Historical Hugh

A Confederate invasion of New Mexico managed to reach Albuquerque and Santa Fe.  Union General John Pope laid siege to Island Number 10 in attempt to capture the first Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River.

The first half of this episode narrates the second stage of the Battle of Pea Ridge, in which General Earl Van Dorn's Confederates attacked General Samuel Curtis' Union troops.  The second half of the episode treats the listener to a description of the Battle of Hampton Roads between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor, the first clash of Ironclad warships.

The Union Army of the Southwest under General Samuel Curtis launched a campaign to eliminate the threat to Missouri of Confederate General Sterling Price.  As the Union forces pursued Price across the southern border into Arkansas, Price linked up with Ben McCulloch's Army and their joined forces met Curtis' Army near Leetown, Arkansas.

The Battles of Mill Springs, Fort Henry, and Fort Donelson opened the door to Nashville's fall early in February 1862.  Ulysses S. Grant began to gain prominence for the first time as the Confederate Army of Central Kentucky fled south into Mississippi.

This episodes traces the Union Navy's efforts to secure the blockade around the Confederate States, conquering Confederate outposts and setting up fueling and refitting stations to sustain the ships that would patrol the waters outside the 10 major port cities of the Confederacy.

The later summer and fall of 1861 after the Battles of First Manassas and Wilson's Creek were not particularly active, but both armies probed one another and some very important generals made their debuts in the field.

Union forces under General Nathaniel Lyon and General Franz Sigel attacked Confederate forces under General Sterling Price and General Ben McCulloch along Wilson's Creek in Missouri.  The Confederates won a tactical victory, but most of them returned south into Arkansas, leaving Price to hold the state of Missouri.  Union General John C. Fremont issued a proclamation confiscating the property of all Missourians who fought for the Confederacy, including freeing their slaves.  President Lincoln rescinded his order.

This episode describes the aftermath of the First Battle of Manassas, including some stories of heroism, excerpts from letters, and sketches of major participants.  President Lincoln made plans for his future war strategy and summoned General McClellan to take over the new Army of the Potomac.  Meanwhile, the first clashes in Missouri ended in more farce than victory for either side.

General Johnston moved from the Shenandoah Valley and reinforced General Beauregard in time to face the advance of General Irvin McDowell's Union army.  They clashed near Manassas Junction in the first major land battle of the war.

This episode bridges the gap from the phony war to the first major battle, First Manassas, which we will discuss next time.  Several small engagements occupied the time from April-June 1861 and Congress adopted resolutions in early July.  The small Battle of Big Bethel on the Virginia Peninsula went in favor of the Confederates, but General McClellan won three small engagements to consolidate Union control of Western Virginia.  General Winfield Scott prepared to send his largest army into battle in Northeastern Virginia in July 1861 under Irvin McDowell.