ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 3rd January

The War Department overturns the former Secretary of War, John Buchanan Floyd's orders to remove weapons from many US Arsenals, which could fall into the hands of the Southern States Governments.
Fort Pulaski, Savannah River, GA, is seized by the Georgia state troops, by order of Governor Joseph E. Brown.

Skirmish at Hunnewell, MO.
Federal reconnaissance from Camp Hamilton to Big Bethel, VA, and the occupation of the town by the Federal troops.
Skirmishes at Bath, (Berkeley Springs) WV, with Maj. Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, CSA, arriving from Winchester, VA, in an attempt to destroy dams along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, as well as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, on his way to Romney, WV. (referred to as the Romney Campaign). (Jan 3-4)
The descent upon and skirmish at Huntersville, WV, with Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson, CSA.

Affairs at Plaquemine, LA. (Dec 31-Jan 3)
Skirmish at Burnsville, MS, as Gen. Braxton Bragg, CSA, retreats from Murfreesboro, toward Manchester and Tullahoma, leaving Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, USA, in command of the battlefield, at Murfreesboro, TN.
Skirmish near Clifton, TN, with Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA.
Skirmish at the Insane Asylum, or Cox's Hill, or Blood's, TN.
Action at Somerville, TN.
The Federal Dept. of the East is re-established, VA.
Skirmish at Moorefield, WV, with the Confederate attack repulsed.

Federal scout from Memphis, TN, toward Hernando, MS, where it is determined the Confederates, under Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA, are scattered over the countryside, from Coldwater to Senatobia, so as to obtain forage for the men and their horses.
Maj. Gen. Francis J. Herron, USA, assumes the command of the Union forces on the Rio Grande, TX.
Action at Jonesville, VA, where Brig. Gen. Orlando B. Wilcox, USA, is attacked and routed by Brig. Gen. William. E. "Grumble" Jones, CSA, and his cavalry; Jones capturing 383 Federals, 3 pieces of artillery and 27 6-mule wagons, etc.
Federal reconnaissance from Charlestown, WV, to Winchester, VA, by way of Berry ville, and skirmish, forcing Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden, CSA, to skedaddle.
Confederate operations in Hampshire and Hardy Counties, WV, as Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, CSA, and his Cavalry captured a train of 40 wagons with 6 mules and horses to each wagon, loaded principally with artillery ammunition and hides, and 250 head of cattle, losing 120 during the night as they came over the mountains. The train belonged to Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelley, USA, commanding the Dept. of West Virginia. The weather being extremely cold that it appears one Confederate's feet are so frozen the surgeon believes his feet will have to be amputated.

Skirmish near Mechanicsburg, MS, with Union forces under Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad line.
The Federal expedition to and the capture of Fort Fisher, NC, and its dependencies. (Jan 3-17)
Skirmish near Hardeeville, SC.
The larger portion of the Army of the Tennessee, under Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard, USA, is transferred from Savannah, GA, to Beaufort, SC, as Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, prepares to move north and invade South Carolina. (Jan 3-17)

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