Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Saturday, July 12, 1862 : In the White House, President Lincoln, meets with Congressmen representing the border states, and urges, "Let the states which are in rebellion see . . . that, in no event, will the states you represent ever join their proposed Confederacy." Lincoln proposes, that border-state slaveholders release their slaves in return for "substantial compensation" from the federal government. They are not pleased to do so. The President signs bill creating national award for valor to be known as “The Congressional Medal of Honor.” Sunday, July 13, 1862 : Between 4:15 and 4:30 am on this morning, General Nathan Bedford Forrest's (CSA) cavalry surprised the Union pickets on the Woodbury Pike, east of Murfreesboro, and quickly overran a Federal hospital and the camp of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment detachment. Additional Rebel troops attacked the camps of the other Union commands and the jail and courthouse. By late afternoon all of the Union units had surrendered to Forrest's force. The Confederates destroyed much of the Union supplies and tore up railroad track in the area, but the main result of the raid was the diversion of Union forces from a drive on Chattanooga. This raid, along with Morgan's (CSA) raid into Kentucky, made possible General Bragg's (CSA) concentration of forces at Chattanooga. In Bolivar, at The Pillars, John Houston Bills writes in his diary: “Very hot. Mercury 94 degrees. Hear of the intention of the US Congress to arm Negroes. Awful times coming.” Monday, July 14, 1862 : Today, John Houston Bills continued to write: “People greatly depressed in spirit. Hear those of Jackson compelled to swear allegiance to the US. Look out here next.” In Washington, Congress approved the establishment of West Virginia. However, it did not approve Lincoln’s plan to compensate any state that abolished slavery. Tuesday, July 15, 1862 : The C.S.S. Arkansas (pictured) sails past the federal fleet on the Mississippi River with guns ablaze, destroying three ships. At Confederates at the old Powell's River Meeting House. The two women dashed up to the group of soldiers, Kate Summer's shooting an old cap and ball pistol and in her best coarse voice with much soldierly profanity called upon them to surrender. At the same time, Mrs. Heatherly kept calling for her company of imaginary soldiers to engage the enemy. The Confederates grounded their arms and quickly surrendered. After Mrs. Heatherly took charge of the surrendered guns the women marched their captives to Big Creek Gap and turned them over to the Federals. Wednesday, July 16, 1862 : At Apache Pass, in Arizona, Union soldiers on the way east to help in the war effort were attacked by 500 Apache warriors led by Cochise. This was one of the first times the U.S. army had been able to use artillery against the Indians. The howitzer broke the Indian attack and the Apache warriors withdrew. It had been a long strange trip they had been on, but Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell were finally in position to begin the mission they had been sent on: representing the Confederate States of America to the ruling powers of Europe. Commissioner Slidell, whose assignment was Paris, met today with Napoleon III. He presented his case: The South had cotton, which France wanted. If France would just be so kind as to offer formal diplomatic recognition of the new nation, cotton in vast quantities could again cross the Atlantic. Oh yes, there was just one other matter where the French could offer assistance, namely breaking the pesky Federal blockade of Southern ports. Despite Slidell’s best presentation, Napoleon declined. David Glasgow Farragut promoted to Rear Admiral, the first officer to hold that rank in the history of the U.S. Navy. Thursday, July 17, 1862 : President Abraham Lincoln signed the Second Confiscation Act, which granted freedom to slaves who entered Federal jurisdiction and allows for confiscation of property from people who participate in the war. Lincoln also signed a bill, authorizing the use of postage stamps as Wallace's Cross Roads, now Andersonville, Tennessee a small skirmish occurred there. Sometime, wives would follow their mates in the Army. Mrs. Heatherly's husband, was an officer in the United States Army. Hearing the battle, John Heatherly's wife, and Kate Summers, dressed in Federal uniforms; the two women rode up the river after the enemy. They overtook the