April 25 In Civil War History

[Jim Klag]

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

April 25 Birthdays

1840 - James Dearing, U.S. Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Campbell County, Virginia (d. 1865)

April 25 Antebellum Events

1846 - United States troops, sent to the disputed portion of the Texas border to provoke an incident, are attacked by Mexican troops, precipitating the Mexican-American War.

Thursday April 25 1861

• Capt. James H. Stokes removes 12,500 muskets from the Federal arsenal in St. Louis, MO, transporting them to the Pro-union militia troops in Illinois.
• Brig. Gen. Edwin Vose Sumner, USA, assumes the command of the Dept. of the Pacific, relieving Col. Albert Sidney Johnston, 2nd US Cavalry, Brevet Brig. Gen., USA, who recently resigned to join the Confederacy.
• Fort Stockton, TX, is abandoned by the Union forces.
• The US troops under Maj. Caleb C. Sibley, USA, surrender near Indianola, TX, as prisoners of war to Col. Earl Van Dorn, CSA, and sign a parole not to take up arms against the Confederate states until exchanged.
• The capture of US troops at Saluria, TX.
• The 7th NY Infantry arrives in Washington, DC, for its defense.

Friday April 25 1862

• Maj. Gen. Charles Ferguson Smith, USA, dies from a combination of an infection to his leg and camp fever (dysentery) at Union Headquarters, Savannah, TN. Unable to lead the Federal command at Shiloh, TN, one of his former subordinates, Maj. Gen. Ulysses Simpson Grant, USA, commands the Federal operations.
• The following are appointed Union Major Generals:
  • George Cadwalader, U.S.A.
  • George Henry Thomas, U.S.A.
• The following are appointed Union Brigadier Generals:
  • Samuel Wylie Crawford, USA
  • John White Geary, USA
  • William Alexander Hammond, USA
  • Milo Smith Hascall, USA
  • Henry Walton Wessells, USA
• Skirmish at Tuscumbia, AL.
• New Orleans, LA, is captured by the US Navy, under Flag Officer Daniel Farragut, USN, as Maj. Gen. Mansfield Lovell, CSA, evacuates New Orleans, officially surrendered by civilians Apr 29
• Skirmish on the Corinth, MS, Road.
• Skirmish on the Osage, near Monagan Springs, MO, with a small band of jayhawkers, while in the morning 30,000 Federal rations were delivered by the steamer Silver Lake.
• Affair at Socorro, the New Mexico Territory.
• Col. Moses White, CSA, surrenders Fort Macon, NC, to Brig. Gen. John Grubb Parke, USA, with the assistance of the Union gunboats, Chippewa, Daylight, Gemsbok, and the Georgia. (Apr 25-26)

Saturday April 25 1863

• Skirmish with Apache Indians near Fort Bowie, the Arizona Territory, who attacked the Federals and soon retreated thereafter.
• Skirmish at Webber's Falls, the Indian Territory, with the Pro-South Cherokee Indians, under Col. Stand Watie, CSA.
• Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's, USA, expedition to Hard Times Landing, LA, and skirmishes: (Apr 26) at Phelps' and Clark's Bayou, and, (Apr 28) at Choctaw Bayou, or Lake Bruin. (Apr 25-29)
• Skirmish at Apache Pass, the New Mexico Territory, with Apache Indians, several of them having guns.
• Maj. Gen. DabneyH. Maury, CSA, assumes the command of the Dept. of East Tennessee.
• Skirmish at Greenland Gap, WV, with Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones, CSA.

Monday April 25 1864

• James Fleming Fagan, C.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
• Action at Marks' Mills, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign.
• Skirmishes in Moro Bottom, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign. (Apr 25-26)
• Skirmish at Cotile Landing, LA, Red River, as Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, USA, arrives at Alexandria, LA.
• Skirmish near Natchez, MS.
• Federal expedition from Bull's Gap to Watauga River, TN, as the Yankees discover the Rebels have burned all the bridges from Bull's Gap to the Watauga and about 20 miles of railroad track. (Apr 25-27)
• Confederate attack on the Union outpost near Hunter's Mills, in Fairfax County, VA, by Lieut. Col. John S. Mosby, CSA, who captures men and horses.
• Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr. CSA, is assigned to the command of the Dept. of Richmond, VA.

Tuesday April 25 1865

• Federal scout from Pine Bluff to Rodgers' Plantation, AR, with skirmish at Rodgers' Plantation.
• Skirmish at Linn Creek, MO.
• President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train leaves for Albany, NY.