Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Confederate ships were detained in Liverpool docks in England, as it was believed that they were blockade-runners. Federal scouts leave from Grand Junction headed to Saulsbury, Tennessee. Monday, April 6, 1863 : President Abraham Lincoln had an exceedingly hard time, getting his generals to understand, how he wanted them to fight the war. They were obsessed with capturing the enemy capitol; Lincoln wanted them to fight the Confederate armies. He wrote today to Hooker, the current commander: “our prime object is the enemies’ army in front of us, and is not with, or about, Richmond.” A Union force was near Green Hill, Tennessee, when they learned of a small Confederate force nearby. The Federals made a quick dash and captured a few Confederates and destroyed a stillhouse containing 40 casks of liquor. There is a small skirmish at Davis’ Mill, Tennessee as Union pickets are captured. Tuesday, April 7, 1863 : Rear Admiral S. F. du Pont (U.S.) was determined that his ironclad squadron could engage the strong Confederate forts in Charleston harbor and penetrate their defenses and capture the city. The ironclads were heavily damaged and the attack was broken off; U.S.S. Keokuk was struck more than 90 times, sank the next day. After consulting with his captains, du Pont concluded that his fleet had little chance to succeed. He therefore declined to renew the battle the next morning. In Louisiana, the Federal steamer U.S.S. Barataria, was traveling on the Amite River. It had been sent on a reconnaissance mission. A group of Confederates spotted the ship and attacked it. The ship was eventually captured by the Confederates. Wednesday, April 8, 1863 : Confederate troops capture and burn the steamers U.S.S. Saxonia an d U.S.S. Lovell near Clarksville, Tennessee . President Lincoln reviews Major General Joseph Hooker's army across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg, Virginia. The President expressed himself as delighted with the appearance of the soldiery . . . It was noticeable that the President merely touched his hat in return salute to the officers, but uncovered to the men in the ranks. The Memphis Daily Appeal (printed now in Jackson, Mississippi) reported: "A soldier from Chattanooga gave a very fair idea of the attractiveness of the place in the following manner. Several were speaking of the lack of accommodation there, when he remarked: "Well, if I were to be sent to h--l, and had five days furlough to stop in Chattanooga, I should say, 'drive on boys!" Thursday, April 9, 1863 : The Confederates sinks the Union steamer U.S.S. George Washington , near Beaufort, South Carolina, after her ironclad escort, U.S.S. Hale , runs aground. More skirmishes in Tennessee at Franklin and on the Obion River at Antioch Station, Tennessee. Union forces cross Berwick Bay, in Louisiana near Morgan City. Friday, April 10, 1863 : Major General Earl Van Dorn (CSA) crossed paths today, with Union Major General Gordon Granger, (U.S.) at Franklin, Tennessee. The Union was winning the battle when Brigadier General Nathan B. Forrest (CSA) counterattacked. Stanley’s troopers quickly withdrew across the Big Harpeth River. This incident in his rear caused Van Dorn to cancel his operations and withdraw to Spring Hill, leaving the Federals in control of the area. The Union victory resulted in estimated casualties of 100 Union and 137 Confederate. Southern Confederate forces 200 strong attack a passenger train on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad near LaVergne, Tennessee, killing a number of guards, destroying the train, and tearing up a section of track. President Lincoln returns to Washington, D.C., after reviewing the Federal troops at Falmouth, Virginia, via Aquia Creek, Virginia.

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