What was the most significant event on May 20 during the U.S. Civil War?

2016-05-21T23:18:28-04:00

Stonewall Jackson schooled by the Louisiana Tigers in 1862: Once the Louisiana Tigers and others had marched past Stonewall Jackson’s division, Taylor ordered them to halt, stack arms and break ranks to establish a bivouac. As they did so, he sought out Jackson for further instructions. Finding his new commanding general perched atop a rail fence overlooking the field that the Louisianans were in the process of occupying, Taylor walked up to Jackson, crisply saluted and declared his name and rank. Jackson slowly looked up, peering from beneath his trademark visored cap, and asked Taylor how far his brigade had marched that day.
‘Keezletown Road, six and twenty miles,’ Taylor proudly replied.
‘You seem to have no stragglers,’ Jackson noted.
‘Never allow straggling,’ Taylor said.
‘You must teach my people; they straggle badly,’ Jackson concluded with a pained grimace.
Homestead Act – not quite a rush to the West in 1862: President Lincoln, on this date, signs into law the Homestead Act, enabling anyone for a nominal fee to claim 160 acres if he can add improvements within five years. They could opt to buy the 160 acres after only 6 months at the reasonable rate of $1.25 an acre. If, after five years, the farmer could prove his (or her) homestead successful, then he paid an $18 filing fee for a “proved” certificate and received a deed to the land.
By the end of the Civil War in 1864, 15,000 people had homestead claims in territories that now make up the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. The first Homestead Act claim was filed by a civil war veteran and doctor named Daniel Freeman on January 1, 1863.
Howling cat about midnight 1863: Union Soldier William Heyser Diary - Clear and warm. We leave for home by the same route. Stopped in Pattonsville where we had dinner with our former friends. Proceeded to Bloody Run, where we watered and then to Mackelwanes, where we put up for the night, first having a good meal, and then religious exercises before retiring. Schneck and myself fortunate in getting the same room. Bausman and Apple roomed together in the same bed. Had quite a cat accident about midnight. A loud scratching and thumping awakened them, the noise coming from a nearby cupboard. Opening it, a howling cat jumped out, which ran under their bed where it discharged its bowels creating a horrible stench. Apple could scarce retain his stomach. Got up, lit a match, but no other place to sleep. Finally turned the mouth of the chamber pot upon it, so got thru till morning. The incident created a hearty laugh in the morning.
1868: Republican Convention nominates Ulysses S. Grant to run for President of the United States and Schuyler Colfax as Vice-president.

Pictures: 1864 Battle of Ware Bottom Church, Virginia map; CSA Pvt Isaiah Presley Markham, in uniform of the Orange Grays, 6th NC; 1864 Ware Bottom Church; 1863 Pogues-Run-Covered-Bridge-1850s-Christian-Schrader

YI CWO4 Terrence Clark MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. MSG Roy Cheever Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PO3 Edward Riddle MAJ Roland McDonald SSG Byron Hewett CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw COL Private RallyPoint Member SPC Michael Terrell COL Lisandro Murphy SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL] MAJ Ken Landgren LTC Trent Klug CWO3 Dennis M. CPT Kevin McComas SPC Tina Jones

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 21 at 2016 11:21 PM

2016-05-21T23:21:54-04:00

Wednesday, May 20 1863 Hd. Qts. 8th Ks. Vols., Nashville Tennessee: “My Dear Molly, I have waited a day or two expecting to hear from you or somebody else in your "burgh," but without success so I proceed. I rec’d three copies I.L.N. during the past week from you, very interesting they were indeed. Nothing of importance has occurred here. Weather has been fine & your correspondent in good health.
The Army has again turned in all its tents & baggage and is in the lightest marching order, immense fortifications will soon be completed here and it is evidently the intention to leave this place with a small guard behind them, the same at Murfreesboro, & then as soon as something is done at Vicksburgh & Fredericksburgh move boldly into Dixie.
We are ready for the march and are making efforts to do so, but the powers that be have arranged it otherwise, and have ordered us to leave our pretty camp and occupy some buildings in town. We are much disgusted, & dont wish to be cooped up and broiled in this dirty city during the summer. We shall see! Genl Mitchell has been removed and Genl Wood is in command. Genl Mitchell is home on sick leave and is assigned to the command of a Cavalry Brigade — he is a dashing Cavalry officer if his health & wounds will allow. Our Cavalry at present is doing good service all over Dixie.
