December 18, 1863---William Breedlove, "a free person of colour."

DECEMBER 18, 1863:        

William Breedlove, a blacksmith and a “free person of colour” was convicted in Virginia for aiding and abetting escaping slaves to enter Union lines. His punishment was to be perpetual enslavement. Today, his Attorneys petitioned the Governor of Virginia for a complete pardon on the grounds that everyone involved (including Breedlove and the witnesses who testified against him) agreed that they believed the escapees to be carrying the proper passes.  Breedlove was pardoned, and his freedom was restored in one of the few such decisions in American history. 

After the war, Breedlove helped draft the new Virginia State Constitution, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace, Town Councilman, and Postmaster of Tappahannock, Virginia.

December 17, 1863---Blockade runners

DECEMBER 17, 1863:        

Confederate spies, having captured the passenger vessel S.S. CHESAPEAKE, are going to try to run it through the Wilmington, N.C. naval blockade. The ship is captured by Union gunboats while coaling in Nova Scotia waters. It is estimated that out of the sixty-six blockade-runners making regular trips in and out of Wilmington during the war, forty were captured or destroyed, but only after a successful career for a shorter or longer period. 

December 16, 1863---"Sul" Ross takes command in south Texas

DECEMBER 16, 1863:        

Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the future Governor of Texas and eventual President of Texas A & M, is promoted to Brigadier General (C.S.A.) after taking command of the South Texas Brigade (afterward known as “Ross’ Brigade”). Ross’ Brigade fought with distinction during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. “Sul” Ross is probably best remembered as the man who captured Cynthia Parker. Parker, a Euro-American, had been captured (at age 9) by the Comanche Indians under Chief Niconah, with whom she had a son, the famous scout Quanah Parker, who eventually became a Chief of the Comanches in his own right. There is no evidence that Cynthia Parker ever chose to leave her Comanche husband and child.  

December 15, 1863---Great Britain Cancels the Confederacy's Contracts

DECEMBER 15, 1863:         

The British Crown orders cancellation of any and all work on Confederate projects in Great Britain and Ireland and in other British dependencies. Elsewhere in Europe, under pressure from U.S. interests, contractors begin to follow the British lead.

December 14, 1863---The Battle of Bean's Station, TN

DECEMBER 14, 1863:        

The Battle of Bean’s Station, Tennessee. Union forces attack units of General James Longstreet’s army, still in transit from Knoxville to Greenville. A sharp engagement ensues that costs both sides nearly 1000 men each. Although the Confederates are able to drive off the Federals, they do not have the resources to pursue them. Bloodied, Longstreet’s men encamp at Russellville.