On this date 150 years ago, after the Rich Mountain and Laurel Hill battles, the North was anxious to press farther into Virginia. Toward that end, General McDowell advanced on Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, with 40,000 Union troops.

In the harbor at Wilmington, North Carolina, the USS Daylight established a blockade. That effort was only partially effective and soon demanded additional ships to make it successful.