Portal:American Civil War/This week in American Civil War history/51

December 13
1861 - Alleghany Mountain - Pressed by Federals under Robert H. Milroy to relinquish their defense of the Staunton-Parkersburg pike, Edward Johnson unlimbered artillery and led his troops "headlong down the mountain, killing and wounding many..."; Johnson earned general's stars and the enduring nickname "Alleghany" for his efforts that day

1862 - Fredericksburg - Sixteen individual Federal brigades charged against Confederate defenses on Marye's Heights, but foggy conditions prevented superior Union artillery from quieting Rebel guns; almost 8,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded

December 14
1862 - Fredericksburg - After listening overnight to the cries of Union Army dying and wounded on the cold Virginia ground and obtaining permission from his reluctant commanding general, Confederate Sergeant Richard Rowland Kirkland filled canteens and spent almost two hours providing water and care to the wounded, earning the sobriquet "Angel of Marye's Heights"

1862 - Kinston - A Union expedition led by John G. Foster left New Bern to disrupt the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad at Goldsborough; stubbornly contested by Nathan Evans's brigade near Kinston Bridge, but the outnumbered Confederates withdrew north of the Neuse River in the direction of Goldsborough

1863 - Bean's Station - The Army of Tennessee under James Longstreet turned to punish pursuing Federals under John M. Shackelford; overwhelming numbers eventually forced Union retreat, but timely reinforcement by John G. Parke prevented disaster

December 15
1862 - Fredericksburg - Army of the Potomac commander Ambrose Burnside, after witnessing the piecemeal slaughter of his brigades two days before, and unable to break the army's encirclement by entrenched Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee, withdraws his forces to the north side of the Rappahannock River, ending the battle 1864 - Nashville -

December 16
1862 - White Hall Ferry - Union forces under John G. Foster demonstrated intention to cross at this Neuse River ferry site while the main force continued toward Goldsborough bridge, keeping the opposition fixed in position

1864 - Nashville -

December 17
1862 - Goldsborough Bridge - Foster's expedition reached its objective in Wayne County, North Carolina, burned an important railroad crossing bridge, and withdrew to its base in New Bern

1862 - Holly Springs - From his headquarters, Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.

1864 - Marion -

December 18
1864 - Marion -

1865 - Milledgeville - The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified by Georgia, fulfilling the two-thirds requirement for ratification, and banning slavery in the United States.