ACWS - On This Day in the American Civil War 20th May

William Wing Loring, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
The Capital of the Confederacy is to be moved to the City of Richmond, VA, by the vote of the Confederate Provisional Congress, Montgomery, AL.
The ordinance of secession is adopted by the North Carolina Convention, held at Raleigh, NC, the 11th state to secede.

Tucson, the Arizona Territory, is occupied by Union forces.
President Abraham Lincoln, signs the Homestead Act, which opens up the Western Frontier, giving up to 160 acres to those willing to develop the land for a five year period, for a small fee.
Affair on Crooked River, FL, where a Confederate ambush kills or captures most of Union landing party.
Federal Gunboat bombardment of Cole's Island, SC.
Skirmish on Elk River, TN.
Operations about Bottom's Bridge, Chickahominy River, VA, under Brig. Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes, USA, commanding the 4th US Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac. (May 20-23)
Federal raid on the Virginia Central Railroad at Jackson's River Depot, 10 miles from Covington, VA, to destroy bridges.

Thomas Green, CSA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
David Bell Birney, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
Adelbert Ames, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
Skirmish near Fort Gibson, the Indian Territory.
Skirmish 1.5 miles from Cheney ville, LA, with Confederate Cavalry.
Federal expedition to Yazoo City, MS, and skirmish (May 23) at Liverpool Landing. (May 20-23)
Two blockade runners arrive safely at Charleston, SC, from Nassau, Bahamas, with two others are captured.
Federal demonstration on Kinston and skirmishes (May 22) at Gum Swamp and (May 23) at Batchelder's Creek, NC, as Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, USA, attempts to put pressure on the Confederate army which is being depleted by men being deployed to other areas of the Confederacy. (May 20-23)
Federal scout from Clarksville, TN. (May 20-22)
Skirmish at Collierville, TN, with the Confederate Cavalry attack on the Union picket post #'s 4 and 5, with 1 killed and 9 missing.
Skirmish at Salem, TN, with the 2nd Iowa Cavalry.
Federal operations, including the transports, Manhattan and Tallaca, in the Northern Neck (King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties) and in Middlesex County, VA, with destruction of over 50 Rebel ships and an estimated $1,000,000 of Confederate supplies, etc. (May 20-26)

Skirmish at Stony Point, AR.
Skirmish at Etowah River, near Cartersville, GA, as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, is closely pursued by Maj. Gen. John Schofield, USA. Johnston to retreats with Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood, CSA.
Skirmish near Mayfield, KY.
Skirmish near Lamar, MO, where Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, USA, commanding the District of Southwest Missouri, reports a Confederate attack on his troops at Lamar; the Rebs are repelled.
Skirmish at Greenville, MS.
Gen. Robert E. Lee, CSA, moves his troops to front the Army of the Potomac as Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, orders Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, USA, to cross the Mattaponi River, sliding to the south along Lee's lines towards Richmond, VA.
Skirmish at Ware Bottom Church, VA, with Maj. Gen. Benjamin F.Butler, USA.
Skirmish at Greenbrier River, WV.

Federal scout against Indians from Camp Plumb, the Dakota Territory, to the Red Buttes, on Deer Creek, then east to Box Elder Canon, then north to the North Platte River when the Yankees observe a party of 100 Indians across the river; the river being too high to ford, all they can do is watch them. (May 20-22)
Skirmishes with Indians on Deer Creek, the Dakota Territory, as the Yankees repel an Indian attack of about 50, killing and wounding a few.
Federal operations against Indians about Three Crossings Station, the Dakota Territory, as the Yankees pursue the Indians who attacked the station, tore down telegraph lines and stole one horse; they cross the Sweetwater River, and head toward their families at Wind River. (May 20-22)
Former Confederate Secretary of War, Stephen R. Mallory, is captured at LaGrange, GA, and transferred to Fort Lafayette, New York.
Affair near Pawnee Rock, KS, as Indians attacked 2 men coming from Fort Larned, killing one while the other escaped.
Skirmish on the Blackwater, near Longwood, MO, with roving Confederate bushwackers.

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