On This Day - 21st January Prev / Next
Monday January 21 1861
- Mississippi Senator, and former US Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, bids farewell in his speech from the US Congress chambers, in addition to the following senators:
- Clement C. Clay, Jr. - from Alabama
- Benjamin Fitzpatrick - from Alabama
- Stephen R. Mallory - from Florida
- David L. Yulee - from Florida
Tuesday January 21 1862
- Brig. Gen. John Alexander McClernand, USA, returns to his base of operations at Columbus, KY.
Wednesday January 21 1863
- Skirmish near Columbia, MO.
- President Jefferson Davis orders Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, to travel to Manchester, TN, to discuss with Gen. Braxton Bragg, CSA, his unexplained reasons for retreating from Murfreesboro, or Stone's River, TN.
- Federal reconnaissance from Murfreesborough to Auburn, Liberty, and Cainsville, TN. (Jan 21-22)
- The capture of Union forage trains near Murfreesborough, TN.
- Skirmish on the Shelbyville Pike, TN.
- Confederate attack on the blockading squadron at Sabine Pass, TX, with two Union blockade vessels captured.
- Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter, USA, is officially cashiered from the Union Army by order of President Lincoln. This order will be revoked in 1879 after a military review and Porter will be reinstated as a Colonel in the Regular Army in 1886 without any back pay.
Thursday January 21 1864
- Federal scout from Waldron to Baker's Springs, AR, and skirmish with guerrillas. (Jan 21-25)
- Federal scout from Rossville toward Dalton, GA, bivouacking for the night 3 miles from Summerville, and skirmish (Jan 22), with no casualties. (Jan 21-22)
- Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz, USA, is temporarily in command of the llth US Army Corps, Knoxville, TN.
- Pro-Unionists meet in Nashville, TN, to propose a constitutional convention and to abolish slavery.
- Federal scout from Chattanooga to Harrison and Ooltewah, TN, and encounter with portions of Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler's, CSA, Cavalry.
- Skirmishes at Strawberry Plains (Jan 21) and at Armstrong's Ferry, TN, as the Federals attempt to burn a bridge. (Jan 22). (Jan 21-22)
- Federal reconnaissance on the Matagorda Peninsula, TX, including the accidentally killing of 2 Union soldiers from "friendly fire" from a US gunboat. The following Confederates vessels reported the impassable surf in Matagorda Bay: Cotton clads steamboats, Carr and Cora, steamers, Lizzie Lake and Lucy Gwin, and the schooners Annie Dale and George Buckhart. (Jan 21-25)
Saturday January 21 1865
- Federal expedition from Brashear City aboard the Union gunboat, No. 43, to Bayou Sorrel, LA, against Rebels and torpedoes. (Jan 21-22)
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.