Chronological History of the American Civil War

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gunboats made a maneuver along the Mississippi to within three miles of the important Confederate stronghold at Columbus, Kentucky. Their information was fed back to General Ulysses S. Grant (U.S.). Wednesday, January 8, 1862 : General “Stonewall” Jackson’s (CSA) health; particularly his eyesight and digestion were poor for most of his life and he ate fruits and vegetables whenever possible to help this. He also believed in the importance of bathing, to such an extent that today, with his forces horribly weary after marching and fighting in severe cold, he called a halt for rest at Unger’s Store, West Virginia and Jackson ordered water heated. Both he and his men indulged in baths, today. In Brooklyn, New York, Frank Nelson Doubleday was born today. He would become founder of Doubleday & McClure Publishing Company in 1897.

Thursday, January 9, 1862 : Union Flag Officer David Glasgow Farrgut, (pictured) in Philadelphia, is ordered to command the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. Farrgut's primary mission is to gain access to the Mississippi and capture New Orleans. He will be mostly remembered for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" Union General Grant prepares for a reconnaissance expedition to Columbus, Kentucky on the Mississippi River. The United States Congress considers solutions to the problem of slavery including possible colonization of former slaves elsewhere in the world, reimbursing owners for the loss of their slaves, and emancipation of the slaves.

Friday, January 10, 1862 : Abraham Lincoln calls a White House meeting with Irvin McDowell, William Franklin, Salmon Chase, Edwin Stanton, and Thomas Scott. Lincoln told them "..if McClellan is not going to use the Army anytime soon, I would like to borrow it." Samuel Colt, inventor of the 6 shot revolver, dies at age 47. Saturday, January 11, 1862 : The town of Romney, in western Virginia, evacuates at the news that Confederate General Jackson's troops are approaching. The Confederates will camp at Romney during the cold weather. Near Prestonburg, Kentucky at the forks of Middle Creek, Union troops under General Garfield clash inconclusively with Confederate troops led by Humphrey Marshall. Though both sides retreat, both claim victory, the casualties were 92 total (U.S. 27; CS 65). Secretary of War, Simon Cameron resigns with charges of corruption in the Union War Department. He was once quoted, “An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.” He is then appointed as U. S. Minister to Russia. Grant marches his troops toward Columbus, Kentucky. Sunday, January 12, 1862 : New York Times reports; “Confederate General Zollicoffer, entrenched about 40 miles north of the Tennessee border, on the “wrong” side of the Cumberland River, is facing a Federal force about 10,000 strong. Confederate reinforcements are said to be on their way.” For a White House meeting a totally unexpected attendee shows up at the last minute, General of the U.S. Armies George McClellan. He had been severely ill for quite some weeks now, with what is believed to have been typhoid. He showed up mainly to make sure there would be no talk of replacing him.

Monday, January 13, 1862 : Lincoln chooses Edwin Stanton (pictured) to replace Simon Cameron as Secretary of War. Stanton would be a controversial figure in history--held by some analysts to be sneaky, dishonest and underhanded; regarded by others as one of the prime movers in the victory of the Union in the War. It is entirely possible that both are true. Lincoln writes to U.S. Generals Halleck and Buell, urging them to attack the Confederacy in different places at the same time. 'Stonewall' Jackson (CSA) resumes his march from Unger's Store toward Romney, West Virginia. Naval Lieutenant Worden receives orders to take command of the U.S.S. Monitor , which is being built in New York. Union Flag Officer Foote orders gunboats up the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to demonstrate Union power. The

Union fleet arrives off Hatteras Inlet and crosses the bar into Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.