United States Civil War (1861 – 1865) in Real Time

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 3rd 1861

District of Columbia

Former law partners, Judah Benjamin and John Slidell, from Louisiana, leave Washington, D.C, and their Senate positions, for Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

South Carolina

On January 19th 1861, the commander of Fort Sumter, United States Army, Major Robert Anderson, requested that Governor Pickens of South Carolina allow the evacuation of the forty-two women and children from the fort and their departure by steamer for New York. Pickens complied with courtesy and on February 3rd 1861, the dependents sailed for New York aboard the steamer MARION, passing the fort and their men on their way out of the harbor.

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper: The steamship MARION, on her way to New York with the wives and children of the soldiers in Fort Sumter - manning the ramparts and cheering of the men as the steamer passes the fort the parting salute from Fort Sumter

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 4th 1861

District of Columbia

John Slidell and Judah Benjamin of Louisiana withdraw from the United States Senate.

The Peace Conference or Convention with more than 130 delegates who hope that they can forge a compromise and "adjust the present unhappy controversies" is held in Washington D.C. North Carolina sends 5 delegates headed by former governor John Motley Morehead. The other members are Thomas Ruffin, George Davis, Daniel Barringer, and David S. Reid. The conference does offer a proposed constitutional amendment, but it pleases neither pro- nor anti-slavery supporters.

Alabama

A convention of delegates from the Deep South states that have already seceded gathers at Montgomery, Alabama. Howell Cobb of Georgia becomes President of the Convention, with an unmistakable message that there will be no turning back. “The separation is perfect, complete, and perpetual.” Now, the work of forming a government takes precedence.

Harper's Weekly: The city of Montgomery, Alabama, showing the state house where the congress of the Southern Confederacy meets on February 4, 1861



Virginia

A pro-United States majority took control of the Virginia Secession Convention, raising hopes that Virginia would not leave the United States, voters chose:

- Samuel Woods (Barbour County).
- Edmund Pendleton and Allen C. Hammond (Berkeley County).
- Benjamin W. Byrne (representing Braxton, Nicholas, Clay, and Webster).
- Campbell Tarr (Brooke County).
- William McComas (Cabell County).
- C. J. Stuart (representing Doddridge and Tyler)
- Henry L. Gillespie (representing Fayette and Raleigh)
- C. B. Conrad (representing Gilmer, Wirt, and Calhoun).
- Samuel Price (Greenbrier County).
- Edward M. Armstrong and David Pugh (Hampshire County).
- George McC. Porter (Hancock County).
- Thomas Maslin (Hardy County).
- John S. Carlile Benjamin Wilson (Harrison County).
- Franklin P. Turner (representing Jackson and Roane).
- Alfred M. Barbour and Logan Osburn (Jefferson County).
- George W. Summers and Spicer Patrick (Kanawha County).
- Caleb Boggess (Lewis County).
- James Lawson (representing Logan, Boone, and Wyoming).
- Alpheus F. Haymond and Ephraim B. Hall (Marion County).
- James Burley (Marshall County), James H. Couch (Mason County).
- Napoleon B. French (Mercer County).
- Waitman T. Willey and Marshall M. Dent (Monongalia County).
- Allen T. Caperton and John Echols (Monroe County).
- Johnson Orrick (Morgan county).
- Sherrard Clemens Chester D. Hubbard (Ohio County).
- Henry H. Masters (Pendleton County).
- Paul McNeil (Pocahontas County).
- Cyrus Hall (representing Pleasants and Ritchie).
- William G. Brown and James C. McGrew (Preston County).
- James W. Hoge (Putnam County).
- John N. Hughes (representing Randolph and Tucker).
- John S. Burdett (Taylor County).
- William P. Cecil and Samuel L. Graham (representing Tazewell and Buchanan in present-day Virginia as well as McDowell).
- George W. Berlin (Upshur County).
- Burwell Spurlock (Wayne County).
- Leonard S. Hall (Wetzel County).
- John J. Jackson* (Wood County).

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 5th 1861

District of Columbia

"Fort Sumter will not be surrendered" came from various people in the Buchanan Administration in response to a demand for surrender from South Carolina.

Virginia

Former United States President John Tyler of Virginia (1841-1845) admonishes a convention assembled for finding a path to peace for the divided nation, “the eyes of the whole country are turned to this assembly, in expectation and hope.”

Alabama

Plans continued in Montgomery for the inauguration of the provisional government of the Confederate States of America.

Texas

Pro-Confederate authorities appointed a commission to confer with the United States officer commanding the military department of Texas, United States Army, Brigadier General William Selby Harney, about the transfer of military posts and property.

Kentucky

The Kentucky House passed the Senate’s resolutions of February 2nd 1861.

