The bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor continued. James Longstreet gave up his Confederate siege of Knoxville and returned to Virginia. Ulysses S. Grant began planning an invasion of Georgia as a new commander took over the Confederate Army of Tennessee. International tension increased between the U.S. and Great Britain, and northern focus began shifting to the 1864 elections.
George G. Meade’s Federal Army of the Potomac ends its short-lived campaign in northern Virginia before it ever truly begins.
Bragg Leaves the Army of Tennessee
Braxton Bragg turns the Confederate Army of Tennessee over to William Hardee, and President Jefferson Davis begins looking for a permanent army commander.
From Frank Phelps, 10th Wisconsin
Letter from Sgt. Frank Phelps of the 10th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Sherman “Rescues” Burnside at Knoxville
William T. Sherman’s Federals hurry from Chattanooga to aid the Federals at Knoxville, only to find that they are not in as desperate shape as anticipated.
The First Confederate Congress Convenes
The fourth session of the First Confederate States Congress opens in Richmond and receives President Jefferson Davis’s annual message.
Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Message to Congress
The first session of the Thirty-eighth U.S. Congress assembles in Washington and receives President Abraham Lincoln’s annual message.
The Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
President Abraham Lincoln outlines a plan to bring the Confederate states back into the Union. This is part of his effort to exacerbate political dissension in the Confederacy while uniting the factions within his own Republican Party.
Action Dies Down in Northern Virginia
The Federal Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia return to their respective camps, as George G. Meade waits to be removed from command.
James Longstreet’s Confederates attack a Federal detachment in the hopes of gaining more foraging ground for winter.
Inspiring Hope and Re-Establishing Confidence
President Jefferson Davis decides to appoint a bitter rival to command the demoralized Confederate Army of Tennessee.
Winter Freezes Action in East Tennessee
The Knoxville campaign ends in bitter cold, as James Longstreet looks to punish some of his Confederate officers for the recent failures in northeastern Tennessee.
Averell’s Third West Virginia Raid
A new Confederate force moves into West Virginia to stop Federal raiding in the region, and endures freezing cold in the process.
Joseph E. Johnston arrives at Dalton, Georgia, to assume command of the demoralized Confederate Army of Tennessee.
Grant Urges Action in East Tennessee
Ulysses S. Grant pushes John G. Foster at Knoxville to take the offensive, but the Federals are reluctant to hunt down the Confederates in such harsh winter weather.
We Should Inflict Exemplary Punishment
William T. Sherman shares his plan to clear the Confederates from Mississippi and its connecting waterways with his close friend Ulysses S. Grant.
From Aden Cavins, 97th Indiana
Letter from Lt. Col. Aden Cavins of the 97th Indiana Volunteer Infantry to his wife.
The Gloomiest Year of Our Struggle
With the coming of a new year, morale among southerners falls to an all-time low as prospects for a Federal victory seem brighter than ever.
Last Updated: 1/1/2024