Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
June 17, 1862 - General John C. Fremont resigns his commission, upset over being subordinate to General John Pope in the new Army of Virginia. General Fritz Sigel replaces Fremont.
June 17, 1862 - General Pierre G.T. Beauregard is in poor health and is replaced as commander of the Confederate Western Department by General Braxton Bragg, a close friend of President Jefferson Davis. Bragg is never well liked or respected by his subordinates due to his indecisive nature and rambling speeches. Many ranking Confederates openly loathed serving under him even though General Bragg was regarded as a capable strategist.
June 17, 1862 - General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson moves quickly toward Richmond to join Robert E. Lee's Army.
June 17, 1862 - Captain Charles H. Davis is promoted to Commodore and commander of U.S. Navy forces along the Mississippi.
June 18, 1862 - General George W. Morgan moves Union forces into the Cumberland Gap effectively controlling mountain trails between Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. This revives long suppressed Union sentiment in the region.
June 18, 1862 - At Vicksburg, local residents join with the Confederate garrison occupying the town to construct extensive defensive works.
June 18, 1862 - Admiral David Farragut assembles his squadron and mortar fleet south of Vicksburg in preparation for the night run past Vicksburg's guns.
June 19, 1862 - President Lincoln signs legislation outlawing slavery in all territories.
June 19, 1862 - At James Island, South Carolina, General Henry W. Benham is arrested for his aborted attack on Secessionville. The Judge Advocate General recommends his brigadier's commission also be revoked. (See June 16,1862 when Benham was relieved from command.)
June 19, 1862 - Confederate Secretary of the Navy is informed of the readiness of the CSS Teaser, the first mine laying vessel. Also, galvanic cell batteries and an observation balloon are ready for use aboard this new ship.
June 20, 1862 - General Braxton Bragg reaches Tupelo, Mississippi to replace General Beauregard as commander of the Confederate Western Department.
June 20, 1862 - About 3000 Union Soldiers board Admiral Farragut's ships and depart Baton Rouge. General William Thomas commands the force that is directed to begin a canal to bypass Vicksburg, out of range of the Vicksburg guns.
June 21, 1862 - At Richmond, the expected heavy military action is further delayed while skirmish activity takes place along both sides of the Chickahominy River.
June 21, 1862 - Union landing parties from the USS Crusader and USS Planter capture Simmons Bluff and a Confederate encampment on the Madmelow River, South Carolina.
June 22, 1862 - Thirty nurses from the Sisters of Charity reach Fortress Monroe, Virginia to aid the Army of the Potomac.
June 23, 1862 - President Lincoln travels to West Point, New York to confer with Winfield Scott, former general in chief of Union forces. The apparent subject was Lincoln's dissatisfaction with General George McClellan and what course of action to follow.
June 23, 1862 - General Robert E. Lee plans his offensive action against the Army of the Potomac's right wing, commanded by General Fritz John Porter. (See June 15 entry.) The plan includes the use of 55,000 Confederates against Porter's 30,000 strong V Corps. The critical move is to have General Jackson, on a forced march from the Shenandoah Valley, to attack from behind while forces under Generals Longstreet, Daniel H. Hill, and Ambrose P. Hill attack from Richmond. General Jackson leaves to rejoin his marching force of "Foot Cavalry" on the critical move.
June 23, 1862 - General McClellan is held in place at Richmond by demonstrations by a small force of Confederates under Generals Huger and John Magruder.
