ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 13th April

Alexander Robert Lawton, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
Bvt. Col. Harvey Brown, 2nd US Artillery, assumes the command of the Dept. of Florida.
Maj. Robert Anderson, USA, surrenders Fort Sumter, SC, to the Confederate authorities at Charleston, SC, after enduring continuous shelling by Confederate batteries.
Fort Davis, TX is abandoned by the Union forces.

Decatur, AL, on the Tennessee River, is occupied by the Union forces, commanded by Brig. Gen. Ormsby Mitchel, USA.
Federal expedition from Southern California, under Brig. Gen. James H. Carleton, USA, through Arizona to Northwestern Texas and New Mexico Territory, gradually forcing the Confederates to evacuate the New Mexico Territory. (Apr 13-Sep 20)
Maj. Gen. David Hunter, USA, orders the emancipation of slaves at Fort Pulaski and on Cockspur Island, GA.
Federal reconnaissance on Corinth, MS and Purdy, TN, roads.
Pursuit of the Confederate forces, including skirmish at Peralta, the New Mexico Territory, by Col. Edward R.S. Canby, USA. (Apr 13-22)
Skirmish at Gillett's Farm, Pebbly Run, NC, with the 2nd NC Volunteers.

Skirmish at Porter's And McWilliams' Plantations, at Indian Bend, LA.
Federal expeditions from New Berne to Swift Creek Village, NC, during Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill's, CSA, siege of Washington, NC. (Apr 13-21)
Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, USA, commanding the Dept. of the Ohio, issues a proclamation to invoke the death penalty for anybody aiding the Southern cause.
Skirmish about 3 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, with the destruction of a Confederate forage train.
Skirmish at Elk Run, VA.
Skirmish at Snicker's Ferry, VA.

Skirmish near Decatur, AL, with loss of life.
Skirmish at Indian Bay, AR.
Action at Moscow, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign.
Skirmishes at and near Richland Creek, AR. (Apr 13-14)
Skirmish on Spring River, 8 miles west of Smithville, AR.
Skirmish at Columbus, KY, with Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's, CSA, Cavalry.
Skirmish at Paintsville, Eastern KY.
Skirmish at Mink Springs, 6 miles from Cleveland, TN, where Rebel Cavalry surprise and capture the Union outpost on the Cleveland and Ducktown road.
Federal expedition from Norfolk to Isle of Wight County, VA, and skirmishes near Cherry Grove Landing and at Smithfield. The Federal's superior naval power is shown as the following are just some of the Union vessels participating: transports, Pentz, Thomas, Tracy, Tucker, and Woodis, gunboats, Brewster, Foster, Jesup, Nansemond, and the Reno, along with the flag-ship, Minnesota. (Apr 13-15)
Affair near Nokesville, VA, with Confederate guerrillas getting the worse of it.
Federal reconnaissance from Portsmouth to the Blackwater, VA, including the 2nd US Colored Cavalry. (Apr 13-15)
Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick, USA, resumes the command of the 6th US Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac, VA.
Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, USA, resumes the command of the 9th US Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac, VA.

The USS Ida sinks in Mobile Bay, AL, after hitting a Confederate torpedo.
Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele, USA, is assigned to the command of all the troops and posts on the east side of Mobile Bay, AL, with the exception of the troops belonging to the 16th US Army Corps.
Skirmish at Wetumpka, AL, with Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson.
Skirmish at Whistler or Eight Mile Creek Bridge, AL, the Mobile, AL, Campaign.
Federal scouts about Lexington, KY. (Apr 13-16)
Skirmish at Morrisville, NC, as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's, CSA, men continue to contest the advance of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, towards the new temporary capital of the Confederacy at Greensborough, NC.

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