Saturday June 29 1861
STEALTHY SNEAK STEALS SHIP

Some folks still had not gotten the message that there was a war on. One such was apparently the captain of the side-wheel steamer St. Nicholas, which was providing passenger service in Chesapeake Bay as usual. Last night they took aboard a group which included a rather ugly woman. This proved to be George N. Hollins, CSN, and he and his companions, using weapons they had concealed under their women's garments, simply took over the ship. They went hunting for blockader USS Pawnee, but couldn’t find her so captured three small fishing vessels instead.



Sunday June 29 1862
SICK SOLDIERS SURRENDER SAVAGE’S STATION

The Seven Days Battle ground into its fifth day today with the Federal forces in retreat. The Union rear guard was protecting McClellan’s posterior as much as it was the armies’--what was supposed to have been a clean sweep to Richmond was turning into yet another setback. Stonewall Jackson’s brigades, brought up in haste to join the campaign, did not make it to their assigned place in time. If they had the Army of the Potomac would have faced near annihilation. As it was, 2500 sick and wounded Union men had to be abandoned at Savage’s Station.



Monday June 29 1863
MEADE MOTIVATES MASSIVE MOVEMENTS

Gen. George Meade had received a promotion at 7 a.m. yesterday when he was named commander of the Army of the Potomac. This job had defeated generals who had had months of preparation--and Meade was faced with an invader on Pennsylvania soil. Robert E. Lee sent orders to Jubal Early in York, telling him and the other outlying commanders to begin to concentrate on a little crossroads town called Gettysburg. Facing him was a small Union cavalry unit with a big commander--John Buford. Meade was coming as fast as he could. The supposedly lethargic Union troops were marching 20, 30, sometimes 40 miles in a day.



Wednesday June 29 1864
KENNESAW COMBAT CONTINUES CONCLUSION

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain two days ago had been a severe loss for Gen. William T. Sherman. Thinking he could duplicate his success at Missionary Ridge he had sent repeated charges against Johnston’s well-dug-in troops, and been repulsed every time. Finally acknowledging defeat, Sherman’s men today continued to gather in the wounded and bury the dead. The plan for the march on Atlanta, although delayed by the loss of 2000 casualties, was still on.

Choose a different date