Chronological History of the American Civil War

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On a McMinnville, Tennessee plantation, Lucy Virginia French writes in her journal: “Poor fellows [soldiers] – four long years of service – hardship and suffering, and all for what? And some are sleeping here in our crowded graveyard – and many will never even be so near in death – they sleep among strangers in unknown graves, on dreary battlefields. Oh! For what? For what? Did God permit this war? Shall we ever find out why it was allowed?” Although a published author before the war, Lucy will add many more books and poems to her credit. She dies March 31, 1881 at the family's "Forest Home", near McMinnville, Tennessee. Monday, May 15, 1865 : Still fighting as a bushwhacker even though the Civil War is over, guerrilla fighter Jesse James is shot in the lungs by Union troops. Jesse James will survive to carve a place for his own name in America's history. Tuesday, May 16, 1865 : In a message to Secretary of War, Stanton, Major General J. H. Wilson said, “I have taken the necessary steps to find them. (G. C. Torbett, president, and John A. Fisher, cashier, of the Bank of Tennessee) Will report further. The assets and coin of the Bank of Tennessee and branches now under guard amount to something over half a million dollars.” These were the assets of the State of Tennessee carried off by order of ex-Governor Isham Harris.” Wilson also reports: “Col. Minty reports the recovery of twelve boxes of the Tennessee archives. They were found at Buzzard Roost, Alabama … Harris is reported to have been at Buzzard Roost lately.” In Bolivar, Tennessee at the home of young Sally Wendell Fentress, a house servant named “Lettie” set the house on fire while, the family slept. The fire was extinguished and all safe. Union officers were sent for, and Sally writes, “Today they came, were commanded by the man who built Major McNeal’s house. He told Jimmie to keep her in jail until civil court was established then try her, and if convicted, hang her.” Wednesday, May 17, 1865 : The Confederates troops in Florida surrender to Bvt. Brig. General Israel Vogdes. Major General Philip H. Sheridan (U.S.) is assigned to the general command west of the Mississippi River and south of the Arkansas River. Bolivar, Tennessee’s settler, planter, and diarist John Houston Bills writes in his diary: “We go to LaGrange where Col. M T Polk is paroled as a prisoner of war, also many others.” Thursday, May 18, 1865 : Federal expedition against the Sioux Indians in the Dakota Territory, where the Yankees rescue a white woman prisoner and her little daughter, who had been purchased from the Cheyenne Indians, when they killed her husband. The Federals capture 2 Sioux Indians chief, Two Face and Black Foot. In a skirmish near Fort Kearny in the Nebraska Territory many Union soldiers receive arrow wounds. Friday, May 19, 1865 : Federal expedition sets out from Fort Kearny in the Nebraska Territory in search of Indians. Saturday, May 20, 1865 : Former Confederate Secretary of War, Stephen R. Mallory is captured at LaGrange, Georgia and transferred to Fort Lafayette, New York. Several more skirmishes today with Indians in the Dakota Territory. Friday, May 26, 1865 : The now U.S. President, Andrew Johnson will order the release of many of those held as prisoners of war. Bolivar’s settler, planter, and diarist John Houston Bills, decides to rent one of his 3 plantations, The Bonnie Blue Farm to C.C. Duke. Saturday, May 27, 1865 : John Houston Bills wrote, “ Leonidas Bills (his son) got home last night after being absent as prisoner of war 12 months.” Leonidas Bills will go in business with his father, John Houston Bills, and he will acquire considerable land holdings in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Minnesota. John Houston Bills, however, proclaimed himself neither Unionist nor secessionist, and thus protected his home and much of his wealth from military