On This Day - 20th February Prev / Next
Wednesday February 20 1861
- The Confederate Government in Montgomery, AL, establishes the Confederate Dept. of the Navy.
Thursday February 20 1862
- Gov. Isham Harris of Tennessee moves the state capital from Nashville to Memphis, away from the Union advance, while Gen. Albert S. Johnston, CSA, moves his men toward Murfreesboro, TN.
- President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln mourn the loss of their 12 year old son, William Wallace "Willie" Lincoln, to typhoid fever.
Friday February 20 1863
- Skirmish near Fort Halleck, the Dakota Territory with the Ute Indians.
- Skirmish on the Shelbyville Pike, TN.
Saturday February 20 1864
- Federal expedition from Helena up White River, AR. (Feb 20-26)
- The Engagement at Olustee, or Ocean Pond, or Siler Lake, FL, where Brig. Gen. Seymour Truman, USA, under Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore, USA, retreats toward Jacksonville, FL, with heavy casualties in its black Union regiments, after facing Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan, CSA, commanding the District of East FL.
- Skirmish at Pease Creek, FL.
- Skirmish near West Point, MS, as Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, withdraws back towards Vicksburg, MS, after tiring of waiting for Brig. Gen. William Sooy Smith's Cavalry, tearing up Confederate railroad tracks all the way, the Meridian, MS, Expedition.
- Skirmish at Flat Creek, TN.
- Skirmish on the Sevierville Road, near Knoxville, TN.
- Skirmish at Strawberry Plains, TN.
- Skirmishes at Upperville and Front Royal, VA, where the Federals surprise John S. Mosby's men who were celebrating John's promotion to Lieut. Colonel. Mosby regroups and the superior fire power of the Federals using their carbines allows the Yankees to withdraw.
- Affair near Hurricane Bridge, WV, with a Union scouting party.
Monday February 20 1865
- Brig. Gen. John S. Morgan, USA, is assigned to the command of the District of Arizona.
- The Confederate attack on Fort Myers, FL, is repulsed.
- Skirmish at Center Creek, MO.
- Federal expedition to Greeneville and Warrensburg, TN, in the pouring rain, with skirmishes (Feb 21 & 22) near Greeneville as elections were held in the town.
- Federal expedition from Nashville to Pine Wood, Hickman County, TN, and encounter with guerrillas. (Feb 20-24)
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.