On This Day - 28th January Prev / Next
Monday January 28 1861
- The US property in the hands of the US Army Officers is seized at New Orleans, LA.
- Fort Macomb, near New Orleans, LA, is seized by the Louisiana state troops, 1st Regiment, Louisiana Infantry.
Tuesday January 28 1862
- Operations near Greensburg and Lebanon, KY, by Col. John Hunt Morgan, CSA, against Lieut. Col. T. C. H. Smith, USA, 1st OH Cavalry. (Jan 28-Feb 2)
Wednesday January 28 1863
- John Daniel Imboden, CS A, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- Skirmish at Indian Village, LA, force a Confederate retreat.
- Skirmish near Collierville, TN, with Rebel guerrillas.
- Federal scout from La Grange, TN, toward Ripley, MS. (Jan 28-30)
- Skirmish near Nashville, TN.
- Skirmish near Yorkville, TN, with Union foraging parties who bring in 6 wagon loads of corn and 2,000 pounds of salted meats.
Thursday January 28 1864
- Skirmish at Dallas, AR.
- Confederate expedition under Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett, CSA, against New Berne, NC. (Jan 28-Feb 2)
- Lieut. Gen. Leonidas Folk's Confederate command is designated the Confederate Dept. of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana.
- Federal expedition from Gallatin to the Cumberland Mountains, TN, as the Federals cross the Cumberland River at the mouth of the Caney Fork River, having numerous running skirmishes with the Confederates. The Union men find many citizens in this area actually starving, and discover that the Confederates in Jackson, Fentress and Overton counties are going to Glasgow and other towns in Kentucky to purchase goods. (Jan 28-Feb 8)
- Skirmishes at Fain's Island, Indian Creek, Island Ford, Kelley's Ford, and Swann's Island, near Dandridge, TN, as Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, under Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, USA, and his Union Cavalry, drive back Maj. Gen. William T. Martin's Confederate Cavalry, of Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet's command, inflicting approximately 200 killed, wounded and missing on the Confederates.
- Affair at Lee's House, on the Cornersville Pike, TN, where the Confederate cavalry wait in ambush and capture a Union forage train searching for corn and pork. Many of the Union men are shot but not mortally. They are taken 20 miles and given paroles signed by Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA, and released. The Federals were kindly treated, although one was robbed of his watch.
- Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, USA, is assigned to the command of the Dept. of the Ohio, and Maj. Gen. George Stoneman, USA, to the command of the 23rd US Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, TN.
- Cavalry skirmishes near Jonesville, VA. (Jan 28-29)
- Maj. Gen. David B. Birney, USA, is temporarily in command of the 3rd US Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac, VA.
Saturday January 28 1865
- The unsuccessful Confederate attack on the US Steamer, Octorara, while in Mobile Bay, AL, by the torpedo boat St. Patrick. The torpedo failing to explode on contact. Amid a rain of Union shelling, the St. Patrick safely withdraws, to attempt this courageous endeavor another day.
- Federal operations against Indians on the Upper Arkansas, with skirmish (Feb 1) at Fort Zarah, KS, as the Indians attack a Yankee party cutting wood. (Jan 28-Feb 9)
- Skirmish at Combahee River, SC, with Maj. Gen. Sherman, USA.
- Action at Athens, TN, as the Yankees prevent the attacking Confederates from capturing the town; the Federals lose at least 20 men as prisoners to the Rebels though.
- Federal expedition from Strawberry Plains to Clinch Mountain, TN, with skirmish with bushwackers. (Jan 28-31)
- After various meetings with Francis Preston Blair, Jr, regarding peace discussions, President Jefferson Davis appoints Vice President Alexander Stephens, John A. Campbell, former US Supreme Court Justice and R. M. T. Hunter, as commissioners to meet with Federal authorities to further discuss potential peace overtures.
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.