ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 7th January

Fort Marion, Saint Augustine, FL, is seized by the Florida state troops. The US government is unable or unwilling to provoke a confrontation with the various state troops at this point, not trying to prevent the seizure of the Fort.

Skirmish at Jennie's Creek or Paintsville, KY.
The Dept. of North Carolina is constituted, to be commanded by Brig. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside, USA.
Skirmish at Hanging Rock Pass (Blue's Gap), near Romney WV, with a Confederate defeat by Col. Dunning's Union troops, as Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, CSA, continues to press his men forward in the blinding snow and freezing weather, withdrawing from the Hancock, MD, area to Romney, WV.

Federal scout from Big Spring Creek to Rocky Ford, MS.
Ozark, MO, is captured by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, CSA, and Brig. Gen. John Sappington Marmaduke, CSA.
Federal army and naval expedition from Yorktown to West Point and White House, VA, and destruction of Confederate supplies, under Maj. Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes, USA. (Jan 7-9)

Skirmish at Martin's Creek, AR.
Affair on Waccamaw Neck, near Charleston, SC, where the steamer, Dan, fails in her attempt to run the US naval blockade squadron off Wilmington, was run off, and beached herself, the men being captured. except for 3 who drowned.
Skirmish at Warrenton, VA, where Maj. John S. Mosby, CSA, surprises a superior force of Federals. capturing 30 men and 40 horses in addition to inflicting casualties. Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, USA, writes that it would seem that some one has been grossly derelict in duty.
President Abraham Lincoln commutes the death penalty of a Union deserter, which also becomes more and more frequent for the Federals as well as the Confederates.

Skirmish in Johnson County, AR.
Federal expedition from Pine Bluff, AR, and skirmish (Jan 9), with guerrillas, and casualties. (Jan 7-9)
Skirmishes with Indians at Valley Station and Julesburg, the Colorado Territory, as the hostile savages attacked and burned the wagon train at Valley Station, killing 12 men. They were unable to capture the wagon train at Julesburg, being driven off, but killing 2 white men. The stations are now closed, as the operators have left. The Yankees fear that many emigrants will starve.
Federal scout against Indians from Fort Ells worth, KS, traveling to Smoky Hill, Buffalo Creek, up the Saline River to Walnut Creek, then to Pawnee Rock which is 15 miles northeast of Fort Larned, to the mouth of Big Creek, about 50 miles due north of Fort Larned. The Federals find no signs of Indians, and report that buffalo is plenty and tame, showing that they have not been hunted by the Indians. (Jan 7-11)
The 2nd Division, 19th US Army Corps, leaves the Shenandoah Valley, VA, en route to Savannah, GA, as more troops are moved from the Shenandoah Valley for other strategic points.
Urged on by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, President Abraham Lincoln removes Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, USA, from active service in the US Army, after his last failure on the assault on Fort Fisher, Wilmington, NC.

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