February 6, 1864

February 6, 1864

---Sherman’s Federals march through the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi, setting fire to all public property, about 20 homes, and the railroad property, which the Rebels had speedily repaired.  As the Yankees reach the Pearl River, they find the bridge destroyed, so Sherman orders his engineers to build a new one.  That done, the blue columns cross and secure the opposite bank.

---Today, while visiting Congressman Lovejoy of Illinois, who is ill, Pres. Lincoln complains to Lovejoy:  "This war is eating my life out. I have a strong impression that I shall not live to see the end."

---Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, CSA, is appointed to command of the Department of Southwestern Virginia on this date.  Breckinridge had been relieved of duty in the Army of Tennessee by Bragg, for perceived insubordination. 

–In this week’s issue of the Harper’s Weekly, published on this date, is this notice of an Act of Congress on behalf of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.


THANKS TO GRANT.
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress be and they hereby are presented to Major-General ULYSSES S. GRANT, and through him to the officers and soldiers who have fought under his command during the rebellion, for their gallantry and good conduct in the battles in which they have been engaged; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a GOLD MEDAL to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be presented to Major-General GRANT.

Section 2. And be it further resolved, That, when the said MEDAL shall have been struck, the President shall cause a copy of this joint resolution to be engrossed on parchment, and shall transmit the same, together with the said MEDAL, to Major-General GRANT, to be presented to him in the name of the people of the United States of America.

Section 3. And be it further resolved, That a sufficient sum of money to carry this resolution into effect is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

 

---The U.S.S. Cambridge, on blockade duty, drives ashore an English steamer named the Dee aground near Masonboro Inlet in North Carolina.  The Dee catches fire.  The Cambridge is unable to get close enough to put out the fire, so the naval vessel fires into the burning ship to ensure its destruction.