June 29, 1943 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - New York

June 26th: In port all day.

June 27th: In port all day.  Fueling in the afternoon.

June 28th: At sea at 2 PM for the rest of the day, returning at midnight.  Ammunition received in morning; 5-inch shells, 40 mm and 20mm, and rifle cartridges.

June 29th: At sea at 8 AM, returned at 6 PM.

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Daly would soon depart New York and transit through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, initially arriving at San Diego.  Daly would be in the screen of the new Essex-class carrier Lexington (CV-16), named after the carrier earlier lost during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Landings began on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. 

In Germany, at Peenemunde, tests of the supersonic V-2 rocket were conducted.  The first test failed but the second was successful, with the missile landing in the Baltic Sea.   At this time there were still many problems with the V-2, and it would not enter service until September of 1944.  Over 3,000 V-2s were launched by German forces during the war.  This was in addition to about 30,000 of the subsonic V-1 "buzz bombs" that were used to attack Allied cities in 1944-45 as well.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, p. 351. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JULY 3RD

June 29, 1863 - Monday - 160 years ago today

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

There is significant fighting near Shelbyville, TN on June 26th.  The Confederate forces take the bulk of casualties in this battle, with over 1600 killed and wounded vs. Union casualties of about 500.  

Rosecrans' Union forces continue to advance, taking Shelbyville and  Manchester, TN, and then moving beyond, toward the rebel base at Tullahoma, TN.  Reports, as yet unconfirmed, say that the Confederate army is pulling back toward Chattanooga.

 

Map: Rosecrans' Union army is advancing with its front between Manchester and Shelbyville.

In the east, General Hooker resigns the command of the Union Army of the Potomac, and is replaced by General George Meade.  Confederate forces push through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, and skirmish with Union forces around the small town of Gettysburg, PA.  The siege of Vicksburg is also continuing in Mississippi.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 460-485.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 115-116.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 401-457. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JULY 3RD

 

 

 

June 25, 1943 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - New York

June 22nd: In port all day.

June 23rd: In port all day.

June 24th: In port all day.

June 25th: In port all day.  19 men received onboard for duty.

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Daly would soon depart New York and transit through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, initially arriving at San Diego.  Daly would be in the screen of the new Essex-class carrier Lexington (CV-16), named after the carrier earlier lost during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

 

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, p. 350-351. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 29TH

 

June 25, 1863 - Thursday - 160 years ago today

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

After nearly six months of little movement, General Rosecrans has ordered a general advance of all 3 corps of his army toward the Confederate base at Tullahoma, TN.  Crittenden's corps on the left (with the 40th Indiana) is ordered to Bradyville, and then further forward toward Manchester.  Thomas' center corps approached directly toward Manchester along the pike (probably the current US 24).  On the right, McCook's corps approaches Liberty Gap (near Fosterville, TN) and finds it tightly held by Confederate troops.

This movement threatens Bragg's position at Tullahoma and prevents any reinforcements from being sent to Mississippi where the siege of Vicksburg continues.

In the east, the Confederate army has begun to concentrate in Maryland, in preparation for invading Pennsylvania. 

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 441-460.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 113-115.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 401-421. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 29TH

 

 

June 21, 1943 - Monday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Argentia, Newfoundland to New York

June 18th: In port all day. Fueling in the afternoon.

June 19th: At sea at 11 AM.  At 8 PM, about 250 miles due east of Nova Scotia.

June 20th: At sea all day; at 8 PM, about 300 miles east of Nantucket.

June 21st: Arrived New York at 11 PM. 

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

Daly would soon depart New York and transit through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, initially arriving at San Diego.  Daly would be in the screen of the new Essex-class carrier Lexington (CV-16), named after the carrier earlier lost during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

In the Pacific, advances in the Solomon Islands continued with initial landings in New Georgia; a larger invasion of the island would begin soon.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, p. 348-349. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 25TH

 

June 21, 1863 - Sunday - 160 years ago today

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

Little news from the Army of the Cumberland.  There is some speculation about Morgan's Confederate cavalry as to where he is and the size of his force.

