, Texas, with cargo of powder and Enfield rifles.

Patterson McGee, dismissed as President Lincoln’s coachman on the day the White House stables burned, is arrested on charge of having started the fire.

President Lincoln inquires of Sec Stanton what is to be done about War Dept order giving Bishop Edward R. Ames control and possession of all Methodist churches in certain southern military departments. "'I will not have control of any church on any side.'" ( http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... oln7%3A384 )

_________________
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

February 12, 1864 Friday
In the Meridian Campaign there was an affair at Wall Hill and a skirmish at Holly Springs as the two Federals columns, one under Sherman and the other under William Sooy Smith, continued to advance into Mississippi. In Missouri fighting occurred near California House and at Macon; and in Arkansas at Caddo Gap. A nine-day Union expedition operated from Batesville, Arkansas. Charles William Field, CSA, was appointed to Major 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

February 13, 1864 Saturday
Troops of the Florida expedition who set out to destroy Confederate supply bases skirmished for two days at Pease Creek. In the Meridian Campaign fighting flared between Chunky Creek and Meridian and at Wyatt, as Sherman’s men neared the important Mississippi point. Other action included fighting in Fentress County, Tennessee, a Federal scout near Knoxville, and a two-day Federal expedition from Helena up the Saint Francis River of Arkansas.

_________________
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

February 14, 1864 Sunday
Troops of Sherman’s command entered Meridian, Mississippi after a march from Vicksburg, and Gen Polk’s Confederates continued to fall back. Union troops stayed in Meridian until Feb 20, destroying railroads and supplies in the area. As Sherman put it, “For five days 10,000 men worked hard and with a will in that work of destruction…. Meridian, with its depots, store-houses, arsenals, hospitals, offices, hotels, and cantonments no longer exists.” About 115 miles of railroad, 61 bridges, and 20 locomotives were destroyed in the course of the expedition. The enterprise had encountered little Confederate opposition, except for cavalry harassment around the Union perimeter. Confederates worried that the Federals were headed for Mobile, Alabama.

In Florida an offshoot of the main Northern expedition captured Gainesville and fought a skirmish. Elsewhere the action erupted near Larkinsville, Alabama; Brentsville, Virginia; and Ross’ Landing and Scott’s Farm, Arkansas. In Washington President Lincoln, unwell, conferred with cavalry Gen Judson Kilpatrick.

_________________
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