We have at last had some military executions, very much needed they were.
I witnessed the shooting of a deserter on the 15th inst. It was very impressive. He died instantly without pain and was buried under a lone tree on a pretty Knoll alongside. It was witnessed by several thousand troops and citizens.
I had hoped the past week to be detailed to conduct some rebs to Alton, but Lt. Quin of Co. K. went instead and will have five days in St. Louis; so I cannot surprise you as I wished for the present my darling girl with much love I sign myself. Sincerely yours, Love, James E. Love.”
Tuesday, May 20, 1862: From the diary of Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Camp on Flat Top Mountain, May 20, 1862. marched from camp on Bluestone River to this point (yesterday) — a hot dry march — with knapsacks. I supposed we were to go only five miles; was disappointed to find we were retreating so far as this point. Being out of humor with that, I was out of sorts with all things; scolded "some" because the column was halted to rest on the wrong side of a stream which had to be crossed single file; viz., the near instead of the opposite side; mad because Colonel Scammon halted us in the sun half an hour — no water — without telling us how long we were to halt, etc., etc. But got good-humored again soon. Must swear off from swearing. Bad habit. Met Dr. Jim Webb, assistant surgeon of [the] Twelfth, yesterday as we approached here. March fourteen miles.
Friday, May 20, 1864: Confederate war clerk John B. Jones worried about the many threats to Richmond, Virginia: “Fog; then sunshine all day, but cool.
Troops have been marching through the city all day from the south side. I presume others take their places arriving from the South. Barton’s brigade had but 700 out of 2000 that went into battle last Monday. Our wounded amount to 2000; perhaps the enemy’s loss was not so large.
Col. Northrop is vehement in his condemnation of Beauregard; says his blunders are ruining us; that he is a charlatan, and that he never has been of any value to the Confederate States; and he censures Gen. Lee, whom he considers a general, and the only one we have, and the Secretary of War, for not providing transportation for supplies, now so fearfully scarce.
I read an indorsement to-day, in the President’s writing, as follows: “Gen. Longstreet has seriously offended against good order and military discipline in rearresting an officer (Gen. Law) who had been released by the War Department, without any new offense having been alleged.—J. D.”
Mr. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, wrote a pungent letter to the Secretary of War to-day, on the failure of the latter to have the obstructions removed from the river, so that the iron-clads might go out and fight. He says the enemy has captured our lower battery of torpedoes, etc., and declares the failure to remove the obstructions “prejudicial to the interests of the country, and especially to the naval service, which has thus been prevented from rendering important service.”
Gen. Bragg writes a pretty tart letter to the Secretary of War to-day, desiring that his reports of the Army of Tennessee, called for by Congress, be furnished for publication, or else that the reasons be given for withholding them.
We have no war news to-day.
Mrs. Minor, of Cumberland County, with whom my daughter Anne resides, is here, in great affliction. Her brother, Col. Rudolph, was killed in the battle with Sheridan, near Richmond; shot through the head, and buried on the field. Now she learns that another brother, a cadet, just 18 years old, was killed in the battle of Gen. Breckinridge, in the valley, shot through the head; and she resolves to set out for Staunton at once, to recover his body. Her father and sister died a few months ago, and she has just heard of her aunt’s death.
A lady living next door to us had two brothers wounded on Monday, and they are both here, and will recover.
Gen. Breckinridge is now marching to reinforce Lee. It is said Butler will set sail to join Grant. If so, we can send Lee 20,000 more men, and Beauregard’s victory will yield substantial fruits.”
Pictures: 1862 Jackson Shenandoah Valley map; CSA John B. Jones A Rebel War Clerk's Diary; 1863 James Love witnessed the execution of Julius Mileka for desertion from the 10th Michigan Infantry regiment; CSA The original Louisiana Tigers
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. Monday, May 20, 1861: The Confederate Congress votes to relocate the C.S. capital to Richmond, Virginia. Delegates to the North Carolina Secession Convention vote to withdraw from the Union.
B. Tuesday, May 20, 1862: New Market, Virginia - Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Stonewall Jackson sets his troops in motion. Since Banks has pulled back up north from Harrisonburg, Stonewall Jackson marched his brigades north to Harrisonburg, while Gen. Ewell marches his division up the Luray Valley, which was hidden from the valley proper by Massanutten Mountain, and they continue on these parallel courses.
