The United States Civil War Sesquicentennial
Monroe, Michigan
May, 1863
The 150th anniversary of the Civil War is being remembered throughout our nation. Read more about what happened around the country and in our hometown of Monroe...
April 30 – May 6, 1863 – Chancellorsville Campaign: General Joseph Hooker, now in charge of the Army of the Potomac, makes a bold move to get General Lee to abandon his position on the heights of Fredericksburg. Hooker divides his forces and crosses the Rappahannock River. Lee counters with an advance and meets the Union forces at Chancellorsville, Virginia. On May 2, under the direction of General Stonewall Jackson, the Confederates flank the Union line. They break the federal line on May 3 and cause the Union forces to withdraw but at great cost to the Confederate leadership.
May 2, 1863 – Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, while on reconnaissance during the evening, is mortally wounded by one of his own men.
May 10, 1863 – General Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds.
May 19, 1863 – Union General U.S. Grant leads a frontal attack against Vicksburg’s fortifications.
May 22, 1863 – A second assault on the defenses of Vicksburg proves almost disastrous. Grant, wanting to prevent further loss to his men, orders them to build trenches around the Confederate works at Vicksburg and begins a siege of the city.
May 27, 1863 – In conjunction with Grant’s operations in Vicksburg, Union Major General Nathaniel Banks lays siege to Port Hudson.
From our hometown, as reported in the Monroe Commercial…
The Reported Capture of Richmond: How the News was Received in Monroe
Letter from the 18th Mich. Infantry - Camp Austin Blair, May 12th, 1863
Two more of Co. A. 4th Reg’t, Killed
Paging Through the Civil War Book Club– This is a history book club that focuses on the American Civil War. We are currently reading Sultana by Alan Huffman. We will be meeting for a book discussion on Thursday, May 23 at 7 pm at the Ellis Library and Reference Center. For more information please call Charmaine Wawrzyniec at 734-241-5277.
Learn more about the Civil War - The Monroe County Civil War Round Table, sponsored by the Friends of Ellis, meets the second Thursday of every month at the Ellis Library and Reference Center. Each month a new speaker is invited to share his or her knowledge about specific Civil War events. Our May meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at 7 pm. Mr. Chris Czopek will discuss the Story of Company K – Michigan’s Native American Sharpshooters in the Civil War. For more information call Charmaine Wawrzyniec at 734-241-5277.
