October 31, 1862---The Battle of Unison: McClellan does (n't do) it again

OCTOBER 31, 1862:            

The Battle of Union, Virginia (The Battle of Unison). Units of the Army of the Potomac finally cross their namesake river (the crossing takes nine days!) to pursue the Army of Northern Virginia in the aftermath of Antietam (six weeks after the battle!) and are harassed by J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry, which slows them and screens the Army of Northern Virginia, giving it more time to move south. 

Less a battle than a running series of scattered skirmishes over a period of five days, these engagements bloody J.E.B. Stuart’s forces, but they convince General McClellan to withdraw his troops northward. 

President Lincoln, the Administration, and the Union public are, finally, thoroughly, disgusted with McClellan. 

October 30, 1862---A Bounty on the ALABAMA

OCTOBER 30, 1862:   

    

    

The U.S. Navy offers a $500,000.00 reward for the capture of C.S.S. ALABAMA, or $300,000.00 for its destruction.

October 29, 1862---Rebels find no refuge

OCTOBER 29, 1862:           

The Lawrence, Kansas Republican exults, "The blacks behaved nobly and have demonstrated that they can and will fight.  The battle of Island Mound proves that black men can fight, and they are now prepared to scour this country thoroughly, and not leave a place where a traitor can find refuge."

October 28, 1862---The Battle of Island Mound, Missouri

OCTOBER 28, 1862:            

The Battle of Island Mound.  

225 men of the First Kansas Colored Infantry clash with five hundred Confederates in Bates County, Missouri. 

It is the first time “Colored” troops go into battle. Although ten of the 1^st Kansas’ soldiers are killed and twelve wounded, the Confederates are driven off.

October 27, 1862---"Is it your purpose not to go into action . . . ?"

OCTOBER 27, 1862:            

President Lincoln and General McClellan continue their inane correspondence regarding McClellan’s dog-tired horses. The President writes:

“Yours of yesterday received. Most certainly I intend no injustice to any, and if I have done any I deeply regret it. To be told, after more than five weeks' total inaction of the army, and during which period we have sent to the army every fresh horse we possibly could, amounting in the whole to 7,918, that the cavalry horses were too much fatigued to move, presents a very cheerless, almost hopeless, prospect for the future, and it may have forced something of impatience in my dispatch. If not recruited and rested then, when could they ever be? I suppose the river is rising, and I am glad to believe you are crossing.”

To which the General replies:

“Your Excellency is aware of the very great reduction of numbers that has taken place in most of the old regiments of this command, and how necessary it is to fill up these skeletons before taking them again into action. I have the honor, therefore, to request that the order to fill up the old regiments with drafted men may at once be issued.”

Hearing the good old McClellan excuse, “I only have 100,000 men, how can I possibly fight an army that has only 50,000?” the President responds:

 “Your dispatch of 3 p. m. to-day, in regard to filling up old regiments with drafted men, is received, and the request therein shall be complied with as far as practicable.

 And now I ask a distinct answer to the question, Is it your purpose not to go into action again until the men now being drafted in the States are incorporated into the old regiments?”

Little Mac does not bother to answer the President.