February 16,1864-Federal troops begin a major campaign against hostile Indians at Fort Walla Walla in Washington Territory.
February 16,1864-Soldiers of the 54th Illinois engage in an altercation in Paris,(Edger County) Illinois. The soldiers disrupt local Democrats opposed to continuation of the war.
February 17,1864-The fourth session of the first Confederate Congress adjourns after suspending writs of habeas corpus related to arrest made by the president or congress, expanded the draft to include all white males aged 17 to 50, and allowed hiring of African American slaves as army laborers. Vice President Alexander H. Stephens protested the writ of habeas corpus but was overruled.
February 17,1864-A Union surprise attack at Piedmont, Virginia results in the capture of 13 of Major John S. Mosby's partisan rangers.
February 17,1864-The CSS Hunley submarine attacks the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor by ramming her spar torpedo under the Housatonic's starboard side. The explosion sinks the Union screw sloop with five sailors drowned. The Hunley signals to shore that all is well but only minutes later, the Hunley sinks with the entire crew lost.
February 18,1864-The Port of Brownsville, Texas is opened to trade by President Lincoln. The Union Blockade is lifted.
February 20,1864-John S. Mosby is promoted to lieutenant colonel but his day is ruined when Union troops raid his headquarters at Front Royal, Virginia.
February 20,1864-The highest percentage loss totals of any battle in the Civil War takes place at Olustee, Florida. Confederate troops under General Joseph Finnegan engage General Truman Seymour's Union forces. Each side has about 5,000 men. The 7th New Hampshire and the 8th U.S. Colored Infantry are pushed back with heavy losses. The 54th Massachusetts and the 35th U.S. Colored Infantry try to stem the tide but are also overrun. Total losses for the Union are 203 dead, 1,152 wounded, and 506 missing(1,861 or 37%). Confederate losses total 93 killed and 841 wounded (934 or 19%).
February 20,1864-General William T. Sherman abandons Meridian, Mississippi and moves back toward Vicksburg, searching for General William Sooy Smith's missing cavalry.
February 20,1864-General William Sooy Smith's cavalry enters an extended fire fight against Colonel Jeffery E. Forrest's Confederate cavalry near Prairie Station, Mississippi.
February 20,1864-Admiral John A.B. Dalgren urges Navy Secretary Gideon Wells to post a reward of $20,000 or $30,000 for capture or destruction of any submarine style craft. This comes after the CSS Hunley sinks the USS Housatonic.
February 21,1864-Partisan ranger's of Colonel John S. Mosby kill 15 and capture 70 in an attack on a Union raiding party near Dranesville, Virginia.
February 21,1864-Cavalry commanded by Colonel Jeffery Forrest continues to skirmish against General William Sooy Smith's cavalry at West Point, Mississippi. Colonel Forrest's older brother, General Nathan B. Forrest, sets up an elaborate ambush but General Smith withdraws, believing he is outnumbered. General Smith calls off any effort to join General Sherman.
February 22,1864-Kansas Senator Samuel Pomroy, believing that President Lincoln cannot win a second term, attempts to have Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase nominated as the Republican candidate. There is a backlash against Chase when the "Pomeroy Circular" is printed. Chase offers to resign from the cabinet but President Lincoln does not accept his resignation.
February 22,1864-General George Thomas checks the position and size of the Confederate Army around Dalton, Georgia, believing that General Joseph E. Johnston may have sent detachments to either General Polk in Mississippi or General Longstreet in Tennessee. General Thomas dispatches General John Palmer's XIV Corps through Ringold Pass onto the plains near Tunnel Hill.
February 22,1864-General Nathan Bedford Forrest's men attack the rear guard of General Smith's cavalry and are repelled. Colonel Jeffery Forrest is killed and General Smith retreats to Pontotoc, Mississippi. General Forrest is low on ammunition and does not follow Smith's retreat.
