01/26, January 26th In Civil War History

Jimklag

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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.
 
Battle of Athens:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Battle of Athens Alabama.

Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:


Union Army Commander:
Captain Emil Adams

Union Army Force:
9th​ Illinois Mounted Infantry Regiment

Union Army Casualties and losses:
20


Confederate Army Commander:
Lt. Colonel Moses W. Hannon 1827 – 1897

Confederate Army force: 1st​ Alabama Cavalry Regiment

Confederate Army casualties and losses: 30
 
Official Records Volume XXXII, Part 1, pg. 119.

Hdqrs. Left Wing, Sixteenth Army Corps,
Pulaski, Tenn., January 29, 1864.

Major : I have the honor to report that General Roddey, with Patterson's and Hannon's regiments and two pieces of artillery, attacked Athens, Ala., on January 26, at 4 a. m., opening upon the town without any notice with his artillery, the shot and shell going through several houses occupied by citizens, and after two hours' fighting was repulsed and defeated by Captain Adam and 75 men of the Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry, that being all the force then at the post.

The plan of the attack, as has since been ascertained by captured dispatches, was as follows:
Colonel Johnson and his brigade, stationed near Florence, was to move upon the Florence and Athens road and attack the town from the northwest, while General Roddey in person, with the forces above named, was to cross the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry, 18 miles from Athens and 10 miles below Decatur, with his men dismounted.

The movement of Johnson was defeated by Colonel Miller, of the Second Division, Army of the Cumberland, who fought and checked him at Shoal Creek bridge, 35 miles west of Athens, the evening before the attack. The force at Athens with a force from Pulaski had moved out toward Florence the day before the attack for the purpose of driving Johnson's force across the Tennessee River. General Roddey did not know of this and moved up in accordance with the plan, but hearing of the force to the west of him and getting Colonel Johnson's dispatch that he could not support him, as he was checked by a heavy force in front, he retreated. We had no force to follow him. Captain Adam and his men displayed great coolness and judgment and fought with determined bravery, checking General Roddey's command and holding them some two hours, enabling us thereby to send off all stores and transportation.

The noble conduct of these troops saved all of our bridge parties, both north and south of Athens, as well as all the structures lately put up. Had the attack succeeded it would have been very detrimental to us, and have delayed the opening of the road for a long time. I think such instances of the repulse of so large a force by so few men, without fortifications or artillery, very seldom occur, and must redound to the great credit of our arms while it equally disgraces the enemy.

Our loss was about 20 killed, wounded, and missing.

The force at Mooresville under Colonel Biggs was notified of the attack at sunrise by Major Park, superintendent of repairs on railroad, who urged that officer to fall on the rear of the enemy at Brown's Ferry by a road leading direct to that place down the river. Had this been done the entire force of the enemy would have been captured.

Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips heard of the contemplated attack and returned promptly, making direct for Brown's Ferry, but his advance arrived there only just in time to see the last of the rebels over. He marched all night and day until he arrived on the ground.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. M. DODGE,
Brigadier- General.

Maj. R. M. Sawyer,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
 
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