The National Convention of the Women of America opened in the morning with speeches from Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Angeline Grimke Weld at the Church of the Puritans in New York City.  Speeches from Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone, chairing the Convention, and Antoinette Blackwell followed in the evening at the Cooper Union.  Stanton declared the present war "between slavery and freedom" and most of the speeches urged President Lincoln to do much more to bring full emancipation. (By John Osborne) 

The American Tract Society began its 38th Annual Meeting at the Irving Hall in New York City with its president Bishop Charles P. McIlvaine in the chair. The Treasurer reported the free distribution of 47,512,806 pages of religious text, including almost twenty-six million pages to the Army and the Navy, spending $60,000 on work with the military. Contact with African-Americans had also increased during the year. (By John Osborne)

The Michigan Central Railroad evening train from Chicago to Detroit and Cincinnati was only six miles into its journey when, near Hyde Park, the engine decoupled at high speed and the entire train derailed.  One of the forward baggage cars was crushed and the 39 year-old baggage master, Samuel Stevenson, was killed.  Several others were injured severely but all other passengers and crew aboard suffered only cuts and bruises.  (By John Osborne)

Just before midnight, a powder store exploded at the Johnson and Dow cartridge factory near 78th Street, on the East River, in New York City.  People living twelve miles away felt the shock as 2,600 pounds of gunpowder went up.  Buildings in the vicinity, including some homes and a grammar school, were severely damaged. The passing night boat to New Haven had all its windows blown out. Serious injuries were sustained but remarkably, no fatalities were immediately reported.  (By John Osborne) 

The U.S.S. Tacony, a 974 ton side-wheeler paddle steamer, was launched at the Philadelphia Naval Yard.  With a double bow and a crew of 145, she was one of a large class of vessels designed for river and coastal service.  The Tacony was commissioned in early 1864 and served largely along the North Carolina coastline and inlets. She was sold in 1868.  (By John Osborne)

The 700 ton Lake Erie steamboat Tioga was bound from Dunkirk, New York to Cleveland, Ohio when its boiler exploded in the pre-dawn hours.  Four crewmen werre reported killed. The stricken vessel, loaded with a general cargo, was towed into Cleveland Harbor later in the day, having suffered extensive damage. (By John Osborne)

Men of the 27th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry were crossing the fast moving Cumberland River, at St. Igail's Ferry near Somerset, Kentucky on coal barges drawn by ropes from the shore.  One boat, carrying around thirty-three men, in full kit with rifles and sixty rounds of ammunition, was swept away and capsized, drowning all aboard. The regiment did not recover all the bodies as the other side of the river was now occupied by Confederate units.  (By John Osborne)

The steamboat Majestic took fire while it was loading wood near Hickman, Kentucky in the late evening hours. She was completely destroyed along with her cargo of 1,400 tons of military stores and 150 Army horses, of which only two were saved. One cabin passenger was also killed.  Nearby boats came to assist Majestic, on only its third trip since its launching, and took off all other passengers safely.  (By John Osborne)

The National Typographical Union had been founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1852 to represent printers in fourteen United States cities.  The union held its 1863 annual meeting in Cleveland, Ohio. The gathering elected Eugene Valette of Philadelphia as its president, chose Eugene B. George of Chicago as chair of its executive committee for the coming year, and determined Louisville, Kentucky as its meeting place next year.  (By John Osborne)

A morning fire in Lockport, New York destroyed significant portions of the main street, including the office of the Journal and Courier newspaper. Damages were estimated immediately at around $45,000 but no serious injuries were reported.  (By John Osborne)