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On This Day - 160 Years Ago (More ...)
Wednesday May 15 1861
- Robert Anderson, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- George Archibald McCall, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- Bvt. Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, PA Militia, supersedes Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, USA, in the Dept. of Annapolis, MD. Brig. Gen. Butler is ordered to the command at Fortress Monroe, Hampton Roads, VA.
- The Federal expedition from Saint Louis to Potosi, MO, by order of Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, USA, to assist Pro-Union citizens.
- Brig. Gen. Joseph Eggleston Johnston, CSA, is assigned to the command of troops near Harper's Ferry, VA.
Thursday May 15 1862
- James Green Martin, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- Skirmish at Chalk Bluff, AR, with the ferry there seized by the Federals.
- Col. James H. Carleton, 1st CA Infantry, relinquishes command of the District of Southern California.
- Federal expedition from California to the Arizona and New Mexico Territories, is organized as the Column from California, Col. James H. Carleton, 1st California Infantry, commanding.
- The CSS Alabama, is launched from its' berth at Liverpool, England.
- Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, USA, issues Order No. 28, which accuses any woman of pandering her profession who verbally insults any Federal soldier stationed at New Orleans, LA.
- Skirmish near Butler, Bates County, MO.
- Federal scout to Little Blue and skirmish near Independence, MO, with a Confederate ambush. May 15-17)
- Skirmishes near Trenton Bridge, at Young's Cross-Roads, and Pollocksville, NC, with Col. Thomas J. C. Amory, 17th MA Infantry, commanding 1st Brigade, 1st Division. (May 15-16)
- Federal naval demonstration upon Galveston, TX.
- Federal reconnaissance toward the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and skirmish, TN.
- The engagement at Fort Darling, James River, VA, near Drewry's Bluffs, about 8 miles south of Richmond, VA, with Confederate defenses repulsing the following Union ironclads: Aroostook, Galena, Maratanza, Monitor, and the Port Royal, under Commander William Smith, USN, who is aboard the steamer USS Wachusett.
- Skirmish at Games' Cross-Roads, Rappahannock County, VA, as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, withdraws his forces to within 3 miles of his nation's capital, Richmond, VA.
- Operations in the Shenandoah Valley, VA. (May 15-Jun 17)
- Maj. Gen. Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson's, CSA, Confederate command returns from McDowell to the Shenandoah Valley, VA.
- Skirmish at Linden, VA, as Confederate guerrillas attack Brig. Gen. Jonathan Geary, USA.
- Actions at and in the vicinity of Princeton, and Ravenswood, WV, with Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, USA. (May 15-17)
- Skirmish at Ravenswood, WV.
- Action at Wolf Creek, WV, as Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall, CSA, under Brig. Gen. Henry Heth, CSA, is routed; Heth falls back to Jackson's River Depot.
Friday May 15 1863
- John Marshall Jones, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- James Alexander Walker, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- Skirmish at Fort Smith, AR.
- Skirmish at Big Creek, near Pleasant Hill, MO, with the guerrillas, under William Clarke Quantrill.
- The Confederate capture of the steamers, Emily and Arrow at Currituck Canal, near Elizabeth City, NC.
- Federal operations on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, and skirmishes:
- (May 17) near Providence Church, and
- (May 23) at Antioch Church and Barber's Cross-Roads, VA.
(May 15-28)
- Federal expedition from West Point, aboard the US gunboat, Morse, to Robinson's Plantation, King and Queen County, VA, where the Union burn his barn full of grain suspected of being used by the Confederates.
- Federal scout from Parkersburg into Calhoun County, WV. (May 15-22)
Sunday May 15 1864
- Skirmish at Centre Star, AL, 14 miles from Florence, with the Federals whipping the Rebels, capturing 35, forcing the Confederates to withdraw across the Tennessee River.
- Skirmish near Dardanelle, AR, with Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, CSA.
- Skirmish at Armuchee Creek, at Tanner's Bridge, GA.
- Skirmish near Rome, GA, as Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, continues to confront Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, CSA.
- Skirmish at Avoyelles, or Marksville, Prairie, LA, the Red River (LA) Campaign.
- The Confederate attack on Mount Pleasant Landing, LA, where the Rebels capture the Union stockade there, burn the saw-mill and other buildings before being forced to skedaddle by the pursuing Federals.
- The Engagement at New Market, VA, as Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, CSA, is assisted by the students from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), at Lexington, VA, in defeating Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel, USA, sending him skedaddeling up the Shenandoah Valley.
- Skirmish near Strasburg, VA.
- Federal scout from Beverly through Pocahontas, Webster, and Braxton Counties, WV, captures 36 prisoners, 85 horses and 40 head of cattle. (May 15-30)
- Brig. Gens. William W. Averell's and George Crook's, USA, Cavalry commands unite at Union, WV.
Monday May 15 1865
- Federal scout against guerrillas from Pine Bluff to Johnson's Farm, AR, with skirmish (May 16th) on the Monticello Road. (May 15-17)
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.
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