April 21 In Civil War History

Jim Klag

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On this day in Civil War history
Compiled by Mitchell Werksman and Jim Klag

April 21 Birthdays

1803 - Levin Minn Powell, American Commander (Union Navy), born in Winchester, Winchester City, Virginia (d. 1885)
1809 - Robert M. T. Hunter, American lawyer and politician (2nd Confederate States Secretary of State), born in Loretto, Virginia (d. 1887)
1816 - Louis Wigfall, American politician (Confederate States Senator from Texas 1862-85), born in Edgefield, South Carolina (d. 1974)
1834 - William Rufus Terrill, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Covington City, Virginia (d. 1862)

April 21 Antebellum Events

1836 - Battle of San Jacinto, Texas wins independence from Mexico

Sunday April 21 1861
  • Rioting continues in Baltimore, MD.
  • Anti-secessionists meet in Monongahela County, VA, to show their support for the Union and not the Confederacy.
  • Col. Earl Van Dorn, CSA, assumes the command of the Confederate forces in Texas.
Monday April 21 1862
  • Skirmish at Pocahontas, AR.
  • The families of Messrs. Brownlow, Johnson, Maynard, and other Union men are ordered to leave the Confederacy, East Tennessee.
  • Skirmish at Monterey, VA.
Tuesday April 21 1863
  • Federal expedition from Opelousas, LA, to Barre's Landing and the capture of the Confederate steamer, Ellen.
  • Skirmish at Palo Alto, MS, with Col. Benjamin H. Grierson, USA.
  • Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones' Confederate Raid on the Northwestern (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad, VA. (Apr 21-May 21)
Thursday April 21 1864
  • Affair at Harrison's Gap, AL, where a party of Rebels led by an ex-Methodist preacher, are captured and paroled by orders of Maj. Gen. John Logan, USA, after having them take an oath of allegiance to the US.
  • Affair at Cotton Plant, Cache River, AR, with little action as the Rebels flee before the advancing Yankees.
  • Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks', USA, column retires from Grand Ecore to Alexandria, LA, the Red River (LA) Campaign. (Apr 21-25)
  • Affair at Tunica Bend, LA, the Red River (LA) Campaign.
  • Skirmish at Red Bone, MS.
  • The destruction of the Confederate salt-works at Masonborough Inlet, NC.
  • Federal expedition from the Siletz River Block-House to Coos Bay, Oregon, as the Yankees pursue a party of Indians who fled the Alsea Sub-Agency Reservation. The Indians, in addition to others never living on the reservation, are captured and returned. (Apr 21-May 12)
Friday April 21 1865
  • Federal expedition against guerrillas from Donaldsonville to Bayou Goula, LA. (Apr 21-22)
  • Federal scout from Rolla toward Thomasville, MO, and skirmish with guerrillas at Spring Valley, 30 miles south of Licking, MO. (Apr 23). (Apr 21-27)
  • Maj. John Singleton Mosby. CSA. refusing to surrender to the Yankees, disbands the 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion and his Virginia Partisan Rangers at Millwood. VA. However, the majority of Mosby's command, now under Lieut. Col. Chapman, CSA, rode to Winchester, VA, where they surrendered and were paroled.
  • President Abraham Lincoln's funeral railroad train leaves Washington, DC, for Springfield, IL
 
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