ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 26th May

Federal Naval blockade is established on New Orleans, LA, by the USS Brooklyn.
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, of the US Supreme Court, issues a writ of habeas corpus. His opinion is in the matter of Prisoner John Merryman, MD, who was arrested by Maj. Gen. George Cadwalder, while trying to recruit Confederate soldiers. Taney orders that Mr. Merryman be set free.
The advance upon and the occupation of Grafton, WV, by the Union troops. (May 26-30)
Lincoln's 1st Postmaster, Francis Preston Blair, Jr, announces postal services will be cut with the Confederate States on May 31, Washington, DC.

Ambrose Powell Hill, C.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
Louis Hebert, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
John Creed Moore, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
The Confederate Trans-Mississippi Dept. is extended to include Arkansas, the Indian Territory, Missouri, West Louisiana, and Texas.
Skirmish at Calico Rock, AR.
Federal reconnaissance from Jacksonport toward Augusta and Des Arc, AR, and skirmish at the Cache River Bridge, AR. (May 28).
Affair at Grand Gulf, MS.
The Confederate Dept. No. 2 is extended to embrace Mississippi south of the 33rd parallel and west of the Pascagoula and the Chickasawha Rivers, and Louisiana east of the Mississippi.
Skirmish at Crow's Station, near Licking, MO, with a Rebel attack and partial destruction of the Union wagon train.
Federal reconnaissance toward Hanover Court-House, VA.
Winchester, VA, is occupied by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, CSA.
Skirmish near Franklin, WV.

Robert Ransom, Jr., C.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
Alexander Shaler, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
Federal scout from Fort Heiman, KY, into Tennessee. (May 26-Jun 1)
Federal expedition from Corinth, MS, to Florence, AL, and skirmishes:
- at Florence, (May 28) and
- at Hamburg Landing, TN. (May 29 & 30)
  (May26-31)
Federal expedition from Haynes' Bluff to Mechanicsburg, MS, and skirmishes, as Maj. Gen. Frank Blair, USA, believes he burned over 500,000 bushels of corn, plus bacon, etc. (May 26-Jun 4)
Skirmish at Mountain Store and Bush Creek, MO.
Federal expedition from Bolivar to Wesley Camp, Somerville, and Antioch Church, TN, and skirmishes with Rebel guerrillas. (May 26-29)
Federal expedition from Memphis, TN, toward Hernando, MS, with the Federal capture of a couple horses, mules, and some arms.
Former Ohio Congressman, Clement L. Vallandigham is banished from the Union and turned over to the Confederates near Murfreesboro, TN.

Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, USA, assumes the command of the Dept. of the South, FL.
Combats at and about Dallas, GA, as both sides begin to entrench which changes this advance into a siege. May 26-Jun 1)
The Montana Territory is created, which previously was mostly a part of the Dakota Territory.
Affair on Lane's Prairie, Maries County, MO, with bushwackers.
The destruction of the US transport, Boston, at Chapman's Fort, Ashepoo River, SC, by her crew, after running aground. Afterwards, the Confederates board her and find a large number of burnt horses.
Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, continues to slide along the right of Gen. Robert E. Lee's, CSA, front toward Hanovertown.
The Lynchburg, VA, Campaign. (May 26-Jun 29)
The Union forces, under Maj. Gen. David Hunter, USA, advance from Strasburg and Cedar Creek toward Lynchburg, VA, and vicinity, and will be opposed by Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones.

Gershom Mott, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
Federal scout after a band of roving Confederates and skirmishes in Carroll and Ray Counties, MO, including in the Crook River timber, as the Yankees continue to inflict serious damage to the remaining Rebels, bushwackers and guerrillas. (May 26-27)
Federal scout against Indians from Plum Creek, the Nebraska Territory to the vicinity of Mullahla's Station, where a few head of cattle were stolen. (May 26-27)
Federal operations against Indians on the Overland Stage Road on the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers, with skirmishes at:
- Saint Mary's Station (May 27)
- Sweetwater Station (May 26, 28 & Jun 1)
- Platte Bridge, Dakota Territory (Jun 3)
- Sage Creek, Colorado Territory (June 8).
  The attacking Indians burn some of the above stations, tear down telegraph lines, kill quite a few whitemen and soldiers, in addition to wounding many others. (May 26-Jun 9)
LIEUT. GEN. EDMUND KIRBY SMITH. CSA. SURRENDERS ALL THE CONFEDERATE TROOPS IN THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEFT.. TO MAJ. GEN. EDWARD RICHARD SPRIGG CANBY. USA. Lieut. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner. CSA. represents Smith while Maj. Gen. Peter Joseph Osterhaus. USA, represents Canby as the agreement takes place at New Orleans. LA. Brig. Gen. Joseph Orville Shelby. CSA. refuses to surrender, opting to go to Mexico, dispersing the remainder who refused to go along with him.

On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.