re: 150 years ago this day...

Monday, 4 January 1864

The brutal cold front that had started the year continued, and was causing miseries across the Southern States, which were not used to such conditions even in good times of peace and prosperity. After the depredations of almost three years of war and destruction, the suffering was intense. Even in the Army of Northern Virginia, the troops were situated in a bad way. Besides the freezing cold, for which they lacked sufficient blankets and other clothing, they were suffering a severe shortage of food. General Robert E. Lee had been sending increasingly plaintive telegrams to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, pleading for additional rations to be sent. Davis, who was genuinely distraught that he had none to send, became so upset about the situation this morning that he replied with a suggestion that the general simply take it from the countryside. This was appealing to neither man, but the “...emergency justifies impression...” Davis wrote.

Estimating the situation west of the Mississippi, Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith, CSA, wrote to Major General Richard Taylor, CSA: "I still think Red and Washita [Ouachita] Rivers, especially the former, are the true lines of operation for an invading column, and that we may expect an attempt to be made by the enemy in force before the rivers fall...Within eight weeks Rear Admiral David D. Porter was leading such a joint expedition aimed at the penetration of Texas, which would not only further weaken Confederate logistic support from the West, but also would counter the threat of Texas posed by the French ascendancy in Mexico.

The USS Tioga, under Lieutenant Commander Edward Y. McCauley, seized an unnamed schooner near the Bahamas, bound from Nassau to Havana with cargo including salt, coffee, arms, shoes, and liquors.

General David McMurtrie Gregg's Cavalry Division, under the command of Colonel John P. Taylor, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, left the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, on the first instant, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance to Front Royal, taking on their horses three days rations and forage. Owing to the condition of the roads the artillery attached to the division could proceed no farther than Warrenton. The command returned today, having travelled ninety miles during the three days absence, and encountered severe deprivations in consequence of the intensely cold weather; but no enemy was discovered. Owing to the depth of the Shenandoah River, no attempt was made to cross it.

A fight occurred near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in which the Union troops belonging to General Carlton's command, routed the Navajo Indians, killing forty and wounding twenty-five. Forty Sioux Indians surrendered themselves to the Union forces, at Pembina, Dakota Territory.

Rear Admiral David D. Farragut sailed from the navy yard at Brooklyn, New York, in the flagship Hartford to assume command of the East Gulf squadron.

There were joint congressional resolutions of thanks delivered to General Robert E. Lee and the officers and soldiers under his command, by the Confederate Congress.