May 21, 1864---To The North Anna River; The Circassian Genocide

MAY 21, 1864: 

In Virginia, Union troops moving southward toward the North Anna River run headlong into Confederate troops engaged in a reconnaissance in force. The resulting skirmish, though not very large, alerts Robert E. Lee to the exact position of The Army of The Potomac. He maneuvers in order to block their access to the River. 

Elsewhere in the world, after decades of localized warfare, the Tsarist Empire of Russia defeats the Circassians, a Muslim ethnic group famed since antiquity as warriors. The traditional home of the Circassians is along the Black Sea coast between the Crimea and the Caucasus. Upon the signing of the formal surrender on this day, Russian forces immediately begin a brutal campaign of expulsion / genocide against Circassian civilians, who are brutally tortured, raped, murdered and mutilated in the tens of thousands within only a few weeks. There is an international outcry. Survivors flee to the Ottoman Empire, where they are treated as enemy aliens. The Tsarist government later admits to killing 400,000 Circassians and exiling 400,000 to Turkey; however, Ottoman records show that only 75,000 Circassians entered their realm. Some modern sources estimate that only 150,000 of 1.5 million Circassians survived the genocide. 

May 20, 1864---Crossing the Mattaponi River

MAY 20, 1864: 

Samuel H. Bassitt (1848-1925), a sixteen year old Ohio boy who ran off to join the army, writes home to his parents from the battlefield in Georgia. His letter reads in part: 

I am well and in the best of spirits and hope you folks are the same. Well Father we have laid still today that is to say we haven't marched any. We have had considerable skirmishing since we left Chattanooga. We drove the Rebs out of a town called Resaca but there was considerable loss on both sides. We have had skirmishes ever since with them. We are now within 60 miles of Atlanta. I tell you ole Grant is giving them fits up at Richmond, the news is that the Rebs are going to evacuate Richmond and then come down here and run us out, but I'll tell you they will have a sweet time if they undertake that game. Well Father you asked how I liked to be a soldier by now and I like it well so far. You mentioned you wanted to get a discharge for me since all soldiers under 18 was entitled to one. So you go ahead and get the papers showing I am under 18 and send them to the Provost Marshall and I can get my discharge. I must bring my scribbling to a close for now. 

In Virginia, U.S. Grant and The Army of The Potomac cross the Mattaponi River.


In Washington, D.C., President Lincoln signs into law the Bill creating the Official Records (OR) of the War of The Rebelliom, an archive of every report, order, and document generated during the war.