Louisiana

United States Senator John Slidell and Judah P. Benjamin from Louisiana withdrew from the United States Congress along with the state’s Representatives:

- United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd district, Miles Taylor.
- United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 3rd district,Thomas Green Davidson.
- United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th district, John M. Landrum.

The only Louisiana state’s Representative to the United States to remain was United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st district, John E Bouligny.

Oregon Territory

Reconnaissances to Willow Creek began. United States Army scouts departed from Walla Walla in Washington Territory and from Fort Dallas in Oregon Territory and headed for the Umatilla River, Willow Creek, and Butter Creek.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 6th 1861

Alabama

By unanimous consent of the “deputies of the sovereign and independent States of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana,” assembled at Montgomery produces a Constitution for the Provisional Government for a “Confederacy” of these states, with executive power to be “vested in a President of the Confederate States of America.”

Florida

Sidewheel steam frigate USS POWHATAN arrived off Pensacola with Federal reinforcements for Fort Pickens.

Massachusetts

In the State House in Boston, the Massachusetts legislature amended the state's Militia Act to allow units to be liable, when the President of the United States requires, to marched outside of the state's borders.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 7th 1861

Texas

Texas delegates to the Southern Congress were elected and an act was passed submitting the Ordinance of Secession to a referendum of its citizens.

Illinois

President-elect Lincoln is entertaining visitors, including Horace Greeley, at his home in Springfield. He has made no comment on the secessions or other issues.

North Carolina

The North Carolina House approves a bill that arms 3,000 volunteers and completely reorganizes the State military.

Oklahoma (Indian Territory)

The Choctaw Nation votes to ally itself with the Confederacy.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 8th 1861

District of Columbia

United States Army, General-in-Chief Major-General Winfield Scott assured a visiting Vermont peace delegate that nothing would be allowed to obstruct the official counting of the Electoral College votes at the United States Capital on the coming Wednesday. He told Lucius Chittenden that "any man who attempted by force or unparliamentary disorder to obstruct or interfere with the lawful count of the electoral vote ... should be lashed to the muzzle of a twelve-pounder and fired out of a window of the Capitol. I would manure the hills of Arlington with fragments of his body ...."

Alabama

The Constitution for a provisional Confederate States government was adopted by seven states at Montgomery, namely, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Montgomery became the provisional capital of the Confederate States of America. The Confederate Constitution shared many similarities with that of the United States but differed in its provisions about slavery and states’ rights.

Arkansas

Rumors of the reinforcement of the United States Arsenal under the command of United States Army, Captain James Totten (2nd US Artillery) had spread quickly in Little Rock during the previous week and Arkansas militia and other secessionists had gathered spontaneously around the installation without the apparent sanction of the governor of Arkansas, Henry Rector. To forestall a clash, Rector was forced to demand a surrender. This was negotiated and local militia took the Arsenal and its reported 9,000 small arms, 40 pieces of artillery, and large quantities of ammunition.

Georgia

Five New York ships were seized by order of the Georgia Governor and held until certain guns on board the vessel Monticello, seized by New York City police in January, were delivered to agents of Georgia. In addition, the Georgia Governor ordered the Collector of the Port of Savannah to retain all money from customs in his possession and to make no payment on accounts of the United States government.

Tennessee

The voters of Tennessee voted against holding a state convention.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 9th 1861

District of Columbia

The Seceding Alabama Delegation in Congress, 1861:

- United States Senator from Alabama. Clement Claiborne Clay.
- United States Senator from Alabama, Benjamin Fitzpatrick.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district, James Adams Stallworth.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 2nd district, James Lawrence Pugh.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd district, David Clopton.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th district, Sydenham Moore.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 5th district, George Smith Houston.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 6th district, Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb.
- Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district, Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry.

Harper's Weekly: The Seceding Alabama Delegation in Congress



Alabama

After privately considering William Yancey, Howell Cobb, Robert Toombs, Alexander Stephens, and Robert Barnwell Rhett for President of the Confederate States of America, the Convention settles on Jefferson Davis. They select Alexander Stephens, both pro-United States and a friend of (United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln, as vice-president.

Tennessee

Tennessee elected delegates for a secession convention and decided on whether that convention should go ahead. The results were startling as most Tennesseans voted for caution and the United States. United States candidates' votes outnumbered Southern Rights candidates three to one and voters decided not to assemble a convention in any case by a vote of 69,772 to 57,708.

Texas

United States Army, Brigadier-General David Emanuel Twiggs appointed a military commission to meet the commissioners of Texas to negotiate the transfer of military posts and property.

