Monday, 6 March 1865
This morning, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston assumes command of all troops in the Department of North Carolina in addition to his other tasks. He now leads all Confederate soldiers in the Carolinas, as well as all points south of Petersburg, Virginia. Federal Major General William T. Sherman's forces crossed the Pee Dee River and his entire army of 60,000 plus Yankees was now enroute to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The only major skirmishing of the day occurred at Natural Bridge, Florida. The Battle of Natural Bridge was a Union campaign with the intent of engaging Confederate troops that had earlier been active against Cedar Key and Fort Myers, and capturing Fort Ward at St. Marks. Citizens of Tallahassee, however, apparently feared the expedition was intent on capturing the state capital. After landing in Apalachee Bay near the St. Marks lighthouse, U.S. infantry and cavalry commanded by Major General John Newton marched across East River and attempted to cross the St. Marks River at Newport, but were repulsed by Confederate defenders of the bridge. The Federal expedition then moved up the east side of the St. Marks River and again attempted to cross at Natural Bridge where the Battle of Natural Bridge took place. Arrayed on either side of the road on the west side of Natural Bridge and behind earthworks, Confederate cavalry, infantry, and artillery under Major General Sam Jones prevented several attempts by U.S. troops to advance across the Natural Bridge. Afterwards, U.S. troops began a retreat to Newport and then back to the St. Marks lighthouse and the protection of the Union fleet.
President Abraham Lincoln formally appoints Hugh McCulloch as Secretary of the Treasury in place of the now Senate-bound William Fessenden. This evening, the Gala Inaugural Ball is held at the Patent Office. The $10 tickets were sold to 4,000 guests, with proceeds going to families of fallen soldiers and sailors. The midnight supper included beef, veal, poultry, oysters, salads, jellies, cakes, chocolate, and coffee.
Major General Alexander McDowell McCook, USA, is assigned to the command of the District of Eastern Arkansas.
Commodore F. A. Parker orders Lieutenant Commander Edward Hooker to take the USS Commodore Read, Yankee, Delaware, and Heliotrope up the Rappahannock River to cooperate with an Army detachment in conducting a raid near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Parker, however, cautioned: "...you will be particularly careful in looking out for torpedoes; having all narrow channels and shoal places carefully swept by the small boats kept in advance of the flotilla. At points where torpedoes may be exploded from the shore, you will land flanking parties, and you are to shell as usual all heights."
The USS Jonquil, Acting Ensign Charles H. Hanson in charge, is damaged by a torpedo while clearing the Ashley River, near Charleston, of obstructions and frame torpedoes. Jonquil had secured three torpedoes while dragging the Ashley that day. Hanson reported: "I hooked on to the log which had the fourth one on, but the log came up with the end, not having the torpedo on. I hoisted it to the bows of the steamer and started for shore. On shoaling the water, the torpedo being down struck the bottom and exploded directly under and about amidships of the steamer. Its force was so great as to raise the boilers 5 inches from their bed and knocked nine men overboard and completely flooded the vessel." Hanson added that the explosion took place in ten feet of water and "...had it been any shoaler the vessel would have been entirely destroyed." Jonquil's hull, however, was not "materially damaged" and she resumed dragging operations again the next day.
Major General Philip Henry Sheridan's Union cavalry advanced from Charlottesville, Virginia, down the Orange & Alexandria Railroad after spending two days destroying track on the Virginia Central.
This morning, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston assumes command of all troops in the Department of North Carolina in addition to his other tasks. He now leads all Confederate soldiers in the Carolinas, as well as all points south of Petersburg, Virginia. Federal Major General William T. Sherman's forces crossed the Pee Dee River and his entire army of 60,000 plus Yankees was now enroute to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The only major skirmishing of the day occurred at Natural Bridge, Florida. The Battle of Natural Bridge was a Union campaign with the intent of engaging Confederate troops that had earlier been active against Cedar Key and Fort Myers, and capturing Fort Ward at St. Marks. Citizens of Tallahassee, however, apparently feared the expedition was intent on capturing the state capital. After landing in Apalachee Bay near the St. Marks lighthouse, U.S. infantry and cavalry commanded by Major General John Newton marched across East River and attempted to cross the St. Marks River at Newport, but were repulsed by Confederate defenders of the bridge. The Federal expedition then moved up the east side of the St. Marks River and again attempted to cross at Natural Bridge where the Battle of Natural Bridge took place. Arrayed on either side of the road on the west side of Natural Bridge and behind earthworks, Confederate cavalry, infantry, and artillery under Major General Sam Jones prevented several attempts by U.S. troops to advance across the Natural Bridge. Afterwards, U.S. troops began a retreat to Newport and then back to the St. Marks lighthouse and the protection of the Union fleet.
President Abraham Lincoln formally appoints Hugh McCulloch as Secretary of the Treasury in place of the now Senate-bound William Fessenden. This evening, the Gala Inaugural Ball is held at the Patent Office. The $10 tickets were sold to 4,000 guests, with proceeds going to families of fallen soldiers and sailors. The midnight supper included beef, veal, poultry, oysters, salads, jellies, cakes, chocolate, and coffee.
Major General Alexander McDowell McCook, USA, is assigned to the command of the District of Eastern Arkansas.
Commodore F. A. Parker orders Lieutenant Commander Edward Hooker to take the USS Commodore Read, Yankee, Delaware, and Heliotrope up the Rappahannock River to cooperate with an Army detachment in conducting a raid near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Parker, however, cautioned: "...you will be particularly careful in looking out for torpedoes; having all narrow channels and shoal places carefully swept by the small boats kept in advance of the flotilla. At points where torpedoes may be exploded from the shore, you will land flanking parties, and you are to shell as usual all heights."
The USS Jonquil, Acting Ensign Charles H. Hanson in charge, is damaged by a torpedo while clearing the Ashley River, near Charleston, of obstructions and frame torpedoes. Jonquil had secured three torpedoes while dragging the Ashley that day. Hanson reported: "I hooked on to the log which had the fourth one on, but the log came up with the end, not having the torpedo on. I hoisted it to the bows of the steamer and started for shore. On shoaling the water, the torpedo being down struck the bottom and exploded directly under and about amidships of the steamer. Its force was so great as to raise the boilers 5 inches from their bed and knocked nine men overboard and completely flooded the vessel." Hanson added that the explosion took place in ten feet of water and "...had it been any shoaler the vessel would have been entirely destroyed." Jonquil's hull, however, was not "materially damaged" and she resumed dragging operations again the next day.
Major General Philip Henry Sheridan's Union cavalry advanced from Charlottesville, Virginia, down the Orange & Alexandria Railroad after spending two days destroying track on the Virginia Central.
