- Skirmishes occur at Great Falls, Maryland, and Piggott's Mills, Western Virginia./1861
- Confederate troops begin operations against Indians around Fort Stanton, New Mexico Territory, to last until Sept. 8./1861
Showing posts with label New Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Mexico. Show all posts
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Confederate operations against New Mexico Indians
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Rose O'Neal Greenhow placed under house arrest
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Rose O'Neal Greenhow |
- In Washington, D.C., Allen Pinkerton, leading the new US secret service, places Confederate spy Rose O'Neal Greenhow under house arrest. A wealthy Washington widow at the outbreak of the war, Greenhow is well connected in the capital and especially close to Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts. Openly committed to the Southern cause, Greenhow has formed a reliable spy network for the Confederacy. Her operatives had provided key information to General Pierre G. T. Beauregard about Union General Irwin McDowell's troop deployments before First Manassas in July, prompting Beauregard to request additional troops and win a decisive victory. The Federals quickly tracked down the leaks in Washington, and Pinkerton today places Greenhow under house arrest and will soon confine other suspected women in her home. But Greenhow would be undeterred in funneling information to the Confederates from visitors, including Senator Wilson. In frustration Pinkerton in early 1862 would confine Greenhow and her daughter to the Old Capitol Prison for five months, later exiling her and her daughter, "Little Rose," to the South in June 1862. Greenhow would later travel to England and France encouraging support for the Southern cause, writing her memoirs while abroad. Returning to the Confederacy in September 1864, Greenhow’s ship would run aground off the North Carolina coast as a Union war vessel chased it. Greenhow would drown when her lifeboat capsized, weighed down by a large load of gold./1861
- The USS Release and Yankee engage Confederate batteries at the mouth of Potomac Creek, Virginia./1861
- Skirmish occurs at Medoc, Missouri./1861
- Fort Craig, New Mexico Territory, is abandoned by Federal forces after a skirmish./1861
- Forces skirmish at Springfield, Western Virginia./1861
Monday, August 22, 2011
Confederate Army of New Mexico on march
 Image via Wikipedia |
| USS Lexington |
- Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley and 3,700 men named the "Confederate Army of New Mexico" depart San Antonio, Texas, for New Mexico Territory. /1861
- US Naval Commander J. Rodgers reports that 600 Confederate troops at Commerce, Missouri, have withdrawn at the approach of Union gunboats, preventing the Confederates from erecting batteries there which would have effectively impeded navigation./1861
- The USS Lexington under Commander Stembel seizes the steamer W.B. Terry at Paducah, Kentucky, for trading with Confederates. Meanwhile, Confederate sympathizes seize the steamer Samuel Orr at Paducah, Kentucky, and take her up the Tennessee River. /1861
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Fort Stanton, New Mexico, falls to Texans
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| Fort Stanton, New Mexico Territory |
- In a sweeping new grab of Federal power, the US Congress passes a bill establishing a national income tax and new tariffs to finance the war effort. The income tax is 3% and applies to those with incomes over $800 per year. These new taxes are projected to raise $500 million for the Union government, but because of its disfavor, the income tax is never actually put into effect./1861
- In Missouri, US General Nathaniel Lyon clashes in a skirmish with pro-secessionists under General Ben McCulloch at Dug Springs. Anticipating further unrest in Missouri, US General John Fremont, stationed at St. Louis, sends General Lyon reinforcements./1861
- In the US Territory of New Mexico, Federal troops evacuate Fort Stanton in the face of Lieutenant Colonel John Baylor’s West Texans of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles./1861
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Lee to command western Virginia; Petrel sinks
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| USS Lawrence sinks the Petrel off the SC coast |
- West Texas troops under command of Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, on their “buffalo hunt” to sweep out Union presence from the New Mexico Territory, take the fort at St. Augustine Springs without firing a shot./1861
- Confederate troops occupy New Madrid, Missouri, an important choke point on the Mississippi River./1861
- In another Confederate victory, US Maj. Gen. George McClellan is officially named to command the new Army of the Potomac./1861
- In an announcement at Richmond, General Robert E. Lee is assigned command of the western Virginia forces. He will arrive August 1. /1861
- The schooner Petrel which slipped out of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, the night of the 27th, bumps into the U.S.S. Lawrence at dawn. The Petrel runs but is chased down by 10am. As a matter of honor, the captain of the Petrel takes on the 52-gun frigate with her two guns. One shot from the Lawrence sinks her, and the Petrel’s crew surrenders--four drowned /1861
