Feb. 12-The ship Jacob Bell captured and burned by the Florida. Her cargo was worth $1,000,000. "21-Ships Golden Eagle and Olive Jane, burnt by the Alabama, on the coast of Africa. "24-Territorial government for Arizona created by act of Con gress. "24-Union gunboat Indianola taken by four steamers. 25-Cavalry fight at Strasburg, Va. Union loss 200 in killed and prisoners. "25-An act to prevent correspondence with the enemy, under a penalty of $10,000, passed and approved. 25-The bureau of currency created in the Treasury Department, the head of which is the comptroller of the currency, who is appointed for five years by the President, upon the nomination of the Sec. of the Treasury. This act also provides for a national currency, secured by a pledge of U. S. stocks. Under this act our present national banks were organized. 26-The Cherokee council repeal their act of secession, and abolish slavery. "28-The iron clad Nashville, which laid in the Ogeechee river, Geo., destroyed by the Union gunboat Montauk. March 1-The third fruitless attack upon fort McAllister, Geo., by the Union gunboats. 2-By act of Congress the number of generals in the service of the United States (of all grades) were increased from 253 to 358. 8-Act of Congress approved authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow $900,000,000 on the credit of the United States, and to issue $50,000,000 in fractional currency. This loan was issued in what is called 10.40 bonds, because they had from ten to forty years to run. 3-Congress authorize the President to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus during the rebellion. 8-The office of Assistant Treasurer created by act of Congress. 3-An act to establish a branch mint at Carson City, Nevada, approved. 66 8-An act forming a Territorial government for Idaho, approved. 48 . 3-The gunboat Indianola destroyed by the enemy, and the gunboat Geo. Washington was blown up in Broad river. 66 8-The President authorized to issue letters of marque and reprisal to privateers for three years. 5-Gen. Van Dorn attacks the Union troops at Springfield, Tenn., routed them, and captured many prisoners. 6-Franklin, Tenn., taken by the southern forces, who killed 300 and took 1,000 prisoners. "10 Jacksonville, Fla., taken by U. S. negro troops. 66 Mch. 13-Battle at the mouth of the Tallahatchie river between the gunboat Chillicothe and fort Pemberton, which was silenced 14-The U. S. fleet bombarded fort Hudson, La. In the attempt to pass the batteries, the flag ship Mississippi was dis abled, and burnt by order of Com. Farragut. 17-Averill's cavalry (Union) reached Kelly's Ford, where they attacked the enemy, under Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee. The battle lasted five hours, when the enemy fell back. This battle was one of the most gallant cavalry fights of the whole war. 19 The English steamer Georgiana, with arms for the south, destroyed off Charleston, S. C. 25-Two Union rams destroyed in attempting to pass the batteries at Vicksburgh. April 1-Admiral Farragut's fleet pass all the batteries at Grand Gulf. 66 6-To show the effects of the war on the south, we quote the The ship Morning Star captured by the steamer Alabama. 8-Admiral Farragut captures the steamer J. D. Clark. "12-Battle at Teche, La., Unionist under Gen Banks. Another fight occurred on the 14th, between the same parties, when the enemy ran and lost three of their gunboats. "16-Porter's fleet of six gunboats and a number of transports, ran by all the batteries at Vicksburgh. "20-President Lincoln issued a proclamation that West Virginia had complied with the act of Congress, imposing a certain condition of admission as a separate State; gave notice that in sixty days from this date she would come into the Union. "23-Gen. Hunter gives Jeff. Davis notice that he will retaliate for the killing of our negro soldiers and their officers. "24-On this day the Union forces were defeated in a fight at Beverly, Va., and were victorious at Weber Falls, Ark., and also on the Iron Mountain railroad, near St. Louis, Mo. "26-Three hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn destroyed on Deer Creek, Miss., by a party of Union raiders. "27-Texas Legion captured at Franklin, Tenn. 28-Cavalry fight at Sand Mountain, Geo. Southern troops flee, leaving 200 dead and wounded. During this month no less than eighty-five battles, skirmishes or attacks took place on land and upon the water, (the lat ter principally by gunboats.) May 1-Battle of Port Gibson; 11,000 southern troops defeated. They also suffer another defeat at Monticello, Ky., and another at South Quay, Va. The Unionists suffer a defeat also in a skirmish at Lagrange, Ark. The battle of Chancellorsville, Va., also commenced this day. "2-Battle of Chancellorsville, Va. This was the second day of fight. The Union forces under Gen. Hooker; opposed by Gen. Lee. On the third day loss heavy on both sides. "2-Col. Grierson's raiders reach Baton Rouge, La., after 15 days' ride through Mississippi, in which time they had several fights, took prisoners, destroyed railroads, burnt bridges, and did much damage. 66 3-Col. Streight's Union raiding force of 1,600 men captured near Gadsden, Ala. "3-Gen. Sedgwick captured Fredericksburg, Va., but it was retaken the next day. 3-Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., by Admiral Porter's fleet. 