C. Wednesday, May 20 1863: Battle of Pogue's Run took place in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 20, 1863. It was believed that many of the delegates to the Democrat state convention had firearms, in the hope of inciting a rebellion. Union soldiers entered the hall that the convention took place, and found personal weapons on many of the delegates. Afterwards, Union soldiers stopped trains that held delegates, causing many of the delegates to throw weapons into Pogue's Run, giving the event its name.
D. Friday, May 20, 1864 Battle of Ware Bottom Church, Virginia. Confederate victory. Confederate forces under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard attacked Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s Bermuda Hundred line near Ware Bottom Church. About 10,000 troops were involved in this action. After driving back Butler’s advanced pickets, the Confederates constructed the Howlett Line, effectively bottling up the Federals at Bermuda Hundred. Confederate victories at Proctor’s Creek and Ware Bottom Church enabled Beauregard to detach strong reinforcements for Lee’s army in time for the fighting at Cold Harbor. Bermuda Hundred Campaign (May-June 1864) Estimated Casualties: 1,500 total
1. Tuesday, May 20, 1862 --- Arizona: The advance contingent (under Lt. Col. Joseph West) of the "California Column," an 1,800-man brigade made up of Regular companies gathered from California posts, and a few California volunteer units, marches into the town of Tucson, Arizona on this date, only to find that the small squadron of Confederate cavalry that had occupied the town since February has disappeared, and most of the secessionists of Tucson have also fled to Mexico. Arizona is once again in Union hands.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1862
2. Tuesday, May 20, 1862 --- Commander John Rodgers, USN, of the James River squadron, reports to his commanding officer that the USS Galena, which had been badly mauled in the abortive attack on Drewry’s Bluff, is unfit for duty. The Confederate cannon had pierced Galena’s thin armor so many times, that her pumps had to keep going much of the day to keep her afloat.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1862
3. Tuesday, May 20, 1862 --- At Corinth, Mississippi, Gen. Pierre G.T. Beauregard, in command of his own Army of the Mississippi and Van Dorn’s Army of the West, decides to attempt an attack against the combined Federal armies commanded by Henry W. Halleck, who has been spending a month getting ponderously into position to attack Beauregard. Beauregard comes up with a complex and sophisticated plan to hit the Yankees at several points simultaneously, and gives orders to start moving his divisions into position.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1862
4. Tuesday, May 20, 1862 --- From the diary of Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Camp on Flat Top Mountain, May 20, 1862. — Monday, 19th, marched from camp on Bluestone River to this point (yesterday) — a hot dry march — with knapsacks. I supposed we were to go only five miles; was disappointed to find we were retreating so far as this point. Being out of humor with that, I was out of sorts with all things; scolded "some" because the column was halted to rest on the wrong side of a stream which had to be crossed single file; viz., the near instead of the opposite side; mad because Colonel Scammon halted us in the sun half an hour — no water — without telling us how long we were to halt, etc., etc. But got good-humored again soon. Must swear off from swearing. Bad habit. Met Dr. Jim Webb, assistant surgeon of [the] Twelfth, yesterday as we approached here. March fourteen miles.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1862
5. Tuesday, May 20, 1862 --- President Lincoln, on this date, signs into law the Homestead Act, enabling anyone for a nominal fee to claim 160 acres if he can add improvements within five years. This act is considered the key to the settlement of the West.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1862
6. Tuesday, May 20, 1862: Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, giving citizens 21 years or older the right to buy 160 acres of land in the West
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186205
7. Tuesday, May 20, 1862: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, which opens government-owned land to small family farmers (“homesteaders”). The act gave “any person” who was the head of a family 160 acres to try his hand at farming for five years. The individual had to be at least 21 years old and was required to build a house on the property. Farmers were also offered an alternative to the five-year homesteading plan. They could opt to buy the 160 acres after only 6 months at the reasonable rate of $1.25 an acre. Many homesteaders could not handle the hardships of frontier life and gave up before completing five years of farming. If a homesteader quit or failed to make a go of farming, his or her land reverted back to the government and was offered to the public again. Ultimately, these lands often ended up as government property or in the hands of land speculators. If, after five years, the farmer could prove his (or her) homestead successful, then he paid an $18 filing fee for a “proved” certificate and received a deed to the land.
