Sunday June 30 1861
SEMMES, SUMTER SILENTLY SLIP SHACKLES

Raphael Semmes had only attained the rank of commander at this early stage of the war. The Confederate States Navy was still in the process of organization; that of the North was in near-complete disarray, having had many of their best officers, ships and naval yards taken into the Confederacy. The North was nevertheless trying to enforce a blockade of Southern ports. Commander Semmes and the CSS Sumter evaded the New Orleans blockade today and set forth as commerce raiders. He would have considerable success.



Monday June 30 1862
MCCLELLAN MAKES MISERABLE MARTIAL MISTAKES

George McClellan had many virtues as commander of the Army of the Potomac. He excelled at organization and selected many fine corps commanders. The one thing he could not seem to do was lead in battle. On this, the sixth day of the battle known as Seven Days, his major accomplishment was to NOT get his army cut in two by Longstreet and thereby preserve his lines of retreat.



Tuesday June 30 1863
GREAT GROUPS GOING TO GETTYSBURG

The armies in the East gathered towards south-central Pennsylvania today. Ewell, currently in York, had to pull out before much of the demanded ransom was delivered, but refrained from burning the town. Other Confederate armies converged from Carlisle, Chambersburg and Hanover, where skirmishing took place. The Union armies were stretched from Westminster, Md., to Gettysburg itself, where Gen. Reynolds’ was waiting. Stuart’s Confederate cavalry was still far out of position to help with scouting.



Thursday June 30 1864
CABINET CONFLICT CAUSES CHASE’ CAPITULATION

Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury for the United States and constant source of conflict over the conduct of the war, had submitted his resignation numerous times in the past during arguments with Lincoln. Imagine his surprise today when Lincoln finally accepted it. “You and I,” Lincoln said, “have reached a point of mutual embarrassment in our official relation which it seems cannot be overcome...consistently with he public service.” Chase went off to sulk with the Radical Republicans who wanted him for President.

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