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
West Texans capture Fort Fillmore, New Mexico
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| Fort Fillmore, Arizona/New Mexico Territories |
- US Major General George McClellan is officially appointed commander of the US Army of the Potomac, replacing Irvin McDowell. He will receive his orders tomorrow./1861
- At sunset at Fort Fillmore, US New Mexico Territory, (or Mesilla, Confederate Arizona Territory), the 250 troops of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor orders his artillery and cavalry into reserve, while the rest of his command moves into position to attack the fort’s 500 men of the 7th US Infantry tomorrow. During the night, the Texas Confederates capture 85 of Fort Fillmore’s horses, which constitute much of the fort's mobility. Fearing an attack at daybreak, US Major Isaac Lynde of the 7th US Infantry decides to abandon Fort Fillmore during the night after destroying the ammunition and supplies inside. Lynde retreats northeast towards Fort Stanton across the dry Organ Mountains. Unfortunately, many of the 7th US Infantrymen apparently had filled their canteens with the fort's medicinal whiskey instead of water, hardly wise for a summertime march across desert country. Lincoln’s War Department will discharge Lynde from the Army for his action, but after the war he will receive a pension./1861
Monday, July 25, 2011
First Battle of Mesilla, Arizona
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Eastern Confederate Arizona |
- With his troops’ three months’ military enlistment expiring, US Gen. Robert Patterson is relieved of duty in the Shenandoah Valley, having failed to hold Joseph Johnston in Winchester, Virginia, and prevent him from moving east to support Beauregard at Manassas (Bull Run)./1861
- Falling in line with the Lincoln Administration, the US Congress approves the use of volunteers to put down the rebellion. Also, the US Senate passes by a vote of 30-5 the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution offered by Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky, which states the reason for war and invasion of the South is preservation of the Union and the Constitution, not to interfere with the institution of slavery as it is established. The measure is important in keeping Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland in the Union. Although the measure passes in Congress, it means little because within two weeks, President Lincoln will sign a confiscation act, allowing for the seizure of property—including slaves—from rebellious citizens. /1861
- Missouri continues to convulse with unrest. Fighting breaks out at Harrisville and Dug Springs. US Major General John C. Fremont assumes command of the Department of the West at St. Louis./1861
- At Mesilla, capital of the self-proclaimed Confederate Arizona Territory in the Federal Territory of New Mexico, a battalion of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, on their “buffalo hunt” to drive out Union sympathy in the New Mexico Territory, fight the First Battle of Mesilla in the vicinity of Fort Fillmore. If they can force Federal troops out of the Southwest, they can open New Mexico to Confederate control. Baylor leads his battalion across the Rio Grande into Mesilla, to the cheers of the population. A company of Arizona Confederates join Baylor here, and are mustered into the Confederate Army. Meanwhile at Fort Fillmore near Mesilla, Major Isaac Lynde, of the 7th US Infantry, leaves a small force behind to guard the fort, and leads 380 Regulars to the village of Messilla to drive out Baylor. Lynde approaches the town and demands Baylor's surrender. When Baylor refuses, Lynde deploys his men into a skirmish line and opens fire with his mountain howitzers. The infantry is ordered to advance but heavy sand and corn fields interfere with his attack. Lynde then orders his cavalry, three companies of the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, to charge Baylor's men. The Confederates managed to shoot many of the Union soldiers, disorganizing the attack, and repulsing the Union assault. Both sides begin skirmishing at long range as Lynde reforms his command and decides to retreat to the fort with Baylor’s Texans and armed Arizona citizens in pursuit. Lynde loses between 3 and 13 men killed plus 2 officers and 4 men wounded, while Baylor’s losses are between 2 and 7 dead and 7 seriously wounded with twenty horses killed./1861
- John LaMountain begins balloon reconnaissance ascensions at Fortress Monroe, Virginia./1861
Sunday, July 24, 2011
2nd Texas arrives at Mesilla; Wise evacuates Tyler Mountain
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Stonewall Jackson |
- In West Virginia, Union General Jacob Cox attacks Confederate forces under former Virginia Governor, General Henry Wise, at Tyler Mountain. Wise evacuates the area around Charleston, West Virginia and pulls back to Gauley Bridge. /1861
- Discussing his new-found fame from the disciplined fighting of his command at Manassas three days ago, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson says to Captain John D. Imboden, “Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”/1861
- A battalion of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor arrives tonight in Mesilla, capital of Confederate Arizona, but within the US Territory of New Mexico, and he prepares to launch a surprise attack the next morning. However, a Confederate deserter informs the fort's commander, US Major Isaac Lynde, of the plans./1861
