150 Years Ago in the Civil War As the Civil War moved into its first autumn, neither army had any immediate plans for major offensive operations. In Washington, General George McClellan busied himself with organizing and training the Army of the Potomac. On both sides, generals were assigned to commands of various departments. In Louisville, [...]
Continue reading about Battle of Ball’s Bluff; First City Class Gunboats Launched: October 1861
150 Years Ago in the Civil War On April 5th 1861, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles ordered a Naval expedition to proceed to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor for the purpose of resupplying the garrison there. At the end of March, President Abraham Lincoln decided that Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens at Pensacola, Florida [...]
While the Federal garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor was awaiting reinforcement or evacuation in the winter and spring of 1861, a similar drama was playing out in Pensacola, Florida. Three forts provided defense for the U.S. Navy Yard there; Forts Barrancas and McRee on the Florida mainland, and Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa [...]
Continue reading about Lieutenant Adam Slemmer Refuses to Surrender Fort Pickens
150 Years Ago in the Civil War As the new year began, several southern states began seizing federal military installations as a precaution while the issue of secession was considered. Arsenals were seized in Alabama and Florida. Alabama took over Forts Morgan and Gaines in Mobile Bay; Georgia seized Fort Pulaski near Savannah and Florida took [...]
Continue reading about More States Secede, Confederate Government Formed: January and February 1861
