21 December 1862: Sunday

Confederacy - Government
President Davis, at Vicksburg, writes to General T. H. Holmes that it seemed "clearly developed that the enemy has two principle objects in view, one to get control of the Missi. River, and the other to capture the capitol of the Confederate States."

However, Davis thought that the defeat at Fredericksburg had probably halted any move toward Richmond for the winter. He added that to prevent the Union from controlling the Mississippi and "dismembering the Confederacy, we must mainly depend upon maintaining the points already occupied by defensive works: to-wit, Vicksburg and Port Hudson."

Confederacy - Military
Tennessee
There are skirmishes at Rutherford's Station, Union City, and on the the Wilson Creek Pike.

Tennessee/Kentucky
John Hunt Morgan left Alexandria, near Carthage, Tennessee, on a Christmas raid into Kentucky against Union supply lines.

Mississippi
There is a skirmish at Davis' Mill.

Arkansas
There is a skirmish at Van Buren.

Virginia
There is a skirmish at Strasburg.

Union - Military
Virginia
Union troops set out on reconnaissances from Stafford Court House to Kellysville, and from Potomac Creek Bridge toward Warrenton, and to Catlett's Station and Brentsville. Each of these recons will last two days.;

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