Stars and Bars Blog

Saturday, 23 May 1863

The Federals hear that there is a sizeable contingent of Confederate troops stationed at Fort Gadsden on the Apalachicola River. Learning of a vessel loaded with cotton on the river about forty-five miles north of Apalachicola, the commander of the U.S. gunboat Port Royal off Apalachicola Bay last evening dispatched a boat expedition with orders to capture the sloop. The expedition was successful and the sloop Fashion, having on board fifty bales of sea-island cotton, was taken. A barge was also destroyed, as was the facility at Devil’s Elbow where the Fashion had repaired.

Near Bayou Sara Banks’ main Federal force crossed the Mississippi at night and in a heavy storm headed for Port Hudson. In front of Port Hudson there was skirmishing on the Springfield and Plains Store roads. At Vicksburg Grant’s army began to set up supply lines and to receive reinforcements. There was a brief skirmish at Haynes’ Bluff.

Other fighting broke out at Hartville, MO, Warrenton, VA and West Creek, WV.

Two Federal expeditions, lasting several days, operated from Helena to near Napoleon, AR and from Memphis to Hernando, MS. Federals countered guerrilla activities and Confederate raids in enemy occupied Southern territory with almost continuous expeditions, scouting, and reconnaissance.

Lincoln conferred with military and naval officials about the unsuccessful attack on Charleston, SC.

President Jefferson Davis wired General Joseph E. Johnston, who was outside Vicksburg and unable to aid Pemberton, that he was “hopeful of junction of your forces and defeat of the enemy.” To Pemberton, Davis wired, “Sympathizing with you for the reverse sustained.”

In Ohio petitions circulated protesting the “arbitrary arrest, illegal trial, and inhuman imprisonment of Honorable C. L. Vallandigham.”

Friday, 22 May 1863

SECOND ASSAULT ON VICKSBURG

Federal Major General Grant attacked a three-mile section of the crescent-shaped defenses of Vicksburg with all the power he could muster. At 10 A.M. the Federals surged forward against the Confederate lines extending from Stockade Redan on the north to Fort Garrott on the south. The charge over deep, narrow ravines that added to the man-made defenses of the city was against six strong points and a line of high breastworks protected by dirt and logs. Sherman’s troops reached the top of the wall but failed to hold it. Major General John Alexander McClernand’s men likewise managed to gain the barricades here and there, but to no avail. One breakthrough at Railroad Redoubt was briefly successful  but counterattacks closed the breach. Strong Confederates defenses beat back continued charges. Federal gunboats and mortars bombarded. Later, Grant regretted making the suicidal attack. Losses were heavy. It created further antagonism between Grant and McClernand. Of 45,000 Federals, 502 were killed, 2550 wounded, and 147 missing for 3,199 casualties. Confederate losses were under 500. Grant never again tried to assault Vicksburg. Instead the Federals began the siege in earnest, digging approach trenches and building artillery positions. Federal and Confederate soldiers alike soon knew the tedium as well as the dangers of a siege.

In Washington Lincoln had just heard of Grant’s successful campaign in approaching Vicksburg. In Richmond, President Jefferson Davis wired General Braxton Bragg at Tullahoma, TN, “The vital issue of holding the Mississippi at Vicksburg is dependent on the success of General Joseph E. Johnston in an attack on the investing force. The intelligence from there is discouraging. Can you aid him? . . .”

Skirmishes occurred at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, on Yellow Creek, TN and near Barre’s Landing, Bayou Teche, and at Bayou Courtableau, LA. Federal General John Banks’ army neared Port Hudson.

President Lincoln greeted a group at the White House known as the “One-Legged Brigade.” He told the convalescent veterans that there was no need for a speech “as the men upon their crutches were orators; their very appearance spoke louder than tongues.” The War Department of the United States established a bureau in the Adjutant General’s Office to organize Negro troops.

Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton assumed command of the Cavalry Corps of General Joseph Hooker’s Army of the Potomac, replacing Major General George Stoneman.

