Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Sunday, March 5, 1865 : A skirmish starts at the Gamble’s Hotel (pictured) when, 500 federal soldiers under the command of Colonel Reuben Williams of the 12th Indiana Infantry, march into the Florence, South Carolina area to destroy the railroad depot. These federal troops are met by a group of Confederate soldiers, who drove them away with the help of 400 reinforcements from the area home guard. Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.) forces are still fighting near Cheraw, South Carolina, as he prepares to cross the Pee Dee River, and invade North Carolina and strike out for Fayetteville. Monday, March 6, 1865 : A small band of Confederate troops and volunteers, mostly composed of teenagers from the nearby Florida Military and Collegiate Institute, that would later become Florida State University, and along with the elderly, protected by breastworks, prevented Union forces (consisting of African-American soldiers of the United States Colored Troops) from crossing the Natural Bridge on the St. Marks River. This action prevented the Union from capturing the Florida capital and made Tallahassee the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi River not to be captured by Union forces during the war. Most of Sherman’s troops have now entered North Carolina. Tuesday, March 7, 1865 : Union General, Jacob D. Cox (U.S.) and his men, repair the railroads from New Berne to Goldsboro, North Carolina to allow supplies to reach Sherman’s men. The Army of Tennessee (CSA) reinforcements arrives in Kinston, North Carolina. They will join Bragg’s (CSA) men to attack Cox’s men. Union force entered the town of Laurinburg. Once there, they proceeded to destroy the railroad depot and the temporary railroad shops. From Glasgow to the Perche Hills, and at again at Licking, Missouri, Union patrols report that just about everyday, they kill and wound guerrillas, capture horses, guns, food, etc. The Federals complain that too many locals, house and feed these marauders, which makes it more difficult to suppress their actions. The Federals use a local citizen to point out the homes, of suspected bushwackers, killing any they run into, and burning their homes along the way. The Yankees report chasing a guerrilla band for 2 days in their sight, but unable to overtake them. Wednesday, March 8, 1865 : En route to Petersburg, Virginia, General Sheridan’s (U.S.) cavalry encounters resistance at Duguidsville, Virginia. Rebel General Braxton Bragg attacks Cox’s men outside of Kinston, North Carolina. After initial success, the Confederate attacks stalled because of faulty communications. Major General Judson Kilpatrick and his Union cavalry force attack the rear of Major General William J. Hardee’s Confederate column. The Federals captured a good many Confederate prisoners. Thursday, March 9, 1865 : Major General Philip H. Sheridan (U.S.) Federal army occupies Columbia, Virginia on his drive, toward Richmond. Federal scouts report, there are a few less guerrilla agitators in this region, from Cape Girardeau into Bellinger Missouri, after making their rounds. Federal scouts from Fort Larned to Coon Creek, Mulberry Creek, then on to Crooked Creek in Kansas finds a friendly village of Arapahoes of Little Raven’s band, with many bucks, squaws and papooses. The Federals learn there are a few thousand of Comanches, Apaches and Kiowas in the vicinity and deem it advisable not to burn any of the deserted Indian villages, they discover in the area. They opt to return back to Fort Larned as fast as possible. Friday, March 10, 1865 : Like many battles in the American Civil War, the Battle of Monroe’s Crossing has several names. It is known as the Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads. The