February 26, 1864---The Battle of Rio Hill

FEBRUARY 26, 1864:        

The Battle of Rio Hill. General George Custer raids an ammunition dump near Albemarle, Virginia, scattering the Confederate forces in the area. During the destruction of the dump, an uncontrolled explosion convinces Custer that his men are under attack. 

 

In the smoke and flame and fog of war, the Union troops open fire on each other. After realizing his error, Custer regroups his men and leaves the ruined dump, which is quickly reoccupied and resupplied by the Confederates. Two days later, Custer’s men raid the dump again in an inconclusive skirmish.

February 25, 1864---The Battle of Buzzard's Roost

FEBRUARY 25, 1864:         

The Battle of Crow Valley (The Battle of Buzzard’s Roost). One of the many actions that made up the Battle of Dalton, this “battle” consisted of Union troops moving into position across Crow Valley from Confederate troops. No shots were fired.'

 

February 24, 1864---The Battle of Dalton, Georgia

FEBRUARY 24, 1864:         

The Battle of Dalton, Georgia. General George H. Thomas U.S.A., “The Rock of Chickamauga,” decides to send an Expeditionary Force to probe the lines and assess the strength of General Joseph E. Johnston’s forces. These probing attacks become a running series of skirmishes that last until the end of the month. Thomas finally withdraws after making the assessment that he does not have enough men to engage Johnston in a large-scale battle.

February 23, 1864---Brooklyn Contributes

FEBRUARY 23, 1864:        

The Brooklyn Academy of Music hosted the Brooklyn and Long Island Sanitary Fair, a fundraiser for the Sanitary Commission, which provided medical assistance to Union soldiers on the front lines of the Civil War. The Fair was a tremendous success, raising $402,943.74 (in 1864 dollars!), a great point of pride for Brooklyn, which had been invited to join New York’s sanitary fair, but in going it alone, outshone the metropolis across the river.

February 22, 1864---The Battle of Okolona, Mississippi

FEBRUARY 22, 1864:        

The Battle of Okolona (The Battle of West Point):

After defeating William Sooy Smith’s forces at Ellis Bridge the day before, Nathan Bedford Forrest C.S.A. re-engages with them outside of Okolona, Mississippi. 2,500 Confederate cavalrymen swept down on Sooy Smith’s 7,000 already bloodied forces. During one of the attack waves, Forrest’s younger brother, Colonel Jeffrey Forrest, was killed. Swearing to “exact vengeance,” General Forrest violently battered Sooy Smith’s retreating forces all the way to the Tennessee border.  

Sooy Smith was later castigated for allowing Forrest’s much smaller force to batter his into submission throughout the entirety of the Meridian Campaign without even once successfully mounting a counterattack. Sooy Smith resigned in disgrace from the army later in 1864.