- November 4
- Abraham Lincoln (Republican-Illinois-Representative) is elected 16th president of the USA. [434.134] (November 6 [1])
- December 12
- Philip F. Thomas of Maryland is appointed Treasury Secretary. [453.108]
- December 17
- Congress authorizes $10 million in interest-bearing Treasury notes. [558.64]
- December 20
- South Carolina's legislature votes 169-0 to pass the "Ordinance of Secession" declaring "the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other states, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved." [1] [129]
- December 26
- Major Robert Anderson, under cover of darkness, concentrated his small force at Fort Sumter. [1]
1861
- January 1
- US President Abraham Lincoln declares slavery in Confederate states unlawful. [1]
- January 2
- Colonel Charles Stone is put in charge of organizing District of Columbia militia. [1]
- South Carolina seizes inactive Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor. [1]
- January 3
- Delaware legislature rejects proposal to join Confederacy. [1]
- Fort Pulaski and Fort Jackson, Savannah, seized by Georgia. [1]
- January 4
- Fort Morgan, Mobile, seized by Alabama. [1]
- President Buchanan appoints a fast on account of threatened succession. [1]
- January 5
- 250 Federal troops are sent from New York to Fort Sumter. [1]
- Alabama troops seize Forts Morgan and Gaines at Mobile Bay. [1]
- January 6
- Florida troops seize Federal arsenal at Apalachicola. [1]
- January 7
- Florida troops takeover Fort Marion at Saint Augustine. [1]
- January 9
- First hostile act of Civil War; Star of the West fired on, Sumter, South Carolina. [1]
- Mississippi becomes second state to secede. [1]
- January 10
- Florida becomes third state to secede from US. [1]
- Fort Jackson and Fort Philip are taken over by Los Angeles state troops. [1]
- US forts and property seized by Mississippi. [1]
- January 11
- Alabama becomes fourth state to secede. [1]
- January 12
- Florida state troops demand surrender of Fort Pickens. [1]
- January 14
- Fort Pikens, Florida, falls into state hands. [1]
- Treasury Secretary Philip F. Thomas resigns after disagreeing with President Buchanan's policies on South Carolina. [453.108]
- January 15
- General John A. Dix is appointed Treasury Secretary. [453.108] [471.32] [569.80] [630.72]
- January 19
- Georgia becomes fifth state to secede. [1]
- Mississippi troops take Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island. [1]
- January 21
- Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and four other southern senators resign. [1]
- January 24
- Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia, seized by Confederacy. [1]
- Federal troops from Fort Monroe are sent to Fort Pikens. [1]
- January 26
- Louisiana becomes sixth state to secede. [1]
- January 31
- State of Louisiana takes over US Mint at New Orleans. [1] [516.92]
- February 1
- Texas becomes seventh state to secede. [1]
- February 4
- Confederate constitutional convention meets for first time, in Montgomery, Alabama. Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina elect Jefferson Davis President of Confederacy. [1]
- February 5
- Louisiana delegation except Mr Bouligny withdraws from US Congress. [1]
- February 8
- Confederate States of America is proclaimed in Montgomery, Alabama. [1] [448.50]
- February 9
- Tennessee votes against secession. [1]
- February 11
- US House unanimously passes resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state. [1]
- February 12
- State troops seize US munitions in Napoleon, Arkansas. [1]
- February 13
- First military action to result in Congressional Medal of Honor, Arizona. [1]
- February 15
- Fort Point completed and garrisoned (but has never fired cannon in anger). [1]
- February 20
- Department of Navy of Confederacy forms. [1]
- February 23
- By popular referendum, Texas becomes seventh state to secede from US. [1]
- March 2
- US Congress creates Dakota and Nevada Territories out of the Nebraska and Utah territories. [1] [516.64]
- Congress authorizes interest-bearing notes, with terms of 60 days, two years, and three years. [481.62]
