American Civil War Events of 1863

January 1, 1863

Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. The proclamation does not cover those slaves residing in states within the Union itself.

January 1, 1863

Union forces flee Galveston, Texas after a surprise attack by General Magruder and his men. The city is now firmly in Confederate control.

January 1, 1863

Union Navy forces move back into position around Galveston, Texas, ensuring the naval blockade stays in place.

January 2, 1863

The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, comes to an end. It is a much-needed Union victory. Losses total 12,906 for the Union and 11,739 for the Confederates.

January 4, 1863

President Lincoln is at odds with General Grant on the topic of expelling Jewish merchants operating within Grant's military district. He calls on Grant to repeal the earlier expulsion order.

January 8, 1863

Springfield, Missouri is raided by a combined Confederate cavalry force led by General Marmaduke and Colonel Quantrill.

January 11, 1863

The Union Army claims Fort Hindman off the Arkansas River near Little Rock. Union Navy gunboats assist in the successful action.

January 11, 1863

USS Hatteras is sunk by CSS Alabama near Galveston, Texas.

January 12, 1863

The Confederate Congress begins another round of meetings in the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

January 14, 1863

Bayou Teche, Louisiana is site to another Union-versus-Confederate engagement. This action involves both land forces and gunboat support for the Union.

January 15, 1863

CSS Florida conducts various raids down the East Coast of the United States and beyond, her journey beginning in the port-city of Mobile, Alabama.

January 20, 1863

Union forces, under the leadership of General Burnside, attempt a surprise offensive against General Lee's army in Virginia. However, conditions are such that the march is aborted. It comes to be known as the "Mud March".

January 21, 1863

Confederate warships capture several Union vessels at Sabine Pass in Texas. This success alleviates the naval blockade for a time.

January 21, 1863

Union General Fitz John Porter is dishonorably discharged from the Union ranks for his conduct in the Second Battle of Bull Run.

January 23, 1863

Union General Joseph Hooker is released from service under General Burnside.

January 25, 1863

General Hooker is placed in charge of the Army of the Potomac - succeeding General Burnside. The assignment is handed down by President Lincoln himself.

January 29, 1863

A Confederate supply ship, Princess Royal, is intercepted by Union naval forces near Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

January 30, 1863

General Ulysses S. Grant assumes command of Union forces near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

January 30, 1863

Union land forces, aided by the Navy, cut-off enemy supply lines running from North Carolina into Richmond, Virginia.

January 31, 1863

Union naval forces at Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, are defeated in a raid by CSS Palemetto State and CSS Chicora.

February 3, 1863

A Confederate attempt to retake Fort Donelson in Tennessee is thwarted.

February 14, 1863

After running aground in the Black River (Louisiana), USS Queen of the West is taken by Confederate forces.

February 24, 1863

USS Indianola is grounded by Confederate warships and taken over. The action takes place near Warrenton in Mississippi.

February 24, 1863

The Territory of Arizona is established by the American government. Fort Whipple is named its capital and John Goodwin its governor.

February 25, 1863

USS Indianola is blown up by Confederate forces.

February 28, 1863

CSS Rattlesnake (fmr CSS Nashville) is destroyed by Union warships at Fort McAllister near Savannah, Georgia.

March 3, 1863

To help strengthen Union numbers, the Enrollment Act (Civil War Military Draft Act), the first of its kind in U.S. history, is enacted. It covers those aged 20 to 45.

March 3, 1863

The U.S. government passes a resolution opposing foreign intervention in the bloody American conflict.

March 3, 1863

An honorary brevet rank award is established by the U.S. Congress.

March 3, 1863

The U.S. Congress declares the Medal of Honor award now open to officer-level persons.

March 3, 1863

After being denied a promotion, General Robert Toombs resigns his commission in the Confederate Army and turns on President Davis and his government.

March 3, 1863

In a two-day clash of cavalry forces at Thompson's Station, Tennessee, Confederate forces are victorious.

March 6, 1863

Detroit, Michigan is the scene of anti-black rioting.

March 8, 1863

Union General Edwin Stoughton is captured while asleep at Fairfax Court House in Virginia by Partison Rangers led by Confederate Lieutenant John Mosby.

