November 27, 1864
The explosion of the Federal vessel, Greyhound, Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s, USA, floating headquarters, on the James River, VA, possibly by Confederate agents.
Skirmishes at:
a) Moorefield (27th and 28th), where Brig. Gen. Thomas Rosser, CSA, surrounds and captures a small party of Union soldiers
b) affair at New Creek (28th), where Rosser surprises and captures Fort Kelley, along with 200 wagons, a large amount of quartermaster, ordnance and commisary stores and
c) skirmish (28th) at Piedmont, WV. Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, USA, is upset and calls the capture of fort Kelley a Federal disgrace. Sheridan’s nature is not of one to accept such actions.
11/27-28/1864.
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:
- OR XLII P1 #6: Itinerary of the Army of the Potomac and Army of the James, August 1-December 31, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #9: Reports of Major General James C. Duane, Corps of Engineers, November 13-December 31, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #247: Reports of Bvt. Major Peter S. Michie, Corps of Engineers, Acting Chief Engineer, Aug 1-Dec 20, 1864
- OR XLII P1 #362: Reports of Major General Bushrod R. Johnson, commanding Johnson/DNCSV, Aug 2-Dec 31, 1864
- NP: August 11, 1902 New Orleans Times-Picayune: Donaldsonville Cannoniers at the Siege of Petersburg, Part 9
- NP: November 30, 1864 Philadelphia Inquirer: Sinking of the Greyhound, Nov. 27, 1864
- LT: November 27, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- The Explosion of Butler’s Headquarters Ship Greyhound By Admiral David D. Porter
- 150 Years Ago Today: Explosion of Butler’s HQ Ship Greyhound: November 27, 1864
- 150 Years Ago Today at Petersburg: November 27, 1864
- NP: September 15, 1897 Anderson (SC) Intelligencer: Butler’s SC Cavalry at the Siege of Petersburg
- NP: December 23, 1864 The Bedford Inquirer: 110th PA, Thanksgiving at Fort Sedgwick, November, 1864