03/31, March 31st In Civil War History

Jimklag

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This date in Civil War history
Compiled by Mitchell Werksman and Jim Klag

March 31, 1836 - The Winchester and Potomac Railroad opens from Harpers Ferry to Winchester, Va. – a distance of 32 miles.

March 31, 1850 - John C. Calhoun dies, Washington, D.C.

March 31, 1858 - The Church of Mormon begins issuing its "Move South" series of paper currency.

March 31, 1861 - General John Bankhead Magruder reassigned from Arkansas to Texas.

March 31, 1861 - Fort Bliss, TX, is abandoned by the Union forces.

March 31, 1861 - Confederacy takes over mint at New Orleans.

March 31, 1862 - Grenville Mellen Dodge, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.

March 31, 1862 - Brig. Gen. William Whann Mackall, CSA, supersedes Maj. Gen. John Porter McCown, CSA, in the command at New Madrid Bend, and at Island No. 10.

March 31, 1862 - Skirmish at Pink Hill, MO, with the 1st MO Cavalry.

March 31, 1862 - Skirmish at Deep Gully, NC.

March 31, 1862 - Maj. Gen. David Hunter, USA, assumes the command of the Dept. of the South, i.e., South Carolina. Georgia, and Florida.

March 31, 1862 - Federal expedition to Paris, TN, by Capt. William A. Haw, 5th IA Cavalry. (Mar 31-Apr 2)

March 31, 1862 - Skirmish on the Purdy Road near Adamsville, TN, with Brig. Gen. Lewis Wallace, USA.

March 31, 1862 - The Federal capture of Union City, TN.

March 31, 1862 - Brig. Gen. Louis (Ludwig) Blenker's, USA, Division is ordered to the Mountain (a.k.a. Fremont's) Dept., VA.

March 31, 1863 - Oliver Otis Howard, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.

March 31, 1863 - Skirmishes at Clapper's Saw Mill, on Crooked Creek and at Cross Hollow, AR.

March 31, 1863 - Jacksonville, FL, is evacuated by the Union forces. The Union ironclads sink the CSS Nashville, in the Savannah River, GA.

March 31, 1863 - Federal Operations from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage, LA. (Mar 31-Apr 17)

March 31, 1863 - Skirmish at Richmond, LA.

March 31, 1863 - Engagement at Grand Gulf, MS, with the passing of the shore batteries by the Albatross, Hartford, and the Switzerland, led by Admiral David Farragut, USN.

March 31, 1863 - Skirmishes near Eagleville, TN, with Rebel cavalry. (Mar 31-Apr 1)

March 31, 1863 - Skirmish near Franklin, TN.

March 31, 1863 - Federal scout from Lexington to the mouth of Duck River, TN. (Mar 31-Apr 3)

March 31, 1864 - Federal scout from Bridgeport, AL, to Caperton's Ferry and vicinity, where a couple of men are found playing both sides of the allegiance game, with passes from both armies. Their mother is drawing rations from the government and has her house searched where the Federals find 80 bushels of corn, 20 of wheat, 3 barrels of flour, 10 bushels of rye, and some 200 pounds of bacon. (Mar 31-Apr 2)

March 31, 1864 - Skirmish near Arkadelphia, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign.

March 31, 1864 - Skirmish at Palatka, FL.

March 31, 1864 - Skirmish at Forks of Beaver, Eastern KY.

March 31, 1864 - Skirmish at Natchitoches, LA, with Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, USA.

March 31, 1864 - Affair at Spring Island, SC, where the Confederates report a Federal reconnoitering party landing from a Union gunboat and tug.

March 31, 1865 - Battle of White Oak Road, Virginia - Petersburg Campaign.

March 31, 1865 - Battle of Dinwiddie Court House In a tactical victory for the Confederates, George Pickett [CS] turns back Phil Sheridan's cavalry and elements of the Fifth Corps - Petersburg Campaign.

March 31, 1865 - Union troops occupy Asbyville, AL, with Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson, USA.

March 31, 1865 - Action near Montevallo, AL, where Brig. Gen. James Harrison Wilson, USA, and his Cavalry force destroys iron furnaces, etc., while combating Lieut. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA.

March 31, 1865 - Action at Six-Mile Creek, AL, with Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson.

March 31, 1865 - Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele's, USA, column reaches Stockton, AL, the Mobile, AL, Campaign.

March 31, 1865 - Federal operations about Aquia Eria, the New Mexico Territory, as the Yankees respond to a scared rancher that Indians had crossed his ranch last night. Upon further scouting, the Yankees determine the horse tracks had been made by either peaceful Navajo or Pueblo Indians. The tracks close to his house that the nervous rancher referred to where his own. (Mar 31-Apr 1)

March 31, 1865 - Skirmish at Galley's, NC.

March 31, 1865 - Skirmish at Hookerton, NC.

March 31, 1865 - Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, USA, resumes the command of the 23rd US Army Corps, NC.

March 31, 1865 - Skirmish at Magnolia, TN.

March 31, 1865 - Maj. Gen. John Bankhead Magruder, CSA, is assigned to the command of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and vice Maj. Gen. John G. Walker, CSA, is relieved of command.

March 31, 1865 - Action at Crow's House, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

March 31, 1865 - Action at Hatcher's Run, or Boydton Road, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.
 
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Farragut thought he had failed when he passed the batteries in 1863. But the War and Navy Departments told him he had been important in disrupting communication between the west and east banks of the Mississippi. Unintentionally he added to the confusion among the Confederates. :smile coffee:
 
Battle of White Oak Road:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Battle of White Oak Road. This battle was fought on March 31st​, 1865. The battle was fought in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.


Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:

Union Army Commander:
Major General Gouverneur K. Warren (New York) 1830 – 1882

Union Army Strength:
- (around 22,000)

Union Army casualties and losses:
- (1,870)


Confederate Army Commander:
General Robert E. Lee (Virginia) 1807 – 1870

Confederate Army Strength:
- (around 8,000)

Confederate Army casualties and losses:
- (around 800)
 
Battle of Dinwiddie Court House:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House. This battle took place on March 31st​, 1865. The location of the battle was Dinwiddie County, Virginia.


Result of Battle: Confederate Victory :CSA1stNat:


Confederate Army Commanders:

Major General George E. Pickett (Virginia) 1825 – 1875
Major General Fitzhugh Lee (Virginia) 1835 – 1905

Confederate Army Strength:
- (around 10,600)

Confederate Army casualties and losses:
760


Union Army Commander:
Major General Philip H. Sheridan (New York) 1831 – 1888

Union Army Strength:
- (around 9,000)

Union Army casualties and losses:
354
 
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