February 25, 1943 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. Activity would be picking up onboard ship as the Fullam neared it commissioning date of March 2nd.

South Pacific

US forces were able to occupy the Russell Islands, about 40 miles ENE of Guadalcanal starting on February 20th.  The Japanese had previously evacuated these islands.  These represented a second, short step up the Solomons chain.  The Russell Islands became home to Naval Base Banika Island.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 312-314.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 1-106.
  

 

NEXT POST:  MARCH 1ST

 

 

February 25, 1863 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

Rosecrans continues to have the same worries.  He is attempting to bring back soldiers that are AWOL; he orders all soldiers that are away (with or without leave) to contact General Hascall in Indianapolis.  Conscription has passed Congress and the bill is on President Lincoln's desk.  Rosecrans believes conscription can fill out, and then add to, his army.

Confederate cavalry under Morgan has entered Kentucky again on another raid.  Union command believes this is to gather horses to mount some of the Confederate infantry.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 81-87.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 97-98.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 166-174. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  MARCH 1ST  

February 21, 1943 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.

Aleutian Islands

The Japanese had occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska in the western part of the Aleutians chain during their Midway operation.  The Aleutians, however, were too far north, and the weather was too bad, for either side to use them for offensive operations.  Small Navy forces were present from both Japan and the US.  In late summer of 1942 the Japanese removed most troops from Attu; but given the weather, including frequent dense fog, the US Navy was completely unaware of the Japanese maneuver.  On February 18th, a US Navy force bombarded a mostly empty Attu Island.

We shall have a reason to re-visit the Alaskan theater later on.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 310-312.
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 1-21.
  

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 25TH

 

 

February 21, 1863 - Saturday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

All the regiments that fought in the Battle of Stone's River will inscribe the name of that battle on the regimental battle flags.

General Rosecrans' idea of creating elite forces drawn from regiments (noted in last entry) is disapproved, as current law does not allow for these types of regiments to be formed.

Rosecrans sends the following dispatch to Washington:

-------------------------------------------    

MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN.,

February 20, 1863 - 10:20 PM.

Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck:

   The increasing list of sick is my reason for covering the men with tents, to shelter them from the cold rains of the winter.  As soon as the roads and the season admit of our moving, no one will more rigidly enforce the orders for the light baggage and tentage than I, but it is not policy to regard this army as so in the field as to have no tents.  At this season, loss by sickness would be more damage that would pay for all the tents we would need for two years.

 W. S. ROSECRANS, 

Major-General, Commanding.

------------------------------------------ 

From this, we can see that the weather is cold and rainy as might be expected, and due to the weather and road conditions, the army will not move anytime soon.  Rosecrans' concern for the sick seems justified under these conditions.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 75-81.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 98.
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, pp. 166-174. 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 25TH   

 

 

February 17, 1943 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. 

Solomon Islands

A convoy destined for the Russell Islands, which are just west of Guadalcanal, survived a Japanese air attack on the 17th.  The Russell Islands were to be taken as a first step against the Japanese airfield at Munda, about 120 miles further west.  Munda had been used for a long time for air attacks against US positions on Guadalcanal.

Navy forces under Admiral Halsey were now in the Southwest Pacific area and fell under the command of General MacArthur as they moved up the Solomon Islands chain toward Rabaul in the Bismarcks.  MacArthur also had command of a small force of ships in New Guinea (called "MacArthur's Navy"), where US forces had captured the Papuan peninsula, the southwestern portion of New Guinea.  MacArthur was preparing to move forward along the northern New Guinea coast.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 309-310.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 1-100.
  

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 21ST

February 17, 1863 - Tuesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

The concerns of the army remain the same at this time; the location of Confederate cavalry, the possible reinforcement of Bragg's army, fears of an attack on the river forts in Union hands, and internally, pay, morale and the return of soldiers gone missing without permission.

General Rosecrans has ordered that a roll of honor be kept by company, regiment and brigade; some of the honored will form an elite battalion with the best equipment and the newest arms, ready for duty anywhere as required by their brigade.

