January 31, 1865
Gen. Robert E. Lee, CSA, is appointed General-in-Chief of all the Confederate Armies; a promotion too late in coming to have any effect.
The three Confederate peace commissioners, Alexander H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and J. A. Campbell, arrive at Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters at City Point, Virginia.
The Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery is passed by the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C, permanently abolishing slavery in the United States.
Artillery skirmish between Union Fort McGilvery and Battery T and the Confederate Battery at Goose Neck.
Artillery skirmish between Union Fort Stedman and Battery 10 and Confederate artillery in front of those positions.
Major General George G. Meade is ordered to return immediately to the Siege of Petersburg by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, as Grant has another offensive against Petersburg planned for the near future.
Note: All “Today In The Petersburg Campaign” blog entries are used with permission from Ronald A. Mosocco’s Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War per the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. Order the book HERE.
Copyright © 1993, 1994 by Ronald A. Mosocco
Mentions of This Date at The Siege of Petersburg Online:
- LT: January 31, 1865 Robert E. Lee
- OR XLVI P1 #2: Abstract from Tri-Monthly Returns, showing PFDE, US Army, Jan 31, Feb 28, Mar 20, Mar 31, and Apr 10, 1865
- OR XLVI P1 #4: Itineraries of the Army of the Potomac, Sheridan’s Cavalry Command, and the Army of the James, January-April 1865
- OR XLVI P1 #177: Reports of Lieutenant William R. King, Corps of Engineers, Acting Chief Engineer, Army of the James, January 1-31, 1865
- OR XLVI P1 #180: Returns for the Army of Northern Virginia, Jan 10, 26-31, 31, Feb 10, 20, Feb 24-Mar 1, 1865