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Chronology of The War for Southern Independence Events in Missississippi |
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Jan. 9, 1861 Mississippi secedes from the Union === Jan. 20, 1861 Mississippi troops occupy Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island === Sept. 17, 1861 Ship Island evacuated by Mississippi troops === Dec. 3, 1861 Union troops occupy Fort Massachusetts === Dec. 31, 1861 Union naval and army units begin raids on the Gulf Coast === Mar. 8, 1862 Skirmish at Mississippi City === Apr. 3, 1862 Skirmish at Biloxi === Apr. 4, 1862 Skirmish at Pass Christian === Apr. 6, 1862 Shiloh, north of Corinth Confederate Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston against Gen. Ulysses S. Grant Johnston killed, succeeded by Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard === Apr. 7, 1862 Battle of Shiloh continues Beauregard withdraws to Corinth Confederates surrender Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River to a Union amphibious force commanded by Gen. John Pope === Apr. 24, 1862 Flag Officer David G. Farragut, USN, sails up the Mississippi River, passes Forts Jackson and St. Phillips, which guard the southern approaches to New Orleans, and destroys the southern fleet New Orleans surrenders Baton Rouge surrenders soon afterward === Apr. 29, 1862 Union siege operations against Corinth begin Union Gen. Henry W. Halleck is in command; Grant is second in command ===  May 9, 1862 Battle of Farmington in North Mississippi, above Corinth === May 12-13, 1862 Commander of Union naval flotilla demands that the city of Natchez surrender The mayor, saying that he has no authority to do so, refuses === May 16, 1862 Grand Gulf shelled by Union naval task force of six gunboats led by Commander S. Phillips Lee === May 18, 1862 Lee's task force anchors below Vicksburg; he calls on city to surrender === May 29, 1862 Beauregard evacuates Corinth === May 30, 1862 Halleck occupies Corinth === June 4, 1862 Confederates evacuate Fort Pillow, on the Mississippi line above Menphis, Tennessee === June 6, 1862 Memphis surrenders === June 10, 1862 Halleck breaks up his 120,000-man army at Corinth Gen. Don Carlos Buell sent east to Chattanooga Gen. Pope transferred to Virginia Gen. William T. Sherman occupies Memphis, Tennessee === June 11, 1862 Halleck leaves Corinth for Washington Grant resumes command === June 22, 1862 Union raid on Pass Christian on the coast === June 27, 1862 Jefferson Davis replaces Beauregard with Gen. Braxton Bragg Bragg transfers troops to Chattanooga by rail Gen. Earl Van Dorn sent to Vicksburg Two of Van Dorn's divisions left at Tupelo under Gen. Sterling Price ===  June 28, 1862 With eight ships, Farragut heads up the Mississippi River from south of Vicksburg, bombarding the city and passing its batteries Soldiers under the command of Gen. Thomas Williams, who had left Baton Rouge on June 7-9, land and begin work on a canal across DeSoto Point, opposite Vicksburg === July 1, 1862 Booneville Calvary battle between units commanded by Union Colonel Philip H. Sheridan and Confederate Gen. James R. Chalmers Since the fall of Corinth, the Federals had sought to maintain control throughout northeastern Mississippi by keeping its calvary on the move in the region Union fleet commanded by Flag Officer Charles H. Davis reaches Young's Point from Memphis === July 14, 1862 Confederates ram Arkansas, commanded by Lt. Isaac N. Brown, completed at the Yazoo City Confederate naval yard, sails out of Liverpool and down the Yazoo River === July 15, 1862 Engagement between combined Union fleets, both Davis' and Farragut's, and the Arkansas ties up in front of Vicksburg === July 15-16, 1862 Union fleet descends the river, attempting to but failing to destroy Arkansas === July 22, 1862 Union attack on the Arkansas -- by the ironclad Essex and the ram Queen of the West fails === July 4, 1862 Farragut's fleet and Williams' infantry withdraw to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. === July 25, 1862 Federals evacuate Natchez === July 27, 1862 Davis' fleet withdraws upriver, first Union failure to capture Vicksburg === August 1-5 (c.), 1862 Confederates fail to recapture Baton Rouge, then occupy and fortify Port Hudson. Confederacy controls 240 miles of the Mississippi between Port Hudson and Vicksburg. === August 16-27, 1862 Union operations from Helena, AR, down the Mississippi and up the Yazoo. === September 3, 1862 Natchez is shelled by the USS Essex. === September 13, 1862 Confederate Gen. Sterling Price's army enters Iuka on march north to threaten Nashville, TN. Union troops evacuate town. === September 19, 1862 Battle of Iuka Price attacks on eastern slopes of Woodall Mountain by Grant supported by Gen. William S. Rosecrans. Price hold his ground but withdraws during the night, joining army of Gen. Earl Van Dorn. Halleck has been transferred to Washington, Grant assumes command. === September 23, 1862 Confederate Gen. Mansfield Lovell's division combines with Price's divisions at Ripley to form the Army of West Tennessee (Van Dorn commanding). === October 3-4, 1962 Battle of Corinth Van Dorn, commanding Confederate forces, has Price attack Union positions under Rosecrans' command in front of Corinth in a two-day battle in attempt to push the Federals back into Tennessee and secure the vital railroad crossing at Corinth. Pierce fighting in town and Batteries Williams and Robinett. Attack fails, and on second day Van Dorn withdraws to Chewalla. === October 5, 1862 Battle at Hatchie Bridge. Federal column blocks Van Dorn's escape here. Van Dorn forced to retreat to the south. === November 2, 1862 Grant's autumn offensive against Confederate armies in Mississippi begins. Considered Grant's first campaign, Union's second, against Vicksburg. === November 26, 1862 Grant occupies Holly Springs, sets up a major supply depot, then moves south. Holly Springs is on the line of the Mississippi Central, a major transportation artery running north and south to Jackson. === November 27, 1862 Union calvary raid is launched from Friars Point in the Mississippi Delta. Union force marches rapidly toward the railroad at Grenada on the Yalobusha River, a flanking movement that threatens to cut Pemberton's line of supply. === November 29, 1862 Sending the Texas Calvary Brigade into the Delta to counter Union raid, Pemberton withdraws southward into his defensive earthworks at Grenada, fortifications constructed to defend the Yalobusha crossing against an attack by Grant. === December 1-4, 1862 Skirmishing in and about Oxford as Grant moves south. === This is a very long history...from 1861, to 1865. As time permits, I will add more information. Please return to read additions. |
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