The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society held an anniversary meeting in London, and expressed strong support for the Union.

Governor John Milton, in a letter to President Jefferson Davis, protested the action of the Confederate Congress which reduces the number of overseers who are exempt from conscription. The Governor argues that not only will it weaken the Confederate army by reducing its food supply but it also directly conflicts with Florida law, which requires at least one white male adult, either owner or overseer, to reside on any plantation where slaves live. The Governor also says that the Act errs in its basic assumption that there are enough able men over 45 years to serve as conscripted overseers. This is not so, at least in Florida where most competent men over 45 are in Confederate service, either as volunteers or as substitutes for younger men. An overseer’s wage in Florida is from $200 to $600 per year, but as a substitute he could receive from $500 to $5,000. Hence, the lure of money, Milton argues, and the belief in a short war has encouraged most capable older men in Florida to enter military service. The Governor assures the President that Florida overseers are not members of rich families attempting to avoid conscription but are “poor men who have distinguished themselves for their industry and integrity.”

Small boats from USS Fort Henry captured sloop Isabella in Waccassassa Bay, FL.

The Federal Army steamer Allison destroyed the schooner Sea Bird after seizing her cargo of coal near New Bern, NC.

Thursday, 21 May 1863

SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON BEGINS

A portion of Banks’ Federals moved out of Baton Rouge on the Clinton Road toward Port Hudson. The main army, coming from Alexandria, approached Bayou Sara on the west side of the Mississippi. Minor action occurred at Plains Store near Port Hudson. Although Federal operations were not complete, the siege of Port Hudson can be said to have begun. At Vicksburg, Grant issued orders for a general assault on Pemberton’s lines for the twenty-second. A Federal flotilla went up the Yazoo to Yazoo City, Miss. Before the flotilla arrived Confederates destroyed their shops and the navy yard, including two steamboats and an unfinished gunboat.

Federal guerrillas operated on the Santa Fe Road near Kansas City, Mo.

A Federal expedition moved from Murfreesboro to Middleton, TN and will operate through tomorrow with a skirmish being fought.

Another Federal expedition probed from La Grange, TN to Senatobia, MS lasting until the 26^th.

Operations on the Teche Road between Barre’s Landing and Berwick, LA took place today and lasted until the 26^th.

A Federal scouting expedition from Cassville through northwestern Arkansas and on into Newton and Jasper counties, MO will last until May 30th and include several skirmishes.

Small boats from USS Fort Henry captured the sloop Isabella in Wacasassa Bay. She is enroute to Key West for adjudication, along with nearly 3,000 pounds of corn taken from a Confederate flatboat on 14 May, but has commenced leaking so badly that she will put up in Tampa Bay. Lieutenant Commander A. A. Semmes, USS Tahoma, expresses the view that neither the Isabella nor the corn, which was damaged, is “worth the expense of a trial, even if she could be gotten to Key West.” The Isabella’s crew escaped except for one old man “whose extremity prevented his running.”

The USS Sunflower arrived this afternoon at Key West.

The USS Huntsville has today put in at Key West transporting thirty-two prisoners. They are off the Cuba, sunk a few days ago in the Gulf, and the Spanish steamer Union.

Wednesday, 20 May 1863

Federal Major General Grant considered the problems of a direct attack on Vicksburg.

President Davis had been ill for several weeks but was improving.

Two blockade run­ners arrived safely at Charleston, SC from Nassau with valuable cargo. But two others were captured, one off the Neuse River, NC the other near Nassau.

Confederates fought with Federals near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory

Skirmishing is occurring at Salem and Collierville, TN and Cheneyville, LA.

Troops began to gather for General Banks’ major Federal push toward Port Hudson on the Mississippi.

There were demonstrations at Kinston, NC lasting a few days and skirmishes at Gum Swamp and Batchelder’s Creek, NC.

The USS Union today seized the blockade running British schooner Linnet just west of Charlotte Harbor.

