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On this day in Civil War history
Compiled by Mitchell Werksman and Jim Klag
January 26, 1814 - Rufus King, American newspaper editor, politician and Brigadier General (Union Army), born in NYC, New York (d. 1876)
January 26, 1816 - Lloyd Tilghman, Brigadier General (CSA) is born in Clairborne, MD., (d. 1863)
January 26, 1826 - Julia Dent Grant, 1st lady is born in St. Louis, MO. (1862-76)
January 26, 1830 - Daniel Webster states "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable" during a debate on state's rights.
January 26, 1861 - By a vote of 112 to 17, the Louisiana Secessionist Convention votes to secede from the Union.
January 26, 1861 - The sovereign state of Mississippi establishes a state flag: It featured a white, five-pointed star on a dark blue canton (commonly called the Bonnie Blue), a field of white with a magnolia tree and a red banner on the fly end.
January 26, 1861 - The Oglethorpe Barracks and Fort Jackson, Savannah, GA, are seized by the State troops by order of Governor Joseph Brown.
January 26, 1862 - General P. G. T. Beauregard ordered west to become second-in-command to Albert Sidney Johnston.
January 26, 1862 - Federal reconnaissance to Wilmington Narrows, or Freeborn's Cut, GA, with naval engagement. (Jan 26-28)
January 26, 1862 - Lincoln issues General War Order #1, calling for a Union offensive, General George McClellan ignores order.
January 26, 1863 - In a letter to Joe Hooker, President Lincoln states that Hooker "...thwarted him (Burnside) as much as you could..."
January 26, 1863 - Skirmish at Mulberry Springs, AR.
January 26, 1863 - Skirmish at Township, FL.
January 26, 1863 - The CSS Alabama captures and burns the vessel Golden Rule off the coast off Santo Domingo.
January 26, 1863 - Skirmish at Grove Church, near Morrisville, VA.
January 26, 1863 - American Civil War: Massachusetts Governor receives permission from Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent (54th Massachusetts Regiment)
January 26, 1863 - Skirmishes near Fairfax Court-House and at Middleburg, VA, with Union pickets and Capt. John S. Mosby's Confederate Virginia Partisan Rangers. (Jan 26-27)
January 26, 1863 - In a shake-up in the command of the Army of the Potomac, President Lincoln orders the following removals/promotions:
Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, USA, supersedes Maj. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside, USA, in command of the Army of the Potomac.
Maj. Gen. Darius Nash Couch, USA, supersedes Maj. Gen. Edwin Vose Sumner, USA, in command of the Right Grand Division
Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade, USA, assumes command of the Center Grand Division
Maj. Gen. Oliver Otis Howard, USA, supersedes Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick, USA, in command of the 2d US Army Corps
Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin, USA, is temporarily in command of the 5th US Army Corps.
January 26, 1864 - Battle of Athens, Alabama.
January 26, 1864 - Local elections are permitted in Tennessee where the federal government feels it is in control of the state.
January 26, 1864 - Skirmish at Caddo Gap, AR.
January 26, 1864 - Affair in the San Andres Mountains, the New Mexico Territory, as Federal troops from Fort Craig overtake Indians. The Federals are attacked during the night and forced to retreat with casualties on both sides.
January 26, 1864 - Operations about Dandridge, TN. (Jan 26-28)
January 26, 1864 - Skirmishes at Flat Creek and Muddy Creek, near Dandridge, TN, with Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, USA, commanding the Army of the Ohio, pitted against Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet, CSA.
January 26, 1864 - Skirmish near Knoxville, TN.
January 26, 1864 - Skirmish at Sevierville, TN, as the Federals evacuate Tazewell and the Confederates of Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet's command occupy Servierville.
January 26, 1864 - Maj. Gen. John G. Parke, USA, resumes the command of the 9th US Army Corps, Knoxville, TN.
January 26, 1864 - The destruction of vast amounts of Confederate food in Hertford County, NC, by Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer, USA. The Federal list includes 200,000 pounds of pork, plus tobacco, cotton, wagons, etc.
January 26, 1865 - The siege of Petersburg is ongoing.
January 26, 1865 - Skirmish at Paint Rock, AL.
January 26, 1865 - Federal scout from Pine Bluff toward Camden and Monticello, AR, with skirmishes, as both sides leave men lying on the ground in final peaceful serenity. (Jan 26-31)
January 26, 1865 - Federal expedition from Plaquemine to The Park, LA, with skirmish (Feb 4) at The Park. (Jan 26-Feb 4)
January 26, 1865 - Skirmish near Pocotaligo, SC, with Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA.
January 26, 1865 - Federal expedition from Memphis, TN, into Southeastern Arkansas and Northeastern Louisiana, as the Yankees lay waste to vast amounts of Confederate provisions, food, etc., including the capture of the Confederate transport, Jim Barkman, that was loading corn for the Confederates at Camden. (Jan 26-Feb 11)
January 26, 1870 - The state of Virginia is granted readmission to Congress if the members of the Legislature agree never to amend their state constitution to deny the Negro the right of suffrage, the right to hold office, or their educational privileges.
January 2, 1884 - John Letcher, American lawyer and politician, U.S. House of Representatives and Civil War governor of Virginia, dies at 70.
January 26, 1893 - Abner Doubleday, Union major general dies at 73 in Mendham, NJ.