Skip to main content

August 2011

WASHINGTON, DC. Navy Department assigns Capt. Andrew Foote to command western naval operations.

ST. LOUIS, MO. Gen. Frémont issues a premature and unofficial emancipation proclamation freeing all slaves of Missourians who take up arms against the Union.

CAPE HATTERAS, NC. Forts Hatteras and Clark surrender to Cmdre. Silas Stringham and Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler.

NEW YORK, NY. Swedish-born inventor John Ericsson, future builder of the USS Monitor writes a letter to Lincoln offering to build an ironclad that could be deployed to Norfolk within 10 weeks.

CAPE HATTERAS, NC. Gen. Benjamin Butler joins Commodore Stringham with eight ships and 900 troops. The Navy begins bombardment of Forts Hatteras and Clark, allowing some of Butler’s men to make an amphibious landing.

HAMPTON ROADS, VA. Cmdre. Silas Stringham sails with his fleet towards the Hatteras Inlet in North Carolina.

PIGGOT’S MILL, WV. Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise reports that his command was ambushed.

WASHINGTON, DC. President Lincoln diplomatically rejects the governor of Kentucky’s request to withdraw Union troops.

RICHMOND, VA. Confederate President Jefferson Davis names James M. Mason as ambassador to Great Britain.

NASHVILLE, TN. Governor Isham Harris calls upon the women of Tennessee to manufacture socks, blankets, jeans, and other clothing for Confederate soldiers.

Enjoy our work? Help us keep going.

Now in its 75th year, American Heritage relies on contributions from readers like you to survive. You can support this magazine of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today.

Donate