Boat crew from USS Louisiana captured schooner R.T. Renshaw in the Tar River above Washington, NC.

Tuesday, 19 May 1863

FIRST ASSAULT ON VICKSBURG

Federal Major General Grant, anxious to cap his campaign with the surrender of Vicksburg, completed investing the city. Major General William Sherman stood on the north or right, McPher­son in the center, and Major General James Birdseye McClernand on the left. Skirmishing broke out as Federals approached the well prepared fortifications. Grant hoped a sudden assault would prevent Confederate Major General John Clifford Pemberton from completing his arrangements. In mid afternoon Sherman attacked, despite heavy fire on the Union right side, and made some advance at Stockade Redan. However, he failed to penetrate the works and was driven back. McPherson and McClernand had even less success. About a thousand Federal casualties attested to the strong Confederate position. Federal mortars began pounding Vicksburg m the Yazoo.

Federal scouts operated from La Grange, Tenn., and there was a skirmish near Richfield, Clay County, Mo. In Virginia a Federal force operated from Gloucester Point into MatthewsCounty.

Secretary of War Stanton, on orders of President Lincoln, directed that former Ohio congressman Clement L. Vallandigham, convicted of aiding the Confederates, be sent beyond the military lines of the United States and not be permitted to return, under threat of arrest.

USS DeSoto captured the schooner Mississippian bound from Mobile to Havana with a cargo of cotton and turpentine. Later in the afternoon, the USS DeSoto discerned the smoke of a steamer southeast of Pensacola, and gave chase. The suspected blockade runner “threw overboard portions of her cargo, but she finally escaped by favor of the night.” It is suspected that she was the blockade runner Matagorda.

The USS Benton was ordered by Rear Admiral Porter to silence Confederate batteries south of Vicksburg.

Lieutenant Commander Reigart Lowry wrote Secretary Welles urging that naval officers and seamen not employed at sea be used to man forts and seacoast defenses.  He made his case by citing previous examples of the prowess of Confederate and Russian sailors (Sevastopol) as expert gunners manning shore batteries.

USS Huntsville seized the blockade running Spanish steamer Union west of St. Petersburg, FL.

Mortar schooner USS Sophronia seized schooner Mignonette at Piney Point, VA with a load of whiskey. So as not to bring such cargo back, the crew felt obligated to consume the whiskey prior to returning to port.

Monday, 18 May 1863

SIEGE OF VICKSBURG BEGINS

One of the great campaigns of military history came to an end as Grant’s triumphant Federal army moved across the Big Black River, took Haynes’ Bluff, and began to invest Vicksburg. Confederate Major General Pemberton was ordered by General Johnston to evacuate the city. Considering the problems related to getting out with the effect of losing such a position and after council with his officers, he decided to stay. The siege had begun.

Gunboats under Rear Admiral Porter and troops under Generals Grant and Sherman assaulted Confederate works to the rear of Vicksburg.

Minor fighting elsewhere included affairs at Hog Island, Bates County, MO and near Cheneyville, LA. Skirmishes broke out near Island No. 82 Above Greenville, MS and on Horn Lake Creek, TN. Operations lasting a day or two occurred around Fayetteville, WV and near Merritt’s Plantation on the Bayou Sara Road, LA.

President Davis called for civilians and militia to join General Joseph E. Johnston in Mississippi. He urged Johnston to link up with Pemberton and attack the enemy.

In Britain’s House of Lords, debate on decisions of the American prize courts brought demands that Britain actively defend the rights of her ship owners. Lord Russell said that the Crown found no objections to the prize courts’ proceedings and that Britain had no wish to interfere in the American Civil War.

