What was the most significant event on March 28 during the U.S. Civil War?

2016-03-28T16:04:37-04:00

1862 Confederate President Jefferson Davis proposes a draft of 18 to 35 year-old males.
1864 Riots in Charleston, Illinois, soldiers of the 54th Illinois Infantry, home on leave, confront Copperheads (Southern sympathizers) and are fired upon.
1863 operations to get into Vicksburg, MS unopposed are quashed.

Response by Alan K. made Mar 28 at 2016 4:36 PM

2016-03-28T16:36:29-04:00

1862 proposal of the draft. Although the others are significant.....We still talk about "The Draft" today.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 28 at 2016 4:51 PM

2016-03-28T16:51:07-04:00

I was struck by the fact that at late as 1864 southern sympathizers were attacking union troops on leave in Illinois. These “copperheads” were both venomous and treacherous as they supported slavery as long as they could. Some of these Democrats known as copperheads made their way into the KKK during reconstruction.
Secondarily the fact that in 1862 Jefferson Davis recognized that manpower was the confederacy’s weakness caused him to support an involuntary draft of able-bodied men. Europe was still buying cotton and tobacco while the northern blockade was tightening. However, manpower was being depleted in the war fight.
Since RallyPoint truncates survey selection text I am posting events that were not included and then the full text of each survey choice below:
a. March 28, 1862 --- Gathering at Corinth, Mississippi to form the new Army of the Mississippi (C.S.A.) are the troops under Gen. Beauregard from western Tennessee, the brigades under Gen. Polk, garrison troops from Memphis under Gen. Daniel Ruggles, the remainders of Gen. Albert S. Johnston’s command from Nashville, and some troops from Mobile under Gen. Braxton Bragg. Albert Sidney Johnston takes overall command, with Pierre G.T. Beauregard as second-in-command. The new army is organized as follows:
I Corps Mag. Gen. Leonidas Polk 2 divisions - 4 brigades 9,404 men
II Corps Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg 2 divisions - 6 brigades 16,279 men
III Corps Maj. Gen. William Hardee 3 brigades 6,758 men
Reserve Corps Maj. Gen. George Crittenden (later replaced by John C. Breckenridge) 3 brigades 7,211 men
Total 40,000
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b. March 28, 1862 --- Alexander B. Downing, of the 11th Iowa Infantry Regiment—part of the First Brigade of Gen. McClernand’s Division—is camped at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, near Shiloh Church, with Gen. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee. He records in his journal: Friday, 28th —It is warm and dry—it is delightful. There is nothing of importance going on. Our camp is well protected on the left by the Tennessee river and by Owl creek on our right flank. Most of the camp ground lies high and just rolling enough to keep the ground dry. Our camp—the First Brigade of the First Division—lies almost due north and south, so arranged for the purpose of giving the brigade a good drill and parade ground. The camps of the different brigades, all through the woods, face in any desired direction, except the regiments out in front, which are so arranged as to be facing the enemy should they have to form a line of battle.
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c. March 28, 1862 --- Col. John Hunt Morgan, of Kentucky, and his Confederate cavalry raiding behind enemy lines, capture a train on the Louisville-Nashville railroad. They make several Union officers prisoner, and destroy the train.
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d. March 28, 1862 --- Miss M.B. Pettigrew, of Hillsborough, in central North Carolina, writes to her brother, Brig. Gen. James Johnston Pettigrew, with the Rebel army in Virginia, despondent about Jackson’s defeat at Kernstown, affairs on the Mississippi, and Yankee encroachment on the North Carolina coast nearby: . . . Jackson’s reverse has cast down the whole community. And made us more nervous about the intelligence from the West. I trust these hordes of miserable Yankees will be kept out of the Mississippi Valley. What shall we do with our [numerous?] enemy! I hope the military men know. Surely I do not. Our reverses have roused our people more than they have been yet. The people from the West are going down in numbers to be armed for the war. It is a great happiness to think President Davis can furnish arms for all who come. Our Albermarle country is very much changed by the fall of Roanoke Island. Brother William has moved his people to Chatham County & burned his cotton. Brother Charles is here now to forward some of his Negroes to Cherry Hill but he intends remaining on his plantation for the present. He believes his Negroes will stand by him, as they have seen enough to make them know their master is their best friend. . . .
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e. March 28, 1863 ---William H. Proffitt, a soldier in the 1st North Carolina Infantry Regiment serving in Virginia, writes a melancholy letter home to his family about his brother’s death: Camp of the 1st NCT March 28th 1863
Dear Father, Mother, and Sister: I drop you a few lines to give you the Sad news that brother Calvin is dead. He died about day break on the morning of the 25th inst. I suppose that the brain was affected which was the principle cause of his death. It is, indeed, an appalling thought to think of the death of one so dear, but sad as it is, we have some consolation to know that he remained usually pious while surrounded with all the vice and immorality of the camp, and instead of participating in this, devoted much of time in reading Scripture. Some of his companions expressed the thought that he was prepared to meet his God in peace. We have another consolation that he had won the confidence and esteem of his officers and fellow soldiers, and that every possible means was applied in burying him decently. A good coffin, clean clothes, etc. were provided. Sad as the thought is, it is no worse than thousands have endured since the commencement of this unholy war. I hope you will all try to refrain as much as possible from unnecessary grief, as it is a thing of no avail.
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f. March 28, 1863 ---The steamer Sam Gaty is stopped on the Missouri River in Jackson County near Sibley, Missouri by 12 Rebel bushwhackers, who rob the passengers of valuables and murder 2 Union soldiers and 9 negroes. The steamer is allowed to proceed after the raid.
