October 16, 1863---The Battle of Fort Brooke (Tampa Florida)

OCTOBER 16, 1863:            

The Battle of Fort Brooke. The U.S.S. ADELA and the U.S.S. TAHOMA bombard Fort Brooke at the mouth of Tampa Bay in order to cover an amphibious landing by Union troops. 

Florida is sloppy in regard to its few Civil War sites. This oddly placed cannon is the only remnant of Fort Brooke. Now inland (due to landfill) and in the downtown commercial area of Tampa, it’s likely that most passersby have not a clue what a cannon is doing in the middle of the street.

October 15, 1863---C.S.S. H.L. HUNLEY goes to the bottom (again)

OCTOBER 15, 1863:            

The submarine C.S.S. H.L. HUNLEY, having sailed, having seen action, having sunk (with the loss of her crew), having been raised, and having sailed again, sinks again, killing her second crew, including her inventor, H.L. Hunley himself. The Confederate Navy goes about raising her again.

October 14, 1863---The Battle of Bristoe Station, Virginia

OCTOBER 14, 1863:           

The Battle of Bristoe Station, Virginia. 

Robert E. Lee’s maneuvering Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia runs headlong into General George Meade’s Second Corps of the Army of The Potomac. 

In the ensuing battle, the Union is able to ambush several Confederate units, causing Lee a 3:1 loss of men (1500 Confederates to 500 Federals), including several Colonels and Generals. The Confederates do manage to damage the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, and Meade temporarily falls back to Centreville, but the Confederates are unable to capitalize on these conditions or hold Bristoe Station. 

Lee, deeply troubled by this defeat, tells General A.P. Hill, "Well, well, general, bury these poor men and let us say no more about it."

October 13, 1863---"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

OCTOBER 13, 1863:            

The leader of the Copperheads in Congress, Clement Vallandigham, arrested, and exiled, yet still politically active, has run a hard-fought campaign for the Governorship of Ohio from his temporary home in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Vallandigham is soundly defeated by over 100,000 votes on this day. The decisive Union military victories of the summer have badly undercut the Peace Democrats’ support on a national basis, and in the fall elections Copperhead candidates are universally trounced.

October 12, 1863---War and peace

OCTOBER 12, 1863:            

Salmon P. Chase, speaking in Cincinnati, characterizes the Civil War as “strife brought on by a conspiracy of the few to rule the many.” 

After a long summer of inactivity on the Rapidan River, the Army of Northern Virginia begins moving toward Manassas Junction. Robert E. Lee is again going to attempt to isolate Washington, D.C..

Also on this day, the United States Government signs a peace treaty with the Shoshone-Goship Indians of Utah Territory, allowing settlers headed for California to pass through their lands peacefully.