Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

January 11.—The United States steamer Hatteras, under the command of Lieutenant R. G. Blake, was sunk off the coast of Texas, by the rebel steamer Alabama, after an engagement of twenty minutes.—(Doc. 100.)

—The steamer Grampus No. 2, lying at the mouth of Wolf River, Tenn., was surprised and captured by thirteen rebels, taken five miles above Memphis, and there stripped and burned. —The Virginia Legislature passed a resolution, directing the Special Committee appointed to consider the resolution touching the legal tender of confederate notes, to inquire into the expediency of “punishing by suitable penalties, any citizen of the commonwealth who shall refuse to receive the Treasury notes of the confederate States, in discharge of any debt or obligation for the payment of money.”—Richmond Inquirer. —Fort Hindman, Post Arkansas, was this day captured by the National army of the Mississippi, under the command of Major-General McClernand, in conjunction with the fleet of gunboats, under Admiral Porter, after a combat of three and a half hour’s duration, with a loss of nearly one thousand Union men killed, wounded, and missing.—(Doc. 101.)

—Colonel Penick, Fifth Missouri cavalry, commanding military post at Independence, Mo., reported that the rebel guerrillas were committing horrid barbarities on the Union soldiers and citizens of that State.—(Doc. 102.)

—A fight took place to-day near Hartsville, Mo., between a detachment of Union troops, under the command of Colonel Merrill, Twenty-first Iowa, and a force of rebels under General Marmaduke, resulting in a retreat of the latter with great loss.—(Doc. 99.)

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