23 March, 1862: Sunday

Confederates - Military
Virginia
At the village of Kernstown, a few miles south of Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley, Stonewall Jackson's forces drove in on the Federal forces of General James Shields.

Confederate calvary under Turner Ashby, having fought a skirmish the day before, had reported only a rear guard left in Winchester. Jackson struck hard with his 3,500 troops, but found that Sheilds had 9,000 men.

Despite this disparity, Jacksons men fought well. Eventually, though, thhey gathered in their wounded and retreated southward up the Shenandoah. Jackson suffered 80 killed, 375 wounded, and 263 missing for a total of 718. Union forces had 118 killed, 450 wounded, and 22 missing for 590.

Kearnstown marks the opening of what will become the famous Shenandoah Valley Campaign. In addition, General J.E. Johnston had directed Jackson to divert Union attention from his main army and keep troops from the gathering Army of the Potomac.

Jackson did so by attacking. Washington, fearing a threat on Harper's Ferry and WAshington itself, ordered Banks and his troops to return to the valley and others that had been heading for the Peninsula were withdrawn from McClellan's command. The threat also influenced Lincoln to keep Irvin McDowell's large corps south of Washington, instead of sending it by sea to the Peninsula, for Lincoln had soon discovered that McClellan had not fully honored his agreement to protect Washington properly.

For the remainder of March, Jackson will withdraw up the Shenandooah, protected by Ashby's calvary, while Banks and his troops slowly pursue as far as Strasburg.

Florida
There is a skirmish as Smyrna.

Missouri
There is a Union expedition from Point Pleasant, near New Madrid, Missouri, to Litle River.

North Carolina
Near the town of Beaufort, North Carolina is a small, sandy island on which stands Fort Mason, a long fort constructed of brick. It had been garrisoned by a small command of Confederates. General Burnside as part of his attempted conquest of North Carolina, orders Brigadier General John G. Parke to move against the old-style fortification.

Parke arrives at the fort on this day, and demands its surrender, which is refused. They then begin their seige.



Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971