Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
August 18, 1863 - President Lincoln test-fires the new Spencer carbine, a rapid-fire weapon. The Federal units now have a decidedly superior weapon compared to the muzzle loaders used by the Confederate soldier.
August 18, 1863 - Fort Sumter continues to be bombarded by cannon fire. The Confederate garrison holds on in the masonry ruins of the fort.
August 18, 1863 - At Pueblo, Colorado, Federal troops commanded by Colonel Kit Carson skirmish with Pueblo Indians.
August 19, 1863 - The military draft, suspended in New York City due to rioting, resumes with no further violence.
August 19, 1863 - Saltpeter works in Franklin, West Virginia are destroyed by General William Averell's men. This works was formerly operated by Confederates but abandoned when West Virginia became a state.
August 20, 1863 - William C. Quantrill leads his Confederate force in a raid into Kansas.
August 20, 1863 - Colonel Kit Carson begins a campaign against Ute, Zuni, Navajo, and Mescalero Indians in New Mexico Territory. All captives are resettled on the Bosque Redondo reservation.
August 21, 1863 - General Quincy Gilmore's huge Parrott gun called "Swamp Angel" is in position to fire on the Charleston waterfront from swampy Morris Island. When fully functional, this weapon could lob 200-pound incendiary projectiles some 7,900 yards.
August 21, 1863 - Quantrill and his 450 Confederate and Missouri irregulars reach Lawrence, Kansas. They encounter Kansas Jayhawkers and commence the largest atrocity of the war, condemned by both North and South, when they round-up and execute about 180 men and boys, then burn at least 185 buildings.
August 21, 1863 - The Confederate CSS Torch, a torpedo boat, attacks but fails to destroy the USS New Ironsides in the channel off Morris Island, South Carolina. The 'Torch' pilot, James Carlin, approached to within 40 yards of the New Ironsides where he cut his engines and planned to drift into the Union vessel. Prevailing current turned the 'Torch' so that the approach was alongside. The New Ironsides crew worked to depress their main gun low enough to sink the intruder but the CSS Torch restarted engines and reached the harbor amid constant fire.
August 22, 1863 - The "Swamp Angel" is disabled while firing it's 36th round and abandoned. Some early incendiary rounds caused fire damage on shore.
August 22, 1863 - Admiral Dahlgren moves his ironclad fleet closer to Fort Sumter to complete the destruction of the fort. The USS Passaic accidentally grounds near the fort and the fleet withdraws, having accomplished very little.
August 23, 1863 - Union gunners fire 5,009 rounds into Fort Sumter and reduce it to rubble. The garrison, with only one gun still mounted, refuses to yield.
August 23, 1863 - Admiral Dahlgren moves his fleet back to Charleston Harbor and next concentrates on Fort Moultrie. Fog rolls in and Dahlgren signals the fleet to again withdraw.
August 24, 1863 - Major John Mosby begins a protracted raid against Union forces camped near Warrenton Junction and Alexandria, Virginia.
