1861:  
Action at Carrick's Ford, West Virginia: On this day, Union General George B. McClellan distinguishes himself by routing Confederates under General Robert Garnett at Corrick's Ford in western Virginia. The battle ensured Yankee control of the region, secured the Union's east-west railroad connections, and set in motion the events that would lead to the creation of West Virginia.

Two days before Corrick's Ford, Union troops under General William Rosecrans flanked a Confederate force at nearby Rich Mountain. The defeat forced Garnett to retreat from his position on Laurel Hill, while part of McClellan's force pursued him across the Cheat River. A pitched battle ensued near Corrick's Ford, in which Garnett was killed—the first general officer to die in the war. But losses were otherwise light, with only 70 Confederate, and 10 Union, casualties.

The Battle of Corrick's Ford was a significant victory because it cleared the region of Confederates, but it is often overlooked, particularly because it was overshadowed by the Battle of Bull Run, which occurred shortly thereafter on July 21. However, the success made McClellan a hero, even though his achievements were inflated. Two weeks later, McClellan became commander of the Army of the Potomac, the primary Federal army in the east. Unfortunately for the Union, the small campaign that climaxed at Corrick's Ford was the zenith of McClellan's military career.



Confederate General Pegram surrenders his command in West Virginia

Draft riots erupt in New York City and Boston


1862:  
Action at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, and Union surrender of the City

Skirmish near Wolf River, Tennessee

Skirmish at Rapidan Station, Virginia

Abraham Lincoln reads a draft of the Emancipation Proclaimation to Secretary of State William Seward and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, both strong abolitionists. Seward begins talking about the problems it will cause. Welles sits there dumbfounded


1863:  
Union forces occupy Natchez and capture Yazoo City, Mississippi

Engagement near Donalsonville, Louisnana, continues

Skirmishes at Jackson and Forked Deer River, Tennessee

Anger over the Union draft triggers massive protests that explode into four days of violent riots in New York City

After several days of plundering Indiana, John Hunt Morgan crosses into Ohio


1864:  
Skirmish near Brownsville, Arkansas

Affair at Versailles and action at Camden Point, Missouri

Action near Camargo Cross Roads and Skirmish at Utica

Skirmish at Bell Mines, Kentucky


1964:  
Affair at Rockville, Maryland


Primary sources:
Official Records of the War of the Rebellion
A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion ; by Frederick Dyer;
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865 by E. B. Long with Barbara Long;
National Archives Guide Index

While I was looking through the ORs for some information about an event we are doing next weekend.  I was looking up to see if there was anything about the 1st Delaware (90 day unit) in the OR.  And I found this letter:

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 2 [S# 2] -- CHAPTER IX.
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#4

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DELAWARE REGIMENT,
Havre de Grace, Md., July 13, 1861.
S. M. FELTON,
Pres. P., W. & B. R. R, Philadelphia, Pa.:
SIR: I beg leave to lay before you and the board of directors of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Company a communication from the officers of Company D, of this regiment, which has for two months past been posted at the east end of Bush River railroad bridge. This letter was elicited by me from them, and is not known to Miss Bowman or any of her father's family. The highly remarkable conduct of Miss Bowman calls, in my opinion, for some substantial reward from your honorable board, and I doubt not that they will be as ready to give as I am pleased to suggest the same. She is quite young, apparently not over 22 or 23, and really, for her station in life, quite an attractive young person. I have found her modest and retiring, and this character is given to her by the officers. I hope you will excuse me for troubling you with this matter, but I feel that I am only doing an act of justice to a worthy family by so doing.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY H. LOCKWOOD,
Colonel First Delaware Regiment.

Enclosed letter:
CAMP DARE, AT BUSH RIVER,
July 11, 1861.
Col. H. H. LOCKWOOD:
SIR: As a part of the command stationed on the line of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, we deem it but right and proper to make known to you the heroic conduct of the daughter of Mr. Bowman, the keeper of the bridge at this place, on the night of the burning of the bridge by Trimble and his men. From Mr. Smith, the master carpenter of the road, and others who were present on the occasion, we have learned the following particulars:  When the train bearing the bridge-burners had crossed the bridge, and Trimble had drawn his men in line immediately in front of Mr. Bowman's house, the object of their coming was announced in the hearing of Miss Jane by Trimble himself She pronounced him a coward, and in a loud voice called upon the men, who had been armed by the road and placed there to protect the bridge, to defend it, and when she saw these men throw away their arms, some of them taking to the woods and others hiding within her father's house, she called upon them again not to run, but to stand fast and show themselves to be men.  At this time, seeing one of the pistols lying upon the floor of the porch, which had been thrown away by one of the bridge-guards, she picked it up and ran with it. Meeting Mr. Smith she gave it to him, saying at the same time, " Use it ; if you will not, I will."
Another evidence of the wonderful courage and presence of mind of Miss Jane was shown in her anxiety for the safety of one of the men employed by her father to assist him in taking care of the bridge. This man was on the draw at the time the firing of the bridge commenced.. Miss Jane was the first to think of him, and promptly called upon her father, or some one, to go for him in a boat, saying, "If no one else will go, I will."
In conclusion, permit us to say that such heroism in a young lady as shown in the conduct of Miss Bowman on this occasion has rarely been met with anywhere, and, in our opinion, should not be suffered to go unrewarded.
JAMES GREEN,
Captain Company D, First Delaware Volunteers.
E. J. SMITHERS,
First Lieutenant

Edit: Trimble is Issac R Trimble.
The story is also related in his biography.
http://books.google.com/books?id=SK6pLI7aUh0C&pg=PA91&dq=Trimble+Bowman+bridge&sig=ACfU3U1Q_upCB4YIQgAhUmiNsLsOsgu8NA#PPA91,M1 on page 91.  

--Last edited by lhsnj on 2008-08-08 14:16:36 --