Major Highlights for the week
Courtesy of the Minnesota Civil War Commemoration Task Force
Wednesday May 7, 1862
On the Pamunkey River, near the mouth of the York River on the Virginia Peninsula, William B. Franklin’s Federal division attacked Confederates under G.W. Smith at Eltham’s Landing, also known as the Battle of West Point. The Confederates were guarding their wagon trains that were withdrawing from Williamsburg and Yorktown.
President Lincoln visited the U.S.S. Monitor near Fort Monroe and conferred with naval and army officers. He was taking an active part in attempting to push the drive towards Richmond.
Thursday May 8, 1862
Confederate Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson fought Federal troops at the Battle of McDowell, Va. Jackson’s roughly 10,000 troops were attacked by 6,000 Federals under Fremont’s command. The Confederates repulsed the attack. Federal casualties were 26 killed, 227 wounded, 3 missing for a total of 256. Confederates sustained 75 killed and 423 wounded for a total of 498. It was Jackson’s first victory of the Shenandoah campaign.
Friday May 9, 1862
Confederate forces evacuated Norfolk, Va., and its valuable naval and army supply depots in the face of Federal occupation of the Peninsula across Hampton Roads and the threat of invasion. This forced the C.S.S. Virginia (formerly the Merrimack) without a home port to operate from.
President Lincoln remained at Hampton Roads and toured the area by boat to help find a place for Federal soldiers to land near Norfolk. He also urged greater cooperation between McClellan and his corps commanders.
Saturday May 10, 1862
Federal mortar boats appeared on the Mississippi just north of Fort Pillow, Tenn. The Federal ironclad flotilla under Captain Charles H. Davis was attacked by the Confederate River Defense Fleet led by Captain James E. Montgomery. The Confederates managed to ram and sink the Cincinnati and Mound City in shoal water, while also losing four of their eight vessels.
In New Orleans, Benjamin F. Butler’s troops seized $800,000 in gold from the Netherlands consulate, which cemented his popularity in the city.
Sunday May 11, 1862
Without a home port to operate from, the C.S.S. Virginia was scuttled off of the coast of Norfolk, Va. President Lincoln, who returned to Washington after visiting Fort Monroe, was given the news along the way.
Other fighting broke out at Pulaski, Tenn.; Cave City, Ky.; Princeton, Va.; and on the Bowling Green Road near Fredericksburg, Va.
Monday May 12, 1862
Flag Officer Farragut’s Federal flotilla from New Orleans briefly occupied Natchez, Miss., and received the surrender from the city’s mayor. More skirmishing occurred near Farmington, Miss.; Lewisburg, Va; and Monterey, Va.
A pro-unionist convention was held at Nashville, Tenn., as the military government was taking hold. President Lincoln proclaimed the opening of commerce to the ports of Beaufort, N.C., Port Royal, S.C., and New Orleans.
Tuesday May 13, 1862
Confederate Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was on his way back from Franklin, Va., and the Battle of McDowell toward the main valley to face Nathaniel Bank’s forces at Strasburg. A skirmish occurred at Baltimore Crossroads near New Kent Court House, and an affair occurred on the Rappahannock River. Federal troops raided the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.
Where Minnesota Regiments were the week of May 7-13, 1862
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in the Battle of West Point on May 7, and advanced on the Chickahominy.
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Participated in operations in and around Corinth, Miss.
3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – On garrison duty at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn.
5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry – Companies B, C and D remained in Minnesota and Dakota Territory on garrison duty while the remaining companies were en route to Mississippi.
Brackett’s Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry – Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss.
1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery – Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss.
2nd Independent Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery – On duty at Benton Barracks, Missouri.
1st United States Sharpshooters, Company I – Officially attached to the 1st United States Sharpshooters as Company I, while on the Virginia Peninsula.
2nd United States Sharpshooters, Company A – On duty at Falmouth, Virginia.
