Today in the Civil War September 08

1862-Moving north through Maryland Confederates destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridge over the Monacacy River.

1863-General William Franklin [US], intending to begin the occupation of Texas, steamed past Sabine Pass to Confederate Fort Griffin on the Texas-Louisiana border. John Bankhead Magruder [CS], with two "cotton-clads" and a force of 44 men turned back more than 200 Union troops.

1863-At the Second Battle of Sabine Pass, Texas, a small Confederate force thwarted a Federal invasion of Texas.

1863-Union General William Rosecrans approached Chattanooga, Tennessee from the west and began crossing Lookout Mountain. The next day Union troops captured the city with only minor skirmishing.

1864-George McClellan accepts nomination as Democratic candidate for President.

Today in the Civil War September 07

1862-Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley County West Virginia.

1863-Union forces arrived at Sabine Pass, Texas. The next day their attack was thwarted by a small Confederate force.

1864-W. T. Sherman [US] orders the evacuation of Atlanta Georgia.

1864-USS Wachusett captures CSS Florida at Bahia, Brazil.

1864-Skirmish, near Winchester, Frederick County Virginia.

1864-Skirmish, near Brucetown, Frederick County Virginia.

Today in the Civil War September 06

1861-Grant takes Paducah, Kentucky unopposed.

1862-Army of Northern Virginia enters Frederick Maryland.

1863-P. G. T. Beauregard orders Battery Wagner and Morris Island evacuated. The evacuation is accomplished that night.

Today in the Civil War September 05

1861-Skirmish at Papinsville, Missouri.

1862-Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia enters Maryland.

1863-British forces stop the shipment of two ironclads from Liverpool under orders from Lord Russell. This dashed Confederates hopes of British support during the war.

1863-United States Foreign Minister to Great Britain, Charles Francis Adams, sent an angry letter to British Foreign Secretary Lord Russell warning that war between the two nations may erupt if it allowed two powerful ironclad ships to set sail. The two ships were designed to help the Confederates break the Union naval blockade. The letter ended with the words: "It would be superfluous in me to point out to your Lordship that this is war."

1864-Voters in Louisiana who had taken an oath of loyalty to the United States ratified a state constitution abolishing slavery.

1864-Tennessee Unionists meet in Nashville to restart the state government and plan participation in national elections that fall.

1864-Skirmish, Stephenson’s Depot, Frederick County Virginia.