Chronological History of the American Civil War

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(CSA) sends photostatic copies of the captured orders to Major General George G. Meade (U.S.). General Kilpatrick (U.S.) does not deny, that his orders were endorsed in red ink “approved” over his official signature; but he said, they had been changed. General Meade and Lincoln both disavowed any knowledge of the Dahlgren Papers. In all the Unionists had lost 340 men and 500 horses. The raid was still called a Northern victory, and was sold to the public as a success; as it concentrated on the dilapidated state of the Confederate capital – as witnessed by those on the raid. On the down side, this controversy may have contributed to, John Wilkes Booth’s decision to assassinate U.S. President Abraham Lincoln a year later. Thursday, March 3, 1864 : In Sumner County, Tennessee, Alice Williamson, wrote in her diary, “General Payne (Paine)[U.S.] rode out this evening to look at the stock, in his last trip, he killed only one man (citizen, he always kills citizens, when he can't find soldiers) swears he will kill every man in Gallatin and Hartsville, if bushwhacking isn't stopped shortly.” In Mississippi, more fighting at Jackson, Brownsville, Meridian and Liverpool and near Baton Rouge, Louisiana and skirmishes near Petersburg, West Virginia with Union cavalry. Friday, March 4, 1864 : Major General, William T. Sherman’s (U.S.) Federal column arrives at Vicksburg, Mississippi, from its Meridian Expedition. U.S. Senate confirms, Andrew Johnson as the Military Governor of Tennessee. Voting is about to take place in the North, and in a few “Southern” states for both local and presidential primary races. In Washington, Secretaries Seward and Stanton have a private laugh about what they regard as Secretary of the Treasury Chase’s “dilemma,” concerning his decision to run for President. Both, he and Lincoln, are running on the National Union Party’s ticket. This was a temporary party name change used to attract War Democrats and Border State Unionists, who would not vote for the Republican Party. Saturday, March 5, 1864 : Commander John Taylor Wood’s Confederates raid at Cherrystone Point, Virginia, where he seizes a telegraph station. Wood also sinks, a large schooner, captures the steamer Iolas , escaping in the steam-tug, Titan , to Mobjack Bay, in Mathews County. In Bolivar, Tennessee, settler, planter, diarist writes: “Election day by proclamation of Andrew Johnson, Mil. Gov. The people are warned by a poster from “Willey Hagg, Capt. of Forrest Scouts” not to hold said election under pain of being arrested & carried south for trial. A goodly number of County voters come to town to vote, but all feared the Guerillas, & no election was held. Great God, what will be the end. Law & order forbidden.” Sunday, March 6, 1864 : Memphis Confederate spy, Belle Edmondson, writes in her diary: “Joanna went to the Provost Marshall yesterday to get her a pass, and he started to arrest her, thought it was me.” Meanwhile in Snickersville, Virginia, I guess they should have made a right turn, somewhere. A Union detachment was ordered to Purcellville, had by mistake marched to Snickersville. The entire party was either killed or captured. Monday, March 7, 1864 : Major General Rousseau (U.S.) in Nashville revoked his own order authorizing the impressment of Negroes into the army. It appears nowadays, they rather have “freed slaves” back on farm growing food and cotton. 1,100 votes are cast in Nashville’s election, which results in a substantial victory for the Union candidates, particularly those who advocate the end of slavery in the state. President Jefferson Davis prods Lieut. General James Longstreet (CSA) at Greeneville, in East Tennessee, to take the offensive in Tennessee and Kentucky. In Bolivar, Tennessee, at the Pillars, John Houston Bills, settler, planter and diarist writes: “At 10 a.m., 5 Regt. Cav under Col. Thornburg (U.S.) come into & near town. They put out a provost guard & the men behave well in town. They take all the good stock they find, but nothing else. They build a floating bridge, across Hatchie & get at 5 p.m., get over the river by midnight.”