March 8, 1863

The under-construction Union canal at Vicksburg, Mississippi is flooded out due to a levee break.

March 11, 1863

In an action at Greenwood, Mississippi, Union warships fail to neutralize Fort Pemberton.

March 13, 1863

The late Philip Kearny is honored by the establishment of the Kearny Cross award arranged for privates and non-commissioned officers.

March 14, 1863

Despite heavy damage, a Union fleet under the direction of Admiral Farragut gets by the confederate guns of Port Hudson in Louisiana.

March 14, 1863

Steele's Bayou Expedition is begun. The operation sees a combined Union force directed by General Grant and Rear Admiral Porter attempt to reach the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The expedition would last until March 27th.

March 15, 1863

The Department of the Ohio now falls under the command of General Ambrose Burnside.

March 17, 1863

Confederate forces at Fort Pemberton block General Grant's passage along the Yazoo River in Mississippi.

March 17, 1863

Kelly's Ford, Virginia, is the site of a brief cavalry clash between both sides.

March 17, 1863

The New Jersey government calls for the U.S. to seek a peace with the Confederacy.

March 17, 1863

The Provost Marshall Department if created by the U.S. government. The department will head the military police and drafting of new personnel into the armed services.

March 22, 1863

Confederate General John Hunt Morgan begins a series of raids against Kentucky.

March 25, 1863

Brentwood, Tennessee and Franklin, Tennessee are raided by cavalry forces under the command of General Forrest.

March 25, 1863

The first Medal of Honor awards are handed out by the U.S. government.

March 26, 1863

The Confederate government moves to take civilian goods by force.

March 27, 1863

Union forces attempting to reach Vickerburg's rear are repulsed as part of Steele's Bayou Expedition. Union leaders included General Grant and Admiral Porter.

March 30, 1863

Confederate forces are beaten by the Union Army in Kentucky. Confederate General Pegram's forces are pushed back across the Cumberland River. The Union charge is led by General Quincy Gillmore.

March 31, 1863

Union warships stop a Confederate advance on Washington, North Carolina.

April 1, 1863

General Morgan completes his raids against the state of Kentucky.

April 1, 1863

CSS Georgia is commissioned for service into the Confederate Navy near Brest, France. The vessel was constructed in Scottish shipyards.

April 2, 1863

Food riots break out in the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

April 2, 1863

USS Alligator sinks while being towed near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

April 5, 1863

It is revealed that thousands of Confederate prisoners have died in captivity at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois.

April 7, 1863

Union ironclads engage the defenses at Fort Sumter but do not manage to break the will of the defenders.

April 8, 1863

USS Keokuk is lost following its previous day's participation in the engagement at Fort Sumter.

April 10, 1863

Franklin, Tennessee is raided by Confederate cavalry forces.

April 12, 1863

General James Longstreet takes on Union positions at Suffolk, Virginia.

April 17, 1863

Union Navy boats attempt to bypass the guns of Vicksburg through night time voyages.

April 17, 1863

General Benjamin Grierson of the Union Army undertakes a series of cavalry raids against Confederate positions beginngin at LaGrange, Tennessee.

April 21, 1863

Union forces are successful in claiming McMinnville, Tennessee.

April 26, 1863

Union forces are successful in driving back Confederate cavalry at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

April 27, 1863

Confederate forces are successful in driving back a Union navy attack at Grand Gulf, Mississippi.

April 27, 1863

General George Stoneman leads a series of cavalry raids across Virginia.

April 28, 1863

The "Invalid Corps" is established by the Union Army. It includes two classes of soldiers: those partially disabled and still in active service and those discharged due to a disability but still wanting to serve.

April 30, 1863

President Lincoln calls for a day of "Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer" amidst the growing, bloody years-long conflict between the North and South.

April 30, 1863

The Great Seal of the Confederate States of America is adopted by the South. It pictures George Washington on a white horse. Above him are the words "Confederate States of America: 22 February 1862. Below is the motto "Deo vindice" ("God as Our Champion").

April 30, 1863

The Battle of Chancellorsville begins in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Union forces are directed by General Hooker while the Confederates are led by general's Lee and Jackson. The Confederates number a much smaller force at just over 60,000 men. They face Union strength (Army of the Potomac) of over 130,000.

