May 25 In Civil War History

[Jim Klag]

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

May 25 Antebellum Events

1787 - Constitutional convention opens at Philadelphia, George Washington presiding.

Saturday May 25 1861

• The publication of the Honorable William G. Brownlow's editorial, in the Knoxville, TN, Whig, "Murder will out," upon which his arrest is based by CSA officials.
• President Abraham Lincoln attends the funeral for Col. Elmer Ellsworth, after laying in rest at the White House.

Sunday May 25 1862

• Call is made by the US Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, for all Volunteers and Militia in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
• Operations about Miami and Waverly, MO, and skirmish, with Rebels. (May 25-28)
• Affair between James and Dixon's Islands, SC, with damage to the steamer, Chesterfield.
• Federal expedition from Bottom's Bridge to the James River, VA, by Lieut. Frank C. Davis, 3rd PA Cavalry. (May 25-26)
• Engagement at Winchester, VA, as Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks', USA, men are routed by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, CSA, and retreat toward Harper's Ferry, WV.

Monday May 25 1863

• John Stevens Bowen, C.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
• Skirmish at Folk's Plantation, near Helena, AR.
• The capture of two Union vessels off the coast of Bahia, Brazil, by the Confederate warship, the CSS Alabama.
• The capture of the Confederate steamers, the Red Chief and the Starlight, on the Mississippi River, LA.
• Skirmish at Centreville, LA.
• Skirmish at Thompson's Creek, LA.
• Skirmish near Woodbury, TN.

Wednesday May 25 1864

• Skirmish at Buck Horn, AR, with Brig. Gen. Joseph 0. Shelby, CSA.
• Skirmish near Camp Finegan, FL, as Col. Robert Shaw, with 300 colored and 100 white soldiers is ordered to move toward Baldwin.
• Affair at Jackson's Bridge, near Pensacola, FL, with Rebel Cavalry.
• Operations on the line of Pumpkin Vine Creek, with combats at New Hope Church, Pickett's Mills, and other points, GA, as Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood, CSA, repels multiple attacks by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, USA, about 25 miles from Atlanta, GA. (May 25-Jun 5)
• The capture of the Union steamers, USS Lebanon and the USS Clara Eames, Mississippi River, MS, by Col. Colton Greene, CSA.
• The engagement with the US steamer, Curlew, on the Mississippi River, MS, by Col. Colton Greene, CSA.
• Federal expedition from Fort Wingate, the New Mexico Territory, to the Gila and San Carlos Rivers, the Arizona Territory, with skirmishes with Apache Indians (June 7 & 8) on the San Carlos River. The Federals surround a large party of Apaches who claim they are peaceful, having signed a peace treaty with the white men. The Federals refuse to accept their word of any treaty and demand they surrender and come with them to a reservation. The Apaches try to flee, whereupon the Yankees fire upon them, instantly killing 15 Indians; the Indians scatter into the mountains, the Federals pursuing. (May 25-Jul 13)
• Skirmish near Cripple Creek, on the Woodbury Pike, TN, as the Rebels flee into the cedar woods, in the vicinity of Shelbyville.

Thursday May 25 1865

• Francis Channing Barlow, U.S.A., is appointed Maj. Gen.
• The unintentional explosion of the Confederate ordnance depot at Mobile, AL, which cause $ 5,000,000 in damages to buildings, boats, etc. 20 tons of gunpowder causes approximately 300 casualties.
• Federal expedition from Bayou Boeuf to Bayou De Large, LA, with affair (May 27) at Bayou De Large, as the Yankees surprise the camp of 11 Confederates behind J. Terrion's plantation, capturing all of their weapons and provisions, as the Rebels fled into the woods. (May 25-27)
• Federal expedition from Fort Ruby to the Humboldt Valley, Nevada, with skirmish (May 29) near Austin, Nevada, with the Pi-Ute and Bannock Indians who were committing deprivations against ranchers' livestock, about Austin, Grass Valley and in the Reese River Valley. (May 25-Jun 15)