04/02, April 2nd In Civil War History

Jimklag

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

April 2, 1862 - Brig. Gen. James William Denver, USA, assumes the command of the District of Kansas.

April 2, 1862 - Federal reconnaissance from Cape Girardeau to Jackson, Whitewater, and Dallas, MO. (Apr 2-4)

April 2, 1862 - Skirmish near Doniphan, at Putnam's Ferry, MO.

April 2, 1862 - Skirmish near Walkersville, MO.

April 2, 1862 - Skirmish at Stony Creek, near Edenburg, VA.

April 2, 1862 - Federal reconnaissance to the Rappahannock River, VA, as Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, USA, arrives at Fortress Monroe, near Hampton, VA, aboard the US steamer, Commodore.

April2, 1863 - Skirmish on the Little Rock Road, AR.

April 2, 1863 - Federal expedition to Greenville, Black Bayou, and Deer Creek, MS, with skirmishes, (Apr 7, 8, & 10) (Apr 2-14)

April 2, 1863 - Affair in Jackson County, MO.

April 2, 1863 - Engagement at Hill's Point, Pamlico River, NC, between Union gunboats and the Confederate batteries, under Maj. Gen. Hill.

April 2, 1863 - Federal scout in Beaver Creek Swamp, TN. (Apr 2-6)

April 2, 1863 - Skirmish on the Carter Creek Pike, TN, with Union cavalry.

April 2, 1863 - Federal reconnaissance from Murfreesboro to Auburn, Liberty, Snow Hill, Cherry Valley, Statesville, Gainesville, and Lebanon, and skirmishes (Apr 3) at Snow Hill, or Smith's Ford, and at Liberty, TN. (Apr 2-6)

April 2, 1863 - Federal expedition from Readyville to Woodbury, TN.

April 2, 1863 - Federal expedition from Camp Douglas to the Spanish Fork, the Utah Territory, and action (Apr 4) with Indians at the Spanish Fork Canon, with many Indian casualties and fatalities. (Apr 2-6)

April 2, 1863 - Maj. Gen. Oliver 0. Howard, USA, supersedes Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz, USA, in the command of the 11th US Army Corps, VA.

April 2, 1863 - A mob demands bread from a supply wagon in Richmond, starting the so-called Bread Riot. The mob looted other stores and was personally addressed by Jefferson Davis, who tossed the money from his pocket into the crowd. Police and soldiers eventually dispersed the crowd.

April 2, 1864 - Skirmishes at Antoine, or Terre Noir Creek, and on Wolf Creek, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign.

April 2, 1864 - Skirmishes at Okolona, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign. (Apr 2-3)

April 2, 1864 - April 2, 1864 - Skirmish on Cedar Creek, FL, with Brig. Gen. John P. Hatch, USA, now commanding the District of Florida.

April 2, 1864 - Skirmish at Cow Ford Creek near Pensacola, FL, with Rebel Cavalry.

April 2, 1864 - Skirmish at Crump's Hill, or Piney Woods, LA, the Red River (LA) Campaign.

April 2, 1864 - Skirmish at Grossetete Bayou, LA.

April 2, 1864 - The Confederate destruction of the two light-houses at Cape Lookout, NC.

April 2, 1864 - Skirmish at Cleveland, TN.

April 2, 1864 - Federal reconnaissance from Powder Springs Gap toward Rogersville and Bull's Gap, TN. (Apr 2-4)

April 2, 1865 - Battle of Fort Blakely

April 2, 1865 - With the Petersburg line crumbling, Lee informs Davis he will abandon his position that evening. The Confederate government evacuates Richmond and Mayor Joseph Mayo surrenders the city to General Godfrey Weitzel.

April 2, 1865 - Charles Griffin, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.

April 2, 1865 - The Federal siege and capture of Fort Blakely, Mobile, AL, by Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, USA, the Mobile, AL, Campaign. (Apr 2-9)

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish near Centerville, AL, with Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson, USA.

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish near Scottsville, AL.

April 2, 1865 - Engagement at Selma, AL, where Lieut. Gens. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Richard Taylor, CSA, retreat from the Union onslaught under Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, USA, with Wilson capturing over 2,700 prisoners. Lieut. Gens. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Richard Taylor, CSA, barely escape capture themselves.

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish at Summerfield, AL.

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish 4 miles form Hickory Station, AR, on the Little Rock and Devall's Railroad, where the Confederates derail part of the train but are driven off by the Federal troops aboard. While the attack was progressing, most of the passengers fled into the prairie, only returning when the coast was clear. Included was a Yankee from the 12th MI Infantry who threw his saber away in the brush, retrieving it after danger had passed. The men got the train back on the rails and proceed forward.

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish 2 miles from Van Buren, AR, as the Yankees kill 2 Confederates who just recently robbed several local citizens. Papers found on the bodies indicate they were from Fulton, TX, enroute to Missouri.