May 1, 1863

The Confederate congress adjourns their series of meetings in Richmond, Virginia.

May 1, 1863

Union troops are victorious at Port Gibson in Mississippi.

May 1, 1863

A new Confederate National Flag design is adopted by the government of the South.

May 1, 1863

Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's raiding actions are formally recognized by the Confederate Congress.

May 2, 1863

General Benjamin Grierson's cavalry raids against Confederate positions ends at Baton, Rouge, Louisiana.

May 3, 1863

A much smaller force of Confederate cavalry, led by General Forrest, captures Union cavalry raiders in Alabama.

May 3, 1863

Grand Gulf, Mississippi is evacuated.

May 3, 1863

General William Averell is replaced by General Joseph Hooker in the Union ranks.

May 3, 1863

General Grant arrives at Grand Gulf, Mississippi near Vicksburg.

May 4, 1863

The siege of Suffolk, Virginia, directed by Confederate General Longstreet ends.

May 5, 1863

With vocal and public opposition to to Lincoln's war, Congressman Clement Vallandigham (Ohio) is arrested.

May 6, 1863

The Battle of Chancellorsville is over as a Confederate victory. However, the Confederate Army is dealt a blow when it is revealed that Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded (by friendly fire). Losses for both sides include 17,300 for the Union and 13,300 for the Confederates.

May 7, 1863

General Grant departs the Grand Gulf, Mississippi region.

May 8, 1863

General Stoneman's raids into Virginia end.

May 9, 1863

Confederate General Joseph Johnson is named commander of Mississippi forces.

May 10, 1863

General "Stonewall" Jaskson dies of complications related to wounds suffered days earlier at the Battle of Chancellorsville. The event is a major blow to the Confederate military cause.

May 12, 1863

Union forces outside of Jackson, Mississippi are victorious at Raymond (Battle of Raymond). General James McPherson is the commander of the Army of the Tennessee and heads a force 12,000 strong against 4,400 Confederates (under John Gregg). Losses are 446 Union to 820 Confederates.

May 13, 1863

Union forces reach Clinton, Mississippi.

May 14, 1863

General Grant captures Jackson, Mississippi (Battle of Jackson, Mississippi). Losses include 286 Union and 850 Confederates.

May 14, 1863

The Women's Loyal National League is formed, organized by Elizabeth Stanton. Its president is Susan B. Anthony. It is recognized as the first national women's political organization and seeks an amendment for the U.S. Constitution that officially abolishes slavery.

May 16, 1863

The Battle of Champion Hill (Baker's Creek) is a one-day engagement between the Army of the Tennessee under General Grant and the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. Force strength includes 32,000 and 22,000 respectively. Losses amount to 2,457 and 3,840 respectively. It is a Union victory.

May 17, 1863

Confederate forces are pushed back over Big Black River in Mississippi.

May 19, 1863

The Confederate defenders at Vicksburg (Mississippi) repel a Union push.

May 19, 1863

Vocal war critic (and now disgraced U.S. Congressman) Clement Vallandigham is banished to the South by President Lincoln.

May 22, 1863

General Grant attempts, and fails, to take Vicksburg in a second offensive.

May 23, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi is besieged by Union forces.

May 27, 1863

Union forces fail to take Port Hudson in Louisiana.

May 27, 1863

The guns of Vicksburg aid in the sinking of USS Cincinnati.

May 30, 1863

General Jackson's old command is renamed "Stonewall Brigade" in his honor.

June 1, 1863

Operations of the Chicago Times is ordered stopped by General Burnside. President Lincoln steps in to reverse the order.

June 2, 1863

Former slave Harriet Tubman guides Union forces to raid Confederate plantations in the South Carolina Lowcountry. About 750 slaves are freed in the operation and these men strengthen Union numbers by joining their ranks. The raid is recognized as the Raid at Combahee Ferry.

June 7, 1863

The Battle of Milliken's Bend occurs. Confederate General Richard Taylor attacks a Union base at Madison Parrish, Louisiana. The attackers are driven off by a force led by commander Hermann Lieb. The result is a Union victory though casualties number 652 for the North.

June 7, 1863

French forces move in to secure Mexico City.