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1 March 28, 1862: Trans-Mississippi Theater, New Mexico Campaign – THE BATTLE OF GLORIETA PASS, New Mexico. The Union forces re-group at Kozlowski Ranch, at the far eastern end of the pass through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains: the 1st Reg. of Colorado Volunteers, a detachment of the 2nd New Mexico Inf., detachments of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd U.S. Cavalry Regiments, 5 companies of the 5th U.S. Infantry, and a company of the 2nd Reg. of Colorado Volunteers—about 1,300 total, under the command of Col. John Slough. The Confederate forces, encamped at the far west end of the pass, at Johnson’s Ranch (Apache Canyon), consist of a battalion of the 2nd Texas Mounted Volunteers (under Maj. Pyron), four companies of the 5th Texas (under Maj. Shropshire), nine companies of the 4th Texas, five companies of the 7th Texas, and five field pieces (cannons)—about 1,100 troops under the field command of Lt. Col. William Scurry of the 4th Texas. This morning, both forces march toward the other, when Scurry’s advance force chases off the Union advance. The Texans then run into several companies of Coloradans under Lt. Col. Tappan, arrayed in battle line. Scurry launches an attack (2), and the larger Confederate force drives the Federals from their line, and back to Pigeon Ranch. There, Col. Slough organizes a larger line, using most of his troops, strung across the canyon, and reinforced with artillery. As the Texans attack, the battle devolves into a sporadic series of infantry firefights all afternoon.
In the meantime, Col. Slough has sent Maj. Chivington off to the left to flank the Confederates, but the trail leads them far afield. Lt. Col. Manuel Chaves of the 2nd New Mexico finds a trail to Johnson’s Ranch, where the Confederate wagons and supply train are. Back at Pigeon’s Ranch, Scurry sends Maj. Paguet and the 4th Texas up on the bluffs behind the Union right flank, where his sharpshooters lay down a fire that forces the Federals to give way and withdraw. Slough forms another line beyond Pigeon’s Ranch, but by evening is forced to withdraw down the pass to his supply base. It is a Confederate tactical victory—until Chivington’s force, led by Captains William Lewis and Asa Carey and the U.S. Regulars, launches an attack down the steep bluff slopes into the Rebel supply train, where the wagons and supplies are put to the torch, and horses and mules slaughtered. As the Rebels discover this shocking attack in their rear, being completely out of supplies, the battle turns into a strategic Union victory, as the Confederates retreat out of the pass and all the way back to Santa Fe—and eventually all the way out of New Mexico, ending Confederate hopes of dominating the West; cutting communications between California and the East; capturing mining fields in Colorado, California, and Nevada; and even perhaps adding California (and her ports), Nevada, Utah, and Colorado to the Confederacy.
Union Victory.
Losses:
Killed Wounded Captured Total
U.S. 51 78 15 144
C.S. 48 80 92 220
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2 March 28, 1862: Jefferson Davis proposes a conscription bill, shocking many Southerners. In a message to the Confederate States Congress in Richmond, Pres. Jefferson Davis calls for a military conscription system: "I therefore recommend the passage of a law declaring that all persons residing within the Confederate States, between the ages of 18 and 35 years, and rightfully subject to military duty, shall be held to be in the military service of the Confederate States, and that some plain and simple method be adopted for their prompt enrollment and organization, repealing all of the legislation heretofore enacted which would conflict with the system proposed. "JEFFERSON DAVIS."
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3 March 28, 1863: In the sporadic Yazoo River Campaign, the attempt by the Federal Navy to find a back-door route to Vicksburg. Gen. Isaac Quinby arrives with infantry reinforcements and, as now the ranking officer, believes that there is a chance yet to make progress against Fort Pemberton. But after puzzling over the various roadblocks to each plan, Quinby is finally absolved of the necessity by orders from Grant: The troops sent down the Tallahatchie and Yazoo are ordered to return. The Yazoo idea is officially on hold.
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4 Monday March 28, 1864 ---Riots in Illinois: In Charleston, Illinois, soldiers of the 54th Illinois Infantry, home on leave, begin to make trouble against Copperheads (Southern sympathizers) in the neighborhood. This day, on Court Day, a large rally for the Democratic Party is held in the town center. A large group of soldiers appears, and John Rice Eden, the local congressman, tries to calm the crowd. But in a scuffle, a civilian shoots a soldier, who in turn shoots his assailant. Shooting breaks out in a wild melee, and the Democrats fire on the soldiers, most of whom have stacked their arms. The sheriff, John O’Hair, dashes out, as if to arrest the Copperheads shooting at the troops, but joins the civilians and begins shooting them, too. Col. Greenville Mitchell, commander of the regiment, runs out into the street with his surgeon (a notorious abolitionist) and both are shot down. By the time the soldiers are able to grab their rifles and deploy, the sheriff suddenly orders the Copperhead civilians to cease fire. Nine are dead---six soldiers, two Copperheads, and a shopkeeper who was caught in crossfire. Twelve more are wounded, including the regimental colonel and surgeon. Warrants are issued, and nearly 50 civilians are arrested, and eventually 16 of them go to prison, but are not charged. The sheriff escapes to Canada.
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The American Civil War 150 Years Ago Today: Search results for March 28, 1862

A no-frills day-by-day account of what was happening 150 years ago, this blog is intended to be a way that we can experience or remember the Civil War with more immediacy, in addition to understanding the flow of time as we live in it.

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Mar 28 at 2016 4:52 PM

2016-03-28T16:52:27-04:00

Quite a few people don't know of the fighting in New Mexico.. Thanks LTC Stephen F.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Mar 28 at 2016 5:06 PM

2016-03-28T17:06:30-04:00

Far too many people forget the Battle of Blue Licks during the Revolutionary War, where Daniel Boone's Son was killed. I live nearby and have hiked or ridden one of my horses all over it. Look it up, very interesting....