On This Day - 17th March Prev / Next
Sunday March 17 1861
- Camp Hudson, TX, is abandoned by the Union forces.
Monday March 17 1862
- The following are appointed Union Brigadier Generals:
- William Hemsley Emory, USA
- Orris Sanford Ferry, USA
- Isaac Ferdinand Quinby, USA
- Action at Riddle's Point, MO.
- The Army of the Potomac, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, USA, commanding, begins to embark on navy transports for the Virginia Peninsula at Alexandria, VA, headed for Fortress Monroe, near Hampton, VA.
Tuesday March 17 1863
- The following are appointed Union Major Generals:
- CarlSchurz, U.S.A.
- Julius Stahel, U.S.A.
- Operations on the west bank of the Mississippi River, from Port Hudson, LA.
- Federal expedition from Montesano Bayou toward Port Hudson, LA.
- Skirmish at Bealeton Station, VA, with guerrillas.
- Skirmish about 5 miles from Franklin, VA.
- Affair at Herndon Station, VA, as Capt. John Mosby, CSA, and his Virginia Partisan Cavalry surprises and captures the 25 man Union reserve picket post there.
- Engagement at Kelly's Ford (Kellysville), VA, with the Cavalry of Brig. Gen. William Woods Averell, USA, and Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, CSA. The up and coming young John Pelham, CSA, is sadly killed as he watched the battle without participating, but merely observing as a spectator.
- Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, USA, assumes the command of the 9th US Army Corps, currently at Suffolk, VA.
Thursday March 17 1864
- Skirmish with Indians, on Red Mountain, 7 miles southwest of Blue Rock Station, CA, where the Federals rout an Indian party and pursuing them to the Eel River, fighting again 2 days later.
- Federal scout from Lebanon, MO, to Thomasville, Oregon County, MO, into Northern Arkansas, and skirmishes. (Mar 17-APr 1)
- Skirmish at Manchester, TN.
- Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, meets with Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, at Nashville, TN. They board a train and leave for Cincinnati, OH.
- Affair at Corpus Christi, TX, as the Confederates move to capture the Yankees reported to have landed at the Oso. The Federals withdraw after a fire fight.
- Federal reconnaissance to Sperryville, VA, where the Federals capture a Rebel major conscripting local boys for Confederate service. (Mar 17-18)
- Federal expedition from the Yorktown wharf aboard the transport, Convoy, into Mathews and Middlesex Counties, VA, where to instill law and order in his men and to stop them from robbing the local citizens, the Federal officer in charge had one man shot in the shoulder as a lesson. (Mar 17-21)
Friday March 17 1865
- The following are appointed Confederate Brigadier Generals:
- Richard Montgomery Gano, CSA
- Henry Gray, CSA
- William Polk Hardeman, CSA
- Walter Paye Lane, CSA
- The Mobile, Alabama, Campaign. (Mar 17-May 4)
- The advance of the Union forces (Maj. Gen. Edward R. Canby's, USA, column, Dept. of West Mississippi) moves forward from Mobile Point, AL, toward Mobile, AL. Canby's forces outnumber the Confederates under Brig. Gen. Randall Lee Gibson, CSA, 30,000 to 3,000.
- Federal expedition against guerrillas from Pine Bluff to Bass' Plantation, AR, crossing the river aboard the steamer, Argosy, with no encounters with the enemy. (Mar 17-20)
- Col. John Morrill, 64th Illinois Infantry, assumes the command of the District of Rolla, MO.
- Skirmish at Averasborough, NC, with Maj. Gen. William T.Sherman, US A.
- Skirmish at Falling Creek, NC.
- Federal scout from Winchester to Edenburg,VA. (Mar 17-19)
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.