Chronological History of the American Civil War

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led by Major John M. Chivington (U.S.). His Colorado volunteers were successful, but withdrew to Pigeon’s Ranch at the end of the day. Thursday, March 27, 1862 : In New Mexico Territory, no fighting occurred today as reinforcements arrived for both sides. Lt. Col. William R. Scurry's troops swelled the Rebel ranks to about 1,100 while Union Col. John P. Slough arrived with about 900 men. Friday, March 28, 1862 : A Confederate command under Col. W. R. Scurry was camped at Pigeon’s Ranch. They were attacked head-on by Federals under command of Col. John P. Slough. The Federal attack, although valiant, was both outnumbered and unsuccessful and was slowly falling back. However, their comrades from Colorado had worked their way over mountains into the Confederate rear and swooped down on the supply trains left at Johnson’s Ranch. Scurry, hearing about this, broke off the fight and left for Santa Fe, effectively ending the Confederate invasion. Jefferson Davis proposes a conscription bill (military draft), shocking many Southerners. It didn't start until later in the war, however, when it did, if you didn't volunteer, they came after you. Saturday, March 29, 1862 : On the Mississippi River, Union Flag Officer Foote orders Commander Henry Walke of the U.S.S. Carondelet to slip down river from Island No. 10 in the fog to cover the maneuvers of General Pope's (U.S.) army. Through these maneuvers, Flag Officer Foote hopes to attack Confederate holders of the island from both the front and rear to force a surrender. Union forces use the machine gun for the first time during a skirmish in the small town of Middleburg, Virginia. The power of the machine gun forces the Confederates to retreat. Sunday, March 30, 1862 : The Confederates continued their build-up of men at Corinth, Mississippi, and waited for the North to attack. The size of the force gathered in Corinth showed that the South was not prepared to let the town fall to the North in view of its importance with regards to the two vital rail lines identified by the South. New Yorker, Vincent Colyer, one of the founders of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was appointed a northern position, Superintendent of the Poor in North Carolina. He had upwards of 50 black volunteers, acting as guides and spies for the Union. Stanwix Station, in western Arizona, was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach line built in the 1850s near the Gila River about 80 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. Today, the station was the site of the westernmost engagement between Union and Confederate troops during the American Civil War. While only a small skirmish, it warned the southerns of advancing troops from California were headed their way. Monday, March 31, 1862 : Today, marked the capture of Union City, Tennessee by U.S. forces and a skirmish on Purdy Road near Adamsville, Tennessee. No other major battles took place today, if you discount the one that was that was going on in President Abraham Lincoln’s office in Washington, D.C.. As George McClellan (U.S.) moved the Army of the Potomac farther and farther away from the Capital, its residents were becoming increasingly nervous. Finally, Lincoln ordered a large invasion force under Louis Blenker to leave McClellan (U.S.) and come back to Washington. This caused controversy and more delays as McClellan demanded reinforcements. Of course, that was what he did under almost any circumstances anyway. Tuesday, April 1, 1862 : On the southern peninsula of Virginia 12,000 Confederate soldiers faced McClellan’s (U.S.) three regiments in total a total 112,000 men. At Island No. 10 on Mississippi River, a small Union raiding party steals six guns from the Confederate's hold and escapes without a loss. Things were getting tougher for the South, the people of Richmond were donating the bells of their churches to be melted into cannon. Wednesday, April 2, 1862 : Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston prepares his forces in Corinth, Mississippi to attack Union forces at Pittsburg Landing the next day. The Federal forces, under the command of a failed Illinois businessman with a reputation for drunkenness, (General Grant) were coming up the Tennessee River to camp at a place called Pittsburg Landing. Johnston and his men would march there, fight them, and throw Ulysses S. Grant and his Yankees back into the river. Along the Mississippi River, tornadoes cause extensive damage to military installations from Cairo, Illinois to New Madrid, Missouri.