In Washington, a conscription law has passed the Senate with support from the President.  Conscription is meant to fill the requirement for soldiers beyond those who volunteer, and to make up for desertions, recently estimated as as many as 100,000 troops.  General Rosecrans has stated he has 40,000 absentees from his army, many of them deserters.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 66-75.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 97.
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, pp. 166-174. 

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 21ST   

 

February 13, 1943 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. 

Japanese Evacuation of Guadalcanal

On February 9th, US Army troops moving to the west on Guadalcanal, executing a pincer movement, found, as the tips of the pincer came together, that the Japanese army had fully evacuated the island.  This was certainly welcome news, but there was still much more fighting to do, in moving northwest up the Solomons chain, island by island, toward the Bismarck Islands and Rabaul.

The US Navy had lost carriers Wasp and Hornet, 9 cruisers, and 14 destroyers (including O'Brien) during the fight for Guadalcanal.  Only carriers Saratoga and Enterprise were now available, and new fleet carriers would not arrive until late in 1943.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 306-308.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 338-373.
  

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 17TH

February 13, 1863 - Friday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

The armies on both sides are having trouble moving at this time of year due to the conditions of the roads.  Most roads cannot accommodate infantry or artillery due to constant rain turning them to mud.  Cavalry operations, in which the Confederates have an advantage, are the most active.

General Rosecrans continues his administration tasks, seeking more soldiers, equipment, arms, and commanding officers for divisions and brigades.  In one memo he asks for the return of General Buell who would have a command under him.  Buell would not do this; it was proposed several times during the war, including later by General Sherman.  Buell desired not to serve under officers that he had once ranked.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 52-66.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 97.
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, pp. 166-174. 

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 17TH    

February 9, 1943 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.  

John and Mary

 

Some further details (in bold) since our last entry:

Mary:

One night I was reading a paper after one of our dances and a tall good-looking blond man came up and hit the paper.  This was my introduction to John Skinner.  I had noticed him watching me for some time.  I danced with him at the dance we had a couple of days later.  I remember that we talked about two movies -  Casablanca and Random Harvest. I liked the first and he liked the second.  After that we went to a movie and he came out to my house.  He was amazed as one after another my brothers and sisters appeared, but I think he enjoyed it because at the time he had left home, only he and his parents were there.

I didn't see John after that.  He was going out with other girls and I was going out with other guys.  Before I knew it, his new ship was ready and he had left.  I didn't see him again for three years.  Neither of us wrote letters to the other but once in a while I heard some news of him from another girl he wrote to.   

 It isn't surprising that Mary and John didn't date any further at this time.  John would soon be leaving, and with everyone coming and going, there was an impermanence imposed by the times and the ongoing war.  

 

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 306-308.

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 13TH

 

February 9, 1863 - Monday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

There is little activity in the department at this time.  Forts Henry and Donaldson are now in the Department of the Cumberland and report to General Rosecrans.  The bulk of the army remains in the Murfreesboro area.

In the east, General Hooker has command of the Army of the Potomac, and plans a new campaign against Lee.  Small skirmishes are occurring on the front lines in Virginia.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 49-52.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 97.
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, pp. 166-174. 

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 13TH    

 

 

February 5, 1943 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Fullam: 

John was on duty at his new destroyer, the USS Fullam, at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.  

John and Mary

 

In our last entry was Mary McLaughlin's recollection of meeting John Skinner.  Here she continues:

Mary:

One night I was reading a paper after one of our dances and a tall good-looking blond man came up and hit the paper.  This was my introduction to John Skinner.  I had noticed him watching me for some time.  I danced with him at the dance we had a couple of days later.  I remember that we talked about two movies -  Casablanca and Random Harvest. I liked the first and he liked the second.  After that we went to a movie and he came out to my house.  He was amazed as one after another my brothers and sisters appeared, but I think he enjoyed it because at the time he had left home, only he and his parents were there.

 Mary by this time had several siblings: Helen, 19; Dick, 17; Claire, 14; Bob, 11; Ray, 10; John, 9; Adrian, 7; and Tommy, just 18 months old.  Eight brothers and sisters in all.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 304-306.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 316-337.

 

NEXT POST:  FEBRUARY 9TH