5-Vallandigham arrested in Ohio for treason. "10-Stonewall Jackson died. "12-Battle of Farnden's Creek, Miss. Between Gen. Gregg and the Unionists under Gen. Logan-each about 5,000 men. Union victory. "13-Yazoo City captured by the Union gunboats, with two millions of property. "16-Battle at Baker's Creek, Miss.; Gen. Grant, Union, against Gen. Pemberton, who was defeated, with a loss of 4,000 men. This victory was followed up by another battle the next day, when 2,000 more prisoners were taken. "18 Vicksburg invested by the forces of Gens. Grant, Sherman, McPherson and McClernand, and the terrible battle began, while Admiral Porter aided them with his fleet of gunboats. (See 4th of July next.) "21-The southern troops offer terms of capitulation, being completely surrounded in their fortifications at Vicksburg. But Gen. Grant refused any other terms than unconditional surrender. "26-Gen. Breckenridge defeated in Tennessee. "27-Gen. Banks repulsed in his second attack on Port Hudson, La. He also failed in two or three subsequent attacks on the same place. June 7-Battle at Milliken's Bend. The Union force in the main action were negroes, who drove back the enemy. "9-Two cavalry fights take place this day on the Rappahannock river, the latter at Brandy station. "11-Col. Montgomery starts from Hilton Head, S. C.. with a regiment of colored troops, for a raid in Georgia. "11-The Clarence captures six vessels off the Chesapeake bay. June 15-President Lincoln calls for 100,000 men to repel Gen. Lee's army, now marching north. "16-The governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey call for volunteers to defend Pennsylvania from invasion. "17-The steamer Nashville captured. "18-The southern troops, under Milroy, arrive at Bedford, Pa., and within a few days after several other large bodies of their troops enter the State at Chambersburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Gettysburg, and York, amounting in all to more than 100,000 men. "20-The new State of West Virginia organized. July Missouri abolishes slavery in that State. 1-2-3-Successive fighting for three days at Gettysburg, Pa., which ended in a Union victory. This was one of the greatest battles of our civil war: 6,000 men were buried on the field, and about 200,000 were in the fight; Union loss 23,000 in killed, wounded and missing. General Lee, in the night, crossed the Potomac river into Virginia. "4-Vicksburg, Miss., surrendered to Gen. Grant, after holding out against our bombarding and shelling since the 18th of May last. Gen. Pemberton not only surrendered the place, but his whole army of 31,000 men, 220 guns, and 70,000 small arms. The battle of Gettysburg and the surrender of Vicksburg may be considered as the turning point of the "4-Gen. Lee fled. President Lincoln announces the victory of Gettysburg, and Gen. Meade issues a congratulatory address to his army on their victory. war. 8-Surrender of Port Hudson, on the Mississippi river, to Gen. Banks, with 7,000 prisoners, and a great number of cannon and small arms. This opened the Mississippi to trade. "13-Great riot in New York. It became necessary for the gov ernment to send troops to that city to put down the riot. The colored orphan asylum was burnt, negroes hung in the streets, houses robbed and burnt. 15 The riot in New York continues. The United States troops had arrived; they fire upon the rioters, and kill and wound several hundred of them. "15 President Lincoln issues a proclamation appointing the 6th of August as a day for thanksgiving for the recent great victories by our armies. "23-Battle of Manassas Gap, Va.; southern loss about 400 killed and wounded. "26-Morgan, the guerilla, who had been scouring Indiana and Ohio, burning, killing and robbing, was captured with 400 of his men in Ohio. "26-John J. Crittenden, long in the Senate of the United States from Kentucky, died at Frankfort in that State. Aug. 1-Two battles between cavalry took place this day in Vir ginia; one at Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, and one at Culpepper. Aug. 4-The steamboat Ruth accidentally burnt on the Mississippi river, with $250,000 of government money on board. About this time, the Indians in Minnesota were hostile, and Gen. Sibley had three battles with them, and drove them off. "12 to 20-Gen. Gilmore bombards Fort Sumter, and on the 21st, 22d, 23d, and 25th, threw shells into Charleston, S. C., at a range of nearly six miles. "27-John B. Floyd, Secretary of War under Buchanan, died. "31-A squadron of United States war vessels attack fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor. During this month, Mississippi and Tennessee swarmed with guerillas. Sept. 1-Knoxville, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside's troops. An artillery fight at Port Royal, Va. 2-Kingston, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside. แ 5-Forts Wagner and Gregg, near Charleston, bombarded by Gen. Gilmore, and on the 6th the enemy evacuated them. 8-Cumberland Gap, with 2,000 prisoners, surrendered to Gen. Burnside. "10-Little Rock, Ark., evacuated and occupied by the Union troops. "19-Battle of Chickamauga, Geo. This battle raged for two days, and ended in a great defeat for the Union army, and a loss of over 15,000 men in killed, wounded and missing. Gen. Rosecrans commanded the Union, and Gen. Bragg the southern troops. "22-A heavy battle at Madison Court House, Va. Unionists victorious. "28—The enemy attacked Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville, Tenn., but were repulsed. Oct. 3-Union troops threw Greek fire into Charleston. "5-The enemy attacked Murfreesboro, Tenn., but were repulsed. Chattanooga, Tenn., bombarded by Gen. Bragg. 5-The "New Ironsides," in Charleston harbor, attacked by a gunboat and torpedo, but they failed in the attempt, and the assailants were captured. "14-Battle of Bristoe Station, Va. Result, 450 Southern prisoners. "16-Henry Ward Beecher lectures in England in relation to our civil war. "16-Gen. Grant takes command of the departments of Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio. "17-The President calls for 300,000 more troops. "21-Three fights occur this day-1. At Tuscumbia, Ala. 2. At Philadelphia, Tenn. 3. At Corinth, Miss. "26-Charleston again bombarded from forts Wagner, Gregg and the Union gunboats. |