Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Lincoln stays half the night in the telegraph room of the War Department, waiting for the results to come in. Lincoln’s Republican Party make gains, in both the House and Senate, slashing any hopes for the South, that this war would end by negotiation. Maryland votes to abolish slavery within the state. Wednesday, October 12, 1864 : Rear Admiral David D. Porter (USN) relieved Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee (USN) as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Wilmington, North Carolina. A force of Confederate cavalry attacked a Federal Negro recruiting detachment located near Fort Donelson, Tennessee. After a short skirmish, the Confederates are driven off. Indians attack the Overland Stage Coach at Freeman’s Ranch near Plum Creek in the Nebraska Territory. Thursday, October 13, 1864 : John Mosby’s (the Gray Ghost) (CSA) Irregular Confederate Partisans capture and burn the railroad train on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near Kearneysville and west of Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, seizing over $170,000 from the Union paymaster. Lieut. General Jubal Early (CSA) moves into position at his old entrenched lines at Fisher's Hill, Virginia. In Georgia, the Union surrenders at Dalton and Tilton to Lieut. General John B. Hood’s (CSA) and his men, seize the important railroad line in the vicinity. Indians are fighting in the New Mexico and Nebraska Territories and near Fort Belknap, Texas. Friday, October 14, 1864 : Col. “Bloody Bill” Anderson was not dead, as was reported earlier. In the town of Danville, Missouri, 80 of his Confederate guerrillas attack. They killed 5 militiamen, several citizens, and burned and robbed most of the stores and houses in the community. “Bloody Bill” and a few more of his men are near Glasgow, Missouri, to visit the home of Benjamin Lewis. Lewis was the wealthiest Unionist in town, and had freed his slaves during the war. Anderson becomes infuriated at the thought of him having freed his slaves, rapes a young black house servant in retaliation, then beats and robs Lewis of $5,000. Lewis dies the following day from his injuries. Some skirmishing at Strasburg (or Hupp’s Hill), Virginia, as Lieut. General Jubal Early (CSA) and Major General Philip H. Sheridan (U.S.) forces are now only a couple miles apart from each other. Saturday, October 15, 1864 : Major General Sterling Price (CSA) Confederate forces move in and occupies the town, Glasgow, Missouri. General Jo Shelby, (CSA) operating under General Price, assaults the garrison at Sedalia, Missouri. The defending militiamen (U.S.) did not give a very outstanding account of themselves and are captured. Sunday, October 16, 1864 : The Shenandoah Valley was known as the “breadbasket” of the Confederacy during the Civil War, but that was all changing now, as General Sheridan is determined to starve the South if needed, and left nothing of use. He orders federal expeditions from City Point into Surry County, Virginia to travel every main and backroad between the Blackwater and James Rivers, below Bacon Castle and City Point, visit every residence, capturing all the citizens, Negroes and stock available. Even though there are corn in the fields and potatoes in the ground, this area is becoming barren of any livestock. General John Bell Hood (CSA) was trying a different tactic, cutting Sherman (U.S.) off from his bases and sources of supply. Hood applies as much pressure as he can to Sherman’s rear. Skirmishing occurred at Ship’s Gap in North Georgia and Bull’s Gap in southeastern Tennessee. Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s (CSA) moves his cavalry back into West Tennessee toward Jackson. Monday, October 17, 1864 : Confederate General James Longstreet assumes command of his corps in Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia (CSA). Longstreet has spent the last five