Today the Confederacy temporarily reverses Southern misfortunes on the Mississippi River, as the ironclad CSS Arkansas engages Union naval forces and damages some 19 ships before retreating. The days of the Arkansas are limited, however. Pursued by the Union ironclad Essex, the Southern vessel experiences mechanical trouble and runs aground. The crew blows up the…
The dawning of day greets many relieved residents of Murfreesboro: the Union garrisons are gone, thanks to Confederate General National Bedford Forrest’s raid of yesterday. The war will directly impact the town a number of times yet, but for the moment life is bit more peaceful. Meanwhile, to the west, Union forces maintain a tight…
While momentum has shifted to the Confederacy in the wake of the recent, successful repulsing of the Union offensive against the nation’s capital of Richmond, much of Tennessee remains under Union control. In response to the U.S. presence in Tennessee, Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest for several weeks has been conducting calvary raids in…