Tagged: Civil War

On Thursday, April 2, 1863 the so-called “Bread Riot” occurred in Richmond, Virginia.  Allegedly a mob crowded around a wagon, demanding bread.  The unruly mob then broke into shops and took whatever they wished, including jewelry and other finery. 

President Jefferson Davis personally proceeded to the scene, climbed aboard a wagon near the Capitol building, and threw the rioters the money he had in his pocket, telling the mob “(Y)ou say you are hungry and have no money.  Here is all I have; it is not much but take it.”   

On April 1, 1863, both the Union and Confederacy announced important changes in the command structure of their respective armies. 

General Francis Herron superseded John Scofield in command of the Federal Army of the Frontier, and in the South General James Longstreet’s command was also reorganized into the Department of North Carolina under General D.H. Hill, the Department of Richmond under General Arnold Elzey, and the Department of Southern Virginia under General S.G. French. 

As March 1863 closed the Confederacy still actively resisted the North.  Confederate forces had a resilient winter and had absolute faith in their military leaders.  In some areas there was discontentment with the Davis government, but in general the Southern attitude remained defiant and independent. 

On Sunday, March 29, 1863, General Ulysses Grant changed his offensive strategy against Confederate held Vicksburg.  For weeks Grant had attempted to move on Vicksburg from the north, traversing boggy marshes and swamps while constantly harassed by Confederate forces. 

Now Grant ordered John McClernand’s infantry to march south from Milliken’s Bend on the west side of the Mississippi to New Carthage, below Vicksburg.  The commands of William Tecumseh Sherman and James McPherson were to follow. 

On Saturday, March 28, 1863 near Patterson, Louisiana, Confederate land and Union naval forces clashed.  The USS Diana had been instructed to make a reconnaissance to the Atchafalaya River; accompanying her were two Union infantry companies. 

Confederate artillery assaulted the Diana, killing her master and senior mate and disabling her steerage.  The Diana went aground where she was totally at the mercy of the Confederates’ fire.  After more than two and one-half hours of withstanding the Confederate assault, the remaining ship’s officers surrendered their ship. 

On Thursday, March 26, 1863 the voters of West Virginia approved the gradual emancipation of slaves within that state. 

On the same day, President Abraham Lincoln wrote to Tennessee Governor Andrew Johnson, noting: “The colored population is the great available and yet unavailed of, force for restoring the Union.  The bare sight of fifty thousand armed, and drilled black soldiers on the banks of the Mississippi, would end the rebellion at once.”