Saturday, 13 May 1865
Lieutenant General Edmund Kirby Smith and other ranking officers meet with the Confederate governors of Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri as well as a representative of Texas, at Marshall, Texas, where Smith is advised to surrender his army. Brigadier General Joseph Orville Shelby and others threaten to arrest Smith if he does. The governors draw up terms which they advise Smith to accept.
Brigadier General John M. Thayer, USA, is assigned to the command of the District of Eastern Arkansas.
Skirmishing breaks out with Indians at Dan Smith's Ranch, 5 miles below Gilman's, near Julesburg, in the Colorado Territory, as 25 Indians attempt to run off the livestock there.
In Texas, Union troops move on Palmito Ranch once again, as it had been reoccupied by the Confederates. In the mid-afternoon, the Confederates attack and force the Federal troops to withdraw with considerable casualties. Colonel John S. "Rest in Peace" Ford led the main Confederate drive. The Battle of Palmito Ranch was the last major land battle of the war, and just like the first, ironically a Confederate victory.
The 4th Michigan Cavalry brings Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his wife, Varina, to Union army headquarters at Macon, Georgia.
Union Rear Admiral John A. B. Dahlgren forwards the following memorandum of instructions: "I have just learned that the piratical ram Stonewall had arrived at Havana on the 11th May. How long she may remain is not known, nor her probable direction when she leaves, but it is surmised that this may be along the Florida coast. Two of the fastest light drafts will therefore return to that station and cruise so as to obtain the earliest notice of the presence of the ram there. The Wondo and Pontiac are selected, one off the Jupiter Inlet, the other off Cape Florida, as the senior officer may find best cruising toward each other."
Acting Governor Allison informs General McCook, commanding U. S. Occupation Forces at Tallahassee, that yesterday he "...appointed D. L. Yulee, J. Wayles Baker, M. D. Papy, E. C. Lowe, J. S. G. Baker as commissioners to proceed to Washington for the purpose of making known to the executive authorities of the United States the steps in progress for harmonizing the government of this State with the Constitution of the United States and of conferring generally with the public authorities of the Federal Government concerning our affairs. You will oblige me by furnishing passports for these commissioners and such facilities as may be indispensable for passing them along the military lines. If your powers are not sufficient, as I apprehend they may not be, I have to request that you would obtain from the proper authorities at Washington the required permission. It is proper for me to say in this connection that the people of this State recognize with entire unanimity the duty which circumstances impose of conforming to the political requirements of the Constitution of the United States and that they resume the duties and privileges created by that instrument in a spirit of perfect good faith, with the purpose to abide therein."
General McCook reports that yesterday his officers "...received the surrender of the fort (Fort Ward) at Saint Mark’s, and at 12 p.m. the U.S. flag was raised over it and a national salute fired. It is a strong fortification with an armament of eight heavy guns, and well supplied with ammunition. A small gun-boat, the Spray, was lying in the harbor. I paroled the officers and crew and left the boat in charge of a marine guard from the squadron lying outside. The only supplies in the country consist of meat, meal, and salt; no flour. I will have no difficulty in procuring these, but forage will be scarce. I am collecting the supplies at this point [Tallahassee], and also having all artillery, arms, horses, &c., brought here. There will be a very large amount. I have the honor to request instructions as to the future disposition to be made of this Government property."
General McCook requests information from his own command on the following points: "The Governor of the State [Florida] has issued a proclamation calling the Legislature to gather on 5 June. It was done without my knowledge, and before I had an interview with him. Shall I permit the Legislature to meet, or request him to withdraw the call? In this connection, I will state that Governor Allison and Mr. Yulee, as well as other prominent citizens I have conversed with, accept the present termination of affairs with apparent cheerfulness, and are exceedingly gratified with the policy the General commanding has marked out for me to pursue, and which I shall follow strictly. As this is a contingency unprovided for, and may involve important results, I ask instructions. These people I referred to all seemed anxious to get back into the Union again as quickly as possible. What disposition is to be made of run-away negroes who came into my camp? I have nothing to feed them with, and must either drive them away from camp or send them to Macon..."
The CSS Shenandoah was south of the Kuril Islands headed north. The Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company of New England did a booming business out of fear of what the Shenandoah might do to the whaling fleet.
