October 18, 1864
Federal expedition from City Point into Surry County, VA, as the Federals traveled every main and by road between the Blackwater and James Rivers, below Bacon Castle and City Point, (now called Hopewell) visiting every residence, capturing all the citizens, negroes, and stock available. Even though there is corn in the fields and potatoes in the ground, this area is becoming barren of any livestock. 10/16-18/1864.
Maj. Gen. David Bell Birney, USA, dies at his home in Philadelphia, PA, from camp fever (malaria) contracted in the summer of 1864 during Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign through Virginia.
Note: All “Today In The Petersburg Campaign” blog entries are used with permission from Ronald A. Mosocco’s Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War per the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. Order the book HERE.
Copyright © 1993, 1994 by Ronald A. Mosocco
Mentions of This Date at The Siege of Petersburg Online:
- NP: October 19, 1864 Richmond Examiner: The War News, October 15-18
- NP: October 20, 1864 Philadelphia Inquirer: The Late Major General David B. Birney
- NP: October 21, 1864 Philadelphia Inquirer: Army of the Potomac, October 17-19
- NP: October 24, 1864 Philadelphia Inquirer: Gen. Butler’s Order on the Death of Gen. Birney
- NP: August 04, 1902 New Orleans Times-Picayune: Donaldsonville Cannoniers at the Siege of Petersburg, Part 8
- NP: March 4, 1925 Potsdam NY Courier and Freeman: Orlando P. Benson Diary, 92nd NY, Part 4
- OR XLII P1 #6: Itinerary of the Army of the Potomac and Army of the James, August 1-December 31, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #8: Reports of Major Nathaniel Michler, Acting Chief Engineer, AotP, September 17-November 14, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #225: Report of Lieutenant Peter L. Moore, 27th NY Btty, Aug 1-Oct 27, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #358: Diary of the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia Aug 1-Oct 18, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #362: Reports of Major General Bushrod R. Johnson, commanding Johnson/DNCSV, Aug 2-Dec 31, 1864