Union - Military
Missouri
There is a skirmish near Flat Creek.
In St. Louis, Brig. Gen. John M. Schofield assumes command of the District of St. Louis.
Georgia
There is action at Venus Point
Mississippi
From Cairo, Il, a Union expedition moves down the Tennessee to Eastport - starting today and arriving there on the 22nd.
Confederates - Military
Tennessee
At 5 am, on a cold morning, the Confederate division of General Gideon Pillow moves forward to assault the enclosing Union lines. He is aided by Buckner's division. After hot fighting, McClernand's right is broken, and an escape route to Nashville is opened. However, because of indecision on Pillow's part, the order for the armies to move out is not given.
Brigadier General Floyd, frustrated that use is not made of this escape route, returns to the fortifications.
Later that night, the Confederate generals meet again. Floyd, who had been Secretary of War under Buchanan, is afraid that he'll be arrested for treason, and, turns his command over to General Pillow, who in turn turns it over to Gen. Simon Buckner - meaning Buckner is the one who has to stay behind and surrender.
On the Union side, Grant orders his left under CF Smith forward, but the advance is checked. McClernand's divisions, aided by those of Lew Wallace, reclose the gap Floyd had opened earlier.
By evening the troops were nearlty in their old positions. In the battle lines that night, "Mother" Mary Ann Bickerdyke administers to the wounded.
Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971
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