What Happened in 1863

Battle of Grimball's Landing

Other Names: Secessionville, James Island Location: City of Charleston and James Island Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston... Read more

Battle of Honey Springs

Description: Union and Confederate troops had frequently skirmished in the vicinity of Honey Springs Depot. The Union commander in the area, Maj.... Read more

Second Battle of Fort Wagner

Description:After the July 11 assault on Fort Wagner failed, Gillmore reinforced his beachhead on Morris Island. At dusk July 18, Gillmore launched... Read more

Morgan and Forces Escape Through Woods Path at the Battle of Buffington Island

Description: On July 13, Morgan’s raiders crossed into Ohio at Harrison, pursued by several columns of Union cavalry under overall direction of... Read more

Battle of Manassas Gap

Description: After recrossing the Potomac River at Williamsport, Lee’s army withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley. Meade crossed the Potomac River... Read more

Union Forces Defeat Santee and Teton Sioux Forces at the Battle of Big Mound

Description: Brig. Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley led his troops from Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, into the Dakotas, pursuing the Santee Sioux, who had... Read more

Sibley Defeats Sioux Forces at the Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake

Description: Following the Battle of Big Mound on July 24, 1863, Brig. Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley and his men moved their camp about four miles and... Read more

Battle of Salineville

The Battle of Salineville occurred July 26, 1863, near Salineville, Ohio during Morgan's Raid in the American Civil War. It was one of the... Read more

Sioux Forces Escape Union Forces in Pursuit at the Battle of Stony Lake

Description: Following the Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake, Brig. Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley continued his march after the retreating Sioux until he... Read more

Henry Ford Is Born

Automobile manufacturer Henry Ford was born July 30, 1863, on his family's farm in what is present-day Dearborn, Michigan. From the time that he... Read more

Second Battle of Fort Sumter - Federals Launch Massive Bombardment and Naval Attack on Fort Sumter

Description: Federal batteries erected on Morris Island opened fire on August 17 and continued their bombardment of Fort Sumter and the Charleston... Read more

Second Battle of Charleston Harbor

Description: During the night of September 6-7, Confederate forces evacuated Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg pressured by advancing Federal... Read more

Second Battle of Chattanooga

Description: On August 16, 1863, Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, commander of the Army of the Cumberland, launched a campaign to take Chattanooga.... Read more

Quantrill's Raiders Pillage the City at the Lawrence Massacre

Description: In a supposed retaliation for a Union raid on Osceola, Missouri, Lt. Col. William C. Quantrill led a force of about 300 to 400... Read more

Battle of Devil's Backbone

Description: Union Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt ordered Col. William Cloud to continue in pursuit of the Confederate forces that had withdrawn from... Read more

Union Forces Defeat Several Native American Tribes at the Battle of Whitestone Hill

Description: Following Brig. Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley’s victories over the Sioux, he left the area, crossing the James River. The Sioux then... Read more

Battle of Cumberland Gap

The old Wilderness Road cutting through the Gap was a natural invasion route. For the Confederacy, it led to the rich Kentucky bluegrass country to... Read more

Second Battle of Sabine Pass

The Second Battle of Sabine Pass took place on September 8, 1863, and was the result of a Union expedition into Confederate-controlled Texas during... Read more

Battle of Bayou Forche - Little Rock Falls to Union Troops

Description: On September 10, 1863, Maj. Gen. Fred Steele, Army of Arkansas commander, sent Brig. Gen. John W. Davidson’s cavalry division across... Read more

Union Withdraws before Being Attacked at the Battle of Davis's Cross Roads

Description: After the Tullahoma Campaign, Rosecrans renewed his offensive, aiming to force the Rebels out of Chattanooga. The three corps... Read more

Battle of Chickamauga - Day 1

The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia... Read more

Battle of Chickamauga - Day 2

Planning for the second day At Braxton Bragg's headquarters at Thedford Ford, the commanding general was officially pleased with the day's... Read more

Battle of Blountsville

Description: Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, commander of the Department of the Ohio, undertook an expedition into East Tennessee to clear the roads... Read more

Mary Church Terrell Is Born

Mary Church Terrell—educator, political activist, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women—was born on September 23, 1863,... Read more

Battle of Stirling's Plantation

Other Names: Fordoche Bridge Location: Pointe Coupeé Parish Campaign: Taylor’s Operations in West Louisiana (1863) Date(s): September 29,... Read more