April 2, 1865 - Federal expedition from the Hermitage, across the Amite, to the French Settlement, LA, in pursuit of guerrillas. (Apr 2-5)

April 2, 1865 - Federal expeditions from Thibodeaux, Bayou Boeuf, and Brashear City, to Lake Verret, Grand Bayou, and The Park, LA, with skirmish (Apr 4) at Grand Bayou, LA. (Apr 2-10)

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish near Goldsborough, NC, as Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, presses forward.
Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Mower, USA, assumes the command of the 20th US Army Corps, NC.

April 2, 1865 - Skirmish at Gravelly Ford, on Hatcher's Run, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

April 2, 1865 - The Federal assault upon and the capture of the fortified Confederate lines in front of Petersburg, VA, as Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright's 6th US Army Corps breaks through. The Confederate defenders at Fort Baldwin and Fort Gregg buy Lee time to evacuate the rest of his army, as he moves toward and orders the troops at Richmond, VA, to concentrate at Amelia Court-House, 40 miles west, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

April 2, 1865 - Lieut. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill, CSA, is mortally wounded by a Federal straggler, while attempting to reach his own lines, soon after Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's final Federal assault on the Confederate lines at Petersburg, VA.

April 2, 1865 - A large portion of Richmond, VA, including factories, gun-boats on the James River, are set afire as the Confederates evacuate their capital; Jefferson Davis leaves for Danville, VA, aboard a special train.

April 2, 1865 - Action at Scott's Cross-Roads, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

April 2, 1865 - The engagement at Sutherland's Station, on the South Side Railroad, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

April 2, 1866 - The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
 
After Grant's assault on the lines at Petersburg, Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill was trying to reconnect with Lee's forces as they broke out to the westward when he was mortally wounded by a Union straggler.
ambrose_powell_hill_by_peterpulp-da3ge50.jpg
 
Born on April 2nd 1814: Henry L. Benning, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Columbia County, Georgia (d. 1875)

Born on April 2nd 1826: Philip Dale Roddey, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Moulton, Alabama (d. 1897)

Born on April 2nd 1833: Thomas Howard Ruger, American lawyer and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Livingston County, New York (d. 1907)

Souce: https://www.onthisday.com/birthdays/april/2
 
On this date in 1865, the Confederate government, including Jefferson Davis, boarded a "special train" and left Richmond. The train was pulled by an engine named after Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon.
Jeffer1.jpg
 
Battle of Selma:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Battle of Selma. The Battle of Selma took place on April 2nd​, 1865, in Selma Alabama. This battle was part of Wilson's Raid.



Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:



Union Army Commander:
Major General James H. Wilson (Illinois) 1837 – 1925

Union Army Strength – (around 9,000)

Union Army casualties and losses: 359



Confederate Army Commander:
Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest (Tennessee) 1821 – 1877

Confederate Army Strength – (around 4,000)

Confederate Army casualties and losses: 2,700

Selma.jpg
 
Third Battle of Petersburg:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Third Battle of Petersburg. This battle took place on April 2, 1865, in Petersburg Virginia. Other names for this battle are the Breakthrough of Petersburg and Fall of Petersburg.



Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:



Union Army Commander:

Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant (Illinois) 1822 – 1885

Major General George G. Meade (Pennsylvania) 1815 – 1872

Major General Edward Ord (Maryland) 1818 – 1883

Brig. General Thomas Maley Harris (West Virginia) 1817 – 1906

Union Army Strength: - (114,335 with around 63,000 engaged)

Union Army casualties and losses: 3,936



Confederate Army Commander:


General Robert E. Lee (Virginia) 1807 – 1870

Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill (Virginia) 1825 – 1865 – (Killed)

Confederate Army casualties and losses: around 5,000
 
Battle of Sutherland's Station:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Battle of Sutherland's Station. The battle took place on April 2nd​, 1865, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.



Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:



Union Army Commander:
Major General Nelson A. Miles (Massachusetts) 1839 – 1925

Union Army Strength: - (around 1,500)

Union Army casualties and losses: 370



Confederate Army Commander:


Major General Henry Heth (Virginia) 1825 – 1899

Major General Cadmus M. Wilcox (North Carolina) 1824 – 1890

Confederate Army Strength: - (3,000)

Confederate Army casualties and losses: around 600

Sutherland's Station.jpg
 
Battle of Sutherland's Station:
Today marks the 157th​ anniversary of the Battle of Sutherland's Station. The battle took place on April 2nd​, 1865, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.



Result of Battle: Union Victory :us34stars:




Union Army Commander: Major General Nelson A. Miles (Massachusetts) 1839 – 1925

Union Army Strength: - (around 1,500)

Union Army casualties and losses: 370



Confederate Army Commander:


Major General Henry Heth (Virginia) 1825 – 1899

Major General Cadmus M. Wilcox (North Carolina) 1824 – 1890

Confederate Army Strength: - (3,000)

Confederate Army casualties and losses: around 600

View attachment 436426
My 2 x great-grandfather in Company I 13th NC was captured on April 2nd. His record says "captured on the southside railroad". He could have been one of the Confederates at Sutherland Station.
 
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