Monday December 16 1861

• Henry Constantine Wayne, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.

Tuesday December 16 1862

• Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, USA, assumes the command of the 19th Army Corps, as Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, bids farewell to his troops at New Orleans, LA.
• Affairs at Mount Olive Station and Goshen Swamp, NC.
• Engagement at White Hall, NC, with Maj. Gen. John Foster, USA.
• Skirmish at Wardensville, WV.

Wednesday December 16 1863

• John Buford, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
• Maj. Gen. John Buford, USA, dies in Washington, DC, from camp fever (typhoid) developed while in the Union Cavalry during the Rappahannock Campaign in October.
• Federal scout from Fayetteville, AR, including skirmishes (Dec 23) at Stroud's Store and (Dec 25) on Buffalo River. (Dec 16-31)
• Confederate demonstration on Fort Gibson, the Indian Territory.
• Skirmish near Springfield, MO.
• Skirmish near Free Bridge, NC, as Yankees and Rebels clash after the Yankees moved to bring into the Union lines the families of some Rebel deserters.
• Skirmishes at and near Blain's Cross-Roads, TN, the Knoxville, TN, Campaign. (Dec 16-19)
• Skirmish at Rutledge, TN, the Knoxville, TN, Campaign.
• Federal descent upon Salem, VA, led by Brig. Gen. William W. Averell, USA.
• Skirmish at Upperville, VA.
• Maj. Gen. John C. Caldwell, USA, is temporarily in command of the 2nd US Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac, VA.
• Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, is assigned to the command of the Confederate Dept of Tennessee, superseding Lieut. Gen. William H. Hardee, CSA, and leaving Lieut. Gen. Leonidas Polk, CSA, in command of the Army of Mississippi.

Friday December 16 1864

• Skirmish at Hinesville, GA, as Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, resupplies his army with supplies from the Union vessels off the Atlantic coast.
• Federal expedition from Morganza to the Atchafalaya River, LA. (Dec 16-19)
• Action at Marion and the Federal capture of Wytheville, VA, by Maj. Gen. George Stoneman, USA, as Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, CSA, commanding the Dept. of Western Virginia and East Tennessee musters as many Confederates in the region to block Stoneman's raid.

Saturday December 16 1865