Jan. 4, 1862

Jan. 4, 1862: Major Charles S. Tripler, Medical Director for the Army of the Potomac, writes a report to Gen. George McClellan, commander of that Army, on the overall health of the Army: ". . . For the month of November I have reports from 156 regiments, 6 battalions, 20 batteries, and 8 general hospitals. . . . The aggregate strength of the forces from which I have received reports is 142,577. Of these, 47,836 have been under treatment in the field and general hospitals, 35,915 of whom have been returned to duty, and 281 have died; 9,281 remained under treatment at the end of the month; 618 have been discharged upon surgeons’ certificates of disability. . . . A satisfactory progress has been made in improving the sanitary condition of the Army of the Potomac, and there is no reason to fear that this progress will not continue to be made until the health of this army will be such as will leave nothing to be desired."

–On this date, Union troops from Ohio and western Virginia regiments clash with Confederate troops, near Huntersville, Virginia, a Confederate supply depot near Warm Springs.　The Confederates drive the Federals back from several positions, until the Federals rally and counterattack, driving the Rebels back out of town in full retreat.　Battle of Huntersville: Union victory.

--Gen. Stonewall Jackson drives toward a Federal force at Bath (now Berkeley Springs), Virginia. His second-in-command, Gen. Loring, refuses to push the advance after driving the Federal advance force back into the town. Jackson’s flanking movement with the rest of his force therefore stops.

–Captain Raphael Semmes and the CSS Sumter arrive in Cadiz, Spain, after several months of raiding Union shipping. Semmes’ intent is to make repairs and refit his vessel. He writes:

"The Spanish officials began to annoy us even before we let go our anchor—a health officer boarding us, and telling us that he should have to quarantine us for three days, unless we could show him a clean bill of health. We told him that our health was clean enough, but that we had no bill to establish the fact, whereupon he went on shore to consult his superiors. I sent by him, the following communication to the United States Consul, whose name was Eggleston:—

Confederate States Steamer Sumter,
Cadiz, January 4, 1862.

Sir:—I have the honor to inform you, that I have on board this ship forty-three prisoners of war—late the crews of a ship, a bark, and a schooner, property of citizens of the United States, burned by me on the high seas. These men having elected to be discharged on parole, I am ready to deliver them to you.

"Mr. Eggleston, proving to be quite a diplomat, refused to give me my official title, in replying to my note; and of course, I could have no further communication with him."