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

April 11.—The rebel steamer Stonewall Jackson, formerly the Leopard, while attempting to run into the harbor of Charleston, S. C, was “hotly chased by half a dozen blockaders, which fired at her, and she received several shots through her hull. Captain Black finding it impossible to escape, ran the steamer on the beach and burned her. The crew and passengers took to the boats and arrived at Charleston. The steamer was burned to the water’s edge in sight of the Yankees. Her cargo consisted of several pieces of field artillery, two hundred barrels of salt-petre, forty thousand army shoes, and a large assortment of merchandise.”—Charleston Mercury.

—A strong Union force under the command of Colonel A. D. Streight, left Nashville, Tenn., on a raid into Alabama and Georgia.—(Doc. 173.)

—Yesterday, the Fifty-ninth Virginia rebel regiment, Colonel Tabb, was sent to the rear of Fort Magruder, at Williamsburgh, Va. At the break of day this morning he made a descent upon the National cavalry camp at Whitaker’s Mill, and destroyed the whole camp, commissary and hospital stores, and an immense amount of ammunition, besides killing a large number of horses. Five of the Nationals were killed, several wounded, nineteen taken prisoners, and some twenty or so of the sick paroled. After this feat Colonel Tabb made good his retreat without the loss of a man — only one officer and private wounded.—Richmond Examiner.

—A brief skirmish occurred in the vicinity of the Blackwater, Va., between the Union pickets and a party of rebels, in which the former were forced back with the loss of several of their number taken prisoners.—Baltimore American.

—At Sheffield, England, an engraver was arrested and committed on charge of forging the Treasury Notes of the United States.

Previous post:

Next post: