March 27, 1864---Local Butternuts riot in Illinois

MARCH 27, 1864:     

During the Sessions for the Illinois 4^th District Court in Coles County, Illinois, local Butternuts riot in the town of Charleston. This south-central Illinois town was a bastion of pro-Confederate feeling. Five Union soldiers home on leave were killed and 20 wounded. 

March 26, 1864---No Noose Is Good News

MARCH 26, 1864:      

Following the news of C.S. General George Pickett’s hangings of ex-Confederate Union prisoners, Abraham Lincoln carefully amends the Proclamation of Amnesty issued in December 1863. No longer are Confederates on active duty in the C.S. armed forces permitted to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and join Union units. Although Lincoln values their loyalty he values their necks even more.