Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
Sept. 19, 1861 - C.S.A. General Sterling Price is reinforced by artillery units near Lexington, Missouri. The Confederate forces continue their siege while Union forces under Colonel James A. Mulligan resist, unaware that a relief column of 3,000 men led by Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis has been turned back. (See Sept. 13th entry.)
Sept. 19, 1861 - Earl Van Dorn is promoted to major general, C.S.A.
Sept. 19, 1861 - At Barbourville, Kentucky, Union forces are driven off by forces under Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer allowing Confederates to continue erecting strong defensive positions across Cumberland Gap, Bowling Green, and Columbus. (See Sept. 3rd entry.)
Sept. 20, 1861 - Colonel Mulligan, 23rd Illinois Regiment, surrenders 3,600 Union troops to Gen. Sterling Price at Lexington after a 9-day siege. Price seizes 3,000 rifles and seven cannons. The competence of General John C. Fremont again comes under question in Washington due to his failure to reinforce.
Sept. 20, 1861 - General Robert Anderson is instructed to establish his headquarters at Louisville as Confederates abandon Mayfield, Kentucky.
Sept. 21, 1861 - The Department of the Ohio is now commanded by General Ormsby M. Mitchel.
Sept. 21, 1861 - C.S.A. General Albert Sidney Johnston calls for 30,000 new volunteers from Tennessee for service in the West.
Sept. 21, 1861 - General Leonidas Polk is appointed to command Western Division Department #2 (Tennessee) for the Confederates.
Sept. 22, 1861 - C.S.A. General Joseph E. Johnston calls for 10,000 volunteers from Arkansas and Missouri to serve in Department #2.
Sept. 22, 1861 - At Mayfield Creek, Kentucky, General U.S. Grant encounters skirmishers as he moves toward Columbus, KY.
Sept. 23, 1861 - Winfield S. Hancock becomes a brigadier general, U.S. Army.
Sept. 23, 1861 - General Fremont closes a St. Louis newspaper that blamed him for the surrender of Lexington, Missouri.
Sept. 24, 1861 - James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stewart becomes brigadier general of Confederate cavalry.
Sept. 25, 1861 - Joseph Johnston and Jefferson Davis have another heated encounter, this time over staffing levels and strategy.
Sept. 25, 1861 - General Rosecrans advances into the Kenawha Valley, western Virginia, intent on eliminating Confederate forces in the area.
Sept. 25, 1861 - The U.S. Navy Department authorizes employment of "contrabands" on board vessels. They will draw pay at the rank of "boy" - one ration per day and $10.00 per month.
Sept. 26, 1861 - Confederate troops capture salt works in Clay County, Kentucky and destroy locks at the mouth of Muddy River, Kentucky. This involves Generals Zollicoffer and Simon Buckner with troops in the defensive line across southern Kentucky near the Tennessee border.
