Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Lynchburg, Virginia, near the village of Piedmont. Here, Brig. General William E. "Grumble" Jones (CSA) is shot in the head and killed, while leading a charge against a superior attacking force of 8,500 Union troops. The North lost 875 men, while another 500 Southerners will also die on the battleground, and another 1,000 will be captured. Such losses to the South cannot be replaced. In Charleston, South Carolina, the Union continues to maintain their bombardment of the Confederate held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The Union’s efforts to retake the fort began on April 7, 1863, and will continue for almost another year. It took the South just one day in 1861 to take it from the North! Monday, June 6, 1864 : General David Hunter (U.S.) occupies Staunton, Virginia. This is the first time Union soldiers have entered the town. Hunter’s troops destroy much of the private property in the Shenandoah Valley. In the Southeast corner of Arkansas, the South stops the advance of the North, but you still would have to call this battle a draw. The South (CSA) inflicted more casualties on the North, 180 US to 100 CSA, but the North (U.S.) reach their goal of Village Lake, Arkansas, which by the way is the legendary burial site of Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto. Tuesday, June 7, 1864 : With the war going on, there had been talk that a convention should not be held at all, but the National Union Party opens, their presidential election convention in

Baltimore, Maryland. This was the name used by the Republican Party for the national ticket in the 1864 presidential election. This temporary name change for the party was used to attract "War Democrats" and "Border State Unionists" who would not otherwise vote for the Republican Party. President Lincoln’s support for "Pro- War" was virtually unanimous. Hannibal Hamlin, the U.S. Vice President wanted off the ticket, and Lincoln had someone already in mind to replace him; the military governor, Andrew Johnson (pictured) of Tennessee.

Wednesday, June 8, 1864 : Lincoln receives the nomination from the National Union Party Convention, to stand for president in the forthcoming election. Brig. General John Hunt Morgan’s Confederates captures the Federal garrison, at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, who also loots a local bank of about $18,000. The exact disposition of the funds has never been accounted for, as it was never established that the robbery was done at Morgan’s orders. Pvt. James Pleasant Gold managed to get himself taken prisoner by those Union forces that, evaded capture. This group, headed at high speed for Lexington. In Virginia, Major General David Hunter's (U.S.) welcomes the arrival of the cavalry command of Brigadier General George Crook’s (U.S.) column to now begin their advance on Lynchburg. Thursday, June 9, 1864 : Major General Benjamin Butler (U.S.) dispatched about 4,500 cavalry and infantry against the 2,500 Confederate defenders of Petersburg, Virginia. While Butler’s infantry demonstrated, against the outer line of entrenchments east of Petersburg, Brigadier General Kautz’s (U.S.) cavalry division attempted to enter the city from the south via the Jerusalem Plank Road, but was repulsed by Home Guards (CSA). Afterwards, Butler withdrew. This was called the “battle of old men and young boys” by local residents. Today, 180 men died giving their all, in the weeks and months to follow many thousands will join them here.

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