- The Morrill Tariff Act is passed, reversing the 1857 Tariff Act, increasing tariffs on imports. [453.108]
- March 4
- Abraham Lincoln inaugurated as 16th President of the USA. [1] [129] [491.22] [547.52]
- Confederate States adopt "Stars and Bars" flag. [1]
- March 6
- Provisionary Confederate Congress establishes Confederate Army. [1]
- March 8
- Saint Augustine, Florida, surrenders to Union armies. [1]
- March 9
- Confederate currency authorized: $50, $100, $500, $1,000. [1]
- March 11
- Confederate convention in Montgomery, Alabama, adopts constitution. [1]
- March 13
- Jefferson Davis signs bill authorizing use of slaves as soldiers. [1]
- March 16
- Arizona Territory votes to leave the Union. [1]
- Confederate government appoints commissioners to Britain. [1]
- March 31
- Confederate forces seize control of the New Orleans Mint. [1] [516.92] (April 1 [397.52])
- April 5
- Federals abandon Fort Quitman, Texas. [1]
- April 8
- Confederate authorities seize Dahlonega Mint. [1] [486.32]
- April 12
- Confederate shore batteries under General P.G.T. Beauregard open fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Bay, beginning the US Civil War. [1] [129] [412.50]
- April 13
- After 34 hours of bombardment, U.S. Major Robert Anderson surrenders Fort Sumter in South Carolina to Confederates. [1] [129]
- April 14
- Formal Union surrender of Fort Sumter. [1]
- Robert E Lee resigns from Union army. [1]
- April 15
- U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteer soldiers to quell the Southern insurrection. [1] [129]
- April 16
- US President Abraham Lincoln outlaws business with confederate states. [1]
- April 17
- Indianola Texas-"Star of West" taken by Confederacy. [1]
- Virginia become eighth state to secede. [1]
- April 18
- Battle of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. [1]
- Colonel Robert E Lee turns down offer to command Union armies. [1]
- April 19
- Lincoln orders blockade of Confederate ports (Civil War). [1]
- April 20
- Battle of Norfolk, Virginia. [1]
- Confederates seize the Charlotte Mint. [488.36] [619.22] (May 21 [412.84])
- Colonel Robert E Lee resigns from Union army. [1]
- April 22
- Robert E Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces. [1]
- April 23
- Arkansas troops seize Fort Smith. [1]
- Battle of San Antonio, Texas. [1]
- April 25
- Battle of Lavaca, Texas. [1]
- New York 7th arrives to reinforce Washington, District of Columbia. [1]
- April 27
- President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. [1]
- West Virginia secedes from Virginia after Virginia secedes from US. [1]
- April 29
- Maryland's House of Delegates votes against seceding from Union. [1]
- May 1
- Lee orders Confederate troops under T J Jackson to Harper's Ferry. [1]
- May 3
- General Winfield Scott presents his Anaconda Plan. [1]
- US President Abraham Lincoln asks for 42,000 Army Volunteers and another 18,000 seamen. [1]
- May 4
- At Gretna, Louisiana, one of first guns of Rebel navy is cast. [1]
- May 5
- Confederate troops abandon Alexandria, Virginia. [1]
- May 6
- Arkansas and Tennessee become ninth and tenth states to secede from US. [1]
- Jefferson Davis approves a bill declaring War between US and Confederacy. [1]
- May 7
- Riot occurs between pro-secessionist and Union supporters in Knoxville, Tennessee. [1]
- May 8
- Richmond, Virginia, is named the capital of the Confederacy. [1]
- May 10
- Union troops march on state militia in Saint Louis, Missouri. [1]
- May 11
- The New York Stock Exchange prohibits trading of Confederate securities. [404.44]
- May 13
- Queen Victoria announces England's position of neutrality. [1]
- May 14
- President Abraham Lincoln appoints James Pollock to be Mint director. [408.32] [626.46]
- May 16
- Confederate Government offers war volunteers $10 premium. [1]
- Kentucky proclaims its neutrality. [1]
- May 18
- Battle of Sewall's Point, Virginia - first Federal offense against South. [1]
- May 20
- Kentucky proclaims its neutrality in Civil War. [1]
- North Carolina becomes eleventh and last state to secede from Union. [1]
- May 21
