President Lincoln met with Maryland congressmen and a delegation of fifty slaveholders from Prince George's County, Maryland.  Half the population there were slaves and the owners were in Washington to complain about the non-enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act, particularly by the military authorities.  Eight hundred slaves had already escaped from the county. Commenting on a thorny issue, Lincoln expressed his confidence in General James Wadsworth but assured the delegation that he would examine the issue and see justice done.  (By John Osborne) 

Senator Robert Ruffin Collier, representing Petersburg, introduced a joint resolution in the Virginia Senate suggesting that slavery was "a fundamental doctrine of Southern civilization" and a 240 year-old institution that can only be ended when the bondsman is educated and prepared for freedom, and then only as decided upon by slaveholders.  The issue was debated over many months and Collier gave lengthy remarks, later published in pamphlet form, in its support on the Virginia Senate floor on October 12, 1863.  (By John Osborne)

Major General David Hunter, commander of the Department of the South and a long-time opponent of slavery, had already begun recruiting black soldiers without authority when on May 9, 1862 he issued his famous "General Order Number 11" which declared that since Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina were under federal martial law all slaves there were "declared forever free."  The Lincoln Administration, still politically committed to slow and compensated emancipation, declared this declaration void ten days later.  (By John Osborne) 

Major General David Hunter was a career Army officer with a long-term antipathy to slavery. As commander of the Department of the South, he had already begun recruiting black soldiers without authority and then issued his famous "General Order Number 11" which declared that since Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina were under federal martial law all slaves there were "declared forever free."  The Lincoln Administration, still politically committed to slow and compensated emancipation, declared this declaration void ten days later.  (By John Osborne) 

President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton travelled by steamer and rail from Washington DC to visit Gneral McClellan's headquarters outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. Lincoln heard McClellan's plea for more men for his advance on Richmond, inspected several regiments, and in the afternoon toured Fredericksburg itself on horseback. The presidential party returned to the capital that evening.  (By John Osborne)

The day before, Commander James Palmer of the U.S.S. Iroquois had demanded the city surrender on the same terms offered Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Confederate forces had evacuated earlier and Mayor John Hunter replied the next day that the city would not resist conquest but that he could not guarantee Palmer's demand that the Stars and Stripes would "wave unmolested and respected" over Natchez. (By John Osborne). 

Steady Union gains up and down the Mississippi brought U.S. Navy gunboats to Natchez.  Commander James Palmer of the U.S.S. Iroquois, demanded surrender on the terms offered to New Orleans.  With Confederate forces gone, Mayor John Hunter replied the next day that the city would not resist conquest but could not guarantee Palmer's demand that the Stars and Stripes would "wave unmolested and respected" over Natchez. (By John Osborne). 

With the Union occupation of Norfolk, Captain Josiah Tatnall of the C.S.S. Virginia (the "Merrimac") evacuated and set the famous ironclad afire at her moorings near Craney Island at around four in the morning.  A Confederate States Navy board of enquiry convened in Richmond on May 22. It found that the decision to scuttle the Virginia had been precipitous but took no action against Tatnall or his officers.  (By John Osborne) 

With the Union occupation of Norfolk, Captain Josiah Tatnall of the C.S.S. Virginia (the "Merrimac") evacuated and set the famous ironclad afire at her moorings near Craney Island at around four in the morning on May 11, 1862. Eleven days later, a Confederate States Navy board of enquiry convened in Richmond. It found three weeks later the decision to scuttle the Virginia too hasty but took no action against Tatnall or his officers.  (By John Osborne) 

With the Union occupation of Norfolk, Captain Josiah Tatnall of the C.S.S. Virginia (the "Merrimac") found himself trapped.  Unable to retreat up river, the Virginia was evacuated and set afire at her moorings near Craney Island at around four in the morning.  Tatnall reported that she burned for an hour and blew up just before five.  A C.S.N. enquiry later challenged the decision but took no action against Tatnall or his officers.  (By John Osborne)