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Friday, Feb. 28 1862
POTOMAC PERILS POSTPONE PONTOONS
Gen. George McClellan had two nicknames. “Little Mac” referred
merely to his stature. “Slow Mac”, on the other hand, was of more
military importance. Today Lincoln had to write a note asking why
Mac was not moving on Harper’s Ferry, Va. Writing quickly , at any
rate, McClellan explained that the bridged were down, and he needed
pontoons to build new ones. The boats carrying the pontoons, alas,
were too big to get through the locks on the Potomac River.
Saturday, Feb. 28 1863
MONTAUK MANEUVERS MEET MUCH MUD
Commander J.L. Worden, former commander of the original USS Monitor,
was now at the helm of the USS Montauk operating on the Ogeechee
River south of Savannah, Ga. He saw the CSS Nashville run aground in
front of Ft. McAllister, and started firing. The ship, which had
been sold as a privateer and was now named Rattlesnake, caught fire;
the fire reached her magazine and she exploded. Worden, sailing
happily away, himself hit a torpedo and had to beach Montauk on a
mud bar to effect repairs.
Sunday, Feb. 28 1864
CAVALRY CRUSH CREATES CONFEDERATE CONFUSION
One of the largest camps for the confinement of Union prisoners of
war was right in the Confederate capital at Richmond, Va. This was
not comfortable for either side, and the city was frequently swept
with rumors of riots and escapes. Today the threat was real: a
contingent of 3500 Union cavalry, led by Gen. Judson Kilpatrick, was
on its way to free the men. Kilpatrick might have been known for
some recklessness: his nickname was “Kill-cavalry”.
Tuesday, Feb. 28 1865
CAROLINA CRUSHED, CHARLOTTE CHALLENGED
William Tecumseh Sherman had pretty much finished up the conquest of
South Carolina, and was nearing the North Carolina state line. Gen.
Joseph Johnston, CSA, was at Charlotte, N.C. and his state of
occupation at the moment was one of desperation. He was short of
even small boys and old men, as nearly any who could tote a gun were
with the armies already. He did the best he could.
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