February 17 In Civil War History

[Jim Klag]

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

February 17 Birthdays

1804 - Samuel Read Anderson, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Bedford County, VA.(d. 1883)
1804 - Samuel Read Anderson, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Bedford County, VA.(d. 1883)
1837 - Francis Jay Herron, American Major General (Union Army), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1902

February 17 Antebellum Events

1819 - After several days of sharp debate the House passes the Missouri statehood bill including both parts of the Tallmadge Amendment, marking the first legislation demanding the abolition of slavery. The act is sent to the Senate where the bill is never voted on.

Sunday February 17 1861

No events on this date.

Monday February 17 1862

• Ulysses Simpson Grant, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
• David Bell Birney, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.
• Action at Sugar Creek, or Pea Ridge, AR, with Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, USA.

Tuesday February 17 1863

• Union forces burn Hopefield, AR, in retaliation after the Confederates from that town attack the USS Hercules.
• Maj. Gen. Samuel G. French, CSA, is placed in temporary command of the Dept. of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
• The Union ironclad, USS Indianola, positions itself at the mouth of the Red River on the Mississippi River to disturb Confederate riverboats operating in the area.
• Union expedition from Lexington to Clifton, TN. (Feb 17-21)
• Federal expedition from Memphis, TN, against Confederate guerrillas harassing the Federals rear.
• Federal expedition from Murfreesborough to Liberty, TN. (Feb 17-20)

Wednesday February 17 1864

• James Patton Anderson, C.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
• Skirmish at Black's Mill, AR.
• Skirmish at Horse Head Creek, AR.
• Skirmish in the Houlka Swamp, near Houston, MS, the Meridian, MS, Expedition.
• Skirmish near Pontotoc, MS, with Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, USA, the Meridian, MS, Expedition.
• The US steamer, USS Housatonic, is destroyed at the city of Charleston, SC, sunk by a torpedo from the CSS H. L. Hunley, the Confederate experimental submarine, which also sinks in the process.
• Federal expedition from Island No. 10 to Riley's Landing, TN, where the Federals capture a band of guerrillas caught asleep, lying with their pistols under their pillows.
• Federal expedition from Motley's Ford, TN, to Murphy and vicinity, NC, and the confiscation of large quantities of corn. (Feb 17-22)
• Maj. Gen. William H. French, USA, resumes the command of the 3rd US Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac, VA.
• Federal scout from Warrenton, and skirmish near Piedmont, VA. It being very cold, the Federals Marched rapidly, and happen to capture 13 of Maj. John S. Mosby's Partisan Rangers. (Feb 17-18)

Friday February 17 1865

• Skirmish at Fort Buchanan, the Arizona Territory, as the Apaches Indians, on the warpath, attack the Fort, capturing rations, weapons, killing and mutilating some Federal soldiers, before fleeing.
• Federal scout from Pine Bluff, AR, to the Arkansas River, with skirmish (Feb. 17) near Bayou Meto, AR. (Feb 17-18)
• Skirmish in Washington County, AR.
• Federal expedition from Plaquemine to The Park, LA. (Feb 17-22)
• Federal expedition from Eastport to Iuka, MS, to capture the Rebels who were making a habit of going into Iuka every night, and remaining there until morning. Upon moving on Iuka, the Yankees find that Lieut. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA, had moved all his men about a week ago to West Point, MS, about 100 miles below Verona. (Feb 17-18)
• Skirmish near Smithville, NC.
• The Confederate forces, under Lieut. Gen. William J. Hardee, CSA, evacuate Charleston, SC, and heads to Cheraw, SC.
• The Union forces, under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, USA, occupy Columbia, SC. Lieut. Gen. Wade Hampton's Confederate cavalry set fire to cotton bales before fleeing. Union soldiers uncover barrels of whiskey, and that night the majority of Columbia catches fire and burns. Yankees blame the Rebels.
• Federal expedition from Whitesburg aboard the gunboats, Sherman and Stone River, to Fearn's Ferry, TN, and skirmish with guerrillas 3 miles from Warrenton. (Feb 17-18)
• The Territory of Utah and that part of the Nebraska Territory, lying west of the 22d degree longitude, is added to the Dept. of the Missouri.

February 17 Deaths

1907 - Henry Steel Olcott, American military officer (Union) and co-founder of the Theosophical Society, dies at 74 in Adyar, Madras, India.