June 9, 1863

Confederate cavalry forces are victorious at Brandy Station, Virginia.

June 12, 1863

Confederate navy elements begin a period of raids against Union shipping along the American East Coast.

June 14, 1863

Confederate Lieutenant A. Wills Gould, an artillery officer under General Nathan Forrest, is stabbed to death by Forrest following Gould's attempt to kill him.

June 14, 1863

Winchester, Virginia falls to Confederate Cavalry under the command of General Richard Ewell.

June 17, 1863

CSS Atlanta is captured by Union warships at Wassaw Sound, Georgia.

June 17, 1863

Aldie, Virginia is the scene of a cavalry clash between North and South forces.

June 19, 1863

At the expense of the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry, Union forces are victorious in Middleburg, Virginia.

June 20, 1863

West Virginia is formally adopted as the 35th state of the United States.

June 21, 1863

Union forces are victorious is a clash of cavalry with the South. The Confederates are led by J.E.B. Stuart and the fighting takes place at Upperville, Virginia.

June 22, 1863

West Virginia, a breakaway territory of Virginia proper, becomes the 35th state in the Union.

June 23, 1863

Confederate forces are victorious at Brashear City, Louisiana.

June 24, 1863

Confederate navy forces conclude their raids against Union shipping targets along the northeast American coast.

June 24, 1863

Liberty Gap and Hoover Gap near Murfressboro, Tennessee are claimed by Union forces.

June 25, 1863

Despite an attempt by Union engineers to destroy the Vicksburg defenses from below, Vicksburg remains under Confederate control.

June 26, 1863

General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, son to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, is captured by Union forces in Hanover, Virginia.

June 27, 1863

Union forces capture Confederate navy elements off the coast of Portland, Maine.

June 27, 1863

General Joseph Hooker of the Union Army tenders his resignation from the Army of the Potomac due to a dispute with Army HQ on the status of the defense at Harpers Ferry. The resignation is accepted by President Lincoln.

June 28, 1863

General George G. Meade replaces General Joseph Hooker in charge of the Army of the Potomac.

June 28, 1863

General George G. Meade succeeds the resigned General Joseph Hooker at commander of the Army of the Potomac.

June 28, 1863

Union defenders at Fort Butler in Donaldsonville, Florida are victorious against attacking Confederate forces.

June 29, 1863

George Armstrong Custer is named General within the Union ranks. At the age of just 23, he becomes the youngest general of the Army during the war.

June 30, 1863

The route to Chattanooga is threatened when Confederate General Bragg is forced to abandon his positions in northern Tennessee.

June 30, 1863

Attacking Confederate cavalry forces, led by General Stuart, are repelled by a Union counterattack. The clash takes place at Hanover, Pennsylvania.

June 30, 1863

Confederate forces, at brigade strength, tangle with Union elements in Gettysburg in the hopes of securing supplies.

June 30, 1863

West Virginia officially becomes a supporter of the Union cause in the Civil War and commits its resources to the conflict

July 1, 1863

In the northwest of Gettysburg, at Marsh Creek at about 5:30AM, the first shots of the Battle of Gettysburg are fired between Confederate and Union forces.

July 1, 1863

At 8:00AM, Confederate forces - as part of General Henry Heth's division - under the direction of General James J. Archer and General Joseph R. Davis march on Gettysburg.

July 1, 1863

At 10:00AM, during the fighting at Gettysburg, Union General John F. Reynolds is killed.

July 1, 1863

General Abner Doubleday succeeds General Reynolds following the latter's death.

July 1, 1863

General Solomon Meredith's "Iron Brigade" repels General Archer's Confederates and captures Archer and a few hundred others.

July 1, 1863

At 12:00PM, Major General Oliver O. Howard of XI Corps arrives.

July 1, 1863

Confederate guns open up from Oak Hill at around 12:00PM.

July 1, 1863

At 2:00PM Major General Robert E. Rodes moved his troops against the Union right flank.

July 1, 1863

At 2:00PM, Union General Meade calls on General Winfield S. Hancock to succeed the slain General Reynolds.

July 1, 1863

Upon arriving on scene at about 2:30PM, General Robert E. Lee surveys the battlefield from Herr Ridge.