Lieutenant General Edmund Kirby Smith and other ranking officers meet with the Confederate governors of Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri as well as a representative of Texas, at Marshall, Texas, where Smith is advised to surrender his army. Brigadier General Joseph Orville Shelby and others threaten to arrest Smith if he does. The governors draw up terms which they advise Smith to accept.
Brigadier General John M. Thayer, USA, is assigned to the command of the District of Eastern Arkansas.
Skirmishing breaks out with Indians at Dan Smith's Ranch, 5 miles below Gilman's, near Julesburg, in the Colorado Territory, as 25 Indians attempt to run off the livestock there.
In Texas, Union troops move on Palmito Ranch once again, as it had been reoccupied by the Confederates. In the mid-afternoon, the Confederates attack and force the Federal troops to withdraw with considerable casualties. Colonel John S. "Rest in Peace" Ford led the main Confederate drive. The Battle of Palmito Ranch was the last major land battle of the war, and just like the first, ironically a Confederate victory.
The 4th Michigan Cavalry brings Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his wife, Varina, to Union army headquarters at Macon, Georgia.
Union Rear Admiral John A. B. Dahlgren forwards the following memorandum of instructions: "I have just learned that the piratical ram Stonewall had arrived at Havana on the 11th May. How long she may remain is not known, nor her probable direction when she leaves, but it is surmised that this may be along the Florida coast. Two of the fastest light drafts will therefore return to that station and cruise so as to obtain the earliest notice of the presence of the ram there. The Wondo and Pontiac are selected, one off the Jupiter Inlet, the other off Cape Florida, as the senior officer may find best cruising toward each other."
Acting Governor Allison informs General McCook, commanding U. S. Occupation Forces at Tallahassee, that yesterday he "...appointed D. L. Yulee, J. Wayles Baker, M. D. Papy, E. C. Lowe, J. S. G. Baker as commissioners to proceed to Washington for the purpose of making known to the executive authorities of the United States the steps in progress for harmonizing the government of this State with the Constitution of the United States and of conferring generally with the public authorities of the Federal Government concerning our affairs. You will oblige me by furnishing passports for these commissioners and such facilities as may be indispensable for passing them along the military lines. If your powers are not sufficient, as I apprehend they may not be, I have to request that you would obtain from the proper authorities at Washington the required permission. It is proper for me to say in this connection that the people of this State recognize with entire unanimity the duty which circumstances impose of conforming to the political requirements of the Constitution of the United States and that they resume the duties and privileges created by that instrument in a spirit of perfect good faith, with the purpose to abide therein."
General McCook reports that yesterday his officers "...received the surrender of the fort (Fort Ward) at Saint Mark’s, and at 12 p.m. the U.S. flag was raised over it and a national salute fired. It is a strong fortification with an armament of eight heavy guns, and well supplied with ammunition. A small gun-boat, the Spray, was lying in the harbor. I paroled the officers and crew and left the boat in charge of a marine guard from the squadron lying outside. The only supplies in the country consist of meat, meal, and salt; no flour. I will have no difficulty in procuring these, but forage will be scarce. I am collecting the supplies at this point [Tallahassee], and also having all artillery, arms, horses, &c., brought here. There will be a very large amount. I have the honor to request instructions as to the future disposition to be made of this Government property."
General McCook requests information from his own command on the following points: "The Governor of the State [Florida] has issued a proclamation calling the Legislature to gather on 5 June. It was done without my knowledge, and before I had an interview with him. Shall I permit the Legislature to meet, or request him to withdraw the call? In this connection, I will state that Governor Allison and Mr. Yulee, as well as other prominent citizens I have conversed with, accept the present termination of affairs with apparent cheerfulness, and are exceedingly gratified with the policy the General commanding has marked out for me to pursue, and which I shall follow strictly. As this is a contingency unprovided for, and may involve important results, I ask instructions. These people I referred to all seemed anxious to get back into the Union again as quickly as possible. What disposition is to be made of run-away negroes who came into my camp? I have nothing to feed them with, and must either drive them away from camp or send them to Macon..."
The CSS Shenandoah was south of the Kuril Islands headed north. The Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company of New England did a booming business out of fear of what the Shenandoah might do to the whaling fleet.