Before the Civil War, similar acts had been proposed in 1852, 1854 and 1859, but were defeated by a powerful southern lobby that feared new territories populated by homesteaders would be allowed into the Union as “free states,” thereby giving more power to the abolitionist movement. In addition, many in the northern manufacturing industries feared the Homestead Act would draw large numbers of their labor force away and into farming. In 1860, President James Buchanan vetoed an earlier homestead bill, succumbing to pressure from southern slave-holding interests. With the Civil War raging and southern slave-owning states out of the legislative picture in Washington D.C., Lincoln and pro-western expansion Republicans saw an opportunity to pass a law that opened the West to settlement.
By the end of the Civil War in 1864, 15,000 people had homestead claims in territories that now make up the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. Though some of these people were genuinely looking to begin a new life as a western farmer, others abused the program. Much of the land offered by the government was purchased by individuals acting as a “front” for land speculators who sought access to the vast untapped mining, timber and water resources of the West. The speculator would offer to pay individuals cash or a share of profits in return for submitting a Homestead Act claim. By 1900, settlers, legitimate or otherwise, had gobbled up 80 million acres of land through the Homestead Act. To make way for the homesteaders, the federal government forced Native American tribes off of their ancestral lands and onto reservations.
The first Homestead Act claim was filed by a civil war veteran and doctor named Daniel Freeman on January 1, 1863. Although the act was officially repealed by Congress in 1976, one last title for 80 acres in Alaska was given to Kenneth Deardorff in 1979.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-signs-homestead-act
8. Wednesday, May 20 1863 --- Steamers Kate, Margaret, Jessie, and Annie run the blockade into Charleston with valuable cargoes.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1863
9. Wednesday, May 20 1863 --- At Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, a brigade of Native American troops loyal to the Union attack and drive back a Confederate force from taking over the fort as the Rebels crossed the Arkansas River at that point.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1863
10. Wednesday, May 20 1863 Hd. Qts. 8th Ks. Vols. Nashville Tenn: “My Dear Molly, I have waited a day or two expecting to hear from you or somebody else in your "burgh," but without success so I proceed. I rec’d three copies I.L.N. during the past week from you, very interesting they were indeed. Nothing of importance has occurred here. Weather has been fine & your correspondent in good health.
The Army has again turned in all its tents & baggage and is in the lightest marching order, immense fortifications will soon be completed here and it is evidently the intention to leave this place with a small guard behind them, the same at Murfreesboro, & then as soon as something is done at Vicksburgh & Fredericksburgh move boldly into Dixie.
We are ready for the march and are making efforts to do so, but the powers that be have arranged it otherwise, and have ordered us to leave our pretty camp and occupy some buildings in town. We are much disgusted, & dont wish to be cooped up and broiled in this dirty city during the summer. We shall see! Genl Mitchell has been removed and Genl Wood is in command. Genl Mitchell is home on sick leave and is assigned to the command of a Cavalry Brigade — he is a dashing Cavalry officer if his health & wounds will allow. Our Cavalry at present is doing good service all over Dixie.
We have at last had some military executions, very much needed they were.
I witnessed the shooting of a deserter on the 15th inst. It was very impressive. He died instantly without pain and was buried under a lone tree on a pretty Knoll alongside. It was witnessed by several thousand troops and citizens.
I had hoped the past week to be detailed to conduct some rebs to Alton, but Lt. Quin of Co. K. went instead and will have five days in St. Louis; so I cannot surprise you as I wished for the present my darling girl with much love I sign myself. Sincerely yours, Love, James E. Love.”
http://www.historyhappenshere.org/node/7391
11. Wednesday, May 20, 1863 William Heyser Diary: Clear and warm. We leave for home by the same route. Stopped in Pattonsville where we had dinner with our former friends. Proceeded to Bloody Run, where we watered and then to Mackelwanes, where we put up for the night, first having a good meal, and then religious exercises before retiring. Schneck and myself fortunate in getting the same room. Bausman and Apple roomed together in the same bed. Had quite a cat accident about midnight. A loud scratching and thumping awakened them, the noise coming from a nearby cupboard. Opening it, a howling cat jumped out, which ran under their bed where it discharged its bowels creating a horrible stench. Apple could scarce retain his stomach. Got up, lit a match, but no other place to sleep. Finally turned the mouth of the chamber pot upon it, so got thru till morning. The incident created a hearty laugh in the morning.
http://www.civilwar.com/overview/about-us/239-william-heyser/147679-may-20-1863.html
12. Friday, May 20, 1864: Confederate war clerk John B. Jones worried about the many threats to Richmond, Virginia: “Fog; then sunshine all day, but cool.
