This Month in the Civil War: Davis Inaugurated and President-Elect Lincoln Arrives in D.C.. Wilmington Captured

From the February 2023 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

FEBRUARY 15, 1861

**  The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America establishes a Peace Commission to prevent war with the United States.

FEBRUARY 18. 1861

**  Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America.

FEBRUARY 20, 1864

**  Battle of Olustee, Florida.

FEBRUARY 21, 1862

Battle of Valverde,New Mexico Territory.

FEBRUARY 22, 1865

**  Union captures Wilmington, North Carolina, the last major southern port on the east coast.

FEBRUARY 23, 1861

**  President-elect Abraham Lincoln, arrives in Washington, D.C.

--Old Secesh

Civil War Events in February-- Part 2: Davis Inaugurated, Battle of Olustee, Battle of Velverde, Lincoln Arrives in D.C.

From American Battlefield Trust.

FEBRUARY 18, 1861

**  Jefferson Davis inaugurated president of the Confederate States of America.

FEBRUARY 19, 1861

**  Louisiana state troops seize paymaster's office in New Orleans.

FEBRUARY 20, 1864

**  Battle of Olustee, Florida.

FEBRUARY 21, 1861

**  Battle of Velverde, New Mexico Territory.

FEBRUARY 23, 1861

**  President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives in Washington, D.C..

--Old Secesh

Civil War Events in February: The Confederate States of America

From the American Battlefield Trust 2021 February calendar.

FEBRUARY 2

GROUNDHOG DAY:  I wonder if the groundhog saw his shadow on this date during the war.

FEBRUARY 4

1861  The seceded states meet in Montgomery, Alabama, to form a new government.

FEBRUARY 8

1861   The Confederate States of America adopts a provisional constitution.

FEBRUARY 18

1861  Jefferson Davis inaugurated President of the Confederate States of America.

FEBRUARY  20

1864   Battle of Olustee, Florida.

FEBRUARY 21

1862   Battle of Valverde, New Mexico Territory

--Old Secesh

The Eighth United States Colored Troops-- Part 1: Oliver Norton Was a Lieutenant in This Unit

In the last post, I mentioned that Oliver Willcox Norton the man given credit of playing "Taps" for the first time, was a lieutenant in the 8th United State Colored Troops (USCT).  Many white enlisted soldiers and officers saw that commanding in the black units was a chance to be officers and so many volunteered for this service.

The first action this unit saw was at the Battle of Olustee in Florida and despite not being trained yet for battle, they exhibited great courage.

From the Battle of Olustee.org.

This regiment was in Hawley's Third Brigade at the Battle of Olustee.  This was a new unit and completely untrained for combat, having been organized between September 1863 and January 1864 at Camp William Penn near Philadelphia.

Several companies were also raised at Wilmington and Seaford, Delaware.

--Old Secesh

48th New York Infantry-- Part 2: Coastal Operations and Fort Fisher

Continued from December 5, 2016.

The 48th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in Brooklyn, New York, on September 10, 1861 under Col. James H. Perry.

They were primarily engaged in coastal operations.

First, they were in the Port Royal, S.C., expedition and then in the siege of Fort Pulaski and capture of Tybee Island in Georgia.  In 1863, they took part in the attack on Fort Wagner on Morris Island and later were at the Battle of Olustee in Florida.

Then, the went inland and were at the Siege of Petersburg and Battle of Drewry's Bluff in Virginia.

Though they were not at Fort Fisher, N.C., during the first attack, they were in one the second one in January 1865.  They then took part in the Cape Fear River operations leading to the capture of Wilmington: Sugar Loaf on Feb 11, Fort Anderson Feb. 18-20, Fort Strong on Feb. 21 and capture of Wilmington on Feb. 22.

--Old Secesh

The Clinch Brothers from Georgia-- Part 1

I wrote about Duncan Lamont Clinch in my War of 1812 blog.  He was a career Army officer who fought in the War of 1812 as well as the First and Second Seminole Wars in Florida.  Clinch County, Georgia, was named after him as was Fort Clinch on Amelia Island in Florida.  He also led the attack on Negro Fort in 1816.

He became a very wealthy plantation owner and served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

From Wikipedia.

Two of his sons served in the Confederate Army.

COL. DUNCAN LAMONT CLINCH, JR.  commanded the 4th Georgia Cavalry, CSA and fought at the Battle of Olustee in Florida and the Atlanta Campaign.  His father-in-law was Robert Anderson, the commander of Fort Sumter when it was attacked at the beginning of the war.

CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BAYARD CLINCH ( 1832-1888).  Commander of Clinch's Light Battery, also called Clinch's Artillery Company. They were attached to older brother Duncan's 4th Georgia Cavalry.

Buried at Thunderbolt, Chatham County, Georgia.

--Old Secesh