What Happened in 1864
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Battle of the Wilderness - Grant and Lee Meet
The Battle of the Wilderness was fought on May 5-6, 1864. It was the beginning of the Overland Campaign, the bloodiest campaign in American history... Read more
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Battle of Albemarle Sound
Description: On May 5, CSS Albemarle fought seven blockading Union ships to a draw at the mouth of the Roanoke River. Federals recaptured the... Read more
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Battle Of The Wilderness - James E. Longstreet is Wounded
On May 6, 1864, Confederate General James E. Longstreet was seriously wounded, caught in the fire of his own troops during the second day of... Read more
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Battle of Calcasieu Pass
The Battle of Calcasieu Pass was a minor skirmish fought on May 6, 1864, in southwestern Louisiana, at the mouth of the Calcasieu River, during the... Read more
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Union Forces Destroy Railroad at the Battle of Port Walthall Junction
Description:In conjunction with the opening of Grant’s Overland Campaign, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s Army of the James, 33,000 strong, disembarked... Read more
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Battle of Todd's Tavern - Confederates Win Race to Spotsylvania
On May 4, 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant led Major General George G. Meade's Union Army of the Potomac across the Rapidan River... Read more
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Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
Description: Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had entrenched his army on the long, high mountain of Rocky Face Ridge and eastward across Crow Valley. As... Read more
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Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Other Names: Combats at Laurel Hill and Corbin’s Bridge (May 8); Ni River (May 9); Laurel Hill, Po River, and Bloody Angle (May 10); Salient or... Read more
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Battle of Cloyd's Mountain - Union Forces Destroy Railroad Bridges
Description: On May 9, Crook’s three brigades (6,100 men) on a raid into southwestern Virginia encountered a patchwork Confederate force under... Read more
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Battle of Chester Station
Description: On May 10, elements of Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom’s division conducted a reconnaissance-in-force against a portion of Butler’s army that... Read more
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Battle of Cove Mountain - Confederates Delay Union Advance
Description: On May 10, Brig. Gen. W.W. Averell’s raiders encountered a brigade under William “Grumble” Jones near Cove Mountain. After delaying... Read more
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Battle of Yellow Tavern
Description: As the battle between Grant and Lee raged at Spotsylvania Court House, the Union cavalry corps under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan... Read more
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Battle of Meadow Bridge - Union Forces Rebuild Bridge
The Battle of Meadow Bridge (also known as the Battle of Richmond Heights) was an engagement on May 12, 1864, in Henrico County, Virginia, during... Read more
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Battle of Resaca - Sherman Defeats Johnston
Description: Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had withdrawn from Rocky Face Ridge to the hills around Resaca. On the 13th, the Union troops tested the Rebel... Read more
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First Soldier Buried In What Is Now Arlington National Cemetery
On May 13, 1864, a Confederate prisoner of war was buried on the grounds of Arlington House, now Arlington National Cemetery. The prisoner, who had... Read more
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Battle of New Market
Description: In conjunction with his Spring offensive, Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant ordered Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel to move up the Shenandoah Valley along the... Read more
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Battle of Mansura
Other Names: Smith’s Place, Marksville Location: Avoyelles Parish Campaign: Red River Campaign (1864) Date(s): May 16, 1864 Principal... Read more
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Battle of Adairsville
Description: Following the Battle of Resaca, May 13-15, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’ s army retreated southward while Sherman pursued. Failing to find... Read more
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Battle of Yellow Bayou
Other Names: Norwood’s Plantation Location: Avoyelles Parish Campaign: Red River Campaign (1864) Date(s): May 18, 1864 Principal... Read more
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Battle of North Anna - Lee Outmaneuvers Grant
Description: After the fighting at Spotsylvania Court House, Grant continued his Overland Offensive against Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. He was... Read more
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Battle of Wilson's Wharf - Union Black Regiments Defeat Fitzhugh Lee
Description:On May 24, Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry division (about 3,000 men) attacked the Union supply depot at Wilson’s Wharf and was repulsed by two... Read more
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Battle of New Hope Church - Hooker's Forces Defeated
Description: After Johnston retreated to Allatoona Pass on May 19-20, Sherman decided that he would most likely pay dearly for attacking Johnston... Read more
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President Lincoln Signed the Enabling Act Creating Montana
On May 26, 1864, President Lincoln signed an enabling act creating the Territory of Montana. Twenty-five years later, on November 8, 1889, Montana... Read more
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Battle of Pickett's Mill - Sherman's Attack Fails
Description: After the Union defeat at New Hope Church, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman ordered Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard to attack Gen. Joseph E.... Read more
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Battle of Totopotomoy Creek
Description: Operations along Totopotomoy Creek opened with cavalry combats at the Pamunkey River crossing at Dabney’s Ferry (Hanovertown) and at... Read more