In the east, Lee has moved into Maryland on his way to Pennsylvania, and fighting is picking up between the armies.  The siege of Vicksburg continues in Mississippi.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 437-441.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 113.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 401-421. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 25TH

June 17, 1943 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Argentia, Newfoundland

June 14th: In port all day.  Fueling completed early morning.

June 15th: At sea after 9 AM.  General quarters in the afternoon. 

June 16th: Returned to port at 2 PM.

June 17th: In port all day. 24 men ashore for rifle practices.  On sailor sentenced to 30 days solitary confinement for striking a superior officer.

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

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, p. 348. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 21ST

 

June 17, 1863 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

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

Concern is growing among the commanders in western Tennessee and Kentucky that Confederate forces may re-enter this area, as it has seen large reductions in Union troops to send to Grant in Mississippi.

In the east, Lee's Confederates move toward the north. Lincoln calls for 100,000 militia from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.  There is a small battle at Winchester, VA and Union forces retreat toward Harper's Ferry.

The Army of the Cumberland remains in place as its commanders believe that is the best option for now.  General Rosecrans believes there is little threat to western Kentucky and Tennessee.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 428-437.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 111-113.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 401-421. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 21ST

June 13, 1943 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Argentia, Newfoundland

June 10th: In port all day.

June 11th: In port all day.

June 12th: In port all day.  One sailor convicted for absence over leave and missing ship departure; dishonorably discharged from the Navy.

June 13th: At sea, 10 AM to 3 PM, otherwise in port.  Fueling began late in the evening.

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Argentia was one of the ports that were leased to the US under the bases-for-destroyers agreement with Great Britain.  Newfoundland had previously had self-rule (Dominion status) in the British Empire, starting in 1907, but the Great Depression had crippled the Newfoundland economy and Newfoundland returned to colonial rule in return for financial help.  The base at Argentia was therefore on loan from Britain.  Newfoundland would join Canada in 1949.

The base was mainly concerned with escorting convoys to the Mid-Ocean Meeting Point, where the British Navy took convoy escort for the rest of the voyage.  Losses of shipping were very large early in the war, and convoy protection tactics only slowly got better.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 346-348. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 17TH

 

June 13, 1863 - Saturday - 160 years ago today

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

On the 9th, two Confederate soldiers are convicted as spies and hanged for entering the Union camp with false identities to obtain information on Union forces.

Union forces fight a small battle with Confederate cavalry under Forrest near Triune, TN.

In the east, Lee continues his movement toward Maryland and Pennsylvania. Lee's intent to invade is now clear; northern states call up their militias.  The Union army remains between Lee's army and the capital at Washington.  Small actions break out between the two armies.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 417-428.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 111.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 401-421. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 17TH 

 

 

 

June 9, 1943 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Argentia, Newfoundland

June 6th: In port all day.

June 7th: At sea 9 AM to 5 PM, in port rest of day.  One sailor sent ashore to serve 10-day sentence for smoking in gun magazine.

June 8th: At sea after 9 AM. Some time at General Quarters in the afternoon.

June 9th: Returned to port at 2 PM. Fueling in afternoon.

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

A coal strike began in early June and slowed steel production. There was outrage in public opinion and in the Armed Forces, despite the terrible conditions suffered by the miners.  Roosevelt ordered a government takeover of the mines, and ordered the strikers back to work.  The Smith–Connally Act, passed over a presidential veto in late June, allowed for seizure by the government of critical industries for wartime production.  Miners would strike twice more during 1943 before an agreement was reached late in the year.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, p. 345-346. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.
• No Ordinary Time, Doris Kearns Goodwin, pp, 440-444.   
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 13TH

 

 

June 9, 1863 - Tuesday - 160 years ago today

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

Any advance by Rosecrans and Burnside remains on hold as reinforcements are sent to Grant in Mississippi.  Grant has begun a continuous shelling of Vicksburg, forcing residents of the town inside or under ground.

In the east, Lee continues his movement with the intent of invading the North.  Union generals remain unsure of his intent.

