May 20, 1862

May 20, 1862: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia: Stonewall Jackson sets his troops in motion. Since Banks has pulled back up north from Harrisonburg, Stonewall marches his brigades north to Harrisonburg, while Gen. Ewell marches his division up the Luray Valley, which is hidden from the valley proper by Massanutten Mountain, and they continue on these parallel courses.

Northern Virginia, showing the relative positions of the armies in May 1862

—Arizona: The advance contingent (under Lt. Col. Joseph West) of the "California Column," an 1,800-man brigade made up of Regular companies gathered from California posts, and a few California volunteer units, marches into the town of Tucson, Arizona on this date, only to find that the small squadron of Confederate cavalry that had occupied the town since February has disappeared, and most of the secessionists of Tucson have also fled to Mexico. Arizona is once again in Union hands.

—Commander John Rodgers, USN, of the James River squadron, reports to his commanding officer that the USS Galena, which had been badly mauled in the abortive attack on Drewry’s Bluff, is unfit for duty. The Confederate cannon had pierced Galena’s thin armor so many times, that her pumps had to keep going much of the day to keep her afloat.

—At Corinth, Mississippi, Gen. Pierre G.T. Beauregard, in command of his own Army of the Mississippi and Van Dorn’s Army of the West, decides to attempt an attack against the combined Federal armies commanded by Henry W. Halleck, who has been spending a month getting ponderously into position to attack Beauregard. Beauregard comes up with a complex and sophisticated plan to hit the Yankees at several points simultaneously, and gives orders to start moving his divisions into position.

—President Lincoln, on this date, signs into law the Homestead Act, enabling anyone for a nominal fee to claim 160 acres if he can add improvements within five years. This act is considered the key to the settlement of the West.

–From the diary of Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes of the 23^rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry:

Camp on Flat Top Mountain, May 20, 1862. — Monday, 19th, marched from camp on Bluestone River to this point (yesterday) — a hot dry march — with knapsacks. I supposed we were to go only five miles; was disappointed to find we were retreating so far as this point. Being out of humor with that, I was out of sorts with all things; scolded "some" because the column was halted to rest on the wrong side of a stream which had to be crossed single file; viz., the near instead of the opposite side; mad because Colonel Scammon halted us in the sun half an hour — no water — without telling us how long we were to halt, etc., etc. But got good-humored again soon. Must swear off from swearing. Bad habit. Met Dr. Jim Webb, assistant surgeon of [the] Twelfth, yesterday as we approached here. March fourteen miles.