Chronology of the Wade Brothers#
A timeline of letters and events from the Civil War (1862–1864)
| Date | Letter / Document | Location | Major Civil War Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1862 | Willie to Parents | Fort McHenry, MD | Peninsula Campaign ending; Seven Days Battles just concluded (June 25–July 1). |
| Aug 8 & 10, 1862 | James to Parents (Aug 8), James to Parents (Aug 10) | Fort McHenry, MD | Second Battle of Bull Run (Aug 28–30). |
| Oct 26, 1862 | Willie to Parents (partial) | Jamaica, NY | McClellan replaced by Burnside (Nov); Union setbacks after Antietam (Sept 17). |
| Mar 4 & 13, 1863 | Willie to Parents (Mar 4), Willie to Parents (Mar 13) | Terre Bonne, LA | Bayou Teche Campaign begins in Louisiana (Apr–May). |
| June 4, 1863 | Willie to Family | Brashear City, LA | Siege of Port Hudson (May 22–July 9) and Vicksburg Campaign underway. |
| June 12–13, 1863 | Willie to Mother | Brashear City, LA | Preludes to Gettysburg (July 1–3). |
| July 6, 1863 | James to Parents | Algiers, LA | Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg (July 4). |
| Sept 1, 1863 | James to Mother | New Orleans, LA | Union consolidates control of the Mississippi; Confederate morale declines. |
| Sept 4, 1863 | Willie to Mother | Bonnet Carré, LA | Union occupies southern Louisiana; Chickamauga to follow (Sept 19–20). |
| Sept 21, 1863 | Willie to Mother | Bonnet Carré, LA | Draft unrest and anticipation of longer war; Chattanooga Campaign begins. |
| Oct 3, 1863 | Father (J.M. Wade) to Willie | Williamsburg, NY | Union regroups after Chickamauga defeat. |
| Oct 15 & 19, 1863 | James to Mother (Oct 15), James to Mother (Oct 19) | New Orleans, LA | Confederate loss at Chattanooga approaches (Nov 25). |
| Oct 22–25, 1863 | Willie to Parents | Bonnet Carré, LA | Gulf operations intensify under Gen. Banks. |
| Nov 13, 1863 | Special Orders No. 273 | Brownsville, TX | Union begins Texas occupation after Rio Grande expedition. |
| Nov 20, 1863 | James to Parents | Point Isabel, TX | Red River Campaign preparations begin. |
| Dec 27, 1863 | Willie to James, Mother to James | Williamsburg, NY | Winter lull; Union consolidating in Louisiana. |
| Jan 15–18, 1864 | James to Adams Express (Jan 15), James to Mother (Jan 17), James to Parents (Jan 18) | Point Isabel, TX | Grant preparing for 1864 Virginia Campaign. |
| Feb 21, 1864 | James to Parents | Clarksville (Boca del Rio), TX | Sherman’s Meridian Campaign in Mississippi. |
| Apr 13, 1864 | James to Parents | Boca del Rio, TX | Red River Campaign in progress (Mar–May). |
| Apr 15, 1864 | Special Order No. 78 | Brazos Santiago, TX | Regiment rearmed with Enfield rifles. |
| Apr 22, 1864 | Field Orders | Brazos Santiago, TX | Union fortifying the Texas coast. |
| May 24, 1864 | James to Gen. N.P. Banks | Mouth of Rio Grande | Overland Campaign underway in Virginia. |
| June 26, 1864 | James to Mother | Boca del Rio, TX | Siege of Petersburg begins (June 15). |
| Sept 3, 1864 | James to Mother | Boca Chica, TX | Sherman captures Atlanta (Sept 2). |
| Oct 4, 1864 | Capt. Bliss to James | Brazos Santiago, TX | Early’s Valley Campaign in Virginia. |
| Oct 7, 1864 | James to Gen. Meigs | Boca Chica, TX | Sherman prepares March to the Sea. |
| Oct 25, 1864 | Receipt for Company Property | Brazos Santiago, TX | Confederate defeat at Cedar Creek (Oct 19). |