Troops have been marching through the city all day from the south side. I presume others take their places arriving from the South. Barton’s brigade had but 700 out of 2000 that went into battle last Monday. Our wounded amount to 2000; perhaps the enemy’s loss was not so large.
Col. Northrop is vehement in his condemnation of Beauregard; says his blunders are ruining us; that he is a charlatan, and that he never has been of any value to the Confederate States; and he censures Gen. Lee, whom he considers a general, and the only one we have, and the Secretary of War, for not providing transportation for supplies, now so fearfully scarce.
I read an indorsement to-day, in the President’s writing, as follows: “Gen. Longstreet has seriously offended against good order and military discipline in rearresting an officer (Gen. Law) who had been released by the War Department, without any new offense having been alleged.—J. D.”
Mr. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, wrote a pungent letter to the Secretary of War to-day, on the failure of the latter to have the obstructions removed from the river, so that the iron-clads might go out and fight. He says the enemy has captured our lower battery of torpedoes, etc., and declares the failure to remove the obstructions “prejudicial to the interests of the country, and especially to the naval service, which has thus been prevented from rendering important service.”
Gen. Bragg writes a pretty tart letter to the Secretary of War to-day, desiring that his reports of the Army of Tennessee, called for by Congress, be furnished for publication, or else that the reasons be given for withholding them.
We have no war news to-day.
Mrs. Minor, of Cumberland County, with whom my daughter Anne resides, is here, in great affliction. Her brother, Col. Rudolph, was killed in the battle with Sheridan, near Richmond; shot through the head, and buried on the field. Now she learns that another brother, a cadet, just 18 years old, was killed in the battle of Gen. Breckinridge, in the valley, shot through the head; and she resolves to set out for Staunton at once, to recover his body. Her father and sister died a few months ago, and she has just heard of her aunt’s death.
A lady living next door to us had two brothers wounded on Monday, and they are both here, and will recover.
Gen. Breckinridge is now marching to reinforce Lee. It is said Butler will set sail to join Grant. If so, we can send Lee 20,000 more men, and Beauregard’s victory will yield substantial fruits.”
http://www.civilwar-online.com/2014/05/may-20-1864-diary-of-john-b-jones.html
13. Friday, May 20, 1864 --- Battle of Spotsylvania, Day 12: On this date, Hancock’s II Corps finally goes into motion, heading south toward Hanover Court House, in a bid to draw Lee out to attack.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1864
14. Friday, May 20, 1864 --- Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, some years later, writes in his Memoirs: I then asked him why Butler could not move out from his lines and push across the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to the rear and on the south side of Richmond. He replied that it was impracticable, because the enemy had substantially the same line across the neck of land that General Butler had. He then took out his pencil and drew a sketch of the locality, remarking that the position was like a bottle and that Butler's line of intrenchments across the neck represented the cork; that the enemy had built an equally strong line immediately in front of him across the neck; and it was therefore as if Butler was in a bottle. He was perfectly safe against an attack; but, as Barnard expressed it, the enemy had corked the bottle and with a small force could hold the cork in its place.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1864
15. Wednesday, May 20, 1868: Republican Convention nominates Ulysses S. Grant to run for President of the United States and Schuyler Colfax as Vice-president.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/1868
A Monday, May 20, 1861: Delegates to the North Carolina Secession Convention vote to withdraw from the Union.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/year/186105
Monday, May 20, 1861: North Carolina votes to secede from the Union.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1861
A Monday, May 20, 1861: The Confederate Congress votes to relocate the C.S. capital to Richmond, Virginia.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1861
B New Market, Virginia: On the 18th, Jackson and Ewell met at Mount Solon, about 12 miles southwest of Harrisonburg, to formulate a course of action. They decided to hit Banks’ outpost at Front Royal, on the eastern side of Massanutten, between the South Fork and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Manassas Gap Railroad ran through the area, and it was this line that Banks was using to shift his army, most recently Shields’ division, to McDowell, who had now taken Fredericksburg in his supporting drive to capture Richmond. If Jackson captured Front Royal, Banks would not only be cut off from McDowell, but his fortified position at Strasburg would also be turned.