The West Florida Seminary of Tallahassee has procured the services of a man as principal for next fall. The school will open about the first of October. In making this announcement, “the Florida Sentinel says the cause of education, in common with other enterprises, must necessarily languish during the continuance of the war, but no matter to what extremities we may be driven, we sincerely hope that the doors of the School House will under no circumstances be entirely closed. However, hard the pressure may be, however, imperious the necessity, there are other sacrifices which we can afford to make better than the School House. We are, therefore, for the sake of the youth of our city and adjacent country, anxious to see the doors of the Seminary reopen, and happy to learn the trustees have consummated arrangements in regard to it, which promise better things for the future.” The paper says the legislature at its next session must make it one “of the primary objects of its policy and deliberation to provide ways and means to educate the poor children who have been made orphans by this cruel and unnatural war.”

The Clerk of the Tallahassee Council announces that henceforth “no citizen will … be allowed to remove slaves who are ill, to any premises located out of town at the expense of the City without permission from the Intendent.”

The USS Huntsville today captured the blockade running Spanish steamer Union in the Gulf of Mexico west of St. Petersburg. Her papers show that she is out of Havana bound for Mexico, but from every indication she was planning to run the blockade into Mobile.

The USS DeSoto today captured the Confederate schooner Mississippian with 187 bales of cotton and four barrels of turpentine in the Gulf of Mexico. Aboard were six persons, “not one of whom would acknowledge himself to be her master, not one among them at first would admit he spoke or comprehended English.” She is enroute to Key West for adjudication.

USS Linden escorted 5 Army transports down the Mississippi River.  The lead transport was fired on by the Confederates.  Linden returned fire and drove off the artillerists.

USS Shepherd Knapp ran aground at Cape Haitien and had to be abandoned.

Boat crew from USS Cuyler captured and burned schooner Isabel near Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, AL.

USS Octorara captured the British blockade runner Eagle near the Bahamas.

Sunday, 17 May 1863

ENGAGEMENT OF BIG BLACK RIVER BRIDGE, MS

Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, with his back to the Big Black River between Vicksburg and Jackson, awaited a missing division. The division was cut off from Pemberton and forced to join General Johnston. The Federal army opened fire on the entrenched Confederates, who, in danger of being cut off from crossing the river, retired in disorder and burned the bridges. Grant’s army was temporarily halted. Pemberton continued to pull back to the defenses of Vicksburg while the Federals hastened to bridge the swampy lowlands and the Big Black. Federal losses were 39 killed, 237 wounded, and 3 missing for 279. Some 1,700 Confederates were captured.

Meanwhile, Banks’ Federals moved into position with operations on the west side of the Mississippi across from Port Hudson.

There was skirmish­ing near Bridgeport, MS, Dumfries, VA and on the Bradyville Pike, TN. A Federal scout operated from LaGrange, TN.

The Kanawha today captured the Confederate schooner Ripple in the Gulf and the schooner Hunter with a cargo of cotton bound from Mobile to Havana.

The Confederate blockade runner Cuba was burned by her crew in the Gulf of Mexico to prevent capture by USS DeSoto.

USS Courier captured schooner Maria Bishop off Cape Romain, SC with a cargo of cotton.

USS Minnesota captured schooner Almira Ann near the Chickahominy River, VA with a cargo of timber.

Saturday, 16 May 1863

BATTLE OF CHAMPION’S HILL, MS

Grant’s army advanced from Jackson toward Vicksburg, threatening to cut the feeble communications between Pemberton, near Edwards’ Station, and Johnston to the north. Pemberton, after refusing to attempt to join Johnston the day before, responded now to a second order and marched out to make the junction in order that together they might fight Grant. The Confederates were blocked, however, by Federal forces at Champion’s Hill. A division of McClernand’s Union corps attacked a bit before noon, driving the Confederates back on the left. Confederates counterattacked successfully. Grant reinforced his right with McPherson’s men and in mid afternoon the hill changed hands a third time. Pemberton failed to rally and began to withdraw toward Vicksburg and the Big Black River. Federal effectives for the battle of Champion’s Hill or Baker’s Creek numbered about 29,000, with 410 killed, 1844 wounded, and 187 missing for 2,441 casualties. Confederate effectives are estimated at fewer than 20,000, with 381 killed, about 1,800 wounded, and 1,670 missing for a total of 3,851 casualties. Pemberton had no choice but to fall back toward Vicksburg. Grant’s campaign was rising to its climax.

