On This Day - 23rd May Prev / Next

Thursday May 23 1861
  • John Buchanan Floyd, CS A, is appointed Brig. Gen.
  • Operations against Indians on the Mad and Eel Rivers, California, with skirmishes as follows:
    • near Larrabee's Ranch, (May 23)
    • on the Eel River, (May 26)
    • on the South Fork of the Eel River (May 28)
    • the Keatuck Creek (May 30)
    • opposite Bell Spring on the Eel River (Jun 4)
    • near Larrabee's House (June 2 & 8)
    • South Fork of the Eel River, (June 14 & 16)
    • near Kettenshaw, (June 17th)
      (May 23-Jun 17)
  • Demonstration on Hampton, VA, by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler.
  • Brig. Gen. Benjamin Huger, VA Volunteers, is assigned to the command at Norfolk, VA.
  • The State of Virginia votes to secede from the Union by the margin of 3 to 1. However, the Western part of the state prepares to break away from the rest of Virginia, remaining loyal to the Federal Government.
Friday May 23 1862
  • Lafayette McLaws, C.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
  • The following are appointed Confederate Brigadier Generals:
    • Daniel Weisiger Adams, CSA
    • Turney Ashby, CSA
    • Samuel Garland, Jr., CSA
    • Wade Hampton, CSA
    • Robert Hopkins Hatton, CSA
  • Affair near Fort Craig, the New Mexico Territory.
  • Federal reconnaissance from Bottom's Bridge toward Richmond VA.
  • Skirmish at Buckton Station, VA.
  • Skirmish at Ellison's Mill near Mechanicsville, VA.
  • Action at Front Royal, VA, as Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson, CSA, defeats Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, USA.
  • Skirmish at Hogan's, near New Bridge, VA.
  • Action at Lewisburg, WV, where Brig. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, USA, routs Brig. Gen. Henry Heth, CSA.
Saturday May 23 1863
  • Richard Stoddert Ewell. CSA. is appointed Lieut. Gen.
  • William Henry Talbot Walker, CSA, is appointed Maj. Gen.
  • Gustavus Adolphus De Russy, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
  • Rufus Ingalls, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
  • Federal expedition on the US steamboat, Pike, from Helena to Napoleon, AR, to obtain recruits of African descent, with skirmish near Island No. 65, on the Mississippi River. (May 23-26)
  • Skirmishes on the Springfield and Plains Store Roads, LA.
  • Skirmish at Haynes' Bluff, MS.
  • Federal expedition from Memphis, TN, to Hernando, MS, with actions from the 2nd WI Cavalry, 5th OH, and 1st MO. (May 23-24)
  • Skirmish at Hartville, MO.
  • Skirmish at Warrenton, VA.
  • Skirmish at West Creek, WV.
Monday May 23 1864
  • Skirmish with Indians at Grouse Creek, CA.
  • Action at Stilesborough, GA, as Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, attempts to turn Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's left flank, crosses the Etowah River, and heads towards Dallas, GA.
  • Federal scout from Warrensburg, MO, searching for the guerrillas who attacked and killed some Yankee soldiers and citizens, including a local judge. (May 23-25)
Tuesday May 23 1865
  • Federal scout from Pine Bluff to Monticello, AR, with skirmish (May 24) at Monticello, as the Yankees pursue a party of Confederates under Captain Kidd who have not yet surrendered. (May 23-27)
  • Maj. Gen. William B. Hazen, USA, assumes the command of the 15th US Army Corps, FL.
  • Federal scout from Thibodeaux by way of Brule Texas, passing through Labadierville, to Lake Verret, LA.
  • Federal scout from Warrensburg, MO, to the mouth of Coal Camp Creek, near the Osage, as the Yankees track bushwackers accused of killing 12 discharged soldiers and citizens in Hickory and Benton Counties. (May 23-26)
  • Skirmish 10 miles northwest of Waynesville, MO, as the Yankees attack a band of bushwackers, inflicting casualties.
  • The Army of the Potomac, under Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade. USA, is reviewed in the city of Washington, DC.

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