July 1, 1863

The division under the command of Union General Carl Schurz is routed at 2:30PM.

July 1, 1863

General Lee advances General Heth and William Dorsey Pender's forces. General Heth is wounded.

July 1, 1863

At 3:30PM General Schurz units retreat under attacks from General Jubal A. Early. Their retreat is through the town of Gettysburg itself.

July 1, 1863

At 4:00PM General Pender pushes Union forces to retreat into Gettysburg proper as well as into Cemetery Hill.

July 1, 1863

At 4:00PM, General Hancock arrives at Cemetery Hill.

July 1, 1863

At 4:30PM, Union forces retreat from Gettysburg and take up fortified positions at the town's south, in Cemetery Hill.

July 1, 1863

At 4:30PM, General Lee provides General Ewell with the option to attack Union forces at Cemetery Hill if an advantage can be had and maintained. Lee understands the Federal forces hold positions on high ground. Ewell does not move on the enemy - perhaps missing a tremendous opportunity to turn the tide of the battle on its first day.

July 1, 1863

General Daniel E. Sickles arrives and reinforces Union numbers.

July 1, 1863

By 6:30PM, the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg draws to a close.

July 1, 1863

Union engineers attempt a second demolition of Union defenses at Vicksburg, Mississippi. This attempt also fails to make progress.

July 1, 1863

Carlisle, Pennsylvania falls under an attack by General Jeb Stuarts cavalry forces.

July 2, 1863

At 4:00PM, Federal positions are assailed by Confederate elements at Little Round Top and Devil's Den. Devil's Den falls to the attackers but the defenders at Little Round Top hold out.

July 2, 1863

At 5:30PM, Wheat Field and Peach Orchard, Union-held named areas to the Southwest of Gettysburg, are attacked by forces under the command of General Lafayette McLaws.

July 2, 1863

The ownership of Wheat Field is changed some four times before General Sickle's forces are pushed to the base of Little Round Top. The defensive stand there holds off the Confederates however.

July 2, 1863

Union forces continue to hold primary positions though the Confederates claim some terrain against them - particularly at Cemetery Hills and Culp's Hill.

July 2, 1863

Confederate General John Morgan leads his cavalry forces on the first of several raids throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The raiding actions will run nearly a month.

July 3, 1863

Pennsylvania resident Ginnie Wade becomes the only civilian fatality of the Battle of Gettysburg when she is struck in the shoulder by a stray bullet while kneading bread dough in the kitchen. The bullet pierced her heart - most likely killing her instantly.

July 3, 1863

From 5:30AM until 10AM, Confederate forces make repeated attempts to unseat and drive off Union forces at Culp's Hill. Little ground is gained in the fighting.

July 3, 1863

At about 1:00PM, 140 guns of the Confederate side open up on Union positions.

July 3, 1863

About 80 Union artillery pieces respond to the Confederate cannon bombardment.

July 3, 1863

Union-held Seminary Ridge is attacked by forces under the command of General Pickett, General Pettigrew and General Trimble.

July 3, 1863

At 3:30PM, General Stannard leads his Union troops against the side of General Pickett's charging division.

July 3, 1863

By 3:45PM, Confederate forces have advanced as much as they will in the battle as Union lines hold.

July 3, 1863

General Farnsworth and his cavalry forces suffer considerable losses against the Confederate lines - the charge called by General Kilpatrick against General Longstreet's position southwest of Big Round Top.

July 3, 1863

At the age of 26, cavalry General Elon J. Farnsworth is killed at the Battle of Gettysburg after a cavalry charge led by General Kilpatrick. Farnsworth protested the action but obeyed nonetheless.

July 3, 1863

At the end of the battle to control Gettysburg (a decisive Union victory), over 57,000 persons became casualties, many wounded, with 23,055 belonging to the Union lines and as many as 28,000 suffered by the Confederacy. Wounded number over 25,000 combined. The Confederacy suffered mightily in terms of officer-level depletion.

July 4, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi finally surrenders to General Grant and his Union forces. Some 30,000 prisoners are granted release with the promise not to engage the Union militarily again.

July 4, 1863

Union defenders hold off a Confederate attempt to retake Helena, Arkansas. The Confederates are led by General Theophilus Holmes and the price to take Helena is high for the attackers.

