Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
Civil War - 150 Years Ago This Week - December 2 - 8, 1862 Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
December 2, 1862 - Confederate steamer 'Queen of the Bay' is run aground on Padre Island, Texas by a crew from the USS 'Sachem.' The sailors retreat 30 miles and eventually rejoin their refloated vessel.
December 3, 1862 - Confederate troops destroy 15 locomotives and 100 railcars to avoid capture of the equipment, then flee from Granada, Mississippi as Union troops commanded by General Alvin P. Hovey occupy the town.
December 3, 1862 - Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman leads 11,000 men out of Van Buren, Arkansas in bitter weather. They move to attack and destroy General Blunt's small Union unit at Cane Hill. Blunt becomes aware of Hindman's approach and telegraphs for help, which is 100 miles away. (See November 28th entry.)
December 4, 1862 - General Joseph E. Johnston arrives to coordinate the military operations of Generals Pemberton at Vicksburg, Mississippi and Braxton Bragg at Nashville. This extra level of control further complicates a command structure where-in President Davis controls the army from Richmond.
December 4, 1862 - Union forces capture Winchester, western Virginia, taking 145 Confederates as prisoners.
December 5, 1862 - President Lincoln pardons many of the Sioux tribesmen slated for execution. A total of 39 are condemned and hanged while 303 are released. The Sioux were detained after the uprising near New Ulm, Minnesota, in August and September 1862.
December 5, 1862 - Union Colonel Theophilus L. Dickey and his XIII Cavalry Corps, in pursuit of General Earl Van Dorn near Coffeyville, Mississippi, are engaged by a superior force of Confederates commanded by Generals Mansfield Lovell and Lloyd Tilghman. Colonel Dickey leads a successful withdrawal, suffering ten killed and 63 wounded while capturing 750 Southern soldiers, 200 horses, and 4 wagons.
December 5, 1862 - The CSS Alabama captures and releases the Federal schooner 'Union' near Haiti. Captain Raphael Semmes commands the Alabama.
December 6, 1862 - In a march that saved General Blunt's Union forces in Arkansas and preserved the Union war effort in that state, two divisions from the Army of the Frontier brave bitter cold and rough terrain to move 100 miles in three days. Under General Frances J. Herron, they move from Springfield, Missouri to Fayetteville, Arkansas.
December 7, 1862 - President Jefferson Davis contacts General Pemberton at Vicksburg inquiring "Are you in communication with General J.E. Johnston? Hope you will be reinforced in time."
December 7, 1862 -Hartsville, Tennessee is captured by a force of 2,400 Confederate raiders under General Morgan. Union General Absalom B. Moore's loss is 58 killed, 204 wounded and over 1800 captured.
December 7, 1862 - The Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas takes place. Confederate General Hindman sends a cavalry force to distract General Blunt at Cane Hill while he advances on the tired and footsore command of General Herron near Prairie Grove, eight miles from Fayetteville. General Herron is badly outnumbered but he attacks when General Hindman goes into a defensive position. Union artillery is superior and the battle is a hard fought draw. Union loss is 175 dead, 813 wounded, and 263 missing (of 8,000 available) while Confederate losses total 164 killed, 817 wounded, and 336 missing (of 10,000 available to fight). The Confederates of Hindman's command evacuate and return to Van Buren. Over the next several days, large numbers of Confederate soldiers desert and the Union domination over Missouri and northwestern Arkansas remains.
December 7, 1862 - The CSS Alabama captures the steamer 'Ariel' off Cuba, this time taking 700 prisoners, including 150 U.S. Marines, Commanded by Louis C. Sartori.
December 8, 1862 - President Lincoln asks the U.S. Congress to issue an official vote of thanks to Captain John L. Worden for his role as commander of the USS Monitor.
