Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Landing were put to the torch. The people were told that “every outrage by the guerillas upon packets would be similarly dealt with.” Wednesday, October 22, 1862 : Brig. General James G. Blunt (U.S.) and his Cherokee, Indiana, and Kansas troops from the First Division of the Army of the Frontier, attacked Col. Douglas H. Cooper and his Confederate command on Beatties Prairie near Old Fort Wayne, now in eastern Oklahoma. The battle didn’t last long, but drove the out numbered rebels back 70 miles to the Arkansas River. The Montgomery Weekly Advertiser reported that The Washington Sanitary Committee have lately received several pairs of socks, from an old lady, bearing the following inscription: "These socks were spun and knit by Mrs. Zebuah Clapp, 96 years old, whose hands in youth were engaged in moulding bullets in the Revolutionary War. Keep the toes of these socks towards the Rebels. Charlestown, N.Y." Thursday, October 23, 1862 : On the western edge of the Cumberland Mountains at Big Hill, Kentucky, Col. John Scott's Confederate troops ran into a force of Union cavalry. The Union troops consisted of the 7th Kentucky Cavalry, and a battalion of the 3rd Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Col. Leonidas Metcalfe (U.S.). At Scott's (CSA) approach, Metcalfe (U.S.) ordered a cavalry charge. As the army's Adjutant General, J. Mills Kendrick, (U.S.) reported later, Metcalfe then "had the mortification to find that not more than 100 of his regiment followed him; the remainder, at the first cannon shot, turned tail, and fled like a pack of cowards." A few men from the 3rd Tennessee (U.S.) rescued Metcalfe. Scott (CSA) chased the Federals up the road toward Richmond, Kentucky. But during the chase, the Confederate troopers learned Union reinforcements were due in Richmond and called off the chase. Friday, October 24, 1862 : Union Captain Winslow (U.S.) of the U.S.S. Baron de Kalb converted himself and several of his sailors into cavalrymen. They were chasing a small Confederate scouting party. Landing parties were sent, but the Rebels had a considerable lead. Winslow went to a nearby farm and according to his report, “impressed into service” several horses. After a chase of nine miles, the Southerners were chased down and captured. Saturday, October 25, 1862 : The Battle of Antietam Creek, at Sharpsburg, Maryland, had occurred more than a month ago. The Army of Northern Virginia (CSA), unhampered by any pressure from General George McClellan, (U.S.) had withdrawn back across the Potomac River, and was busy rebuilding itself in peace. General McClellan had undertaken no offensive action at all. A vastly better organizer and administrator than a combat leader, McClellan busied himself in trivialities, such as a telegram, he sent to the War Office today. In the telegram, he complains that his horses had "sore tongues" and were fatigued. Lincoln, went ballistic and fired a telegram back: “Will you pardon me for asking what the horses... have done since the battle of Antietam to fatigue anything?” Major-General Grant (U.S.) assumes command of the Union's Thirteenth Army Corps and the Department of the Tennessee. Sunday, October 26, 1862 : It has been more than a month, since the Battle of Antietam and with almost daily telegrams from President Lincoln, General McClellan (U.S.) finally marches the Army of the Potomac back into Virginia. Whether this was part of a plan he already had, or if it was in a direct response to Lincoln’s latest criticisms is not known. Monday, October 27, 1862 : In Bolivar, planter, settler, merchant, John Houston Bills (The Pillars) writes in the diary: “Col. A. S. Norton is again appointed Provost Marshall & immediately orders out my tenants in the Brick stores (Corner of Main & Market) & occupies the rooms, thus depriving me of $80 per month rent. The pickets who stand guard at my cotton gin this evening demolish & utterly destroy the Gin & throw away the pieces, such wanton destruction as never could have been thought of in a Christian Land. They do all the without provocation on or any particular desire to injure me.” Tuesday, October 28, 1862 : Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army numbered 70,000 men, while McClellan’s Army of the Potomac could call on 130,000 men, so to avoid getting encircled General Lee (CSA) moved his Army of Virginia further south and, therefore, further away from Washington, D.C. Sections of Lee’s army were ordered to maintain a close observation of McClellan’s men and for two days both sides were less than 2 miles apart, but separated by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wednesday, October 29, 1862 : In the days before refrigeration for meat and other perishables, supply of salt was essential, if produce was to be kept safely for any period of time. One source of salt was salt