- North Carolina is tenth state to secede from Union. [1]
- Richmond, Virginia, is designated Confederate Capital. [1]
- May 23
- Virginia citizens vote 3 to 1 in favor of secession. [1]
- May 24
- Alexandria, Virginia, occupied by Federal troops. [1]
- Major General Benjamin Butler declares slaves "contraband of war". [1]
- May 26
- Postmaster General Blair announces end of postal connection with South. [1]
- Union blockades New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. [1]
- May 29
- Dorothea Dix offers help in setting up hospitals for Union Army. [1]
- May 31
- The Confederacy closes down the Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans Mints. [1] [428.42] [496.32] [516.92]
- General Beauregard is given command of Confederate Alexandria Line. [1]
- June 1
- First skirmish in the Civil War, Fairfax Court House, Virginia. [1]
- US and Confederacy simultaneously stop mail interchange. [1]
- June 3
- First Civil War land battle - Union defeats Confederacy at Philippi, West Virginia. [1]
- June 8
- People of Tennessee vote to succeed from Union. [1]
- June 24
- Tennessee becomes eleventh (and last) state to secede from US. [1]
- July 4
- President Abraham Lincoln asks Congress for $400 million and 400,000 men to suppress the Southern insurrection. [446.58] [453.108]
- July 5
- Engagement at Carthage, Missouri. [1]
- July 17
- Congress authorizes first US government-issued paper money, $50 million worth, known as "demand notes" and "Greenbacks". [1] [451.38] [453.108] [476.68]
- July 21
- First major battle of Civil War ends (Bull Run), Virginia - South wins. [1]
- July 27
- Union General George McClellan takes command of Potamic Army. [1]
- August 1
- Brazil recognizes Confederacy. [1]
- August 10
- Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri. [1]
- August 15
- Meeting of 32 associated banks at New York City agree to loan US government $50 million at 7.3 percent interest. [474.30]
- August
- The US Postal Service begins issuing new postage stamps and demonetizing previously issued US stamps due to quantities held by Confederate states. [631.19]
- August 16
- US President Abraham Lincoln prohibits Union states from trading with Confederacy. [1]
- August 24
- The US Treasury Department issues the first US demand note, a $10 note payable in Philadelphia. [520.52]
- September 3
- Confederate forces enter Kentucky, thus ending its neutrality. [1]
- September 16
- New Orleans banks suspend specie payment. [502.38] [549.72]
- September 26
- US President Abraham Lincoln appoints William L. Hodge as interim Treasury Secretary during absence of Secretary Salmon P. Chase. [550.56]
- October 12
- Confederate ironclad Manassas attacks Union's Richmond on Mississippi. [1]
- October 16
- Confederacy starts selling postage stamps. [1]
- October 21
- Battle of Balls Bluff, Virginia. [1]
- October 26
- Last ride of the Pony Express, between Missouri and California. [5] [443.48]
- October 31
- US General Winfield Scott, Commander of the US Army, resigns at age 94 citing failing health. [556.72]
- November 1
- General George B McClellan made general in chief of Union armies. [1]
- November 6
- Jefferson Davis elected to six-year term as Confederate President. sports [1]
- November 8
- US removes Confederate officials from British steamer Trent. [1]
- November 9
- Battle of Piketon, Kentucky. [1]
- November 28
- Confederate congress officially admits Missouri to the CSA. [1]
- December 9
- Battle of Bird Creek, Indian Territory (High Shoal, Chusto-Talasah). [1]
- December 13
- Battle of Alleghany Summit, West Virginia. [1]
- December 19
- Battle of Black Water. [1]
- December 20
- Battle of Dranesville, Virginia. [1]
- December 21
- President Abraham Lincoln signs law authorizing Navy Medal of Valor. [463.42]
- December 28
- US government suspends specie payments for paper money. [476.68]
- December 30
- American banks stop payments in gold. [1] [668.104]
- Representative Elbridge Gerry Spaulding of New York introduces in the House of Representatives H.R. 182 to authorize $50 million in demand notes. [466.79]
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