Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
March 17, 1863 - The Yazoo River expedition steams down the Tallahatchie River after being stymied at Fort Pemberton.
March 17, 1863 - Confederate forces at Culpeper Station, Virginia become aware of General William W. Averell's Union cavalry approaching from Morrisville, Virginia. General Fitzhugh Lee orders his 800 men into the saddle and advances to meet the threat. General Averell places his 2,100 men behind a stone wall and deploys his six cannons. In a daylong encounter, the opponents advance and retreat several times, finally calling off the fight at 5:00 P. M. with 58 Union and 133 Confederate dead. The most notable loss was Major John Pelham, Confederate artillerist. Generals Averell and Fitzhugh Lee were roommates at West Point and Averell left a bag of coffee and a note inquiring if General Lee enjoyed his visit.
March 18, 1863 - The New Jersey state legislature passes a resolution condemning the war and calling for a negotiated end. New Jersey state regiments in the field pass a resolution condemning the legislature's act as "wicked" and "cowardly."
March 18, 1863 - The Confederate steamer 'Georgiana' is destroyed by the crew of the USS Wissahickon when the steamer attempts to run the blockade at Charleston, South Carolina.
March 19, 1863 - Admiral Farragut steams north on the Mississippi River with the USS Hartford and the Albatross, the only two ships he currently commands. He runs past heavy fire from Confederate guns at Grand Gulf, south of Vicksburg and anchors off Warrenton the next day.
March 19, 1863 - Admiral David D. Porter continues up Deer Creek, Mississippi toward Steele's Bayou, clearing Southern snipers and removing trees and other obstacles from the river.
March 20, 1863 - Admiral Porter's expedition passes Rolling Fork on Deer Creek but becomes trapped when Confederates fell trees and further obstruct the river.
March 20, 1863 - The Union garrison at Washington, North Carolina is ringed by several brigades of soldiers and artillery batteries. Garrison commander, General John G. Foster calls for Federal gunboats from the nearby Pamlico River to assist.
March 21, 1863 - Union General Edwin Vose Sumner, at 66 years, the oldest officer involved in the Civil War on either side, dies of natural causes at Syracuse, New York. General Sumner fought in both the Black Hawk and Mexican Wars.
March 21, 1863 - General Sherman's expedition encounters low hanging branches, tree-choked river banks, snipers, and man-made barriers as they move to rescue Admiral Porter's squadron on Deer Creek.
March 21, 1863 - General Leonard F. Ross turns around on the Yazoo River and streams back toward Fort Greenwood, Mississippi.
March 22, 1863 - In Kentucky, two separate raids begin. One results in the capture of Mount Sterling by elements of General Morgan's Raiders while the other is the launch of an extended raid throughout the state lead by General John Pegram.
March 22, 1863 - Admiral Porter concedes that the effort to reach Steele's Bayou from the Yazoo River has failed. Loading Sherman's infantry on his vessels, Admiral Porter sails back to Hill's Plantation and another attempt to reach Vicksburg via inland waterways is thwarted.
March 23, 1863 - The Confederate raider CSS Alabama captures and burns the Union ship 'Morningstar' and the whaler 'Kingfisher' off the Brazilian coast.
March 23, 1863 - Admiral Farragut orders the bombardment of Confederate works near Warrenton, Mississippi from his two ships, 'Hartford' and 'Albatross,' still separated from his fleet.
March 23, 1863 - Captain John Mosby leads Virginia Partisan Rangers in the defeat of a Federal force at Little River Turnpike, Virginia, then narrowly escapes capture by Union cavalry troops.
