On This Day - 31st March Prev / Next
Sunday March 31 1861
- Fort Bliss, TX, is abandoned by the Union forces.
Monday March 31 1862
- Granville Mellen Dodge, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
- Brig. Gen. William Whann Mackall, CSA, supersedes Maj. Gen. John Porter McCown, CSA, in the command at New Madrid Bend, and at Island No. 10, Mississippi River,
- Skirmish at Pink Hill, MO, with the 1st MO Cavalry.
- Skirmish at Deep Gully, NC.
- Maj. Gen. David Hunter, USA, assumes the command of the Dept. of the South, i.e., South Carolina. Georgia, and Florida.
- Federal expedition to Paris, TN, by Capt. William A. Haw, 5th IA Cavalry. (Mar 31-Apr 2)
- Skirmish on the Purdy Road near Adamsville, TN, with Brig. Gen. Lewis Wallace, USA.
- The Federal capture of Union City, TN.
- Brig. Gen. Louis (Ludwig) Blenker's, USA, Division is ordered to the Mountain (a.k.a. Fremont's) Dept., VA.
Tuesday March 31 1863
- Oliver Otis Howard, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
- Skirmishes at Clapper's Saw Mill, on Crooked Creek and at Cross Hollow, AR.
- Jacksonville, FL, is evacuated by the Union forces.
- The Union ironclads sink the CSS Nashville, in the Savannah River, GA.
- Federal Operations from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage, LA. (Mar 31-Apr 17)
- Skirmish at Richmond, LA.
- Engagement at Grand Gulf, MS, with the passing of the shore batteries by the Albatross, Hartford, and the Switzerland, led by Admiral Daniel Farragut, USN.
- Skirmishes near Eagleville, TN, with Rebel cavalry. (Mar 31-Apr 1)
- Skirmish near Franklin, TN.
- Federal scout from Lexington to the mouth of DuckRiver, TN. (Mar 31-Apr 3)
Thursday March 31 1864
- Federal scout from Bridgeport, AL, to Caperton's Ferry and vicinity, where a couple of men are found playing both sides of the allegiance game, with passes from both armies. Their mother is drawing rations from the government and has her house searched where the Federals find 80 bushels of corn, 20 of wheat, 3 barrels of flour, 10 bushels of rye, and some 200 pounds of bacon. (Mar 31-Apr 2)
- Skirmish near Arkadelphia, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign.
- Skirmish at Palatka, FL.
- Skirmish at Forks of Beaver, Eastern KY.
- Skirmish at Natchitoches, LA, with Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, USA.
- Affair at Spring Island, SC, where the Confederates report a Federal reconnoitering party landing from a Union gunboat and tug.
Friday March 31 1865
- Union troops occupy Asbyville, AL, with Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson, USA.
- Action near Montevallo, AL, where Brig. Gen. James Harrison Wilson, USA, and his Cavalry force destroys iron furnaces, etc, while combating Lieut. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA.
- Action at Six-Mile Creek, AL, with Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson.
- Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele's, USA, column reaches Stockton, AL, the Mobile, AL, Campaign.
- Federal operations about Aquia Eria, the New Mexico Territory, as the Yankees respond to a scared rancher that Indians had crossed his ranch last night. Upon further scouting, the Yankees determine the horse tracks had been made by either peaceful Navajo or Pueblo Indians. The tracks close to his house that the nervous rancher referred to where his own. (Mar 31-Apr 1)
- Skirmish at Galley's, NC.
- Skirmish at Hookerton, NC.
- Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, USA, resumes the command of the 23rd US Army Corps, NC.
- Skirmish at Magnolia, TN.
- Maj. Gen. John Bankhead Magruder, CSA, is assigned to the command of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and vice Maj. Gen. John G. Walker, CSA, is relieved of command.
- Action at Crow's House, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.
- Action at Hatcher's Run, or Boydton Road, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.
- The Engagement at Dinwiddie Court-House, VA, where Maj. Gen. George Pickett, CSA, repels the attacks by Maj. Gens. Philip H. Sheridan and Gouvenour Warren, USA, however retreating to Five Forks, which weakens the Petersburg, VA, line.
- The engagement at the White Oak Road, or White Oak Ride, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.
On This Day information kindly provided by Martin Cross, 2nd U.S. Artillery, Bty B.