Almanac History - November 1862

November 1st, 1862

In New Orleans, military governor General Benjamin Butler tightens restrictions on movement to and from the city.

November 4th, 1862

General Grant's Federals successfully occupy La Grange, Mississippi. This occupation, as well as a similar one at Grand Junction, Tennessee, is in preparation for the upcoming Vicksburg campaign. Union troops in Georgia destroy the southern saltworks at Kingsbury.

November 5th, 1862

After months of attempting to support General McClellan, Lincoln allegedly says, "sending reinforcements to McClellan is like shoveling flies across a barn." Lincoln removes him from command of the Army of the Potomac. Major General Ambrose Burnside replaces him.

November 7th, 1862

McClellan is completely surprised by his dismissal as commander of the Army of the Potomac and makes an extreme effort to prevent those around him from seeing how amazed he is to receive this news.

November 8th, 1862

In further command changes General Nathaniel Banks succeeds General Benjamin Butler as head of the Department of the Gulf.

November 9th, 1862

Virginia witnesses some light action in Greenbrier County. At Warrenton, Virginia General Burnside officially assumes command of the Army of the Potomac. A Union cavalry charge into Fredericksburg takes 34 Confederates as prisoners of war. Federals lose only one man of 54.

November 10th, 1862

McClellan pays his farewell respects to the Army of the Potomac at Warrenton, Virginia.

November 13th, 1862

There is skirmishing at Nashville, Tennessee. Federals takes the railroad depot near Holly Springs, Mississippi. General Braxton Bragg pushes his Army of Tennessee toward Murfreesboro from Chattanooga, intent on joining forces with General Brekenridge.

November 14th, 1862

General Burnside reorganizes his troops placing Generals Sumner, Hooker and Franklin in charge of three main divisions in preparation for an assault on the Confederate capital at Richmond.

November 15th, 1862

General Burnside moves his Potomac Army troops out of Warrenton, Virginia and advances on Fredericksburg. Artillery fire is exchanged at Fayetteville, Virginia.

November 18th, 1862

General Burnside and his Army of the Potomac arrive at Falmouth, Virginia on the banks of the Rappahannock River across from Fredericksburg. Skirmishing breaks out between Union and Confederate soldiers at Rural Hill, Virginia.

November 19th, 1862

Both Union and Confederate forces are taking positions in the vicinity of Fredericksburg. General Longstreet is established near Culpeper; General Burnside, near Falmouth. The Confederate cavalry under JEB Stuart is positioned at Warrenton Junction.

November 20th, 1862

The Confederates in Virginia stationed near Fredericksburg are heartened by the arrival of General Robert E. Lee. There is minor skirmishing in Charlestown, Virginia.

November 21st, 1862

General Burnside refuses to give in to a request for surrender to the mayor of Fredericksburg. The mayor is told to evacuate all women, children and injured or infirm persons.

November 22nd, 1862

Secretary of War Stanton issues orders to release all those imprisoned for political reason -- those who have been found guilty of draft evasion, of discouraging others from enlisting in the armed service and for other similar actions.

November 26th, 1862

Lincoln leaves Washington for Aquia Creek, Virginia to meet with his recently-appointed general of the Potomac Army.

November 27th, 1862

Burnside and Lincoln confer, but are not in total agreement about the proper strategy to employ in the current situation along the Rappahannock. The General decides to follow his own plan for an assault on Fredericksburg where most of Lee's forces are concentrated.

November 28th, 1862

At Frankfort, Virginia, Confederate troops are routed by Union forces and 110 Southerners are taken prisoner.

November 30th, 1862

The Federal vessel Vanderbilt attempts to capture the Southern vesselAlabamain Atlantic waters, but is unsuccessful.