Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Their Union officers go to a house nearby to get water, but are attacked, while in the house. One Union officer firing through a window, kills a mounted guerrilla. The rest takes off with their Yankee prisoners. The ocean going ironclad C.S.S. Stonewall embarks from the port of Ferrol, Spain, as the two under - gunned wooden U.S. frigates, U.S.S. Niagara and U.S.S. Sacramento fail to challenge her. The commanding Union Naval officer, Commodore T. T. Craven will later be court martialed for his lack of action. Saturday, March 25, 1865 : The Confederate assault upon and capture of Fort Stedman, (U.S.) is led by Major General John Brown Gordon, (CSA) as General Robert E. Lee (CSA) orders the surprise attack at 4:00 a.m. to force Lieut. Ulysses S. Grant (U.S.) to contract his siege line, and protect his supply depot at City Point, Virginia. As the Confederates lack the initiative or manpower to press forward, the Federals regroup and counter attack, forcing the Confederates back to their original defensive lines. Total casualties: The Union lost 1,500 men killed and wounded. However, the Confederates lost a disastrous 4,000 men – many of whom surrendered. On the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, Major General Canby (U.S.) and his men arrive at Spanish Fort from Pensacola. Sunday, March 26, 1865 : President Lincoln is

back aboard the River Queen (pictured) at City Point, Virginia. He is to have meetings with Grant, and his staff. Major General Philip Henry Sheridan’s (U.S.) cavalry command cross the James River and enters Virginia to combine forces with Lieut. General Ulysses S. Grant (U.S.). Grant continues, to apply pressure on the Army of Northern Virginia, (CSA) and is determined not to let them escape the trenches

of Petersburg. Rebels skirmish with Northern troops, under Major General E. R. S. Canby (U.S.) at Muddy Creek and Poland, as he approaches Spanish Fort, Alabama along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. In Tennessee, voters ratify the new state constitution, which includes an anti-slavery amendment. Monday, March 27, 1865 : On board the River Queen, President Lincoln meets with Lieut. General Ulysses S. Grant, Major General William T. Sherman, and Admiral David Porter (U.S.N.) to discuss his policy on Confederate surrender and reconstruction. It was at this meeting that, according to Sherman, Lincoln agreed that any Confederate soldier would become, a U.S. citizen immediately if, he laid down his weapons. On Mobile Bay, Major General E. R. S. Canby (U.S.) force the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrate on Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. The Union immediately undertakes a siege at Spanish Fort. Tuesday, March 28, 1865 : Grant prepares the Army of the Potomac (U.S.) for what he assumes, would be the last offensive against Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia (CSA). Grant had an army of 125,000 men, while Lee could muster a total of 50,000 men. But many of those in Lee’s army were far from fit enough, to fight in battle. Lee still harbours a desire to break out of Petersburg, and march to join up with Johnston’s men in North Carolina. It was a plan, that he is not able to carry out. A small skirmish takes place at Germantown, Tennessee with the Union pickets. Acting Asst. Adjt. General, Lieut. Conroe orders U.S. troops, that the citizens in the area of Collierville, Tennessee are now in a country regarded by the Government as conquered; that a loyal State organization exists, and the inhabitants are under the protection of the Union forces. All stragglers will be reported at these headquarters to be placed at work upon the