June 10, 1862

June 10, 1862:  Shenandoah Valley – Orders arrive to Gen. Fremont to withdraw his forces, after Fremont retires to Harrisonburg.  Gen. Shields, whose division is worn down from defeat and a long march with few supplies, is also ordered to withdraw, the thinking in Washington being that both forces are over-extended, far from bases of supply, and isolated.  One third of Shields’ command is without shoes, since marching in the rain over the previous weeks has rotted the men’s leather footwear.  (McDowell has finally been given orders to move east to reinforce McClellan at last, but he does not fully realize that much of his corps will need re-fitting first.) 

---At James Island, near Charleston, Gen. David Hunter lands Federal troops from his base at Port Royal, and they engage in a heavy skirmish with Confederates under Gen. John C. Pemberton and begin an escalating contest of maneuver in the swampy approaches to Charleston over the coming months.  As Gen. Hunter leaves to return to Hilton Head, he leaves orders for the two divisions remaining not to attack Charleston without further instructions.

---Gen. Beauregard concentrates his army at Tupelo, Mississippi, preparing for the next campaign, watching to see what the Yankees do.

---The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes some observations about Richmond transformed into a giant hospital:

The hospitals seem to be well tended by the ladies, and their ministrations are very edifying, self-sacrificing and beneficial; . . . No one in passing through the streets can fail to be struck with the number of women of all characters and conditions of life, who pass him bent on errands of mercy, each with some package, basket of provisions, bouquet of flower for the wounded soldier under her charge. Ladies drive through the streets with their carriages filled with luxuries; and poor woman, some perhaps needing nourishment themselves as much as those they wish to comport, pass by overburdened with trifles for the sick. In every building they can be seen carrying around food and water, making comfortable the beds and pillows, bending over the note, fan in hand, talking to the patient the while in a cheerful, kindly tone. And the result of this is, the wounded bear their sufferings patiently, remaining quietly in their beds while nature is doing its work, the spirits of the men are kept buoyant, and the mind freed from gloomy care and doubt. The good affects of careful nursing is also seen in the small percentage of deaths resulting from various wounds. The ladies of Richmond are engaged in a most noble work, and many a southern wife and mother will bless them for their present labors.