Florida

The wooden screw sloop USS BROOKLYN arrived off Pensacola. Troops were not landed at Fort Pickens in compliance with the order issued on January 29th  1861, which reflected an interim agreement with Florida state authorities that the military situation would not be changed. Fort Barrancas, Fort McRae, and the Pensacola Navy Yard remained in Confederate hands while Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island was retained by the United States.

Harper's Weekly: map of Pensacola Bay

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 10th 1861

Mississippi

Word reaches Davis at his plantation, Brierfield, in Mississippi, of the actions of the Montgomery delegates. He accepts the Presidency, although deeming himself fit more for military command with a record of service that includes the War with Mexico.

Pennsylvania

The loading of heavy cannon and "several tons of shells" aboard a steamship bound for New York City attracted crowds of Philadelphians to the Reading Railroad docks at the foot of Willow Street in the city. The shipment came from a foundry near Pittsburgh and was intended to add to the defenses of New York Harbor by strengthening the Stevens Water Battery there. War excitement clearly was growing as crowds watched and cheered as the weapons were loaded.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 11th 1861

District of Columbia

The United States’ Electoral College begins its deliberations in Washington, D.C., amid fears of a show of force against the election of Lincoln. United States Army, General Winfield Scott reinforces the city.

United States Navy, Commander John Adolphus Dahlgren urged the United States Congress to approve the building of more gun sloops and an iron-cased or armoured ship.

Illinois

Several thousand citizens of Springfield, Illinois gathered at the train depot to see (United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln depart for his inauguration in Washington, D.C. In response, he gave this brief, impromptu speech from his railroad car, in the middle of a heavy rainstorm:

My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

Mississippi

(Confederate States) President-elect Jefferson Finis Davis left his plantation at Brierfield to be inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 12th 1861

Arkansas

The United States Arsenal and Ordnance depot at Napoleon was seized by Arkansas State forces.

Georgia

Frank Leslie's The Soldier in Our Civil War, Vol. I: Review of the Clinch Rifles on the Parade Ground in front of the Augusta Arsenal in February 1861

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 13th 1861

District of Columbia

The electoral votes having been ceremonially counted in the House of Representatives in a joint session of Congress, Outgoing Vice-President John C. Breckin ridge (who is third in the popular vote and second in the electoral vote) made the official announcement that Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin "having received a majority of the whole number of electoral votes" had been duly elected as president and vice-president of the United States and would serve a four year term beginning on March 4th 1861.

Ohio

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln’s train moves from Cincinnati to Columbus. Reporters hang on his every word, hoping for some indication of what his policies will be. He does not make a strong commitment to any policy: “Would marching an army into South Carolina with hostile intent be an invasion? I think it would, and it would be coercion also if South Carolina were forced to submit. But if the United States should merely hold and retake its own forts, collect duties, or withhold the mails, where they were habitually violated, would any or all of these things be invasion or coercion?”

Alabama

The Confederate Provisional Government adopted the provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

North Carolina

The North Carolina state legislature publicly received commissioners from Georgia.

Virginia

The Virginia State Convention met to discuss matters of secession.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 14th 1861

Alabama

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States authorized the Committee on Naval Affairs to call together all available maritime and naval specialists across the Confederacy to advise on naval plans.

Pennsylvania

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln had left Springfield, Illinois on February 11th 1861 for his eleven-day journey to Washington D.C. His party had reached Columbus in Ohio the day before and went on to cross Ohio, with the now customary small stops along the way, to reach a rainswept Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that evening. Lodging at the Monongahela House Hotel, he pleaded tiredness and went to bed soon after.

The press reported that the south-central Pennsylvania residents of Shippensburg in Cumberland County awoke to find a massive secessionist "Palmetto flag" hanging from a telegraph wire in the town. The banner was immediately taken down and destroyed.

Florida

The Florida state legislature passed an Act declaring that after any actual collision between Federal troops and those in the employ of Florida, “the act of holding office under the US government shall be declared treason, and any person convicted of such action shall suffer death”. The state of Florida transferred control of captured United States government property to the Confederate government.

United Kingdom 

For the second time in five weeks, the Bank of England again raised the discount rate, the interest charged to smaller banks, this time by another percentage point to eight percent. Demands for specie from India and the United States were continuing to drain the Bank's bullion reserves. Conditions seemed to have improved enough, though, that by mid-April the rate was reduced to five percent.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 15th 1861

District of Columbia

The Peace Convention approached its conclusion without reaching any effectual proposals to avert the secession crisis.

Alabama

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, approved a resolution reflected the intent to enter into peaceful relations with the United States:

“That it is the sense of this Congress that a commission of three persons be appointed by the President-elect, as early as may be convenient after his inauguration, and sent to the Government of the United States of America, for the purpose of negotiating friendly relations between that Government and the Confederate States of America, and for the settlement of all questions of disagreement between the two Governments, upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith.”

