On This Day - 19th May Prev / Next

Sunday May 19 1861
  • The Union blockade continues its attack on the Confederate shore batteries at Sewell's Point, near Hampton Roads, VA.
Monday May 19 1862
  • Skirmish at Searcy Landing, AR.
  • President Abraham Lincoln modifies Maj. Gen. David Hunter's proclamation freeing slaves in his military Dept. of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.
  • Skirmish near Farmington, MS.
  • Skirmish at Clinton, NC.
  • Federal expedition down the Mississippi to Fort Pillow, TN, by Brig. Gen. Isaac F. Quinby, USA. (May 19-23)
  • Skirmish at City Point, James River, VA, with Capt. William H. Willis, CSA, 4th GA Infantry, attacking a Union landing party.
  • Skirmish at Gains' Mill, VA.
Tuesday May 19 1863
  • John Wesley Frazer, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
  • The Siege of Vicksburg, MS, as Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, surrounds Lieut. Gen. John C. Pemberton, CSA and the city, itself. (May 19-Jul 4)
  • Skirmish near Richfield, Clay County, MO, in an ambush setup by bushwackers.
  • Federal scouts from La Grange, TN, and skirmish with Confederate cavalry 10 miles south of La Grange.
  • Federal expedition, with the US gunboat, Winnisimmet, from Gloucester Point, into Matthews County, VA, with the Union requisitioning grain and cattle, etc, from the area. (May 19-22)
Thursday May 19 1864
  • The following are appointed Confederate Brigadier Generals:
    • Clement Anselm Evans, CSA
    • Martin Witherspoon Gary, CSA
    • Bryan Grimes, CSA
    • William Terry, CSA
  • Skirmish at Fayetteville, AR, with Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, CSA.
  • Skirmish near Norristown, AR, with Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, CSA.
  • Operations on the Saint John's River, FL, including affairs at Welaka and Saunders (May 19), and the capture of the US steamer, Columbine. (May 23). (May 19-27)
  • The Union forces cross the Atchafalaya, LA, near Simsport, LA, ending the failed Red River Campaign under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, USA.
  • Skirmish at Dandridge, TN.
  • The Union forces of Brig. Gen. William W. Averell and George Crook, USA, reach Meadow Bluff, WV, concluding their operations against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
Friday May 19 1865
  • The following are appointed Union Brigadier Generals:
    • James William Forsyth, USA
    • Joseph Eldridge Hamblin, USA
    • Richard Henry Jackson, USA
    • William Wells, USA
  • The Confederate Commerce Raider, CSS Stonewall, surrenders to the Union officials at Havanna, Cuba.
  • Federal scout against Indians from Sweetwater Bridge to Whisky Gap of the Medicine Bow Mountains, the Dakota Territory. (May 19-20)
  • Maj. Gen. William B. Hazen, USA, is assigned to the command of the 15th US Army Corps, FL.
  • Federal scout from Kingsville, MO. (May 19-22)
  • Federal scout against Indians from Fort Kearny to the Little River, the Nebraska Territory. (May 19-Jun 2)
  • Federal scout against Indians from Fort Kearny, the Nebraska Territory. (May 19-26)
  • Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, USA, is assigned to the command of the Army of the Tennessee.

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