Chronological History of the American Civil War

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again diarist John Houston Bills writes: “Passenger train from Memphis captured near Moscow. Martin Wittenberg shot also a Negro, both dangerously wounded. Thomas R. Smith and L. B. Adams taken prisoner, also others not known. The train comes on time notwithstanding.” Sunday, March 29, 1863 : At Moscow, Tennessee, 12 Rebels capture the passenger train which held about 30 Union soldiers. Outraged, Major General Stephen A. Hurlbut, (U.S.) (pictured) is furious and refuses to receive these 30 soldiers if they are exchanged for Southern prisoners. At Williamsburg, Virginia, with the Confederates failing in their surprise attack to capture Fort Magruder, the Federals are enraged at the help given the Rebels by the local citizens. The burning of Jacksonville, Flordia. by the forces of Commander Duncan (U.S.N.) and the U.S.S. Norwich today was a part of a campaign to reduce the efforts of the Floridians to continue to supply salt and beef and other supplies to the rest of the Confederacy. Monday, March 30, 1863 : Lincoln announced that April 30 th would be a day of prayer and fasting throughout the Union. Confederate troops needing food and supplies for Lee's armies in Virginia, placed the town of Washington, North Carolina on the Pamlico River under siege and several skirmishes resulted. The town is surrounded on 3 sides, the Confederate Armies were able to resupply the troops in Virginia, without any serious intervention from the Federal troops in Washington. At the same time Union troops did not lose any ground and, itself was being re-enforced with supply runs on the river. This standoff will last 3 weeks. During inconclusive standoff the North lost 40 soldiers and the South 60. Tuesday, March 31, 1863 : Just below Vicksburg at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, Admiral Daniel Farragut, (U.S.N.) leads the U.S.S. Albatross , U.S.S. Hartford , and the U.S.S. Switzerland pass the shore batteries. After destroying Jacksonville, Flordia, it is evacuated by the Union forces. Several skirmishes in Tennessee near Franklin and Eagleville just south of Nashville. Wednesday, April 1, 1863 : April 1863 saw the start of the third year of the Great American Civil War. The economic plight of the South was taking a heavy toll. Coupled with this, the Army of the Potomac (U.S.) started to finalise plans for yet another attack on Richmond, the Confederacy's capital. The North’s wartime conscription (draft) law in U.S. goes into effect. Deserters can be shot under this new law. Union troops leave from Jackson, Tennessee on expedition to the Hatchie River, and encounter several skirmishes with Confederates over the next two weeks. Northwest of Washington, D.C. near the mouth of Broad Run, Loudoun County, Virginia, Captain John Mosby's (CSA) 65 men are surprised by 200 Union cavalry; Mosby counterattacks, inflicting 107 Federal casualties and again escapes capture. Thursday, April 2, 1863 : Riots occurred in Richmond, where people were becoming desperate at the economic plight of the Confederacy. Food in particular was in short supply. The riot was termed a “bread riot” by locals though it turned into a general looting session. It was only stopped when the rioters listened to President Jefferson Davis who spoke to them in person and then threw the money in his pockets at them. It was a sufficient gesture to disperse the rioters. The riot ended peacefully, although 44 women and 29 men were arrested. Friday, April 3, 1863 : President Lincoln visits General Hooker (U.S.) and pressured him into an attack on Richmond. In response, Hooker put in an order for 1.5 million ration packs for his troops. In Richmond, President Jefferson Davis writes a letter to Governor Harris Flanagin of Arkansas who was complaining that too much assistance was going to the other side of the Mississippi River. “If we lose control of the Eastern side, the Western must almost inevitably fall into the power of the enemy,” Davis wrote. Saturday, April 4, 1863 : Reports from Florence, Alabama, say that the Confederates are building bridges and floats for crossing the Tennessee River in order to simplify troop movements through that area. Union General Hooker prepared the Army of the Potomac (U.S.) for an attack on Richmond. The Army’s Secret Service Department, was ordered to prepare updated maps on the defences at Richmond. Sunday, April 5, 1863 : After sailing from Washington, D. C. to Fredericksburg, Virginia, President Abraham Lincoln meets with General Joe Hooker (U.S.) to discuss strategy in Virginia. Several