October 15, 1864---War in "Little Dixie"

OCTOBER 15, 1864:                   

The Battle of Glasgow, Missouri. Glasgow is known to history as the unofficial capital of “Little Dixie,” the most staunchly pro-Confederate area in Missouri.   

On this day, Confederate forces under General Sterling Price take the town of Glasgow, and hold it for three days, during which they appropriate the contents of the Federal supply dump there, including 1,200 muskets, 1,200 overcoats, and 150 horses, plus stocks of food and ammunition. During the battle, the town’s Unionists blow up the City Hall, where many munitions are stored. The resulting explosion devastates the downtown, and many buildings burn to the ground. 

After the battle, captured Union troops, whom Price cannot care for, are paroled and are even allowed to keep their sidearms for protection against “ruffians,” among whom are “Bloody Bill” Anderson and his gang of cutthroat “Confederate guerrillas” nominally under Price’s command. Given that Missouri has degenerated into a slaughterfield, Price’s action stands out for its simple humanity.  

October 14, 1864---Smoke and flame . . .

OCTOBER 14, 1864: 

Small battles rage around Strasburg in the Shenandoah Valley as General Philip Sheridan U.S.A. and the retreating General Jubal Early C.S.A. contest the region. Colonel John Singleton Mosby C.S.A. continues his small-scale, constant and destructive raids against Sheridan’s forces from his base across the Blue Ridge Mountains in “Mosby’s Confederacy.” Far away in Missouri, General Sterling Price C.S.A. burns more towns as he attempts to shake loose the iron grip of the Union. 

October 13, 1864---The Battle of Darbytown Road

OCTOBER 13, 1864:

The Battle of Darbytown Road. Union troops of the Tenth Corps leave their entrenchments in the outer circle of Richmond’s defenses and attack the inner defensive ring, hoping to break into Richmond. The Confederate defenders, also of Corps strength, put up a determined defense, and hold the line. Union casualties are about 450 and Confederate casualties are about 500. The Union troops return to their positions in the outer defensive ring. The South chalks up a victory in this troubling Fall season.   

October 12, 1864---The death of Chief Justice Taney

OCTOBER 12, 1864:                    

Roger B. Taney   (1777-1864) the sepulchral Chief Justice of the United States, a Unionist, a Maryland slaveholder, a States’ Rights advocate, and an opponent of the President, whose overreaching holding in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) can arguably be said to have caused the Civil War, died at age 87 in Washington, D.C. Although a more than competent jurist, and Chief Justice for 28 years, Taney’s legacy was ruined by Dred Scott and by Ex parte Merryman (1861), delivered as Circuit Justice, which challenged President Lincoln’s suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. In the chaos that was the Civil War, Lincoln simply ignored Taney’s Circuit ruling and later released Merryman via an amnesty. Merryman’s case never reached the full Supreme Court. 

October 11, 1864---Early voting

OCTOBER 11, 1864:           

U.S. Federal elections are traditionally held on Tuesdays due to the fact that holding elections on Mondays might force voters to travel on the Sabbath. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays were excluded due to a Constitutional requirement making the first Wednesday in December the deadline day for choosing Presidential Electors. Wednesdays, however, were usually market days in early agrarian America, and hence already very busy. The first federal Election Day law was passed in 1845, and most States followed suit out of convenience. However, to this day, local elections, primaries, and other public votes can be held any time. 

Today is Election Day in one-third of the Union States. Ballots are cast today, not for President, but for Governors and members of the House of Representatives (Senators are still elected by State legislatures). A carefully watching Confederacy prays for the northern Democrats to sweep; but in fact, today ends in a Republican landslide. While they don’t guarantee Lincoln’s re-election, the across-the-board victories of the Republican Party indicate that Lincoln will be swept into office come November. In any event, Republican control of Congress means that even if a Peace Administration wins the Presidency, it will probably be incapable of mustering support for a quick end to the war. 

Maryland formally abolishes slavery. 

Confederate morale continues to plummet. Desertions increase again.

October 10, 1864---Commerce Raiding off Sandy Hook

OCTOBER 10, 1864:                   

The C.S.S. TALLAHASSEE takes seven prizes in a single day off Sandy Hook, New Jersey at the mouth of New York harbor.

Far away, at Eastport, Mississippi on the Tennessee River, a squadron of Union transports and supply ships come under withering fire from hidden Confederate shore batteries. The U.S.S. AURORA and the U.S.S. KENTON are badly damaged, the U.S.S. PEKIN is forced to withdraw, and the U.S.S. KEY WEST and U.S.S. UNDINE provide covering fire while the men on the damaged ships and onshore reach safety. 

All in all, it was a good day at the beach for the Confederacy.