On This Day - 31st May Prev / Next
Friday May 31 1861
- Union troops, which were ordered by President Lincoln to evacuate their forts in the Indian Territory, arrive at Fort Leavenworth, KS. The route they followed is named after one of their guides, the honorable Mr. Jesse Chisholm.
- Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, USA, supersedes Brig. Gen. William Selby Harney in Missouri.
- The "Alexandria Line," VA, command is given to Brig. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, CSA.
- Federal attack on the Aquia Creek Batteries, VA. (May 31-Jun 1)
Saturday May 31 1862
- Silas Casey, U.S.A. is appointed Maj. Gen.
- Edwin Vose Sumner, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
- Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- Skirmish with Indians on the Eel River, near Van Dusen's Creek, CA.
- Skirmish at Tuscumbia Creek, MS.
- Maj. Gen. Thomas Carmichael Hindman, CSA, assumes the command of the Trans-Mississippi District.
- Skirmish on Salt River, near Florida, MO.
- Skirmish near Neosho, MO, with Rebel guerrillas, and Confederate aligned Cherokees under Stand Watie.
- Skirmish near Waynesville, MO.
- The Battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines, VA, as Gen. Joseph Johnston, CSA, attacks the two isolated advanced Union corps across the rising Chickahominy River under Maj. Gens. Samuel P. Heintzelman and Erasmus Keyes, USA. Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, USA, moving across the Chickahominy River to deflect any further Confederate attacks, with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, seriously wounded in the action taking place, being replaced the next day by Robert E. Lee, CSA, who breaks off the attack. (May 31-Jun 1)
- Brig. Gen. Robert Hopkins Hatton, C.S.A., is instantly killed during the intense fighting at the Battle of Fair Oaks, VA, in thick underbrush, only 8 days after receiving his commission as brigadier general.
- Skirmish near Front Royal, VA.
- Maj.Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's CSA, retires from Winchester, VA.
Sunday May 31 1863
- Affair on James Island, SC.
- Skirmish at Warrenton, VA.
- West Point, VA, is evacuated by the Union forces, removing to Federal positions at Yorktown, VA.
Tuesday May 31 1864
- Richard Heron Anderson. C.S.A.. is appointed Lieut. Gen.
- Jubal Anderson Early. C.S.A.. is appointed Lieut. Gen.
- The following are appointed Confederate Brigadier Generals:
- William Ruffin Cox, CSA
- William Gaston Lewis, CSA
- Robert Doak Lilley, CSA
- John Caldwell Calhoun Sanders, CSA
- James Barbour Terrill, CSA (killed the day before)
- William Richard Terry, CSA
- Thomas Fentress Toon, CSA
- Zebulon York, CSA
- Federal expedition from Jacksonville and the capture on June 2nd of the Confederate Camp Milton, FL. (May 31-Jun 3)
- The Operations at and about Cold Harbor, VA. (May 31-Jun 12)
- Dissatisfied over Lincoln's policies, a group of Radical Republicans meet in Cleveland, OH, and nominate Maj. Gen. John Charles Fremont, USA, and Brig. Gen. John Cochrane, USA as President and Vice-President in the upcoming elections.
Wednesday May 31 1865
- The following are appointed Union Brigadier Generals:
- Henry Alanson Barnum, USA
- Robert Francis Catterson, USA
- William Thomas Clark, USA
- Americus Vespucius Rice, USA
- William Burnham Woods, USA
- Federal expedition from Barrancas aboard the transports, Peabody, N.P Banks, Clyde, Hussar, and Tampico, and with the steamer, Itasca, to Apalachicola, FL. (May 31-Jun 6)
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.