What Happened in 1862

Mark Twain Fails as a Miner and Works as a Reporter

1862 Twain Travels West In an adventure later chronicled in the book Roughing It, Twain travels to Nevada with his brother Orion, who had been... Read more

George Washington Morrison Nutt, aka 'Commodore Nutt' Appears at Barnum's American Museum

When Nutt was 17 years old he was brought to New York City to be exhibited at Barnum's American Museum that stood at the corner of Broadway and Ann... Read more

Edwin Smith Buys the Edwin Smith Papyrus, the World's Oldest Surgical Documentation

The earliest known medical document known to man is what is known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus. Edwin Smith was an Egyptologist who bought fragments... Read more

Anna Haining Swan Appears at Barnum's American Museum

Anna Haining Bates, born Anna Haining Swan (August 6, 1846 – August 5, 1888), was a Canadian from Mill Brook, New Annan, (near present-day... Read more

Battle of Cockpit Point

The Battle of Cockpit Point, also known as Batteries at Evansport, the Battle of Freestone Point, or the Battle of Shipping Point, took place on... Read more

Battle of Hancock

The Battle of Hancock, a battle fought during the Romney Expedition, occurred January 5–6, 1862, in Washington County, Maryland, and Morgan County,... Read more

Union Army Claims Strategic Victory in Eastern Kentucky

The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement in southeastern Kentucky during the American Civil War. The battle, along with the battle of Mill... Read more

Battle of Middle Creek

Other Names: None Location: Floyd County Campaign: Offensive in Eastern Kentucky (1862) Date(s): January 10, 1862 Principal Commanders:... Read more

Confederate Defensive Line in Eastern Kentucky Further Weakened

The Battle of Mill Springs, also known as the Battle of Fishing Creek in Confederate terminology, and the Battle of Logan's Cross Roads in Union... Read more

Battle of Fort Henry Opens Tennessee River to Union Control

The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory... Read more

Battle of Roanoke Island - Roanoke Island Captured by Union Forces

The opening phase of what came to be called the Burnside Expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island was an amphibious operation of the American Civil... Read more

Battle of Elizabeth City - Union Forces Destroy Confederate Navy's Mosquito Fleet

The Battle of Elizabeth City was fought on February 10, 1862, on the Pasquotank River near Elizabeth City, North Carolina, during the American... Read more

Battle of Fort Donelson - Initial Action

Other Names: None Location: Stewart County Campaign: Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers (1862) Date(s): February... Read more

Battle of Fort Donelson - Reinforcements and Naval Assault

At 1:00 a.m. on February 14, Floyd held a council of war in his headquarters, the Dover Hotel, and there was general agreement that Fort Donelson... Read more

Battle of Fort Donelson - Confederate Escape Attempt

Despite their unexpected naval success, the Confederate generals were still gloomy about their chances in the fort and held another late-night... Read more

Battle of Fort Donelson - Surrender

Nearly 1,000 soldiers on both sides had been killed, with about 3,000 wounded still on the field; some froze to death in the snowstorm, many Union... Read more

Battle of Valverde - First Battle of the New Mexico Campaign

The Battle of Valverde (February 20–February 21, 1862), fought in and around the town of Valverde in the New Mexico Territory, was a major... Read more

Lincoln Signs the First Legal Tender Act

The beginning of 1862 found the Union unable to redeem its Demand Notes, which it was using to pay its soldiers, and the value of the notes began... Read more

Battle of Island Number 10 - First Time the Confederate Army Loses a Position on the Mississippi River

The Battle (also known as the Siege) of Island Number Ten was an engagement at the New Madrid or Kentucky Bend on the Mississippi River during the... Read more

Battle of Pea Ridge

The Battle of Pea Ridge (also known as Elkhorn Tavern) was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 7 and March 8, 1862, at Pea... Read more

Battle of Hampton Roads, aka the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack

Naval history was made on March 8, 1862, when the first Confederate ironclad steamed down the Elizabeth River into Hampton Roads to attack the... Read more

Battle of New Bern - New Bern Falls under Federal Control

The Battle of New Bern (also known as the Battle of New Berne) was fought on 14 March 1862, near the city of New Bern, North Carolina, as part of... Read more

First Battle of Kernstown - Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson Defeated the First and Only Time

The First Battle of Kernstown was fought on March 23, 1862, in Frederick County and Winchester, Virginia, the opening battle of Confederate Army... Read more

Confederate Fort Surrenders After Union Artillery Bombardment

The Battle of Fort Macon or, better, the Siege of Fort Macon took place from 23 March to 26 April 1862, on the Outer Banks of Carteret County,... Read more

Battle of Glorieta Pass

Other Names: La Glorieta Pass Location: Santa Fe County and San Miguel County Campaign: Sibley’s New Mexico Campaign (1862) Date(s): March... Read more