With the general strategy worked out, Jackson cut the orders to unify his army. His own division would march down the macadamized Valley Pike through Harrisonburg and along the western side of Massanutten to New Market. Ewell’s division, on the eastern side of the river, would march to Luray. To help deceive the enemy into thinking that Jackson actually intended to attack Strasburg, on the western side of Massanutten Mountain, Brig. Gen. Richard Taylor’s brigade was detached from Ewell and ordered to march west, over Massanutten through Keezletown, and on to Harrisonburg. From there it headed north down the graveled pike, and after marching 26 miles it pulled into New Market, linking up with Jackson on the evening of May 20.
When the Louisianians marched into the encampment, the men of Jackson’s division, though worn out by their recent campaign, stood beside the road to catch a glimpse of the famed Tigers, with their distinctive blue-and-white-striped cotton pantaloons, grayish-brown Zouave jackets with red trim, red flannel skull caps and accurate Mississippi rifles. They were quite a sight one man remembered,’stepping jauntingly as if on parade…not a straggler, but every man in his place, though it had marched twenty miles and more, in open column with arms at right shoulder shift.’ Artilleryman George Neese of Chew’s Horse Artillery recalled: ‘I for the first time saw some of the much talked about Tigers….They looked courageous and daringly fearless.’
Once the Tigers and others had marched past Jackson’s division, Taylor ordered them to halt, stack arms and break ranks to establish a bivouac. As they did so, he sought out Jackson for further instructions. Finding his new commanding general perched atop a rail fence overlooking the field that the Louisianians were in the process of occupying, Taylor walked up to Jackson, crisply saluted and declared his name and rank. Jackson slowly looked up, peering from beneath his trademark visored cap, and asked Taylor how far his brigade had marched that day.
‘Keezletown Road, six and twenty miles,’ Taylor proudly replied.
‘You seem to have no stragglers,’ Jackson noted.
‘Never allow straggling,’ Taylor said.
‘You must teach my people; they straggle badly,’ Jackson concluded with a pained grimace.
Just then, the brigade band started to play, and some Creoles from the 8th Louisiana began playing a waltz. Watching from his fence post, Jackson murmured disapprovingly to Taylor, ‘Thoughtless fellows for such serious work.’ Taylor assured the no-nonsense Presbyterian that his bayou-bred Louisianians were well up to the task at hand. He then politely excused himself to rejoin his brigade, quickly putting a damper on the festivities.
http://www.historynet.com/americas-civil-war-front-royal-was-the-key-to-the-shenandoah-valley.htm
B+ Tuesday, May 20, 1862: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia: Stonewall Jackson sets his troops in motion. Since Banks has pulled back up north from Harrisonburg, Stonewall Jackson marched his brigades north to Harrisonburg, while Gen. Ewell marches his division up the Luray Valley, which is hidden from the valley proper by Massanutten Mountain, and they continue on these parallel courses.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1862
C Wednesday, May 20 1863: Battle of Pogue's Run took place in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 20, 1863. It was believed that many of the delegates to the Democrat state convention had firearms, in the hope of inciting a rebellion. Union soldiers entered the hall that the convention took place, and found personal weapons on many of the delegates. Afterwards, Union soldiers stopped trains that held delegates, causing many of the delegates to throw weapons into Pogue's Run, giving the event its name.
Indiana governor Oliver Morton, a Republican, heard that the Knights of the Golden Circle were planning to overthrow the Indiana government during the Democratic State Convention. He had placed Union troops at the convention specifically to intimidate the delegates to the convention.
About four o'clock in the afternoon, while Thomas A. Hendricks was speaking at the Democrat state convention, of which there were 10,000 participants, some eight or ten soldiers with bayonets fixed and rifles cocked entered the crowd and advanced slowly toward the stand, causing a great uproar. The multitude scattered in every direction. A high fence on the east side of the state-house square was pushed down by the rushing crowd. A squad of cavalry galloped along Tennessee street adding to the tumult. The soldiers who were moving towards the stand were ordered to halt by Colonel Coburn, who had been guarding the quartermaster's stores north of the State-house, but who came out when he heard the disturbance. He asked what they were doing. They said they were "going for Tom Hendricks," that he had said too much, and they intended to kill him. Coburn expostulated with them and they desisted. There was much confusion on the stand. Hendricks closed his remarks prematurely, suggesting that the resolutions be read and the meeting dismissed. The resolutions declared that the Federal government had two wars upon its hands, one against the rebels and one against the constitution. The Republicans in the late legislature, who had broken the quorum, were denounced, and it was declared that the Governor could not clear himself from complicity, except by taking steps to prevent repudiation.