July 4, 1863

Former U.S. President Franklin Pierce delivers a speech in Concord, New Hampshire reminding listeners of the value of liberty in the ongoing conflict which has seen the American military grow in strength and influence.

July 5, 1863

A besieged Union cavalry force at Bardstown, Kentucky surrenders to Confederate attackers.

July 9, 1863

Port Hudson, Mississippi is given up by Confederate defenders after a siege lasting six long weeks. This gives the Union a vast amount of control concerning the Mississippi waterway.

July 9, 1863

Jackson, Mississippi is under siege from forces directed by Union General William Sherman.

July 10, 1863

Charleston, South Carolina is under bombardment from Union naval and land forces. Ironclads are directed by Admiral John Dahlgren.

July 12, 1863

Union forces at Jackson, Mississippi, attempt to overtake Confederate positions but are heavily repulsed. General Jacob Lauman directs the unsuccessful Union charge.

July 13, 1863

Union forces take Yazoo City, Mississippi.

July 13, 1863

The North and South will no longer adhere to the prisoner exchange agreement from earlier in the war.

July 13, 1863

General John Morgan's Confederate cavalry is spotted just north of Cincinnati, Ohio during one of his many raiding actions in Union territory.

July 13, 1863

Over a dozen civilians are killed during rioting in New York after the release of names from the first Union military draft. The rioting spans July 13th until July 16th and involves some 50,000 New Yorkers.

July 14, 1863

Confederate forces belonging to General Robert E. Lee cross the Potomac River.

July 15, 1863

The Department of Virginia and North Carolina is created by the Union.

July 16, 1863

With Jackson, Mississippi fallen to Union forces, General Joseph Johnson's Confederate forces abandon the area.

July 16, 1863

The Mississippi River waterway is firmly in control of Union forces.

July 18, 1863

Union forces fail to take Fort Wagner. near Charleston, South Carolina. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment taking part in the attack is made up of Negro soldiers, the first of its kind for the Union Army.

July 18, 1863

The Confederate's Army of Mississippi cavalry forces command is given to General Joseph Wheeler.

July 26, 1863

General John Morgan and his raiding cavalry forces are taken prisoner by Union elements near New Lisbon, Ohio.

July 30, 1863

The Order of Retaliation is handed down by President Lincoln. The measure calls for the execution of one Confederate soldier for every one Union soldier killed in violation of the rules of war.

July 31, 1863

The Union's Army of the Potomac numbers 75,000 men by this date, outpacing that of the Confederate's Army of Northern Virginia which claims just 41,000 to its ranks.

August 1, 1863

A Union prison camp is opened at Point Lookout, Maryland.

August 3, 1863

General Bragg's forces successfully evade Union capture when they cross the Cumberland Mountains.

August 5, 1863

USS Commodore Barney is the recipient of a Confederate electrically-powered torpedo. The incident is recorded at Dutch Gap, Virginia. While not sunk, the Barney is severely damaged.

August 5, 1863

CSS Alabama docks near Cape Town, South Africa.

August 10, 1863

Abolitionist Frederick Douglas, a former slave, meets with President Lincoln.

August 21, 1863

Lawrence, Kansas is attacked by Captain William Quantrill. 150 men and boys are slaughtered in the action.

August 26, 1863

Union and Confederate cavalry elements meet one another at Rocky Gap outside of White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia. The clashes last until the 27th.

August 29, 1863

CSS Hunley, a Confederate submarine, sinks in Charleston Harbor waters (South Carolina) while undergoing diving actions.

September 2, 1863

Lexington, Kentucky is taken by confederate forces under the command of General Edmund Kirby.

September 2, 1863

Knoxville, Tennessee is taken by General Burnside of the Union Army.

September 4, 1863

Union General Ulysses S. Grant is injured after being thrown by his horse. The incident takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

September 4, 1863

CSS Florida enters French waters off the coast of Brest.

September 6, 1863

Under pressure from a Union bombardment, Confederate forces relocate from Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

September 8, 1863

Union warships fail to take Fort Grisby in Texas from Confederate defenders.

September 8, 1863

Union gunboats fail to defeat Confederate forces at Sabine Pass (Texas). Two of the three attacking warships are taken by the South.

