March 16,1864-After a landing party from the USS Osage under Commander Thomas O. Selfridge occupied Alexandria, Louisiana, General Andrew J. Smith's Union forces strengthened the occupation with support of nine gunboats. This is part of the naval move to Shreveport by Admiral David Porter.
March 16,1864-Confederate Colonel John M. Hughs led a cavalry attack on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near Tullahoma, Tennessee with 60 Union soldiers captured, several trains destroyed, and 20 African Americans killed.
March 16,1864-Captain Raphael Semmes drops anchor at Capetown, South Africa to take on supplies. The CSS Alabama Confederate Raider has been repaired and is now ready to sail.
March 17,1864-General Nathaniel Banks fails to rendezvous with General Andrew Smith at Alexandria due to the political leadership exchange in New Orleans.
March 17,1864-In a meeting at Nashville, General Grant announces that "Headquarters will be in the field and, until further orders, will be with the Army of the Potomac".
March 18,1864-Arkansas voters ratified a new constitution which included the abolition of slavery.
March 18,1864-The Military Division of the Mississippi combines all Union western army units and General William T. Sherman is formally appointed as commander.
March 19,1864-The Georgia legislature grants President Jefferson Davis a vote of confidence. They also suggest peace talks be arranged with Washington D.C. following the next significant Confederate victory but stipulate "only Southern independence".
March 21,1864-Nevada and Colorado statehood legislation is signed by President Lincoln. Nevada becomes a state on October 31,1864; Colorado statehood is ratified August 1,1876.
March 21,1864-Henderson Hill, Louisiana is the site of Union cavalry defeating Confederate troops and taking 250 prisoners, 200 horses, and four cannon. The Union Cavalry was led by General Joseph A. Mower, disrupting Confederate scouting and reconnaissance.
March 22,1864-General Lew Wallace is named commander of the Middle Department headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
March 22,1864-As General Frederick Steele departs Little Rock for the expedition on the Red River, General Nathan Kimball is named commander of the Union Department of the Arkansas.
