The Civil War Book

On this day in the Civil War, Union General George Meade moves the Army of the Potomac toward Gettysburg, Pa.

Gettysburg, Pa

On this day in the Civil War, President Lincoln appoints Union General George Meade to replace General Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac.

General Meade, known as an “old goggle-eyed snapping turtle”, responds when he hears the news by saying, “Well, I’ve been tried and condemned without a hearing, and I suppose I shall have to go to the execution.”

General George Meade

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, as part of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion force, General Jubal Early and his troops move into Gettysburg, Pa.

General Jubal Early

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

On this day in the Civil War, Federal mining engineer Colonel Henry Pleasants creates a plan to dig a tunnel toward Confederate earthworks at Petersburg.

When the tunnel is completed, the mine is to be filled with powder to blow up Confederate fortifications.

Petersburg, Virginia

On this day in the Civil War, Federal artillery increases shelling the besieged city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A civilian observer, in describing the condition of the population of Vicksburg, says, “There were some stores that had supplies, and the prices climbed steadily, but first nobody had the money, and then nobody had the supplies.”

Shirley House

Vicksburg, Mississippi