Conversely, the Congress passed a separate resolution that threatened peaceful relations:

“That it is the sense of this Congress that immediate steps should be taken to obtain possession of Forts Sumter and Pickens, by the authority of this Government, either by negotiations or force, as early as practicable, and that the President is hereby authorized to make all necessary military preparations for carrying this resolution into effect.”

The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States also approved legislation “to declare and establish the free navigation of the Mississippi River.” The bill included an opening declaration that “the peaceful navigation of the Mississippi River is hereby declared free to the citizens of any of the States upon its borders, or upon the borders of its navigable tributaries.” Provisions granted freedom for “all ships, boats, or vessels” carrying cargo, “without any duty or hindrance, except light-money, pilotage, and other like customary charges.” This intended to calm spreading fears in northern states bordering the Mississippi that secession would cut off free river navigation. The Confederacy further demonstrated its commitment to free trade by repealing United States laws that barred vessels from trading without a license and laws that imposed discriminatory duties on certain foreign vessels or imports.

Pennsylvania

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln who had reached Pittsburgh the day before and in the morning he delivered a speech to five thousand listeners standing in drizzling rain in front of the Monongahela House Hotel. The President-Elect then reboarded his train and traveled to Cleveland, Ohio where he spent the night.

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 16th 1861

Alabama

After a grueling journey, (Confederate States) President-elect Jefferson Davis reaches Montgomery. Perhaps with an eye to the efforts to find a resolution to the crisis that will maintain the United States he insists to a group of well-wishers, “The time for compromise has now passed, and the South is determined to maintain her position, and make all who oppose her smell Southern powder and feel Southern steel if coercion is persisted in… We ask nothing, we want nothing; we have no complications.”

Later, Davis appeared on the Exchange Hotel balcony with William Lowndes Yancey, who had been instrumental in the secession of Alabama. Davis spoke to the crowd below:

“It may be that our career will be ushered in in the midst of a storm; it may be that as this morning opened with clouds, rain and mist, we shall have to encounter inconveniences at the beginning; but as the sun rose and lifted the mist it dispersed the clouds and left us the pure sunshine of heaven. So will progress the Southern Confederacy, and carry us safe into the harbor of constitutional liberty and political equality. We fear nothing… because, if war should come, if we must again baptize in blood the principles for which our fathers bled in the Revolution, we shall show that we are not degenerate sons, but will redeem the pledges they gave, preserve the rights they transmitted to us, and prove that Southern valor still shines as bright as in 1776… I will devote to the duties of the high office to which I have been called all that I have of heart, of head, of hand. If, in the progress of events, it shall become necessary that my services be needed in another position—if, to be plain, necessity require that I shall again enter the ranks of soldiers—I hope you will welcome me there.”

Yancey then stepped forward to show gratitude to “the distinguished gentleman who has just addressed you,” who was “the statesman, the soldier and the patriot.” Yancey had been a leader among the fire-eaters who had worked so hard to take the South out of the Union. Now he would pass that leadership on to Davis, leader of the moderates who would head the new government. Yancey declared: “The man and the hour have met.”

Texas

United States Army, General David E. Twiggs, commander of federal forces in Texas, surrendered his entire command — all the federal installations, property, and soldiers in Texas — to the Confederacy. This included 20 military installations (including the Federal Arsenal at the Alamo), 44 cannons, 400 pistols, 1,900 muskets, 500 wagons, and 950 horses, valued at a total of $1.6 million. Twiggs did insist that all Federals be allowed to retain personal arms and sidearms and flags and standards. 

Harper's Weekly: Surrender of ex-General Twiggs, to the Texan troops in the Gran Plaza, San Antonio, Texas, February 16, 1861



New York

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln reached Cleveland and spent the night and then left for Buffalo, New York. On the way, he stopped at Westfield, New York where he met Grace Bedell, the eleven-year old who three months before had famously advised him to grow a beard. He arrived in Buffalo at 4:30 that afternoon and was met at the railway station by former president Millard Fillmore (1850-1853).

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Events leading up to the United States Civil War, February 17th 1861

Oregon Territory

Reconnaissance to Willow Creek and the Columbia River ended.

New York

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln attended church services with former (United States) President Fillmore (1850-1853) at the First Unitarian Church at Franklin and Eagle streets. The Lincolns dined at Fillmore’s home, and then Lincoln attended a second church service to hear a sermon from Indian preacher John Beason. During the day, Lincoln received a letter from Illinois Senator Orville Browning, who had been given a draft of Lincoln’s inaugural address and was offering some advice: “In any conflict which may ensue between the government and the seceding States, it is very important that the traitors shall be the aggressors, and that they be kept constantly and palpably in the wrong.”