September 8, 1863

A night time Union naval attack fails to retake Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The attack is directed by Admiral John Dahlgren.

September 9, 1863

Cumberland Gap, Tennessee is claimed by Union forces. Confederate defenders surrender.

September 9, 1863

General Rosecrans directs a capture of Chattanooga, Tennessee forcing Confederates to withdraw. The Confederate forces are led by General Bragg.

September 10, 1863

Following a Confederate withdrawal at Little Rock, Arkansas, Union forces move in. General Frederick Steele is the commander for the North.

September 13, 1863

Culpepper, Virginia is the site of a cavalry face-off between North and South.

September 20, 1863

Confederate forces, in one of the rare meetings where they outnumbered Union forces, claim the victory at the Battle of Chickamauga. Union elements collapse and are pushed away in the stunning defeat.

September 18, 1863

The Battle of Chickamauga begins pitting Northern forces led by General Rosecrans against Southern forces led by General Bragg. The North commits about 60,000 souls to the South's 65,000. The battle lasts two days and covers the counties of Catoosa and Walker in Georgia.

September 19, 1863

Another face-off between cavalry forces is witnessed at Rockville, Maryland.

September 20, 1863

The Battle of Chickamauga ends as a Confederate victory. General Rosecrans forces are pushed out of Georgia and retreat to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Losses are 16,170 for the Union and 18,454 for the Confederacy.

September 27, 1863

A cavalry force under the command of Colonel Joseph Shelby heads into Missouri for raiding actions. The venture lasts two days.

October 3, 1863

"Thanksgiving Day" is formally announced by the United States government. It will be celebrated annually from then on.

October 4, 1863

Colonel Quantrill and his raiders take prisoner Union cavalry while dressed in Union garb and proceed to execute about 100. The action takes place near Fort Smith, Arkansas.

October 5, 1863

USS New Ironsides is attacked (by way of spar torpedo) by the submarine CSS David in Charleston, South Carolina waters.

October 6, 1863

Once again wearing Union uniforms, Quantrill and his raiders manage to surprise and kill another 63 Union personnel, this at Baxter Springs, Kansas.

October 10, 1863

Blue Springs, Tennessee is the site of clash between Union cavalry and Confederate forces. The result is a Confederate retreat into Virginia. The North is led by General James Shackelford and the South by General John S. Williams.

October 13, 1863

Union troops under General E.B. Brown at Arrow Rock, Missouri, are victorious over Confederate forces led by General Joseph Shelby.

October 15, 1863

CSS Hunley, the famous Confederate submarine, sinks again in Charleston waters. All aboard die in the accident.

October 16, 1863

Command of the armies of the West are handed to General Ulysses S. Grant by order of President Lincoln.

October 19, 1863

General Grant writes from Louisville, Kentucky "Hold Chattanooga at all hazards, I will be there as soon as possible." He would arrive in southeast Tennessee four days later.

October 19, 1863

Confederate General Jeb Stuart and his cavalry forces are victorious over Union elements at Buckland Mills, Virginia. The action is remembered as the "Buckland Races". Union elements are commanded by General Hugh Kilpatrick.

October 19, 1863

After the events of Chickamauga, Union General William Rosecrans is relieved of his command. He is succeeded by General George Thomas.

October 20, 1863

Confederate attackers are victorious over Union defenders at Philadelphia, Tennessee. Several hundred are taken prisoner.

October 21, 1863

The attack on Chattanooga is planned by Union authorities including General Grand and General Rosecrans.

October 28, 1863

A copy of the Emancipation Proclamation is auctioned off for $3,000 for charity.

October 28, 1863

The Gillmore Medal is announced by General Quincy Gillmore of the Union Army. This award serves to recognize those having attempted to retake Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor.

October 28, 1863

The battle of Wauhatchie begins pitting XI and XII Corps of the Union against General Longstreet's Corps and Jenkin's Brigade. The battle will span into the 29th of October.

October 29, 1863

The Battle of Wauhatchie concludes as a Union victory. Losses total 420 for the North and 408 for the South.

November 2, 1863

Henry Allen, a General in the Confederate Army, is named governor of Louisiana.

