ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 11th April

Col. Earl Van Dorn, CS A, is ordered to assume the command in Texas and make prisoners of all the US troops remaining in the State who refuse to espouse the Confederate cause.
The evacuation of Fort Sumter, SC, is demanded by Brig. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, CSA.

The following are appointed Confederate Brigadier Generals:
- William Nelson Rector Beall, CSA
- Franklin Gardner, CSA
- Martin Luther Smith, CSA
The following are appointed Union Major Generals:
- Cassius Marcellus Clay, U.S.A.
- Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel, U.S.A.
Francis Engle Patterson, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
Huntsville, AL, near Chattanooga, TN, and on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, is occupied by the Union forces by Brig. Gen. Ormsby Mitchel, USA, Maj. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, CSA, defending.
Skirmish near Shiloh, MO, about 15 miles southeast of Osceola, with a raid on a Rebel camp by Brig. Gen. James Totten, USA.
The US House of Representatives votes 93-39 to gradually abolish slavery in the District of Columbia.
Skirmish at Wartrace,TN, with Maj. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, CSA.
Confederate Naval Operations in Hampton Roads VA, as the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) captures three Union merchant ships.

Skirmish near Squirrel Creek Crossing, the Colorado Territory, near Colorado City, with the capture of a couple guerrillas.
Skirmish at Webber's Falls, the Indian Territory.
Skirmish near Pattersonville, LA.
Skirmish at Courtney's Plantation, MS.
Federal scout from La Grange to Saulsbury, TN.
Col. A. D. Streight, USA, leaves Nashville, TN, for a cavalry raid into Georgia.
The Confederate Siege of Suffolk, VA. (Apr 11-May 4)
The Confederate Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, under Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet, CSA, advance upon Suffolk.
Skirmish on the South Quay Road, near the Blackwater, VA.
Skirmish at Williamsburg, VA, where the Confederates, under Brig. Gen. Henry Wise, CSA, again fail to capture Fort Magruder.
Federal expedition from Camp Douglas to the Spanish Fork Canon, the Utah Territory, with skirmish with Indians (Apr 12) at Pleasant Grove, where the Federals set up a base of operations against a band of Indians who are attacking the overland stage coaches between Salt Lake City and Ruby Valley, and with action (Apr 15) at Spanish Fork Canon. (Apr 11-20)
Federal scout from Beverly to Franklin, WV. (Apr 11-18)

Affair near Kelly's Plantation, Sulphur Springs Road, AL, where a band of robbers capture and burn the Federal wagon containing 10 days' rations, etc. The Federals track many fresh trails and believe they lead to a local resident's house who they closely monitor.
Federal scout from Stevenson to Caperton's Ferry, AL, and vicinity to arrest several prominent citizens residing on the south bank of the Tennessee River.
A Pro-Union State Government is installed at Little Rock, AR, with Dr. Isaac Murphy, as governor, the next southern state after Louisiana, to reject the Confederacy, enticed by the controlling Union military forces occupying these states.
Skirmish at Richland Creek, AR.
Federal reconnaissance from Rossville to La Fayette, GA. (Apr 11-13)
Skirmish near Columbus, KY, with Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's, CSA, Cavalry.
Affair in Chariton County, MO, with bushwackers.
Affair at Catlett's Station, near Greenwich, VA, with Maj. Gen. JEB Stuart's Confederate cavalry, with fatalities.

The Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Dabney Herndon Maury, CSA, evacuate Mobile, AL, including Forts Huger and Tracy, withdrawing to Meridian, MS, the Mobile, AL, Campaign.
Skirmish at Saint Charles, AR.
Brig. Gen. Robert B. Mitchell, USA, assumes the command of the District of North Kansas.
Skirmish near Beulah, NC, with Maj. Gen. William T.Sherman.
Affair near Pikeville, NC.
Skirmish near Mocksville, NC, with Maj. Gen. George Stoneman, USA, and his Union cavalry.
Skirmish at Shallow Ford, NC, with Maj. Gen. George Stoneman, USA.
Skirmish near Smithfield, NC, with Maj. Gen. George Stoneman.
The Union forces, under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, occupy Smithfield, NC.
Federal scout from Winchester, VA, to Timber Ridge, WV. (Apr 11-12)
President Abraham Lincoln, along with the citizens of Washington, DC, continue to rejoice to the news coming from Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, informing of the surrender by Gen. Robert E. Lee.

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