Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
February 3, 1863 - The French embassy sends a message to Secretary of State William H. Seward offering to mediate the war.
February 3, 1863 - Captain John L. Warden is honored with a note of thanks from the U.S. Congress for his service as captain of the "USS Monitor."
February 3, 1863 - At Yazoo Pass, Mississippi, the levee to allow access to Vicksburg from behind is completed. A combined expedition commanded by General Leonard F. Ross moves down the Yazoo River escorted by the gunboats "USS Baron De Kalb" and "Chillicothe."
February 3, 1863 - Captain Raphael Semmes leads the crew of the "CSS Alabama" raider as they seize and burn the Union schooner "Palmetto" off Puerto Rico.
February 3, 1863 - General Nathan B. Forrest's Confederate cavalry fails in an attack on Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Colonel Abner C. Harding's garrison successfully turns back the attack aided by support fire from the "USS Lexington," "Fairplay," "St. Clair," "Brilliant," "Robb," and "Silver Lake."
February 4, 1863 - Confederate troops commanded by General John S. Marmaduke are driven from Batesville, Arkansas by pursuing Federal Troops.
February 5, 1863 - Citing low expectations for successful negotiation of an end to the war between the North and South in America, Queen Victoria informs Parliament that Britain will not become involved.
February 5, 1863 - General Hooker, newly named commander of the Army of the Potomac, reorganizes his command. He first drops the "Grand Division" scheme and replaces it with a nine corps structure. Corps Commanders are Generals John F Reynolds (I), Darius N. Couch (II), Daniel E. Sickles (III), George G. Meade (V), John Sedgwick (VI), William F. Smith (IX), Franz Sigel (XI), Henry W. Slocum (XII), and George Stoneman (cavalry).
February 6, 1863 - Secretary of State Seward rejects the French proposal to mediate the hostilities.
February 6, 1863 - General William F. Smith's IX Corps moves to Newport News, Virginia to increase pressure on Richmond from the east.
February 7, 1863 - At Selma, Alabama, two new Confederate ironclads are launched and move to Mobile to be further outfitted.
February 8, 1863 - The Chicago Tribune is forced to suspend publication temporarily due to alleged "disloyal" statements.
February 9, 1863 - The Confederate Army of the Southwest adds the Trans-Mississippi Department as part of their force. General Edmund Kirby-Smith commands.