Rosecrans polls his generals regarding enemy movements; all reply that they do not see large forces being detached from the Confederate army for Mississippi, and none recommend a forward movement at this time.  This coincides with Rosecrans' opinion, and so the army will remain in place.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 388-417.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 111.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 166-400. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 13TH 

 

June 5, 1943 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Argentia, Newfoundland

June 2nd: At sea 7 AM; returned 2 PM.  Some transfers; new medical officer comes on board, Captain's mast held with one sailor being placed in solitary confinement on bread and water for Disrespect and Negligence of Duty.

June 3rd: In port all day until leaving at 9 PM. 

June 4th: Returned to port at noon; back out to sea at 8 PM.  Fueling done in the afternoon.

June 5th: Returned at 8 AM; in port remainder of day.

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

Attu Island in the Aleutians is now fully in US control again.  Airfield construction begins on Attu and also on a nearby island, Shemya.

Admiral Halsey issued the orders for the next movement up the Solomons, to New Georgia and surrounding islands.  The invasion would begin later in the month.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, p. 345 . 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-52.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-140.
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, May, 1943    
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 9TH

June 5, 1863 - Friday - 160 years ago today

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

In the east, General Lee begins to move his Confederate army away from Fredericksburg, VA, in anticipation of invading the North; this campaign will end in early July at Gettysburg.

In Mississippi, Vicksburg is now fully invested and Grant receives reinforcements from western Kentucky.  Plans by Rosecrans and Burnside are stalled due to plans to send more forces to Mississippi.  Union command believes that the Confederates are reinforcing Johnston's army in Mississippi in order to defeat Grant and relieve Vicksburg.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 381-388.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 110-111.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 166-400. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 9TH 

 

 

 

June 1, 1943 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

 Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Argentia, Newfoundland

May 29th: Out to sea 7 AM to 6PM. 

May 30th: At sea at 7 AM for the rest of the day. 

May 31st: At sea until returning to port at 6 PM. 

June 1st: At sea 9 AM to 10 PM.  32 men advanced in rating effective today.

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Memorial Day, or as it was also known, Decoration Day fell on Sunday, May 30th in 1943 and Mary McLaughlin was able to take a short vacation.  She would not have had the Monday off, as we do today, unless she had used her vacation time.  On this weekend, there was a trip to the beach:

 Mary:

Doris and Phyllis invited our whole group: Peggy Chisholm; Janet Munro; Margie Winsor; and Jeanne Villeumiere to York Beach for Memorial Day weekend.  They had an old cabin in the woods.  There was no electricity, water, or bathroom there.  We got water from the house in front of the woods which belonged to a relative of the Welches.  Mrs. Welch came with us to the cabin and Mr. Welch came on the weekends.  They seemed to enjoy being with us and the feeling was mutual.

York was so different when I first saw it from the way it is now.  We would go down to the beach to swim and there might be two or three people on the whole beach.  The blackout was still in force and it was really dark at night.  The Coast Guard had a lookout station on the Nubble Road and the beach was patrolled.

One night we decided to go to a movie in York Harbor, about five miles away.  Of course, we had to walk since no one had a car.  We got about a half mile along the road when a truck full of soldiers stopped and asked if we wanted a ride, and they took us to the theater.

More and more often we went to York for weekends and soon were spending all our vacations there.  Things didn't change much until the war was over but we girls biked and hiked and talked the time away.

--------------------------- 

Here is a postcard of York Beach (Long Beach), from the 1940s, probably from after the war:

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 344-345 . 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-48.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-137.
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, May, 1943    
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, June, 1943
  
    
  
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 5TH

June 1, 1863 - Monday - 160 years ago today

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

General Burnside offers his resignation of the command of the Department of Kentucky, as he disagrees with the release, and banishment to the Confederacy, of Clement Vallandigham.  Lincoln does not accept the resignation.  Burnside stirs further controversy by ordering the suppression of the publication of the Chicago Times, due to "disloyal and incendiary statements".

Burnside and Rosecrans are attempting to co-ordinate advances toward both East Tennessee and Tullahoma, but are not succeeding as of yet.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 370-381.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 110.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 166-400. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 5TH