Toward the close of the day some young soldiers walked through the crowd, and, when they heard any one speak against the war, seized the individual and marched him up the street with a great rabble following. In many cases, after they had marched some poor fellow a few squares and thoroughly frightened him, they either slipped away or told him that if he would behave himself they would let him go. A number of men were taken to the police court and charged with carrying concealed weapons, and about forty pistols were taken from those arrested.
Train stops
Later on the night of May 20, many of the Democratic delegates took trains departing from Indianapolis. When the meeting was over and the trains were leaving the city a great number of shots were fired from the cars on the Lafayette, Indiana and Terre Haute, Indiana railroads. The intention to create an armed disturbance, although unaccomplished, now seemed clear, and the soldiers determined to give the remaining "butternuts" a lesson. When the Indiana Central Railroad train left the station a gun was placed in front of it upon the track. The train stopped. A small body of soldiers were collected under General Hascall, and a policeman, accompanied by a few of these soldiers, demanded the surrender of all firearms by the passengers. Nearly two hundred weapons were given up. The train to Cincinnati was also stopped, many revolvers were taken and others were thrown in great numbers, by their owners, into Pogue's Run at the side of the track. Pistols had been given to many of the women, in the belief that they would not be searched. Seven were found upon a single woman. A knife nearly two feet long was discovered in the stove in one of the cars. In all, about five hundred loaded revolvers were taken from those who had attended the meeting. Union soldiers raided two of the trains, after trailing many of the delegates from the convention to the trains, and again found many hidden handguns among the delegates. As one of the trains was stopped by Pogue's Run, many of the Democrats threw their sidearms out of the window into the creek, giving the sarcastic name of the supposed battle. Accounts of how many weapons landed in Pogue's Run ranged from 500 to 2,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pogue%27s_Run
Friday, May 20, 1864: President Lincoln signs the legislation creating the Official Records. Known to many as the "OR", the Official Records, or more correctly The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, the 128 volume series is comprised of virtually every record from both sides that made it through the war. The idea began with General-in-Chief Henry Halleck when he had to complete his 1863 report to the U. S. Senate. Republican Senator Henry Wilson, Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs proposed legislation calling for the creation of the official records. It was quickly passed by Congress and signed by President Lincoln. Compiling the records took almost 40 years. Included in the records are orders, reports, and summaries of actions.
http://blueandgraytrail.com/event/Official_Records
D Friday, May 20, 1864 Battle of Ware Bottom Church, Virginia. Confederate victory. Confederate forces under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard attacked Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s Bermuda Hundred line near Ware Bottom Church. About 10,000 troops were involved in this action. After driving back Butler’s advanced pickets, the Confederates constructed the Howlett Line, effectively bottling up the Federals at Bermuda Hundred. Confederate victories at Proctor’s Creek and Ware Bottom Church enabled Beauregard to detach strong reinforcements for Lee’s army in time for the fighting at Cold Harbor. Bermuda Hundred Campaign (May-June 1864) Estimated Casualties: 1,500 total
https://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va054.htm
D+ Friday, May 20, 1864 --- Bermuda Hundred Campaign: Gen. Benjamin Butler’s attempted strike at Petersburg and Richmond is doomed to failure by lack of initiative. By this point, Butler has allowed Beauregard’s troops to bottle him up behind his own fortifications at Bermuda Hundred.
http://civilwarsesquicentdaily-wolfshield.blogspot.com/search?q=may+20%2C+1864
FYI SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D MAJ Roland McDonald SSG Franklin Briant CPO William Glen (W.G.) Powell 1stSgt Eugene Harless PO3 Private RallyPoint MemberMSG Greg Kelly CPT Private RallyPoint Member LTC John Griscom LTC Thomas Tennant SPC Michael Terrell SPC Robert Treat GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad GySgt Jack Wallace PO1 Sam Deel LTC David Brown LTC Private RallyPoint Member SFC Eric Harmon SSG Bill McCoy

The American Civil War 150 Years Ago Today: Search results for may 20, 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.

What was the most significant event on May 20 during the U.S. Civil War?

What was the most significant event on May 20 during the U.S. Civil War?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 21 at 2016 11:21 PM

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 20 at 2022 7:50 AM