ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 13th January

President James Buchanan, receives the envoys from Major Robert Anderson, USA, (Lieut. J. Norman Hall) and from the South Carolina Governor, Francis W. Pickens, (J. W. Hayne), regarding the status of Fort Sumter, SC. President Buchanan, while not trying to provoke a hostile reaction, emphasizes that Fort Sumter, SC, will not be turned over to the South Carolina state authorities.

The Burnside Expedition arrives off Hatteras Inlet, NC, and begins crossing into Pamlico Sound.
Brig. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside, USA, assumes the command of the Dept. of North Carolina.
President Lincoln appoints Edwin Stanton as the new Federal Secretary of War, Washington, DC.

Daniel Ullmann, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
Federal expedition under Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand, USA from Helena up the White River, AR, and the capture of Saint Charles, Clarendon, Devall's Bluff, and Des Arc, and along with 6,000 Confederate soldiers.
The USS Columbia runs aground off the coast of North Carolina and is burned by the Confederates a few days later.
Skirmish at Chambers Creek, near Hamburg, TN.
Federal reconnaissance from Murfreesborough to Nolensville and Versailles, TN. (Jan 13-15)
Federal reconnaissance from Nashville to Harpeth River and Cumberland River Shoals, TN. (Jan 13-19)
Federal expedition from Yorktown to West Point, VA.

Federal scout from Pine Bluff to Monticello, AR, where over 2,000 bushels of Confederate corn is destroyed. (Jan 13-14)
President Abraham Lincoln orders Maj. Gens. Quincy A. Gillmore in Florida, and Nathaniel P. Banks, in New Orleans, LA, to proceed at once in constructing free governments in the state of Florida and Louisiana.
Skirmish at Ragland Mills, Bath County, KY, where Federals stationed at Mount Sterling attack and capture a third of the Confederates stationed at Ragland Mills (13 captured).
Skirmish between Cavalry near Collierville, TN.
Affair at Sevierville (Jan 13), and skirmish at Schultz' Mill, Cosby Creek, TN. (Jan 14), where Col. Robert B. Vance, CSA, captures a Federal train of 23 wagons, is pursued and the Federals recapture the wagons along with 1 ambulance loaded with medicines, 150 saddle horses and 100 stand of arms. (Jan 13-14)
Affair near Ely's Ford, VA, where the Confederates crossed the river on the ice and captured Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick's Cavalry patrol.

James Alexander Williams, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
At Tupelo, MS, Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood, CSA, resigns as commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
The combined military and naval operations against Fort Fisher, NC. (Jan 13-15)
The bombardment of Fort Fisher, NC, by the naval fleet, including the USS Brooklyn, USS Canonicus, USS Monadnock, USS New Ironsides, and the USS Saugus.
The landing of the Union expeditionary forces against Fort Fisher, NC.
Skirmish near Fort Fisher, NC.

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