November 2, 1863

Union forces form up at Brazos Santiago, Texas near the Mexican border.

November 2, 1863

This date marks the start of the Battle of Brownsville (Texas). General Banks leads the Union against Mexican Patriots led by former Confederate Generals.

November 6, 1863

Union troops move into Brownsville, Texas, expanding their foothold in the Confederate state.

November 6, 1863

The Battle of Brownsville ends as a Union victory.

November 7, 1863

Union forces are victorious at Rappahannock Bridge in Virginia. The attack involves a rare bayonet charge in the evening hours.

November 10, 1863

The Signal Corps is ordered to move its equipment to the Military Telegraph Service.

November 13, 1863

Pope Pius IX receives Confederate representative Colonel A. Dudley Mann at the Vatican. The visitor brings with him a letter penned by Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

November 17, 1863

Union elements take Aransas Pass in Texas.

November 18, 1863

Confederate General Longstreet and his army force a retreat of Union elements (namely cavalry). The Union Army relocates to the safety of Knoxville, Tennessee but a siege is ordered to bring the enemy to surrender.

November 19, 1863

The Gettysburg Address is delivered by President Lincoln on the battlefield itself. It becomes one of the most revered and iconic speeches in American history despite its rather short length. The speech serves to dedicate the Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg proper.

November 19, 1863

Confederate forces are driven from Fort Esperanza in Matagorda Bay, Texas.

November 23, 1863

The Battles for Chattanooga take place from November 23rd to NOvember 25th. Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Rossville Gap are some of the names associated with the actions. General Grant faces General Bragg and his Army of the Tennessee.

November 25, 1863

The Chattanooga Campaign comes to a close and is recorded as a Union victory, further enhancing General Grant's growing legacy in the war.

November 26, 1863

With Confederate forces in retreat from Chattanooga, Union Generals Sherman and Hooker follow in an attempt to smash the enemy.

November 27, 1863

Union General Meade and his forces move to tackle the forces of General Less at Mine Run, Virginia. The Battle of Mine Run ensues and spans from November 27th until December 2nd. Union strength numbers 81,000 against a Confederate Army of 48,000.

November 29, 1863

Prisoner General John Morgan and six associates dig their way to freedom from an Ohio prison.

November 29, 1863

Confederate attackers are forced back by Union defenders at Fort Sanders near Knoxville, Tennessee.

December 2, 1863

Results of the Battle of Mine Run are inconclusive. Casualties amount to 1,272 Union losses and 680 Confederate.

December 4, 1863

Robert E. Lee's former estate at Arlington, Virginia, is dedicated as Freedman's Village to serve as home to some 1,100 former slaves.

December 5, 1863

Confederate forces leave their siege of Knoxville and exit the state. This grants Union forces complete control of the Confederate territory.

December 7, 1863

Confederate President Jefferson Davis addresses his congress as the Southern cause reaches a low point following the loss of Chattanooga.

December 7, 1863

President Lincoln calls on church-goers to thank God for the Union victory at Chattanooga.

December 7, 1863

The Union steamer USS Chesapeake is taken over by Confederate soldiers in civilian clothing. The brazen action takes place off the Massachusetts coast. The vessel is relocated to Canadian waters of Nova Scotia.

December 7, 1863

The Proclamation of Amenesty and Reconstruction is issued by President Lincoln. The measure is part of Lincoln's plan for reunification and provides pardons to Confederates willing to take an oath of loyalty to the United States of America.

December 8, 1863

In an address to Congress, President Lincoln reveals that around 100,000 former slaves have joined the Union ranks in the fight against the South.

December 11, 1863

Pope Pius IX acknowledges Jefferson Davis as the "President of the Confederate States of America" in a return letter.

December 13, 1863

The Georgia State Line militia is arranged.

December 15, 1863

A Confederate attempt fails against Union cavalry elements at Bean's Station, Tennessee forcing General Longstreet to rearrange his subordinate command.

December 17, 1863

General Grant, for his services (and successes) in the ongoing war is recognized by the U.S. Congress by way of an official thanks and a gold medal.

American Civil War Events of 1863

1863 began with the Emancipation Proclamation going into effect - theoretically freeing some 4 million people from the bondage of slavery - resulting in mixed reactions both home and abroad.