Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Kansas wrote: “A married woman of Michigan, whose husband is quite wealthy, is now under arrest in New York, for dressing in male apparel and getting married to a pretty girl she met on the cars and whose affections she won. The pair have been living to all outward appearance as man and wife, and spending the money of the rich Michigander as though it didn't cost anything.” Saturday, November 22, 1862 : Prominent Richmond lawyer, James A. Seddon, a former U.S. and Confederate member of the House of Representatives, becomes Secretary of War. All the while, Jefferson Davis was really doing this job himself. Memphis Relief Organization makes a valiant effort to provide food and shelter to the poor. Dealing with poverty and crime continues to be a challenge as more and more refugees come into the city, many starving and ill; hundreds will die. The Peoria (Illinois) Morning Mail posted this in the paper: “A rebel paper published in Louisiana is printed on the inside of ordinary wall paper. The Houston Telegraph and Galveston News have come down to small brown paper such as grocers use. Probably if the war lasts a year longer there will not be a newspaper left in the South. The case of the Louisiana sheet indicates commendable economy. Subscribers can obtain their news and paper their walls for the same amount of Confederate shinplasters.” Sunday, November 23, 1862 : New commander of the Union forces the Army of the Potomac, General Burnside, had ordered proper communications before making his next move. President Lincoln was pressing him to take charge and making something happen, and he didn’t want the armies to go into winter quarters. Lincoln wanted results. Bridging equipment finally arrived at Fredericksburg to allow the North to cross the Rappahannock River but in the course of five days, the Confederate force in the town had done a great deal to fortify it. Any attempted crossing would be fraught with difficulties. In Bolivar, John Houston Bills, plantation planter, settler, civil leader, and diarist writes: “We hear of a raid of Confederates Cavalry into Sommerville yesterday evening. They taking some cotton speculators & conscripts (military draftees).” Tuesday, November 25, 1862 : First known as Dayton, Tennessee the town's name was changed to Henderson Station during the Civil War. In 1860, Polk Bray opened the first store. The town of Henderson was founded in 1860. Like a lot of small towns it became important because of the railroad. Confederates, led by A.B. Crook, captured the railroad depot in a skirmish fought here, today. Wednesday, November 26, 1862 : United States President Abraham Lincoln ran on a short boat ride down the Potomac River today. His destination was to give a secret visit to General Ambrose Burnside, and indirectly, the men of the Army of the Potomac, who were concentrating rapidly now near Fredericksburg. Discussions revolved around the exact battle plan. Across the river, General Lee (CSA) was bringing in more troops every day the “impending” battle that seemed to be delayed, but he knew it was coming. In Richmond, President, Jefferson Davis was writing letters to the governors of his Confederate States. His major concern was manpower, both the enrolling of new conscripts (enlistees) and getting them to where they were needed with the armies, and “restoring to the army” those who had voted with their feet and just gone home. He also talked about the need for extra provisions. Thursday, November 27, 1862 : President Lincoln, continued his visit with General Burnside at his headquarters. Lincoln was upset at the now replaced General McClellan’s lack of urgency. Lincoln expressed his reservations to General Burnside (U.S.) about his commander’s desire to launch an attack against a well dug-in enemy, while having to cross a river. However, Burnside was not willing to change his plan to attack straight on across the river, through the town and up the hill behind, known as Marye’s Heights. Monday, November 24, 1862 : Joseph E. Johnston (CSA) (pictured) assumes command of a reorganized Department of the West with two armies under him, General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee, which was now moving in the direction of Murfreesboro south of Nashville, and General John C. Pemberton’s (CSA) Army of Mississippi, who was in overall charge of defending Vicksburg in northern Mississippi. Johnston biggest problem was keeping General U.S. Grant (U.S.), from retaking control of the Mississippi River.