Fighting elsewhere included skirmishes near Carthage, MO, at Elizabeth Court House and Ravenswood, WV, Tickfaw Bridge, LA, Berry’s Ferry, Piedmont Station, VA and Charles Town, WV.

Democrats protested the conviction of former congressman Clement L. Vallandigham.

The Confederate blockade runner Cuba was burned late this afternoon by her own crew in the Gulf of Mexico to prevent capture by the USS DeSoto. The Federal vessel had been chasing the Southern ship for more than six hours. The Confederate cargo was estimated to be worth at least $400,000 in specie at Havana and at Mobile, a million and a quarter.

The USS Kanawha today captured the Confederate schooner Hunter bound from Mobile to Havana with cargo of cotton.

The Store [Supply] ship USS Courier captured the blockade running sloops Angelina and Emeline off Charleston, SC bound for Nassau with cargoes of cotton.

The USS Powhatan captured the sloop C. Routereau off Charleston, SC with a cargo of cotton and turpentine.

Friday, 15 May 1863

Using several roads, Grant’s forces converged on Edwards’ Station, east of Vicksburg. Sherman and two divisions remained in Jackson to destroy Confederate supplies and installations. Pemberton’s main force was near Edwards’ Station and a strong garrison was at Vicksburg. Portions of the two armies were only four miles apart at nightfall. Pemberton had decided it was impossible to join Johnston and so planned to seek out Grant’s nearly non-existent communications.

Skirmishes occurred at Fort Smith, AR and at Big Creek, near Pleasant Hill, MO. A Federal expedition operated from West Point to King and Queen County, VA. There is a scouting expedition today lasting until the 22^nd from Parkersburg into Calhoun County, WV. From today until the twenty-eighth operations on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad southeast of Richmond will include several skirmishes.

The Federal schooner Two Sisters, tender to the USS Magnolia, reports the capture of the Confederate schooner Oliver S. Breese off Anclote Keys, FL in the Florida Keys. The Breese has a general cargo aboard and was enroute from Havana to Bayport.

The USS Canandaigua captured the blockade running sloop Secesh off Charleston with a load of cotton.

The USS Kanahwa seized the blockade running British brig Comet east of Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, AL.

35 Confederates seized the mail steamers Arrow and Emily at Currituck Bridge and forced the crews to pilot them to Franklin, VA.

Thursday, 14 May 1863

Engagement of Jackson, MS

By midmorning troops from McPherson’s and Sherman’s of Grant’s army were nearing Jackson, MS in a driving rainstorm. Johnston knowing it was futile to oppose Grant with twelve thousand men, began to evacuate vital supplies and withdrew to the north. He left two brigades to delay the Federals. The Yankees easily overcame the two Confederate brigades and by mid afternoon occupied the capital. McClernand, meanwhile, was in part solidly on the rail line from Jackson to Vicksburg, between Johnston and Pemberton. Grant’s task was now to turn west from Jackson and move against Pemberton near Edwards’ Station. South of Vicksburg, Major General Nathaniel Banks left Alexandria, LA for operations against Port Hudson, above Baton Rouge. Port Hudson was the only other major Confederate bastion on the Mississippi.

In the area of Boyce’s Bridge on Cotile Bayou and near Merritt’s Plantation on the Clinton Road there is brief fighting. Skirmishes occurred at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory and in Virginia near Warrenton Junction.

Hooker had written Lincoln of his problems with the Army of the Potomac, which had delayed further operations since the Battle of Chancellorsville. Lincoln, in turn, wrote the general that he would not complain if he kept the enemy at bay but would not restrain him from renewing the attack. He warned Hooker that he had intimations that “some of your corps and Division Commanders are not giving you their entire confidence.”

The USS Fort Henry today captured a small flat loaded with corn in Wacasassa Bay near Cedar Key.