1861
Month
Letters by Date
Activity of Hardaway’s Unit
Activity of the Civil War
1862
January
Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862
On January 27, President Lincoln issued a war order authorizing the Union to launch a unified aggressive action against the Confederacy. General McClellan ignored the order
February
Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862
March
Moved to Fortress Monroe, VA.
Advanced to Yorktown
On March 8, President Lincoln issued an order reorganizing the Army of Virginia and relieving McClellan of supreme command. The Peninsular Campaign began. On March 9, the battle of the ironclad ships took place off Norfolk, VA.
April
Siege of Yorktown 4/5 – 5/4.
-The Battle of Shiloh.
-David Farragut gains control of New Orleans.
-The Peninsular Campaign.
August
Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia 8/28-9/2:
-Battles of Groveton 8/29;
-Bull Run 8/30
The Second Battle of Bull Run on August 29-30
September
Maryland Campaign 9/6 – 9/22:
-South Mountain 9/14.
-Antietam 9/16-17.
-Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown Ford, 9/19
-South Mountain and Crampton’s Gap
-Battle of Harper’s Ferry
-Battle of Antietam
-Lincoln declares his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
November
Movement to Falmouth
10/29 – 11/17
-General McClellan replaced by Ambrose E. Burnside
December
Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., 12/12 – 12/15
Expedition from Potomac Creek to Richard’s and Ellis’ Fords, Rappahannock River, 12/29 – 12/30
-The Battle of Fredericksburg
-General Burnside replaced by Joseph Hooker