- In Richmond, R.M.T. Hunter replaces Robert Toombs as Confederate Secretary of State. /1861
- Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond receives the contract to produce iron plate for the Merrimack conversion project./1861
- In Washington, an Act "to provide for the temporary increase of the Navy" passed by US Congress, gives President Lincoln the authority to take vessels into the Navy and appoint officers for them, to any extent deemed necessary. The Congress is merely confirming the actions that President has been taking since April./1861
Saturday, July 23, 2011
More US military changes; West Texans head for New Mexico
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Lt. Col. John R. Baylor |
- More military changes are announced in Washington. US Major General John Dix is ordered to take command of the new Department of Maryland, and Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans (or as the Southerners refer to him, Rosencrantz, the name of one of Shakespeare’s fools) is ordered to take command of the Department of the Ohio commanding in Western Virginia. President Lincoln signs legislation authorizing the enlistment of one million soldiers for three-year terms./1861
- In West Texas, a battalion of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor leaves tonight under orders from the Department of Texas commander, Colonel Earl Van Dorn, to occupy the series of forts along the west Texas frontier which had been abandoned by the Union Army. Baylor's orders allow him to advance into New Mexico in order to attack the Union forts along the Rio Grande if he believes the situation calls for it. Convinced that the Union force at Fort Fillmore would soon attack, Baylor decides to take the initiative and launch an attack of his own./1861
Friday, July 8, 2011
Sibley to lead New Mexico "buffalo hunt"
 Image via Wikipedia |
| H.H. Sibley |
- For several months, men known to be Southern sympathizers were invited to a “buffalo hunt” in West Texas, code language for an irregular military gathering to force the Union out of New Mexico. Eager to remove all vestiges of Federal presence from the New Mexico Territory, the Confederate War Department places Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibley in command of these irregular West Texas forces to do just that./1861
- Federal troops attack an encampment of Missouri State Guard troops at Florida, Missouri, scattering them./1861
Saturday, June 11, 2011
2nd Wheeling Convention opens; Lyon: "This means war"
In a face-to-face meeting at St. Louis, Missouri’s Planter's House hotel Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, commanding the US Department of Missouri with Colonel Francis Blair, Jr., of the US First Missouri Infantry, and Missouri Governor Claiborne F. Jackson with Confederate Brig. Gen. Sterling Price fail to reach a new agreement on the future of Missouri to replace the Price-Harney Truce. US Brig. Gen. William S. Harney had been recently removed from command by Lyon and Blair’s efforts for Harney’s agreement with Price for Federal authority to remain over St. Louis while giving control of the rest of the state to the pro-secession Missouri State Guard under Governor Jackson. Lyon is angry over what he feels is local intervention in orders to Federal troops. After over four-five hours of argument (much of it over the broad executive powers claimed by Jackson in the Military Bill) the arrogant Lyon abruptly ends the meeting as he started it, declaring deliberately, slowly, and with emphasis as he was still seated, “Rather, rather than concede to the State of Missouri the right to demand that my government shall not enlist troops within her limits, or bring troops into this State whenever it pleases or move troops at its own will into, out of, or through the State; rather than concede to the State of Missouri for one single instant the right to dictate to my government, in any matter however unimportant, I would” (rising, as he said this, and pointing to everyone in the room) “I would see you, and you, and you and you, and you, and every man, woman, and child, in the State, dead and buried. This means war. In an hour one of my officers will call on you and conduct you out of my lines.” And then without another word, without an inclination of the head, without even a look, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, rattling his spurs and clanking his sabre." Governor Jackson goes back to the capital at Jefferson City and prepares to evacuate the state government./1861Image via Wikipedia
Gov. C.F. Jackson
Pro-Unionist Virginians convene the Second Wheeling Convention at Wheeling, western Virginia, just across the river from Ohio, to consider seceding from the Old Dominion State, or in their words, to restore the government of Virginia which had been vacated by Virginia’s secession. The meeting has been very quietly organized, and most of the delegates will later hold office in the new state of West Virginia./1861Image via Wikipedia
Site of Wheeling Convention
 Image via Wikipedia |
| BG N. Lyon |
- US Colonel Richard Canby reports that Colonel Loring has abandoned the command of the Department of New Mexico./1861
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